December 2012 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Sacramento Kings suspend DeMarcus Cousins for bad behavior

The drama in Sacramento continues.

Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie today announced that the team has suspended center DeMarcus Cousins indefinitely for unprofessional behavior and conduct detrimental to the team.

Cousins, currently in his third NBA season, is averaging a team-high 16.6 points (.414 FGs, .200 3FGs, .769 FTs), 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.35 steals per game through 23 contests.

Earlier today, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (blog) reported: “Keith Smart is one of DeMarcus Cousins’ biggest supporters. Apparently that doesn’t mean Smart will allow Cousins to speak to him however he likes. And that’s why DeMarcus was left in the locker room for the second half of Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Cousins went at his coach verbally after Smart said something to him at halftime. So Smart decided the Kings were better off without their leading scorer and rebounder. “We’re trying to set a standard for all of our players and all our guys who are here,” Smart said after the game. “When guys don’t fall in line to that we’ve got to move on.”

Nets recall Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor from D-League

The Brooklyn Nets have recalled forward Tornike Shengelia and guard Tyshawn Taylor from the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King. The two players were assigned to Springfield on December 21.

In the rookies’ first career D-League action last night vs Erie, Shengelia notched a triple double (22 points, 10 rebounds,12 assists), while Taylor poured in a team-high 32 points.

Both players are expected to practice fully with the team today in preparation for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

DeMarcus Cousins pisses off coach Keith Smart

Keith Smart is one of DeMarcus Cousins’ biggest supporters.

Apparently that doesn’t mean Smart will allow Cousins to speak to him however he likes. And that’s why DeMarcus was left in the locker room for the second half of Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cousins went at his coach verbally after Smart said something to him at halftime. So Smart decided the Kings were better off without their leading scorer and rebounder.

“We’re trying to set a standard for all of our players and all our guys who are here,” Smart said after the game. “When guys don’t fall in line to that we’ve got to move on.”

Smart intends to maintain this stance, too. You have to assume that means penalties will escalate if the behavior does not change.

Smart wouldn’t address whether Cousins would play in Sunday’s game against Portland. If he does, another blowup could mean suspensions for conduct detrimental to the team.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (Blog)

Melo, 3 others ejected as Bulls beat Knicks

Bottled up by the Bulls and baffled by the officials, Carmelo Anthony expected to spend the final minutes of the Knicks’ loss alone in the locker room.

Turns out the early exodus of Knicks was just beginning.

Coach Mike Woodson and center Tyson Chandler were also ejected from the foul-filled game, and Chicago beat New York for the second time this season, 110-106 on Friday night.

Chandler and Bulls counterpart Joakim Noah were tossed after a fourth-quarter altercation, shortly after Woodson had been ejected following his second technical. He drew a loud ovation during his walk to the back from Knicks fans who angrily booed the officiating for much of the second half…

Luol Deng had season highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls despite briefly leaving the game with an injured left shoulder. Marco Belinelli added 22 points as Chicago won for the fourth time in five games.

Anthony finished with 29 points on 10-of-25 shooting, ending his streak of four straight 30-point games. The Knicks lost for the second time in three home games after winning their first 10.

Noah finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in completely outplaying Chandler, who took only one shot and was limited to five points and eight boards…

Kirk Hinrich had 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Bulls, who were totally shutting the Knicks down until allowing 45 mostly meaningless points in the fourth quarter after Chicago had led by 25 in the third…

[J.R.] Smith had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 19-7. Their 19 wins through 25 games was bettered only twice in franchise history, when they were 23-2 in 1969-70 and 20-5 in 1972-73. They won the NBA title both times.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Clippers win 12th straight game to set franchise record

Clippers win 12th straight to set franchise record

After the Los Angeles Clippers set a record for the longest winning streak in franchise history, Chris Paul was thinking about Ron Harper, Corey Maggette and other former players who endured all that losing.

Paul had 24 points and 13 assists to help the Clippers, for decades synonymous with long losing streaks, break a 38-year-old club mark with their 12th consecutive victory Friday night, 97-85 over the Sacramento Kings.

”Most of those guys have been here through tougher times,” Paul said. ”I know Ron Harper really well. He’s a good friend of mine, and he’s excited for us. We just played against Corey Maggette, and he was excited to see how it is now. So it’s been exciting for me in the short amount of time I’ve been here, especially knowing some of the people who have been with the team for 25 or 30 years and the season-ticket holders. But we can’t be satisfied. We’ve got to keep it going.”

The previous record was set by the Buffalo Braves during the 1974-75 season, when current Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro was 8 years old. The head coach back then was Jack Ramsay, whose formidable roster included Bob McAdoo, Garfield Heard, Randy Smith, Jim McMillian, Jack Marin and Bob Weiss.

That team won 49 games – still a record for a beleaguered organization that has called three different cities home, wasted first-round draft picks on Benoit Benjamin, Terry Dehere, Michael Olowokandi and Darius Miles, and was labeled ”the worst franchise in sports history” by Sports Illustrated in an April 17, 2000, cover story.

— Reported by Joe Resnick of the Associated Press

Andrew Bynum vows to play this season

Andrew Bynum has been cleared to start a six-step rehabilitation process but there is still no timetable when he can return to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 7-foot center hasn’t practiced or played for the Sixers this season because of bone bruises in his knees…

Bynum says ”I’m confident I’ll be on the court this season.” He was acquired in the offseason from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team trade.

— Reported by Dan Gelston of the Associated Press

Thunder assign Reggie Jackson to D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned guard Reggie Jackson to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In 14 games this season with the Thunder, Jackson is averaging 1.9 points and 1.0 rebound in 6.9 minutes per contest.

Jackson is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Tulsa 66ers host the Iowa Energy at the SpiritBank Event Center.

Timberwolves mourn passing of biggest fan

Mike Stephenson couldn’t talk and still managed to get himself suspended from Minnesota Timberwolves practice for saying too much.

He couldn’t walk and still managed to crawl out of his wheelchair to wipe up a wet spot he noticed on the court before anyone else could get there.

He couldn’t shoot and still managed to leave a lasting impact on the organization that took him in and treated him as one of the guys.

Stephenson was born with cerebral palsy and died earlier this week after the latest in a long line of bouts with pneumonia, leaving Timberwolves past and present to mourn one of the team’s biggest fans, and biggest inspirations. He was 42.

”He was so good for the players and the rest of us,” former coach and executive Flip Saunders said. ”They all make a lot of money and are kind of on a different level. But Mike helped them get a better understanding that there’s other things, bigger things, that make the world go round.”

— Reported by Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press

Ex-Sixer Lou Williams anxious to face former team

Lou Williams at first tried to downplay his first return tonight to play the 76ers, but the Atlanta Hawks guard then quickly changed gears and admitted that this is not a typical NBA game.

Williams played his first seven years with the Sixers and is in his first season with the Hawks. He is enjoying the same success in the super-sub role.

Last season Williams led the Sixers in scoring, averaging 14.9 points. This season he is averaging 14.3 points for the surprising 15-8 Hawks, who trail first place Miami by two games in the Southeast Division.

“It’s one of those games that will be emotional,” Williams said following this morning’s shootaround at the Wells Fargo Center.

— Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Blog)

Eric Gordon injury update: Not ready to return for Hornets just yet

Eric Gordon not ready to return for Hornets just yet

The New Orleans Hornets will get injured shooting guard Eric Gordon back on the bench for moral support Saturday night when the team plays the Indiana Pacers in New Orleans Arena.

But Coach Monty Williams said here Friday that Gordon’s first game action isn’t imminent. “He’s been doing so much rehab now I think it’s a matter of him getting his game condition back,” Williams said after the team’s morning shoot-around in preparation for Friday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. “The only way to do that is to play. But there’s some things he can do to build a base before he steps on the floor so that’s what (the Hornets training and strength and conditioning staff) will be doing over the next few days.”

Gordon has rehabilitated and strengthened his ailing right knee in Los Angeles since Nov. 7 and said Wednesday night he’d be playing by the end of the month.

Williams said Friday Gordon had not yet been cleared for contact work.

— Reported by Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune