Month: October 2014

Jared Dudley a key veteran for Bucks this season

The Milwaukee Bucks were horrible last season, and although not a lot is expected of them in 2014-15, they do have some nice young pieces, and a deeper bench than before. And with all the young kids on the squad, veteran leadership is important. Enter Jared Dudley. Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting:

Jared Dudley a key veteran for Bucks this season

Jared Dudley knows he has a vital role to play with a young Milwaukee Bucks team this season.

The 29-year-old veteran is needed to knock down some crucial shots and stretch opposing defenses with his three-point prowess.

And Bucks coach Jason Kidd also is counting on Dudley to be a mentor for the youngsters, including 19-year-olds Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s no coincidence Dudley is stationed next to Parker, the No. 2 overall draft pick and rookie of the year candidate, in the Bucks locker room.

Dudley played his part perfectly Tuesday night, hitting all 5 three-pointers he attempted in the Bucks’ 106-100 loss to the LeBron-less Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

Doc Rivers not worried about Clippers preseason losses

Wins and losses don’t matter in NBA preseason. It’s a warmup period, designed to let stars stretch their legs, adjust to some teammates, and bench players to enjoy inflated minutes. The Los Angeles Clippers are 0-3. No big deal, we say. And head coach Doc Rivers appears to agree. Here’s the Orange County Register reporting:

The defense has struggled – allowing 111 points per game. The offense has been inconsistent. The Clippers have been beaten on the boards and have been auditioning small forwards on a nightly basis.

So obviously, Rivers would be concerned, right?

“I’m not that concerned right now. Honestly,” he said. “I just think we’re trying to try some things and do a lot of different things, and we’ll figure it all out.”

The Clippers, who didn’t practice Tuesday, have five exhibition games left, and Rivers said the team knew things could be rocky early.

“We told our guys at the beginning that we’ll see how it all works out,” he said.

Grizzlies waive Luke Hancock

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Luke Hancock, the team announced today.

Hancock (6-6, 200) recorded two points in nine minutes in his lone preseason appearance on Oct. 9 at Houston. Undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Louisville product signed with the Grizzlies as a free agent on Sept. 25.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 18 players.

Bucks center Johnny O`Bryant has knee sprain

Bucks center Johnny O’Bryant underwent an MRI over the weekend on his right knee, which revealed a grade III sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL). O’Bryant initially suffered the injury in the third quarter of Milwaukee’s game at Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 9. No surgery is required, and O’Bryant has already begun the rehabilitation process. No timetable has been set for his return.

O’Bryant had appeared in two preseason games for the Bucks and posted two points and three rebounds in 14 total minutes of action.

Derrick Favors trying to extend shooting range

Utah Jazz big-man Derrick Favors averaged 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game last season. For 2014-15 and beyond, he hopes for a better jumpshot. Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune reporting:

“I knew I could make shots between the free-throw line area and 10-15 feet,” Favors said after shootaround on Monday. “But I’m trying to extend it to maybe 18 [feet], toward the 3-point line. I try to keep working on it, keep making shots … so hopefully in the future I can move out to the 3-point line.”

Jazz coach Quin Snyder has given big man Enes Kanter the green light to fire from distance this year, but he hasn’t quite asked Favors to do the same.

“I think it’s just taking good shots,” Snyder said. “I think it’s a process. He’s probably 15-18 [feet] right now. That’s my feeling. He and I haven’t talked about in a whole lot of detail. It’s not like he’s feeling like he wants to go out and shoot 3s. We’re comfortable with him taking open shots. I think that keeps people honest. It allows him to attack in other ways too.”

The jumpshot was Favors’ primary focus this summer.

“I took a lot of jump shots this offseason,” he said. “That was my whole plan this offseason was to work on my jumper. Around the free-throw line area, around the baseline. Try to add that to my game so guys respect me more, so it can help me out on my driving game. … During the summer I probably took maybe 500 shots a day, every day.”

With Kevin Durant out, enjoy the Russell Westbrook show

Here’s the Washington Post reporting on the Oklahoma City Thunder:

Russell Westbrook has never really had the chance to be appreciated on his own merit, away from Kevin Durant or as a part of some talented ensemble cast on Team USA or at all-star games. For that reason, his accomplishments – and there are many – are overlooked or undervalued, giving Westbrook a desperate desire to make people take notice, either with ferocious play or eccentric clothing.

Westbrook’s contributions are treasured immensely by the Oklahoma City Thunder and especially Durant, who chose to make his stubborn, snappy, pit bull of a point guard the final teammate mentioned during that memorable, tear-inducing most valuable player speech. Durant expressed his love for Westbrook because he respects the passion, endless energy and relentless spirit to give the Thunder everything else the four-time scoring champion can’t.

While Durant has typically been the rudder of the Thunder’s steady, glorious warship, navigating the team through dangerous waters, Westbrook has been the fiery cannon to push back all other threats. But now that Durant is going to be sidelined for at least six weeks with a broken right foot, Westbrook will now have the chance to assume both roles in an effort to keep the Thunder afloat in the highly competitive Western Conference. He could also possibly earn the respect – at least among casual fans – that often gets drowned out by complaints about his shot selection, sometimes erratic play and unwillingness to just get out of Durant’s way.

Celtics: Gerald Wallace has bone bruise in knee

The Boston Celtics aren’t counting on Gerald Wallace for much this season. The veteran averaged 24.4 minutes per game last season yet scored just 5.1 points per outing. And he’ll probably play fewer minutes in 2014-15. Still, better healthy than not. Here’s ESPN Boston with an update:

Celtics: Gerald Wallace has bone bruise in knee

Celtics veteran swingman Gerald Wallace underwent an MRI Sunday that revealed a bone bruise in his knee. After sitting out Saturday’s game against the Knicks, he’s expected to miss both of this week’s preseason games as well.

“We were going to sit him anyway on Saturday and, actually, he mentioned it to [trainer] Ed [Lacerte] in the pregame … he has a little knee swelling,” said Stevens. “So they did an MRI [Sunday], he’s got a small bone bruise. So he’s going to be out, definitely the two games this week and I think he’s looking at it week-to-week right now.”

The Celtics have been thin on available swingmen. Rookie James Young strained his left hamstring before the team’s exhibition opener and is still considered week-to-week. “James Young is the same,” said Stevens. “Progressing well, but still probably a week away.”

Bulls coach says Derrick Rose still needs improvement

The Chicago Bulls are a very good team but for them to be great, point guard Derrick Rose needs to be his former superstar self again. Without D-Rose at his explosive and effective best, the team simply lacks the offensive firepower to rise to a championship level.

We’re only 1.5 weeks into preseason, so there’s no need to panic, but here’s ESPN Chicago with quotes from Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau:

Derrick Rose continues to take incremental steps forward in his return from a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, but Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau would like to see his star point guard play better.

“The thing is, in order for him to get his timing he’s got to play and he’s got to work,” Thibodeau said after Monday’s shootaround. “Right now, his timing’s not there. So it’s a big adjustment for everyone because everyone has to get used to what he does on the floor. And the only way you can do that is by being out there. So we’ll see.”

Rose played more minutes during Saturday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks, as did Joakim Noah. After playing 14 minutes in each of the first two contests, Rose played 22 minutes, while Noah played 24 minutes after missing Tuesday’s game as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.

Philadelphia 76ers promote Rod Baker to scout

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced they have called up Delaware 87ers Head Coach Rod Baker and promoted him to join the Sixers front office as a scout.

Baker brings over 35 years of experience on the professional and collegiate level to the Sixers. Prior to his season with the Sevens, Baker was an assistant coach with the Bakersfield Jam and spent seven seasons as head coach of the Rochester RazorSharks of the Premier Basketball League, where he was named Coach of the Year three times.

A graduate of Holy Cross, Baker has an extensive college coaching background. He began his career as an assistant at Columbia University and has also coached at Tufts University, Seton Hall, UC Irvine, Cincinnati and Rutgers.