Month: March 2014

OJ Mayo suspended for striking Greg Stiemsma

OJ Mayo suspended for striking Greg Stiemsma

Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo has been suspended one game without pay for forcibly striking New Orleans Pelicans center Greg Stiemsma in the throat, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Mayo was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected occurred with 1:52 remaining in the first quarter of Milwaukee’s 112-104 loss to the Pelicans on Friday, March 7, at Smoothie King Center.

Mayo will serve his suspension tonight when the Bucks host the Washington Wizards at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

To view the play, click on this link.

Kings sign Orlando Johnson to second 10-day contract

Kings sign Orlando Johnson to second 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings today signed guard Orlando Johnson to a second 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

After signing a 10-day contract with the Kings on February 26, Johnson is averaging 1.8 points (3-16 FG, 1-5 3pt, 2-4 FT), 0.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 9.0 minutes per game in five games off the bench. This season, he is averaging 2.3 points (.321 FG%, .196 3pt%, .731 FT%), 1.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 9.0 minutes per game in 43 contests as a reserve with Indiana and Sacramento. Johnson averaged 2.4 points (.344 FG%, .195 3pt%, .773 FT%), 1.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 9.0 minutes per game with the Pacers before being waived on February 20, 2014.

Originally drafted by the Kings in the second round (36th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Johnson’s draft rights were traded to the Pacers for cash considerations on draft night, June 28, 2012.

Mavs lose big lead but still beat Trail Blazers

Dirk Nowitzki says he wasn’t thinking about the last time the Dallas Mavericks blew a 30-point lead and lost.

The biggest collapse in franchise history was a long time ago, and he was too busy trying to make sure it didn’t happen again.

Nowitzki scored 22 points, Devin Harris hit the go-ahead shot in the final minute and the Mavericks rallied in the fourth quarter after blowing their huge first-half lead, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 103-98 Friday night.

“You’re just out there battling,” Nowitzki said. “They’re a very, very good team. They came back a lot quicker than we wanted it to be, but we kept fighting and got the win.”

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 30 for Portland, including 18 in the third quarter when the Blazers went in front for the first time at 69-67 after trailing 44-14 early in the second quarter.

— Associated Press

Despite turnovers, Celtics beat Nets

Jared Sullinger was at a loss to explain how his Boston Celtics could win while committing a season-high 28 turnovers.

“I honestly don’t know,” he said.

Try this: 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds by Rajon Rondo, a 62-37 rebounding advantage by the Celtics and a horrible 4-for-30 shooting performance on 3-pointers by the Nets.

The result was a 91-84 victory in which Brooklyn never led and had its four-game winning streak stopped Friday night.

The rebounding “was obviously the difference in the game for us, from our standpoint. That, and they missed the 3s,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said. “I’d like to say that it was this outstanding 3-point defense, but I think when you re-watch it, it’s a lot of open 3s they missed.”

— Associated Press

Knicks beat Jazz by 27 points

There’s little margin for error, and the New York Knicks know it.

They need a big finish to the regular season, and after the way they’ve started the last two games, maybe they have one in them.

Carmelo Anthony scored 18 of his 29 points in the first quarter, sending the Knicks to a rare easy night in a 108-81 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday.

With a long way to go to get back into playoff position, the Knicks won their second straight following a seven-game losing streak. They began a favorable portion of their schedule by opening an early double-digit lead and remaining comfortably ahead the rest of the way.

— Associated Press

Knicks reach out to Phil Jackson

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Knicks, who apparently want Phil Jackson involved with their squad in some capacity:

Phil Jackson has turned down the Knicks’ offer to coach the team, but he could soon return to the organization as a front-office executive.

The Knicks reached out to Jackson to discuss his future plans, according to multiple sources. Though they would prefer to have him coach the team and offered him the job, according to one source, the discussions evolved into Jackson joining the Knicks in some form of a hybrid front-office role.

The Post has learned Jackson needs another knee replacement — his second — which has ruled out a return to the bench for the former Bulls and Lakers coach.

A source close to Jackson said he undoubtedly will be a general manager or team consultant next season, but his coaching days are over. His talks with the Knicks are still ongoing but could be resolved next week.

Joakim Noah declines to discuss alleged recruitment of Melo

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting on the topic of Joakim Noah allegedly telling Carmelo Anthony to come join the Bulls after his time with the Knicks wraps up:

Joakim Noah does not want to address the “gossip” surrounding a conversation he reportedly had All-Star Weekend with New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.

“You want me to address that?” Noah said at Friday’s shootaround in response to a question about an ESPN.com report Thursday that said he told Anthony he could win a championship if he signed with the Bulls as a free agent after the season. “I don’t feel like addressing it. I really have nothing to say about it.”

Noah was asked if the reported recruiting pitch for Anthony had, in fact, happened, and he didn’t deny the conversation took place.

“Doesn’t matter,” Noah said. “What does that have to do with our team right now? It doesn’t matter.”

Expectations sink lower for the 76ers

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the 76ers, whose main recent accomplishment has been to get even worse. Which didn’t even seem possible. Yet the Sixers have done it:

Not only have the Sixers been unable to win as of late, they have been unable to even keep it close.

The team, which is currently on a 15-game losing streak, has lost those 15 straight games by an average of almost twenty points per (19.8)!

They haven’t won a game since the end of January, and even that took a last second shot by Evan Turner, who has since been traded.

Not only are the Sixers getting beat, they’re getting blown out. It has become difficult to watch even for the most diehard fans of the franchise, and there’s no real reprieve in sight this season.

Heat point guards need to step up

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the Miami Heat, who have dropped their last two games, both to good teams — the Spurs and Rockets. No huge deal, but here’s one thing that stood out:

Heat point guards need to step up

Another glaring blemish during the losing streak has been the play of point guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

They were badly outplayed by Spurs guard Tony Parker and the Rockets’ Patrick Beverley the past two games.

“It’s been off the last two games,” Chalmers said. “We’ve got to do better.”

Cole and Chalmers have combined to score 13 points on 5 of 23 shooting while committing seven turnovers. The opposing point guards averaged 18 points.

“We’ve got to get back on track, find a way to get back on track,” Chalmers said. “It starts with me. I’m the starting point guard. I just got to turn it up. It’s just been one of those trips. We’ve got to get out to a better start. That starts with me. I’ve got to make sure we got off to a better start.”