March 2013 – Page 8 – NBA Blog

Phoenix Suns set to miss playoffs again

If a magic number indicates the combination of game results a team needs to qualify for the postseason, is the same number for playoff contention elimination an “unmagic number?”

If it is, that number for the Phoenix Suns is one. A Suns loss or one more win by the Los Angeles Lakers would eliminate Phoenix from postseason contention for the third straight season. It’ll be the team’s first three-year postseason absence since the span from 1986 to 1988.

The Suns host the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday at US Airways Center, and they’ll be short-handed when they do. Center Jermaine O’Neal will miss the contest with a left calf strain and an illness and according to interim head coach Lindsey Hunter, swingman Jared Dudley will probably miss the game as well.

“I’m thinking both guys have the stomach flu or something,” he said.

— Reported by Vince Marotta of Arizona Sports

Bulls analyst Kendall Gill suspended for season by Comcast

Comcast SportsNet Chicago Friday has suspended Chicago Bulls analyst Kendall Gill for the remainder of the season.

“We have made a decision to not have Kendall Gill appear on our air for the remainder of the Bulls season,” the station said. “We will re-evaluate our current position on this matter during the off-season.”

Gill was removed from on-air duties after being involved in a physical altercation with Big Ten Network analyst Tim Doyle on Tuesday night. The incident occurred after a taping of “Sports Talk Live” in the Comcast SportsNet studio newsroom.

— Reported by Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune

Heat sign Juwan Howard for rest of season

Juwan Howard doesn’t play much, but his presence on the Miami Heat is obviously appreciated.

The Heat announced today that they have signed Howard for the remainder of the season.

Howard was previously signed by the HEAT to a 10-day contract on March 2 and then re-signed to a second 10-day contract on March 12. He has not appeared in a game for Miami this season, but has appeared in 85 games with the HEAT over the last two seasons averaging 2.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 9.2 minutes while shooting 40 percent from the field. Additionally, he appeared in 11 postseason games during Miami’s 2012 NBA Championship run, totaling 17 points, 10 rebounds and an assist in 60 minutes of action while shooting 4-of-9 from the field.

The former NBA All-Star was originally signed by the HEAT as a free agent on July 20, 2010 and then re-signed on December 9, 2011.

Tycoon joins effort to keep Kings in Sacramento

The effort to keep the Sacramento Kings from moving to Seattle got a boost from a Silicon Valley software tycoon who stepped forward as lead investor.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Vivek Ranadive will lead Sacramento’s bid to keep the team, joining health-club financier Mark Mastrov and billionaire Ron Burkle.

Ranadive’s involvement comes after NBA Commissioner David Stern said earlier this month that the Sacramento group’s offer needed to be increased before league owners would consider it.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Celtics sign Shavlik Randolph to longer contract

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed forward Shavlik Randolph to a multi-year contract.

According to WEEI, “As they did with Chinese Basketball Association imports Terrence Williams and D.J. White before him, the Celtics signed Shavlik Randolph for the remainder of the season. The deal includes an option for next season.”

Randolph, a 6’10” forward, has appeared in three games for the Celtics this season averaging 3.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. He posted highs of six points, eight rebounds and two steals against Charlotte on March 16.

Mark Cuban says Jason Terry deserves love from Mavs fans

Jason Eugene Terry will be back at American Airlines Center Friday night for the first time since he left the Dallas Mavericks last summer to sign a three-year, $15.675 million free agent contract with the Boston Celtics.

And there’s at least four overzealous Mavericks fans who hope the Jet will receive the royal treatment from the sellout crowd that’ll be on hand when Dallas (32-36) faces the Celtics (36-31) at 7:30 p.m.

“I hope they give him a standing ovation,’’ owner Mark Cuban said. “He deserves it.

“He’ll be a Maverick for life. He’s part of the family.’’

Terry played for the Mavericks from 2004 until last summer when he and Cuban couldn’t agree on a contract that would have kept him in Dallas for what he wanted to be the remainder of his career. Still, the two have remained friends as Cuban has already said he plans to retire Terry’s No. 31 jersey and hang it in the AAC rafters once he retires.

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

Al Horford continues to do big things for Hawks

Horford played in only 11 regular-season games last season before a torn left pectoral muscle sidelined him. He returned May 6 for the final three games of the first-round playoff series loss to the Celtics. Horford said he is at near full strength from that injury and is completely over calf and hamstring issues that bothered him earlier this season.

The two-time All-Star is the Hawks’ leading scorer with 17.4 points per game, good for 23rd in the NBA. His 10.2 rebound average ranks ninth in the league and his 55.0 field-goal percentage ranks 11th.

“When you give him that top-of-the-key jump shot, he’s pretty accurate from there,” Bucks coach Jim Boylan said following Wednesday’s game. “He’s an All-Star player. That’s what All-Stars do, night in and night out. That’s why they’re All-Stars.”

Horford’s mid-range jumper has been especially effective this season. He has shot more than 44 percent from both 15-19 feet (119-of-268, 44.4 percent) and from 20-24 feet (26-of-59, 44.1 percent). That has become a valuable weapon for the Hawks as Horford, playing undersized at center, has drawn the opposition’s big men away from the basket.

— Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tim Duncan putting up monster games lately for Spurs

Not long before tipoff of what would become his team’s 29th consecutive loss in San Antonio, Golden State coach Mark Jackson was asked his chief concern in facing a Spurs team minus All-Star point guard Tony Parker.

Jackson responded with an answer straight out of 1997.

“Big guy by the name of Duncan,” Jackson said. “I heard he’s pretty good.”

Duncan turns 37 next month.

His line in Wednesday’s 104-93 victory over the Warriors — 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four blocks — could have been lifted from the first half of his 16th season, which in turn could have been lifted from his MVP heyday.

Over his past three games, Duncan is averaging 27.7 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and shooting 64.3 percent (36 of 56), a sure sign he has regained his All-Star form from before his Feb. 2 knee injury.

— Reported by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News (Blog)

Rockets rookie Royce White leaves D-League team

The brief NBA Development League career of Rockets rookie Royce White could be over. Whether a career in the NBA can be salvaged remains unclear after the latest stunning turn in his tumultuous season.

White announced via Twitter that he was leaving the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to be in Houston for the remainder of the season at the advice of the team physician. He did not offer any explanation, but later said he was returning to Houston, not the Rockets.

Rockets management was not a part of the decision, according to a person with knowledge of their thinking on the issue.

Rockets officials would not comment. Even less clear is whether the agreement that White considered necessary to report to the D-League in February will protect him should the Rockets wish to suspend him again.

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

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol expected to play Friday

Kobe Bryant participated in a five-on-five scrimmage Thursday. So did Pau Gasol.

Bryant left a little early because his sprained left ankle stiffened a bit, but Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni wasn’t concerned about his availability Friday against Washington.

“He’ll be ready,” D’Antoni said.

Gasol missed 20 games because of a tear inside the bottom of his right foot. He will play limited minutes Friday while simultaneously trying to get in shape.

“It’s not good,” Gasol said of his conditioning. “But I’ll continue to work on it and it’ll continue to get better.”

— Reported by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times