Month: January 2014

Gregg Popovich hates hack-a-Shaq foul strategy, but will keep using it

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting fun stuff on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is a great quote when he’s actually willing to really speak his mind:

gregg popovich

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich dislikes employing a “Hack-a-Shaq” type fouling strategy, but he’s going to do it anyway.

Popovich, who ordered his team to foul Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard seven straight times in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s 97-90 loss, is not a fan of sending guys to the line — but concedes it’s part of the game.

“I hate it,” Popovich said of the strategy before Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls. “I think it’s awful. I hate doing it. Seriously. I think it’s a pain in the neck, fans don’t like it, I don’t like it, nobody likes it. It disrupts the flow of the game. If there’s an equitable way to get rid of it, I’m all for it.

Cavs assign Sergey Karasev to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned guard/forward Sergey Karasev to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Karasev has appeared in six games for the Charge and is averaging 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.8 minutes per game.

Karasev will be available for Friday night’s Charge game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants at the Canton Memorial Civic Center at 7:00 p.m.

Knicks assign Cole Aldrich, Toure Murry, Jeremy Tyler to D-League

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has assigned center Cole Aldrich, guard Toure’ Murry and forward Jeremy Tyler to Erie of the NBA Development League.

This may be a very brief assignment, and may just be for workout reasons. According to several reports, all three players may be back with the Knicks a day later.

For the Knicks this season, Aldrich, 6-11, 245-pounds, has recorded 16 points and 45 rebounds over 95 total minutes in 21 games and Murry, 6-5, 195-pounds, is averaging 3.0 points and 1.1 assists over 8.2 minutes in 27 games.

Tyler, 6-10, 250-pounds, averaged 18.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in six games for the BayHawks early this season, and is averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds over 8.6 minutes in 10 games for the Knicks.

Wizards bring Glen Rice Jr back from D-League

Wizards bring Glen Rice Jr back from D-League

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Glen Rice Jr has been recalled from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Rice will be with the team for tonight’s game in Golden State.

Rice appeared in three games with the Energy, averaging 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.7 blocks in 36 minutes per contest. Washington’s 2013 second round pick was assigned to Iowa on January 20.

Rice is averaging 2.9 points in 10 minutes per contest in 11 games (one start) with the Wizards this season.

Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic out at least 7-10 days

Nikola Pekovic out at least 7-10 days

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that center Nikola Pekovic underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) this morning at TRIA Orthopedics in Bloomington, Minn. that revealed bursitis in his right ankle. Pekovic will be withheld from basketball activities for 7-10 days and will be reevaluated at that time. He will be sidelined indefinitely.

Pekovic left last night’s game at Chicago at the 6:00 mark of the first quarter and did not return.

The 6-11 center has appeared in all 44 games this year for the Wolves, averaging career highs in points (18.0 ppg), rebounds (9.1 rpg) and minutes (32.5 mpg).

Next deputy NBA commissioner may be Mark Tatum

With David Stern soon stepping down as NBA commissioner and Adam Silver taking over, the league will need a new deputy NBA commissioner. Here’s ESPN.com on who is expected to get the job:

Incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to promote league executive Mark Tatum to deputy commissioner, multiple sources told ESPN.

Tatum, who would become one of the highest-ranking African-Americans in professional sports, has been with the NBA the past 14 years and previously worked for Major League Baseball. He’s currently executive vice president of global marketing partnerships and focuses on the league’s relationship with top sponsors and its television and media partners.

Tatum, 45, also manages the partnership between the NBA and USA Basketball.

Celtics sign Chris Johnson to second 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard/forward Chris Johnson to a second 10-day contract.

Johnson, a 6’6” guard/forward, has appeared in four games for the Celtics and has averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assist in 26.6 minutes per game. He posted a career-high 12 points against Brooklyn on January 26 and recorded a career-high four steals against Washington on January 22. Johnson originally signed a 10-day contract with the Celtics on January 17 after he had appeared in 20 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League where he had averaged 19.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 block in 37.2 minutes per game.

The Celtics are 15-31 this season, which is the fourth worst record in the league.

Paul Millsap, Kevin Durant named NBA Players of Week through January 26

Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 20, through Sunday, Jan. 26.

Millsap led the Hawks to a 3-1 week behind averages of 21.3 points (ninth in the conference) on .508 shooting from the field, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.5 steals (fifth in the conference) and 2.0 blocks (fourth in the conference). Millsap collected five blocks in a road win over the Orlando Magic on Jan. 22, and filled the stat sheet with 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists on Jan. 20, in a win over the Miami Heat.

Durant led Oklahoma City to three wins during a 4-0 week, having missed the 101-83 win over the Celtics on Jan. 24 (shoulder). He averaged a league-leading 38.0 ppg and added 8.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Durant collected a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists during a 103-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 25.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Brooklyn’s Mirza Teletovic, Charlotte’s Al Jefferson, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Memphis’ Zach Randolph, Miami’s Chris Bosh and LeBron James, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, New York’s Carmelo Anthony, and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross.