December 2, 2012 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Blazers rookie Damian Lillard off to great start

The NBA will release its monthly individual honors today and Lillard, the Blazers’ electric, do-it-all rookie point guard, almost certainly will win the league’s Rookie of the Month award. After 16 games — which factored into the league’s decision — Lillard led all rookies in scoring (18.4 points per game), assists (5.9), steals (1.38), field goals (102) and minutes played (36.8), while ranking 11th in rebounding (3.1) and fourth in free-throw shooting percentage (83.9).

His first month in the NBA was so dynamic, so polished, Lillard’s lofty statistical accomplishments regularly drew comparisons to some of the best players in NBA history. Players like Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas, Allen Iverson. It started on opening night, when Lillard had 23 points and 11 assists in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming just the third player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and 10 assists in a debut. Robertson and Thomas are the others.

One accomplishment after another followed in the next 15 games. After three games, Lillard became just the second player, along with Robertson, to record at least 20 points and seven assists. He’s the second player in franchise history to score at least 20 points in his first three NBA games, joining Geoff Petrie. And Lillard became the first player since Allen Iverson in 1996 to register at least 295 points and 94 assists over his first 16 games.

— Reported by Joe Freeman of the Oregonian

Rip Hamilton out with torn plantar fascia in foot

The Bulls announced that Richard Hamilton’s MRI exam on Sunday revealed he tore the plantar fascia in his left foot. The release said the veteran shooting guard will return to play when his symptoms permit.

When James Johnson suffered a partially torn plantar fascia as a Bull in 2010, he missed one game. Tearing the plantar fascia actually is better than suffering from plantar fasciitis. One treatment option for the painful latter condition actually is tearing the plantar fascia to begin healing.

Either Marco Belinelli or Jimmy Butler will start at shooting guard. Hamilton could be out a week or more. The Bulls have one roster spot open, but if they sign somebody that player wouldn’t crack the rotation ahead of Belinelli or Butler.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

No Trevor Booker any time soon for Wizards

Trevor Booker is no longer going to be listed as day-to-day with a strained right knee.

Booker has missed the past five games since getting injured in a loss against Indiana nearly two weeks ago, but Coach Randy Wittman said on Sunday there is still “soreness and swelling” in Booker’s knee and that the energetic forward wouldn’t return for “probably another couple of weeks.”

While traveling with the team to New York last week, Booker visited with a doctor who informed him that he needed to rest for a while longer before coming back.

“They said I shouldn’t play until don’t have any pain,” Booker said. “I’ll wait for that to clear up, but I’m feeling better each day.”

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post

Rockets forward Patterson developing into consistent scoring option

“The ball seems to be dropping,” Patterson said. “I’m capitalizing on my opportunities, taking shots, got a couple offensive rebounds for putbacks. My teammates are looking for me a lot more than prior to the season and my shots have been falling.”

His offensive surge is not quite that simple, though it has been indisputable. Patterson has scored at least 20 points in the Rockets’ past three games (and four of five games) after never reaching 20 in consecutive games before. He had a career-high 27 Tuesday against Toronto despite sitting out the bulk of the first quarter with foul trouble and most of the fourth as the Rockets closed out the rout.

This does not seem to be an aberration. In the past 10 games since a slow start while adjusting to the retooled offense and his role as a first-time starter, Patterson has made 55 percent of his shots overall, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 17 points per game.

After attempting just five 3-pointers in his first two seasons, most to beat the shot clock and all missed, he has made 12 of 32 3-pointers this season, 6 of 12 last week.

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)

Raymond Felton has MRI on hand

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton underwent an MRI to determine the extent of a left hand injury he suffered late in the Knicks’ 106-99 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

“It’s swollen right now,” Felton said. “It’s a lot of pain, but we’ll see what happens.”

Felton said, if it were up to him, he’d play in the Knicks’ next game on Wednesday against the Charlotte Bobcats.

If Felton is forced to sit, the Knicks could have just one healthy point guard available against Charlotte.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Jason Smith says Hornets go 1-on-1 too often

When New Orleans Hornets veteran forward Jason Smith was asked after Sunday’s practice to assess his team’s problems, he had plenty to say. He said they are not moving the ball enough offensively and too many players are putting themselves in one-on-one isolation plays instead of involving their teammates.

Although the Hornets are still without their two best players, Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon, because of injuries, they have not been able avoid low-scoring quarters or get enough significant contributions from key players.

“You can say it’s not a big problem and some people shrug it off, but it’s a problem,’’ Smith said. “We’re going a little bit one-one-one too much, not moving the ball. We get a stop or a rebound and we don’t pass the ball and we get up a shot. I think we’re letting defenses off the hook when we just go down make one pass and shoot.’’

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Ricky Rubio says he feels good after first practice with Timberwolves

Ricky Rubio practiced with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, Dec. 2, for the first time this season. He says his surgically repaired left knee feels good, and he’s anxious to see how his body responds on Monday.

There is still no timetable for his first game. Rubio says he wants to be sure his knee is 100 percent before he comes back. Rubio tore the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his knee last March.

— Reported by Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press

Knicks beat Suns, stay perfect at home

Rasheed Wallace delivered a hard whack to Luis Scola, then some hard words to the referees.

These New York Knicks won’t let anybody have it easy at Madison Square Garden, not even the officials.

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points and the Knicks ran their best home start in 20 years to 7-0, withstanding Wallace’s ejection after a mere 1:25 of playing time to beat the Phoenix Suns 106-99 on Sunday.

Phoenix had won its last two at MSG but the Knicks have finally figured out under coach Mike Woodson that home-court games are not to be wasted. They are 18-1 in the regular season here since he took over last March, jumping on their last few opponents from the start…

Raymond Felton had 23 points, seven assists and no turnovers for the Knicks, who last won seven straight at Madison Square Garden to open a season when they started 9-0 in 1992-93. The point guard was hurting after the game, saying he was going to get an MRI on his swollen left hand…

[Tyson] Chandler finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Knicks improved to 12-4 overall, a half-game behind Miami for the best record in the Eastern Conference. They got off to a good start in December after winning 11 in November for the first time since a 12-victory November in 1972 on the way to their last NBA championship…

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who dropped their third straight and fell to 1-4 on their season-high, six-game road trip that ends Tuesday in Memphis. Shannon Brown scored 17 points.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Elton Brand thinks he can do more for Mavs

Brand has had his struggles this season, but he doesn’t think the 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks he had in Saturday’s win over the Pistons should be considered a surprise. Those all at least match season highs, but Brand expects many more nights like this in a Mavs uniform.

“Nah, that’s not vintage,” said Brand, who was averaging 6.2 points and 6.0 rebounds entering the game. “Not even close. That’s what I can do. That’s where I’m at right now.

“With the opportunity and the looks, I’m still right there. I can do that every night – most nights – with those opportunities.”

By opportunities, Brand means shots and minutes. They were both tough to come by for Brand in the first month of the season.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Marcus Camby out with sore left foot

Marcus Camby was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns shortly before tipoff due to a sore left foot.

Camby participated in a walk-through with the Knicks on Saturday, so it is unclear when the injury flared up. Mike Woodson said 90 minutes before tipoff he expected to have all of his players except Jason Kidd (lower back spasms) available.

Camby, 38, missed the entire preseason due to a calf injury and entered the season out of game shape. The veteran big man has played in just six of the Knicks’ 15 games. He has received DNP’s in the past two.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York