November 2012 – Page 21 – NBA Blog

Memphis Grizzlies name Jason Levien CEO

Memphis Grizzlies Chairman Robert Pera announced today that he has named seasoned sports executive Jason Levien as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Memphis Basketball, LLC, which operates the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum. In this role, Levien will have leadership responsibility for the entire organization; serve as the ownership group’s Managing Partner and as an Alternate NBA Governor.

“Jason and I share a vision for building a world-class team on and off-the-court,” Grizzlies Chairman Robert Pera said. “He has my complete trust, confidence and support in how best to lead our organization’s efforts.”

“I’m honored to be part of such a dynamic and potential-filled opportunity here in Memphis,” Memphis Grizzlies & FedExForum CEO Jason Levien said. “I appreciate what a special role the Grizzlies and FedExForum play in the Memphis community and I know that we will build successfully on the foundation already in place.”

Levien was, until recently, a co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and prior to that he served as an NBA team executive with the Sacramento Kings. Levien spent a decade representing professional athletes, including advising multiple NBA first-round draft picks and high-profile free agents. He serves as a general partner for Major League Soccer’s DC United. He graduated from Pomona College, where he was a member of the basketball team, and earned a law degree and masters in public policy from the University of Michigan.

Multitude of whistles put Dwight Howard in a foul mood

There’s something irking Dwight Howard, and it goes beyond the Lakers’ 0-3 record or his surgically repaired back.

It involves avoiding the referees’ whistle.

“The only thing I can do is stay positive and not let it affect the way I play,” said Howard, who’s averaged 5.3 fouls per game. “Sometimes it has an effect because I want to do so good and help our team win. It’s tough.”

In the Lakers’ season-opening loss to Dallas, Howard collected six fouls and earned a flagrant foul one on Mavericks forward Elton Brand.

“I felt like I got fouled on the other end,” Howard said. “I kind of complained for a second so I was just getting back on defense. … I have to get back. I can’t look at the refs and complain.”

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News

Nets beat Raptors in Brooklyn debut

Nets win their first-ever regular season game in Brooklyn

Brooklyn made a winning return to major pro sports on Saturday night, as the Nets beat the Toronto Raptors 107-100 in the first game at Barclays Center.

After a 55-year wait that was extended a couple of extra days by Superstorm Sandy, the borough finally has a team of its own again, and the Nets think it’s going to be a good one.

Brook Lopez scored 27 points and Deron Williams added 19 points and nine assists for the Nets. C.J. Watson finished with 15 points and Joe Johnson had 14.

A sold-out crowd of 17,732 that included entertainers Jay-Z, a part-owner, and wife Beyonce chanted ”Brooklyn! Brooklyn!” a few times during the game and loudly at the end, celebrating the name on the front of the shirt much more than the back.

And with good reason. Brooklyn hasn’t had a team to cheer since the Dodgers left for Los Angeles in 1957.

Kyle Lowry had 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Raptors, who fell to 0-2. DeMar DeRozan added 25 points.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Hornets coach Monty Williams not a fan of NBA concussion policy

Monty Williams thinks protecting players from concussions is stupid

New Orleans Hornets coach Monty Williams blasted the NBA’s protocols for determining when a player can return from a concussion, a day after No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis suffered a mild one.

Williams unloaded before Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, saying, “Now, they treat everybody like they have white gloves and pink drawers and it’s getting old. It’s just the way the league is now.”

His comments came on the heels of Davis leaving Friday’s win over Utah after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from teammate Austin Rivers in the first half. A Chicago product, Davis stayed back in New Orleans to be examined and did not accompany the team on the trip.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Brandon Rush out for season with torn ACL

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Brandon Rush will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2012-13 season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during the first quarter of last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the team announced today.

A surgery date has yet to be determined. It is anticipated that Rush will make a full recovery.

According to the Associated Press, “Rush leaped in the air for a dunk when Zach Randolph fouled him from behind in the first quarter of Golden State’s 104-94 loss to Memphis on Friday night. Rush landed awkwardly, and his knee bent badly as he tumbled to the court. He held back tears and had to be helped to the locker room.”

The Grizzlies frontcourt loves the Grizzlies frontcourt

Zach Randolph stood on one side of the locker room while Rudy Gay sat about 18 feet away and out of earshot.

When asked separately about how the Grizzlies’ front line, including center Marc Gasol, is playing so far this season, the starting forwards delivered nearly identical answers.

“We’ve got one of the best frontcourts in the league,” Randolph proclaimed.

“If not the best, we have one of the best front lines in the league,” Gay added. “And we’re definitely going to prove that this year.”

And to think that there are cynics who believe Gay and Randolph don’t mix.

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Steve Nash suffers leg injury, will be re-examined in one week

Steve Nash out at least one week with leg injury

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash was examined by team doctor Steve Lombardo and had an MRI exam. Results of the MRI showed a small non-displaced fracture in the head of his fibula (left leg).

The injury occurred in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s game in Portland against the Trail Blazers. Nash is expected to be out a minimum of a week. He will be re-examined and an update on his condition will be given at that time.

According to the Orange County Register, “Nash was hurt when he got tangled up with Portland point guard Damian Lillard on Wednesday night and got kneed in the side of the leg. He tried to return later in the game, but the leg gave out on him, and he sat out the loss to the Clippers on Friday night that dropped the Lakers to 0-3.”

Troy Murphy makes sense for Mavericks

Because he is so familiar with coach Rick Carlisle’s system, Troy Murphy was the perfect fit for the Dallas Mavericks.

Thus, the Mavs signed the 6-11, 245-pound power forward to a one-year contract Friday in the hope that he can help stretch opponents’ defenses and also help the Mavs out on the boards.

“I think I can spread the floor, add some shooting and some rebounding as well,’’ Murphy said after this morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Center. “I’m ready to go.

“I’m still learning the plays and I’m just taking it as it comes.’’

Murphy played for Carlisle in Indiana after he was traded to the Pacers from the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 17, 2007.

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Tyson Chandler says Carmelo Anthony is super focused

He entered the league the same year as LeBron, who has been to the NBA Finals three times and won his first title last June. Anthony has advanced past the first round just once and is 1-8 in the playoffs with the Knicks. If that record isn’t enough to get Anthony to change his approach and keep him motivated nothing will.

“I think he’s very motivated right now,” says Tyson Chandler. “I’ve only been with him for two years but this is the most motivated I’ve seen him. He’s doing an excellent job, not only what you guys saw on display (Friday) night, but in practice, in film and walk throughs. He’s changed. He’s getting in early, putting up shots from everywhere, pulling guys to the side to give them advice. He’s being a great teammate. He wants to win. I think the summer experience helped him.”

Chandler and Anthony were Olympic teammates in London as the United States cruised to a gold medal. All around him, Anthony was surrounded by NBA champs – LeBron, Chandler, Kobe Bryant – as well as a young cast of teammates – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden – who have already reached the NBA Finals.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Anthony Davis leaves game with possible concussion

Anthony Davis, the overall No. 1 draft pick of the New Orleans, has left Friday night’s game against Utah and is being tested for a possible concussion and will not return.

Davis had eight points — all on dunks in the first half — six rebounds and two blocks. He was injured with 4:51 left in the first half. The Hornets released an official statement that he will be out for the rest of the game. The Hornets trailed 41-40 at halftime.

— Reported by the Associated Press