April 2011 – Page 11 – NBA Blog

Dwyane Wade misses practice with migraine, uncertain for Game 2

Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports:

Dwyane Wade missed the Miami Heat’s practice Sunday with a migraine, leaving his status for Monday’s Game 2 of the Heat’s series with the Philadelphia 76ers in question.

Wade has battled migraines at various times during his career and in January missed a game because of symptoms. That bout left him with light sensitivity for several days. He needed tinted goggles in a game in New York because of it but still scored 34 points in a loss to the Knicks.

The headache started to bother Wade before Saturday’s Game 1, a 97-89 Miami victory, in which Wade finished with just 17 points and battled rare foul trouble.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Coach Scott Skiles says Bucks lacked leadership this season

Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

By now, we all now that the Bucks were a solid defensive team this season but one that was offensively challenged.

And, we’re well aware of the rash of injuries that hampered the team all season.

But it’s also the intangibles that contribute greatly to the success or failure of a team. Things like having a strong leadership presence among the players and a cohesive team chemistry. Those were two key areas in which the Bucks came up short this season.

“It’s fair to say we did not have good leadership on our team this year,” said coach Scott Skiles. “But that’s something you can’t manufacture. You can’t just say that guy is a leader.

“I guarantee you’d be shocked in all pro sports, when you’re on the inside of something like this and you know the league and players and coaches, and somebody in the media will say, ‘That guy’s the leader of that team’. Often times, it’s so far from the truth that it’s ridiculous.

“You can’t manufacture that. It just naturally happens. Some people are just natural leaders. Other people can cultivate it some themselves. And then you need both. If you have good leadership on the team you also need guys that will follow the leader. Chemistry and all those things are very fragile things.”

David Stern says league is not ready to sell Hornets just yet

John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

Four months since assuming ownership of the New Orleans Hornets, the NBA continues to work toward resolving issues it hopes will make the franchise more attractive to a local buyer.

Although the league has not had discussions with any potential local owner or groups, NBA Commissioner David Stern said during his annual pre-playoff conference call Friday they continue to receive inquires from people expressing interest.

“When people call and express an interest,`we say ‘terrific, we’ll take you to a game, take you to a meal, and put you in the queue, so we can be ready to talk to you when we are ready for this asset to be sold,’ ’’ Stern said. “We’re not pursuing local ownership at this time.

“The direction that Jac Sperling and Hugh Weber are taking is to make this team desirable for local ownership, or ownership that intends on keeping it in New Orleans.’’

The NBA purchased the Hornets from George Shinn and minority owner Gary Chouest in December for an estimated $300 million.

Dirk scores 28, Mavs beat Blazers 89-81 in Game 1

The AP reports:

Dirk Nowitzki knows how to take over a game when the Dallas Mavericks need him the most, and Jason Kidd can still make some big shots.

Nowitzki scored 18 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the 38-year-old Kidd had a playoff career-best six 3-pointers among his 24 points as Dallas defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 89-81 Saturday night in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series…

Nowitzki scored 12 consecutive points in the game-turning spurt in the closing minutes when Dallas tied the game and eventually went ahead to stay. In the opener of his 11th consecutive postseason appearance with the Mavs, the perennial All-Star made all 13 of his free throws—all in the fourth quarter…

LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points for Portland and Andre Miller had 18.

Dwight Howard scores 46 but Hawks beat Magic in Game 1, 103-93

The AP reports:

Joe Johnson scored 25 points, Jamal Crawford finished with 23 and Atlanta beat Orlando 103-93 in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, overcoming a monster night by Dwight Howard.

Atlanta was eliminated by Orlando in last year’s playoffs in the most lopsided four-game sweep in NBA history, but this one was much different. The Hawks led by as many as 18 points while running multiple bodies at Howard all night, and the rest of the Magic failed to step up…

Howard tied a career high with 46 points, to go along with 19 rebounds. Jameer Nelson had 27 points but no other Orlando player reached double figures.

The Hawks had five players with at least 13 points, earning their fourth straight victory against the Magic and erasing the sting of a six-game losing streak to close the regular season. Al Horford scored 16, Josh Smith had 15 points and eight rebounds and Kirk Hinrich added 13 points.

Bosh scores 25, Heat beat 76ers in Game 1, 97-89

The AP reports:

Chris Bosh had 25 points and 12 rebounds, LeBron James added 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Wade scored five of his 17 points in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge Philadelphia comeback try and beat the 76ers 97-89 in the opener of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

“The only number that matters right now is 1-0,” Wade said. “That’s all it’s about.”

Game 2 is Monday night.

Thaddeus Young had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, while Jrue Holiday added 19 and Elton Brand finished with 17. It was the second time in 22 days that Philadelphia blew a big second-quarter lead in Miami: On March 25, the 76ers led by 16, and on Saturday, the margin was 14…

The 76ers scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter, closing to 88-87 — but never getting the lead back. Bosh made two free throws and Wade hit a tough bank shot to give Miami a five-point edge. And after Young scored Philadelphia’s final points with 1:24 left, Wade sealed it with a pair of foul shots 14 seconds later.

Rose scores 39, Bulls beat Pacers 104-99 in Game 1

The AP reports:

Derrick Rose scored 39 points and found Kyle Korver for a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 48 seconds left, helping top-seeded Chicago stage a late rally to beat the Pacers 104-99 in their playoff opener on Saturday.

“We knew it was going to be a hard game,” Rose said. “From the beginning I guess we weren’t prepared for it. Next time I think we’ll be ready.” …

Rose again showed why he is an MVP favorite even though he was off target. He missed each of his nine 3-point attempts but made 19 of 21 at the foul line and finished with six rebounds and six assists.

Luol Deng added 18 points and Korver finished with 13, no shot bigger than that 3…

Granger led Indiana with 24 points, and Tyler Hansbrough shook off an elbow from Kurt Thomas to finish with 22. Darren Collison scored 17, but had just two in the second half, and the Pacers came up just short in their first playoff game in five years.

Cavaliers Semih Erden, Samardo Samuels and Ramon Sessions all have surgery

Cavaliers center Semih Erden, forward Samardo Samuels and guard Ramon Sessions each underwent successful surgery yesterday, the team announced from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Erden had surgery on his left shoulder at Cleveland Clinic’s Strongsville Family Health and Surgery Center. The surgery was performed by Dr. Mark Schickendantz.

Samuels underwent surgery to repair a right wrist injury at the Cleveland Clinic main campus, performed by Dr. Thomas Graham.

Sessions had surgery to repair a hernia at Hill Crest Hospital – Cleveland Clinic. The procedure was performed by Dr. William O’Brien.

Each player will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation and their statuses will be updated as appropriate.

DeShawn Sims named 2010-11 D-League Rookie of the Year

Maine Red Claws forward DeShawn Sims was selected by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches as the NBA Development League’s 2010-11 Rookie of the Year.

Joining Sims on the NBA D-League’s inaugural All-Rookie First Team are Tulsa 66ers guard Jerome Dyson, Springfield Armor guard Scottie Reynolds, Iowa Energy forward Marqus Blakely, who ended the season with the Houston Rockets, and Rio Grande Valley Vipers center Patrick Sullivan.

The All-Rookie Second Team features Tulsa guard Elijah Millsap, Maine guard Jamar Smith, Erie BayHawks forward Tasmin Mitchell, Rio Grande Valley forward Mouhammad Faye and Springfield center Chas McFarland. Both All-Rookie teams are also voted on by the NBA D-League’s head coaches.

“I am enormously proud of DeShawn Sims for being named Rookie of the Year, but not the least bit surprised,” said Maine Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings. “From the moment he stepped on the court for us, he has been a leader and brings an incredible determination and competitiveness to the floor every single night. The obstacles DeShawn has been forced to overcome in his life have been well-documented, and they are things that would cause a lesser man to choose another path. That determination earned him his way to the NBA D-League All-Star Game as a rookie, and it brought him the Rookie of the Year trophy. There is no question, in my mind, that his next step is the NBA.”

In 48 games (45 starts) for Maine, Sims averaged 20.3 points, which ranked fourth in the NBA D-League and first among rookies, to go along with 7.7 rebounds. Sims, a 6-8, 225-pound forward out of Michigan, shot 50.6 percent from the field this season, scored in double figures 41 times and recorded 13 double-doubles. Sims also participated in this year’s NBA D-League All-Star game in Los Angeles, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds in 20 minutes for the victorious East All-Stars.

“DeShawn’s performance this season was certainly impressive, and not just for a first-year player,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “I congratulate DeShawn, as well as the All-Rookie First and Second Team selections, on having such promising starts to their professional careers.”

Sims, who also earned All-NBA Development League Third Team honors, joins Cleveland Cavaliers guard Alonzo Gee (Austin, 2009-10), Washington Wizards guard Othyus Jeffers (Iowa, 2008-09), Blake Ahearn (Dakota, 2007-08), Golden State Warriors forward Louis Amundson (Colorado, 2006-07), Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum (Roanoke 2005-06), James Thomas (Roanoke 2004-05), Desmond Penigar (Asheville, 2003-04), Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2002-03) and Fred House (Charleston, 2001-02) as winners of the annual award.

2010-11 NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM
Guard          Jerome Dyson                Tulsa 66ers
Guard          Scottie Reynolds        Springfield Armor
Forward        DeShawn Sims                Maine Red Claws
Forward        Marqus Blakely*        Iowa Energy
Center         Patrick Sullivan    Rio Grande Valley Vipers

2010-11 NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM
Guard          Elijah Millsap                Tulsa 66ers
Guard          Jamar Smith                Maine Red Claws
Forward        Tasmin Mitchell                Erie BayHawks
Forward        Mouhammad Faye        Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Center         Chas McFarland        Springfield Armor

* Currently with an NBA team.

Ties broken for NBA Draft 2011 order of selection

Three ties among teams that finished the 2010-11 NBA regular season with identical records were broken today through random drawings to help determine the order of selection for the 2011 NBA Draft, which will be held on Thursday, June 23 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The drawings were conducted earlier today in New York City at the Board of Governors meeting by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The results of the drawings:

– Sacramento (24-58) won a tiebreaker with New Jersey.
– New Orleans (46-36) won a tiebreaker with Memphis.
– Dallas (57-25) won a tiebreaker with the Los Angeles Lakers

Full details and complete selection order information is on our 2011 NBA Draft home page.