January 2015 – Page 12 – NBA Blog

Knicks waive Lou Amundson, Lance Thomas, Alex Kirk

The New York Knicks have waived forwards Lou Amundson and Lance Thomas and center Alex Kirk, President Phil Jackson announced. All three players were acquired as part of a three-team trade on January 5, 2015.

After a season of struggle that has led to a lot of losing, the Knicks appear to be in full rebuild mode, parting ways with Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith. The question is if Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani or even Carmelo Anthony will remain on the roster. It’s likely that the team will keep Melo, while attempting to say goodbye to almost anybody else who makes more than a minimum salary.

Jazz sign Elliot Williams to 10-day contract

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams of the NBA Development League’s Santa Cruz Warriors to a 10-day contract. Williams becomes the NBA’s 13th overall NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2014-15 season and the 11th different player to be called up. Per team policy, financial terms were not released. Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.

The 25-year-old Williams (6-5, 190, Memphis) appeared in 16 games (all starts) for Santa Cruz this season, averaging 21.3 points (ninth in the D-League), 4.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists (sixth in the D-League) and 1.3 steals in 37.2 minutes per contest. He recorded five double-doubles and scored in double figures in all 16 games. Williams scored 20-plus points in 10 games and 30-or-more points twice. Williams attended 2014 training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in five games (three starts), before being waived on Oct. 27.

Williams spent the 2013-14 season with the 76ers. He appeared in 67 games (two starts), averaging 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He recorded 10-plus points on 17 occasions.

Originally selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Williams has played in 91 games (two starts) with Portland and Philadelphia, averaging 5.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.

A native of Memphis, Tenn. and former McDonald’s All-American, Williams played one season at Duke (2008-09) before transferring to the University of Memphis (2009-10). He averaged 17.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.3 minutes his sophomore season at Memphis. Williams was named the 2010 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and earned 2010 Conference USA First Team honors before becoming an early entry into the NBA Draft.

Williams becomes the 14th D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, and the third this season.

He will wear uniform #25 for the Jazz.

Jazz waive Patrick Christopher

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived guard/forward Patrick Christopher. Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 14 players.

Christopher (6-5, 219, California) was called up by Utah from the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy on Dec. 10 and appeared in four games (one start) for the Jazz, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.3 minutes.

Heat waive guard Andre Dawkins

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived guard Andre Dawkins.

Dawkins appeared in four games with the HEAT this season totaling three points, two rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes of action while shooting 1-of-6 from the field, all from downtown. He was originally signed as a free agent by Miami on September 23, 2014.

Another NBA scoring milestone for Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks handled the Nets in Brooklyn Monday. And in that victory, their living legend kept rising on a historical level. Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on forward Dirk Nowitzki, who continues to move up the all-time NBA scoring list:

Dirk Nowitzki labored offensively all night – until he decided it was time to ice the game. It was absolutely fitting that Nowitzki passed Moses Malone for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with a 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime. Think about that. Of the nearly 4,000 players who have ever slipped on an NBA jersey, only six have scored more points than Nowitzki. The list is a bunch of one-name wonders: Kareem, Mailman, Kobe, Michael, Wilt and Shaq. And then Dirk. Simply remarkable.

Damian Lillard continues to shine for Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the league’s best teams these first few months, and there’s no reason for their status to diminish anytime soon. Especially with young star guard Damian Lillard showing no fear, especially when it matters most. Here’s the Oregonian with more:

The Blazers’ All-Star point guard added another memorable and clutch performance to his late-game resume, willing the Blazers to a 98-94 victory over the Lakers Monday night before a sellout crowd of 19,827.

Lillard finished with 39 points, six rebounds and five assists and, as he is prone to do, saved his best for when it mattered most. After that All-Star pow-wow with Aldridge, Lillard exploded for 16 of the Blazers’ final 22 points, nailing back-to-back three-pointers before to start the run, before finishing with timely drives and game-sealing free throws. When it was all said and done, he made 5 of 8 shots, including 3 of 5 three-pointers, in the fourth quarter, enhancing his reputation as one of the NBA’s best late-game players.

“He saved out butts again,” center Chris Kaman said.

It wasn’t just the sheer volume of the fourth-quarter scoring that made Monday night’s performance so clutch. It was also the magnitude of some of the shots.

When needed, Andre Miller can get buckets

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting on veteran Wizards guard Andre Miller (4.4 ppg in 12.8 minutes per game this season), a pass-first player with limited leaping ability who still manages to score when necessary:

Miller understands his skill set. He rarely shoots jumpers — he made his first three-pointer on his fifth attempt of the season Friday — and utilizes a remarkable post-up game to overwhelm point guards who are usually not accustomed to defending in the post. He did it against Westbrook on Friday and against New Orleans’s Austin Rivers on Monday when the Wizards needed it the most.

“I think it’s just the rhythm of the game, how it goes, how it pans out,” Miller said. “It depends on how the defense is playing and what the team needs at the time and I kind of just play from there.”

Warriors enjoying an amazing season

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle raving about the 27-5 Golden State Warriors, who have played better basketball than anybody so far this season and finally deserve to be taken seriously in championship-contender discussions:

These are the new Warriors. The ones who demand your attention and all the superlatives you can lavish upon them. The team that doesn’t miss a beat — even when it loses arguably its key player, Andrew Bogut.

“They’re the best team in basketball,” Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks said, while refusing to excuse his team for an off night. “They’re a great team. They outplayed us.”

Though their play and the record shows that’s true, it’s still hard to get used to hearing such words spoken about the Golden State Warriors.

This is becoming more than merely a special start. This is now, more than two months into the season, becoming mind-blowing. The Warriors are looking like a championship contender.

Nets waive Brandon Davies

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Brandon Davies, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Davies was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers on December 11, 2014. In seven appearances for the Nets, Davies posted averages of 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 6.3 minutes per game.

At 5-32, Knicks have worst record in NBA

The New York Knicks are rebuilding, and have suffered lots of injuries all season, and were short-handed yesterday as a trade was being finalized. Still, the team wasn’t expected to lose quite like this. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

The Knicks finally hit bottom.

Derek Fisher’s Knicks made ignominious history Monday and finally fell to the basement of the NBA, even below the 76ers.

In the wake of Phil Jackson gutting the roster, the Knicks dressed nine players and fell 105-83 to the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum to drop to 5-32.

The Knicks’ loss and Sixers’ victory over Cleveland put the Knicks below Philadelphia with the worst winning percentage in the league (.135), while tying a franchise record with their 12th consecutive loss. The 1984-85 team starring Ken “Animal’’ Bannister also lost 12 games in a row.