April 2013 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Bobcats finish above Magic in final standings

Combine the Charlotte Bobcats’ 105-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Miami Heat, and the Bobcats top the Magic by a game in the standings.

Small potatoes, maybe. But after going 7-59 last season – worst record in NBA history – 21-61 felt OK Wednesday night.

“Absolutely we wanted to avoid that worst record. It was definitely one of our small goals down the stretch,” said Bobcats co-captain Gerald Henderson (15 points and six assists). “Obviously things didn’t go as well as we hoped, but we played hard.”

“Coming down the stretch, we played as pros.”

True enough. They won six of their last 15, and in doing so might have saved their rookie coach’s job. Nothing has been decided one way or the other, but the relatively strong finish spruces up Dunlap’s short-term resume a bit.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Stephen Curry sets new NBA single-season three-point record

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has established a new NBA single-season three-point record with 272 three-pointers made, surpassing the previous record of 269 set by Ray Allen for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2005-06. Curry established the new mark in tonight’s regular-season finale at Portland, connecting on 4-of-11 attempts in a 99-88 Warriors victory over the Trail Blazers. He entered the contest needing one three-pointer to tie, and two to surpass, the previous record. Curry broke Allen’s record despite attempting 53 less three-pointers than Allen did in 2005-06.

Curry, 25, not only led the NBA in three-pointers made in 2012-13, but also finished third in three-point field goal percentage by connecting on 272-of-600 (.453) attempts from long range. The 6-3 guard is the first player in NBA history to hit 250 three-pointers and dish out 500 assists in a single season and is the second player in league history to hit 200-or-more threes in a season on 45 percent-or-better, joining Glen Rice, who did so in 1995-96.

Overall, Curry averaged career highs of 22.9 points (7th in NBA) and 6.9 assists (T-15th) to go with 4.0 rebounds, 1.62 steals and 38.2 minutes (7th) in 78 games during the regular season.

Earlier this season, Curry announced that for every three-pointer made he would donate three life-saving bed nets to the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which distributes insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect families across Africa from malaria. A committed champion of Nothing But Nets since his time at Davidson, Curry’s record-setting season translates to 816 bed nets that will help hundreds families sleep safe from infection.

Grizzlies sign Donte Greene and Willie Reed

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent forward Donté Greene as well as forward/center Willie Reed of the NBA Development League’s Springfield Armor to multi-year contracts, the team announced today.

Greene (6-11, 226) comes to Memphis with NBA career averages of 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 16.8 minutes in 253 games (82 starts) over four seasons (2008-12) with the Sacramento Kings.

The 25-year-old has missed the majority of the 2012-13 regular season while recovering from a fractured ankle suffered during an offseason workout on Aug. 25. He recently played one game in Puerto Rico for Atleticos de San German of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

After leading Syracuse University in scoring (17.7 points) as a freshman, Greene was drafted by the Grizzlies in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. Memphis then completed a three-way trade on draft night that sent Greene’s draft rights and a 2009 second round draft pick to Houston in exchange for the draft rights to current Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur (27th) from Portland. Houston also traded the draft rights to Nicolas Batum (25th) to Portland for the draft rights to Joey Dorsey (33rd) to complete the deal.

Born in Munich, Germany, Greene moved to the United States at the age of three and was named Maryland’s 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Towson Catholic High School in Baltimore, the same high school attended by Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.

Reed (6-10, 220) joins the Grizzlies after averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.77 blocks on .557 shooting in 29.3 minutes in 48 games (30 starts) for Springfield this season. The 22-year-old ranked fifth in the D-League in total blocks (83), posted 12 double-doubles and registered 24 games with multiple rejections in his first season with the Armor.

Reed enjoyed some of his best games this season against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, scoring a D-League career-high 27 points on Feb. 23 before netting 21 points and collecting a D-League personal-best 20 rebounds against Fort Wayne on March 17.

Undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Reed signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings on Sept. 21, 2012 but was waived on Oct. 26, 2012. The Kansas City native played two collegiate seasons (2008-10) at Saint Louis University, where he recorded 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.69 blocks in 67 games.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 15.

Warriors sign Scott Machado for remainder of season

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard Scott Machado (muh-CHAH-doe) for the remainder of the season, the team announced today. Machado is currently on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, who begin their second round D-League playoff series today against the Austin Toros in Texas.

Machado, 22, was originally signed to a 10-day contract as a GATORADE Call-UP from the Santa Cruz Warriors on April 7. The following day (on April 8) he was assigned to Santa Cruz where he averaged 4.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per contest as Santa Cruz swept its first round playoff series against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Overall this season, Machado appeared in 28 D-League regular-season games combined with Santa Cruz and Rio Grande Valley, averaging 8.9 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest.

Knicks bring back center Earl Barron

Rasheed Wallace out, a former Knick back in.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed center Earl Barron for the remainder of the season.

Barron, 7-0, 245-pounds, holds career averages of 4.9 points, on 37.5-percent shooting, and 3.6 rebounds over 14.7 minutes in 123 games (29 starts) over six seasons with Miami, New York, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Portland, Golden State and Washington. He last played in 11 games (one start) for Washington this season, averaging 2.5 points and 3.9 rebounds over 11.1 minutes, before being waived on Dec. 23.

The Clarksdale, MS-native, appeared in seven games (six starts) for New York in 2009-10, averaging 11.7 points and 11.0 rebounds over 33.1 minutes.

Earlier today, the team announced that Wallace has retired from pro basketball.

The NBA regular season ends tonight. The playoffs begin Saturday. The 2-seed Knicks will face the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Rasheed Wallace retires from basketball

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced forward/center Rasheed Wallace has retired from playing professional basketball.

“Rasheed has given this team everything he had,” Head Coach Mike Woodson said. “He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs. We owe this season’s success to veterans like Rasheed.”

According to the Associated Press, “Wallace ended a two-year retirement this season to join the Knicks and was a key player off the bench during their strong start. But he hadn’t played since December before returning Monday against Charlotte, but he exited after 4 minutes because of continued soreness.”

Wallace, 6-11, 245-pounds, averaged 7.0 points, on 38.7-percent shooting, and 4.0 rebounds over 14.1 minutes in 21 games this season. In his 15th NBA season Wallace missed 60 games due to an injured left foot. On Feb. 27, new X-rays showed progression to a fractured left fifth metatarsal and he had surgery on Feb. 28.

“Both teams played hard.”

“Ball don’t lie.”

And so goes Sheed.

With the NBA regular season ending tonight, the Knicks, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference, may soon add another veteran to aid them in the playoffs, which begin Saturday, April 20.

Read NBA fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

LeBron James misses Heat practice due to personal matter

LeBron James was not with the Miami Heat for their final regular-season shootaround on Wednesday morning. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the league’s reigning MVP was tending to a personal matter.

James was not expected to play Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. He has spent part of the past couple weeks dealing with a right hamstring strain.

The Heat have home-court advantage for as long as they remain in this season’s NBA playoffs.

— Reported by the Associated Press

James McAdoo not entering 2013 NBA Draft

Sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo will return to the University of North Carolina for his junior season in 2013-14. McAdoo earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading the Tar Heels in rebounding and steals and finishing second in scoring in 2012-13.

The Norfolk, Va., native averaged 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds and made 54 steals in leading UNC to a 25-11 record and the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Coach (Williams) and I have been talking about this since the end of the season and today my parents joined Coach and me in those discussions,” says McAdoo. “I have decided to stay in school at North Carolina and play another season for the Tar Heels.

“I love this school and my teammates and I love being a North Carolina basketball player. There will certainly be a time when I want to play in the NBA, but right now I truly enjoy college life and I want to continue doing that for another season.”

McAdoo scored in double figures a team-high 32 times, posted nine double-doubles and scored 20 or more points five times. He was fourth in the ACC in steals, ninth in rebounding and 12th in scoring. He has averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 74 games as a Tar Heel.

“I am ecstatic about having the opportunity to coach James Michael for another season,” says Roy Williams. “He’s an incredible young man who did some really nice things this year. He’s going to be an even better player in the future. Coaching young people like James Michael is what makes me enjoy coaching so much.

“James Michael’s decision says a lot about the University of North Carolina and his teammates. He truly enjoys the entire collegiate experience. It’s the reason he came to this decision.”

Last week, rising junior guard P.J. Hairston said he was returning next year. Earlier today, junior forward Reggie Bullock announced that he was entering his name into the 2013 NBA Draft.

“I’m certainly looking forward to coaching P.J. and James Michael again,” says Williams. “They have grown a lot as young men in their first two years at Carolina and I expect them to be fantastic leaders for us next season.”

— Via North Carolina Men’s Basketball

Marcus Smart not entering 2013 NBA Draft

Marcus Smart’s decision: making memories over making money.

At least for one more year.

Oklahoma State has called a press conference for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Student Union in Stillwater where Smart will announce he’s returning for a sophomore season with the Cowboys, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Oklahoman.

The Big 12 Player of the Year and the national Freshman of the Year as the winner of the Wayman Tisdale Award, Smart’s return establishes OSU as a Big 12 favorite and a national contender.

Markel Brown and LeBryan Nash also are expected to announce they are returning next season.

— Reported by John Helsley of the Oklahoman

San Antonio Spurs sign Tracy McGrady

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Tracy McGrady.

T-Mac is playoff-eligible for the 58-23 Spurs, who have the second best record in the Western conference.

In 938 career NBA games, McGrady has averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.21 steals in 32.7 minutes. The 6-8, 225-pound forward has suited up in 44 career playoffs games, averaging 25.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.16 steals in 38.5 minutes.

McGrady was named All-NBA First Team in 2002 and 2003, All-NBA Second Team in 2001, 2004 and 2007, and All-NBA Third Team in 2005 and 2008. He led the NBA in scoring in 2002-03 after averaging a career-high 32.1 points and again in 2003-04 with 28.0 ppg.

The seven-time NBA All-Star was drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He has also suited up for the Orlando Magic (2000-04), Houston Rockets (2004-10), New York Knicks (2010), Detroit Pistons (2010-11) and the Atlanta Hawks (2011-12).

The 33-year old spent the 2012-13 season playing for Qingdao of the Chinese Basketball League. In 29 games he averaged 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.55 steals in 31.6 minutes.

McGrady will wear No. 1 for the Spurs.

Read NBA fan reaction and share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.