Month: November 2014

Patrick Patterson not a fan of sleeved jerseys

Like many players, Patrick Patterson not a fan of sleeved jerseys

Here’s the National Post in Canada reporting on Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson, who appreciates the ability to freely move his arms when playing basketball:

Patrick Patterson not a fan of sleeved jerseys

“For those guys who have broad shoulders, large muscles on their arms, per se, it tends to get tight, real snug,” Patterson said on Tuesday morning when asked what he thought about the Raptors’ alternate jerseys that feature sleeves. “A lot of guys are uncomfortable with it. I wish I would have known ahead of times we are wearing those, because I’d have prepared. It’s for a solid cause. I believe we’re doing it for the right reasons. At the end of the day, I don’t like sleeves.”

Jamal Crawford starting for Clippers lately

Jamal Crawford starting for Clippers lately

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the Clippers, who are a modest 4-3 to start the 2014-15 NBA season. It’s an adjustment, for both Crawford and the team as a whole. As for if it’ll continue, we’ll have to wait and see:

Jamal Crawford starting for Clippers lately

The Clippers are 1-1 since coach Doc Rivers inserted two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford into the starting lineup, replacing Matt Barnes.

Rivers told reporters ahead of Monday night’s 89-85 loss to San Antonio that he made the move for the team, and intimated it was to inject more offense into it.

Crawford scored 20 points on 7 of 16 shooting in Saturday’s 106-102 victory over Portland. But he scored just 10 points on 3 of 13 from the field – he was 1 of 7 from 3-point range – against San Antonio.

Lakers get first win of season

Lakers get first win of season

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the Lakers, who won their first game of the 2014-15 NBA season yesterday and are now 1-5:

The streamers dropped from the Staples Center rafters. Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” blared over the loudspeakers. Fans giddily cheered over both receiving free tacos and witnessing a rare Lakers’ win.

But inside the Lakers’ locker room, the reaction over a 107-92 victory Sunday over the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center hardly showed a team excited over ending their five-game losing streak.

Kobe Bryant offered clipped answers with a stoic demeanor. Jeremy Lin seemed more relieved when his press conference ended, which always attracts a crush of overseas reporters. Carlos Boozer didn’t even bother emerging at his locker room to bask in the win. Lakers coach Byron Scott sounded as businesslike in his first victory as the team’s head coach as he did when the team had its worst start in franchise history in 57 years.

“Nobody was overjoyed in there,” Scott said. “From a standpoint of being [ticked] off and wanting to get a win because of what our record is, it was nice. But other than that, it’s no more than any other win.”

Sixers sign Drew Gordon, waive Malcolm Thomas

Sixers sign Drew Gordon, waive Malcolm Thomas

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed free agent center Drew Gordon from the Delaware 87ers, its NBA Development League affiliate. He is the fourth D-League to NBA “Call-Up” of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived forward Malcolm Thomas.

Gordon appeared in six preseason games for Philadelphia, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game while shooting 64.5% from the floor. He also played for the Sixers entry in the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Since being eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft, Gordon has played overseas. He spent his final two collegiate seasons at New Mexico after transferring from UCLA. Gordon averaged a double-double in both of his seasons with the Lobos, earning Mountain West All-Conference First Team honors as a senior and Second Team distinction as a junior.

Gordon’s younger brother, Aaron, was the fourth overall pick by Orlando in the 2014 NBA Draft.

With Klay Thompson out, Warriors lose first game of season

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting on the Golden State Warriors, who at 5-0 heading into Sunday were the final team in the league that hadn’t lost a game yet this short NBA season. But after a battle with the Phoenix Suns, they’re now 5-1.

Throughout his team’s 5-0 start, head coach Steve Kerr had been harping on the Warriors’ unnecessary turnovers, imploring them to make the simple passes rather than dumb plays “that would make a sixth-grader blush.”

At long last, those miscues cost them a game.

The Warriors’ unbeaten record ended in a flurry of turnovers, on tired legs, as a Golden State team down two starters couldn’t hold on to a 13-point lead on the second night of a back-to-back set.

With Klay Thompson injured and Stephen Curry in foul trouble, the Warriors committed a season-high 27 turnovers — and scored a season-low 16 points in the fourth quarter — as the Suns rallied for a 107-95 win.

“It came back to haunt us,” Kerr said of the poor ball-handling. “You’re not going to win in the league turning it over 26 times. … We were our own worst enemy, and we got what we deserved.”

Curry finished with 28 points, 10 assists and 10 turnovers. Draymond Green added 22 points and tied a career high with four blocks.

Sixers begin NBA season 0-7

Sixers begin NBA season 0-7

The Philadelphia 76ers are in serious rebuilding mode, and aren’t expected to win many games this season. With an 0-7 record, they are the only team in the league through Sunday that hasn’t won a game yet. No huge surprise. All part of the plan. The short-term hope in Philly is that point guard Michael Carter-Williams, when he soon returns, at leats helps make things more competitive.

Here’s the Philadelphia Daily News reporting:

The infamous 1972-73 Sixers have company.

For the second time in franchise history, the Sixers are winless through seven games.

Two days after a one-basket loss to the Chicago Bulls, a trip across the border only amplified the 2014-15 Sixers’ futility.

The Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors walked all over the shorthanded Sixers last night en route to a 120-88 victory in front of 18,470 at the Air Canada Centre.

The 32-point loss is the largest margin of defeat for this listless Sixers squad.

“That was not us. We give Toronto credit. We came in here and got manhandled,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said, adding, “we got jumped and we didn’t have any answers.”

Celtics assign Dwight Powell to D-League

Celtics assign Dwight Powell to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned forward Dwight Powell to the Maine Red Claws.

Powell, a 6’11 forward, appeared in six contests for the Celtics during the preseason and averaged 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game over that span.

The Celtics, who are rebuilding their team and not expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs, are off to a solid start, compiling a 3-3 record in the season, which began less than two weeks ago.

Matthew Dellavedova injured, out 4-6 weeks

Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova injured, out 4-6 weeks

Matthew Dellavedova injured, out 4-6 weeks

Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova experienced a left knee injury during the 4th quarter of the Cavaliers game in Portland vs. the Trailblazers on Tuesday, November 4th.

He did not play in the remaining two games of the Cavaliers road trip this past week in Utah and Denver.

After returning to Cleveland, Dellavedova received additional evaluation by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. The results confirmed a left knee MCL sprain. He is undergoing a period of treatment and rehabilitation and is currently projected to be out of action for four to six weeks.

His status will be updated as appropriate.