February 2014 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

Should Taj Gibson start ahead of Carlos Boozer for Bulls?

Here’s the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reporting on the Bulls frontcourt rotation. It’s assumed Carlos Boozer will continue to start ahead of Taj Gibson. But for fun, ponder another possibility:

Carlos Boozer said Wednesday he expects to play against Brooklyn, the Bulls’ last game before the all-star break. He’s missed the past three contests with a left calf strain.

“I think I will (play),” Boozer said before the “Evening with the Bulls” fundraiser at the United Center. “The break will be good for it. (But) if I’m healthy, I want to play.”

A better question is will he be the starter when he’s healthy again. Taj Gibson averaged 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4 assists during the past three games, while the Bulls had two of their highest-scoring first quarters of the season in the past two outings against Atlanta and L.A. Lakers.

Asked if Boozer is still the starter, coach Tom Thibodeau gave a straight answer, with a qualifier.

“Yeah. Again I have to know what the minutes restrictions are,” Thibodeau said.

Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive involved in NBA All-Star tech summit

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on the tech summit at upcoming 2014 All-Star Weekend:

The list of other notables scheduled to attend the four-hour session include Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, Yahoo CEO Melissa Mayer and Brian Kopp of Sports Solutions. The annual gathering, which is invitation-only and continues to gain significance with the increasing importance of analytics within the industry, isn’t strictly for stats experts, though. Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley will be seated within elbow distance of the tech industry heavyweights. Other NBA owners and business experts also routinely attend.

LeBron James, an immortal basketball great?

Here’s the Washington Post reporting on NBA star LeBron James, who still feels like a king:

By the time his NBA career ends, LeBron James is confident he won’t be remembered as merely King James, he’ll be an immortal great worthy of the hoops version of Mt. Rushmore.

“I’m going to be one of the top four that’s ever played this game, for sure,” LeBron James said in an NBA TV interview to be shown Monday. “And if they don’t want me to have one of those top four spots, they’d better find another spot on that mountain. Somebody’s gotta get bumped, but that’s not for me to decide. That’s for the architects.”

Who is the best teammate Dirk Nowitzki has ever had?

Here’s one take from ESPN Dallas on Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and the type of help he’s had:

The hodgepodge of players such as Michael Finley, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, O.J. Mayo, Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler leaves a very mixed bag to select from. It also shines a light on the fact Nowitzki has had to carry the load in Dallas without legitimate, surefire star support. It comes down to Steve Nash, before the point guard hit his MVP stride, and Jason Kidd, returning after he had passed his prime. Nash was the perfect teammate for Nowitzki earlier in his career, and Kidd was just as perfect later in Nowitzki’s career. I’m going to go with Kidd. While Nash could shoot the lights out, Kidd had the better all-around game out of the two point guards. As Nash helped Nowitzki grow as a player, Kidd helped guide him to immortality as a champion.

2014 NBA All-Star data

NBA All-Star 2014 will bring together the league’s most talented players for a global celebration, transforming New Orleans into the center of the basketball universe. Three days of live game action will culminate with the 63rd NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on Sunday, Feb. 16.TNT will televise the All-Star Game for a 12th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 29th season of All-Star coverage. Fans in 215 countries and territories and in 47 languages will be able to experience a weeklong celebration of the game through an array of digital technologies offered by NBA Digital, TNT and ESPN. The following is a look at NBA All-Star 2014 by the numbers:

NBA All-Star in New Orleans

2 — New Orleans has hosted two NBA All-Star Games (2008, 2014).
3 — NBA All-Star 2014 marks only the second time that the Sprite Slam Dunk will feature three All-Star Game participants – John Wall (WAS), Damian Lillard (POR) and Paul George (IND). (M. Jordan, D. Wilkins, C. Drexler – 1988).
5 — Portland’s Damian Lillard, first player to participate in five All-Star events.
77 — NBA All-Star 2014 performers have received a combined 77 Grammy nominations (Pharrell – 25; Earth, Wind and Fire – 20; Dr. John – 15; Janelle Monae – 6; Kendrick Lamar – 7; Gary Clark Jr. – 2; Trombone Shorty – 1, Mack Wilds – 1).

All-Star Global Reach

· 1,800 — More than 1,800 media will cover events, including 265 international reporters.

· 90 — More than 90 international television and radio outlets and websites will be onsite, with 16 doing live courtside commentary including in Arabic, French, Greek, Hungarian, Mandarin, and Polish.

NBA on TNT

12 and 29 — This is the 12th consecutive year the All-Star Game will be shown in prime time on TNT, and 29th season Turner Sports has provided All-Star coverage.

· 360 — For the first time, TNT will utilize the innovative freeD™ – free dimensional video – technology providing fans a 360-degree defining replay view of the action.

NBA Digital

· 140 — NBA TV, NBA.com and NBA Mobile will present more than 140 hours of All-Star coverage.

NBA Social Media

500M — Over 500 million followers and likes combined across all league, team, and player pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Sina, and Tencent that will have access to All-Star.

NBA Cares

· 3,000 – The NBA Cares All-Star Community Caravan, led by more than 3,000 NBA family members, partners and volunteers, will include four days of hands-on community service, featuring more than 35 projects.

NBA All-Star Jam Session

· 500,000 — Jam Session boasts over 500,000 square feet and more than 40 attractions.

80,000 — More than 80,000 fans will attend Jam Session over the course of four days.

NBA Players and Legends

1,416,419 and 10 — The Heat’s LeBron James was the leading vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program presented by Sprint, with 1,416,419 votes. James will be making his 10th All-Star appearance.

Lakers fail to sell out another game at Staples Center

Here’s the Los Angeles Times blog reporting on the Lakers, who usually sell out their games. But this isn’t your average Laker season.

The most compelling number to watch in the Lakers’ box scores the rest of the season could be home attendance.

The Lakers failed to sell out a game Tuesday for the second time this season when they drew a season-low 18,209 against the Utah Jazz, ending a 17-game sellout streak dating to November. The previous non-sellout against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 12 ended a far more impressive streak of 270 consecutive regular-season games (and 320 including the playoffs) going back to December 2006.

The Lakers rank eighth in the NBA in home attendance, averaging 18,937 fans per game. The Clippers have sold out every game this season and rank seventh in league attendance, averaging 19,196 fans. The Chicago Bulls lead the league with an average of 21,639 fans.

Spurs sign Shannon Brown to second 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Shannon Brown to a second 10-day contract.

In his first stint with the Silver and Black Brown saw action in six games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

The eight-year NBA veteran has also played for the Phoenix Suns (2011-13), L.A. Lakers (2009-11), Charlotte (2008-09), Chicago (2007-08) and Cleveland (2006-08). For his career Brown has appeared in 380 games, averaging 8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.5 minutes. The Illinois native was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with 25th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Hawks sign Cartier Martin to second 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Cartier Martin to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Martin has appeared in 27 games (two starts) with the Hawks this season, averaging 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes (.415 3FG%, .821 FT%). He has also played in six contests this year with the Chicago Bulls, and averaged 2.5 points in 7.9 minutes (.625 FG%, .600 3FG%).

On the season, Martin has played in 33 total games (two starting assignments), putting up 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.3 minutes (.426 3FG% – tied for ninth in the NBA, .781 FT%).

Jared Sullinger, Kevin Durant named NBA Players of Week through February 9

jared sullinger won east nba player of week

Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 3, through Sunday, Feb. 9.

Sullinger helped the Celtics to a 2-1 week, which included wins over the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings. He averaged 20.3 points (13th in the conference), 12.7 rebounds (second in the conference) and 1.67 blocks (fourth in the conference). Sullinger posted a point-rebound double-double in all three games, including a 31-point, 16-rebound effort on Feb. 7, when the Celtics topped the Kings 99-89 at TD Garden.

Durant led the Thunder to a 3-1 week, which included wins over Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. He averaged 31.8 points (second in the conference), 9.0 assists (second in the conference) and 8.0 rebounds. Durant posted two-double-doubles, including a 41-point, 10-rebound effort in which he added nine assists on Feb. 9, as the Thunder beat the Knicks 112-100, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee, Charlotte’s Al Jefferson, Detroit’s Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, Houston’s Dwight Howard, Indiana’s David West, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and San Antonio’s Patty Mills.

Pistons interim coach John Loyer confident that players know and trust him

Here’s Michigan Live on the Detroit Pistons, who this past weekend said goodbye to head coach Maurice Cheeks:

John Loyer isn’t going to recreate the Detroit Pistons in time for tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

He’ll settle for players just giving him the respect he believes he has earned from them in two-plus seasons as a Pistons assistant.

“Players figure things out,” Loyer said today after shootaround at the practice facility. “They know, whether you’re a head coach or an assistant coach, one, whether you know your stuff; two, whether you’re in it for the right things; three, can you make them better; and four, are you a good leader. Guys figure that out and I’ll take my chances with what they’ve figured out over the last few years.”

Loyer, an assistant the last two years under Lawrence Frank, and this year under Maurice Cheeks, was promoted to interim head coach when Cheeks was fired Sunday.

Loyer is expected to serve out the remainder of this season as interim coach and said he is “ready for the challenge” and that Detroit “is where I want to be.”