January 2015 – Page 5 – NBA Blog

Celtics sign Andre Dawkins to 10-day contract

Celtics sign Andre Dawkins to 10-day contract, and send him to D-League

The Boston Celtics have signed guard Andre Dawkins to a 10-day contract, and have assigned him to the Maine Red Claws in the NBA Development League.

Dawkins, a 6’5” guard, appeared in 11 contests for the Sioux Falls Skyforce this season and averaged a team-high 22.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 36.5 minutes per game, while connecting on .510 (53-104) of his shot attempts from beyond the arc. He tallied a game-high 42 points, including shooting .800 (12-15) from long range, four rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes against the Texas Legends on December 20. Dawkins is the 22nd Gatorade Call-Up from the D-League this season.

Dawkins appeared in four games with the Miami Heat this season and totaled three points, two rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes of action.

truTV orders pilot for a workplace comedy about Shaq

truTV orders pilot for a workplace comedy about Shaq

For those of you who enjoy watching Shaquille O’Neal on television, here’s some good news:

truTV has ordered a pilot for Shaq Inq. (working title), a workplace comedy loosely based on the wild and frenetic business empire of Shaquille O’Neal, who is executive-producing the show with Mike Tollin (Smallville, Arli$$). The series is being produced for truTV by Mandalay Sports Media. Jeremy Garelick (The Wedding Ringer, The Break-Up) will write the pilot, with John Fortenberry (Galavant, Instant Mom) set to direct. Perry Rogers, Colin Smeeton and Michael Parris will render producer services.

This half-hour scripted comedy follows Shaquille O’Neal and the team who runs his sprawling business empire. The offbeat, yet capable, group juggles the mayhem of managing Shaq’s existing products and endorsements while implementing his latest batch of eccentric and oftentimes brilliant business ideas. But while they’re all working towards the same goal, each employee is constantly jockeying for the power and recognition to make the big guy proud.

Dan Kaplow (Trophy Wife, Sin City Saints) and Jon Weinbach (The Other Dream Team, Straight Outta L.A.) are co-executive producers of the pilot.

Tollin said, “Shaquille and I have been friends for 20 years, and his growth as a businessman never ceases to amaze and amuse me.”

“There is no denying Shaq’s multifaceted appeal,” said Chris Linn, president, head of programming for truTV. “Thus, we couldn’t be happier to be collaborating with him, as well as Mike Tollin and Mandalay Sports Media, as we continue to push into new formats.”

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Mirza Teletovic medical update: Out for season

Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic was taken to a local Los Angeles hospital after experiencing shortness of breath during last night’s game versus the Clippers. Following a series of tests including a CT scan, Teletovic was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolus (multiple blood clots in the lungs). He will remain hospitalized in Los Angeles to undergo further diagnostic testing and to begin treatment, which includes blood thinners being administered. Due to the nature of blood thinners, Teletovic will be unable to play for the remainder of the season. Once he is cleared for travel, he will return to Brooklyn. Further updates on his condition will be provided as necessary.

In 40 games this season, Teletovic posted averages of 8.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.3 minutes per game. Over 165 career games (11 starts), the third-year pro holds averages of 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 16.9 minutes per game.

LaMarcus Aldridge thumb injury requires surgery

JANUARY 24, 2015 UPDATE: LaMarcus Aldridge Changes Mind, Puts Off Surgery, Returns to Lineup: LaMarcus Aldridge (ligament tear left thumb) puts surgery on hold; will play tonight versus Washington.

Bad news for the Portland Trail Blazers: They’ll be without star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge for 6-8 weeks.

A second magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirms that Aldridge has a radial collateral ligament tear in his left thumb. He will undergo surgery later this week and is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks.

Aldridge sustained the injury in the second quarter of Portland’s 98-94 win over Sacramento on Monday at the Moda Center.

A three-time NBA All-Star, Aldridge is averaging a team-high 23.2 points (46.2% FG, 51.2% 3PT, 86.3% FT) and 10.2 rebounds to go with 1.9 assists and 1.18 blocked shots in 38 games this season. One of just three players averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds per game, Aldridge was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the weeks ending Dec. 7, and Dec. 21, respectively.

Aldridge passed Jerome Kersey for second on Portland’s all-time rebounding list on Friday at San Antonio. Earlier this season, Aldridge passed Terry Porter for second place on the Trail Blazers’ all-time scoring list. Trailing only Clyde Drexler (18,050 points, 5,339 rebounds) in both categories, Aldridge currently has 11,782 points and 5,095 rebounds in 615 games over nine seasons.

2015 All-Star game starters announced

2015 All-Star game starters announced

2015 East All-Star Starters
Carmelo Anthony, New York
Pau Gasol, Chicago
LeBron James, Cleveland
Kyle Lowry, Toronto
John Wall, Washington
Head coach: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta

2015 West All-Star Starters
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Stephen Curry, Golden State
Anthony Davis, New Orleans
Marc Gasol, Memphis
Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers
Head coach: Steve Kerr, Golden State

MORE INFO, about the voting results, including complete exact vote totals: http://www.insidehoops.com/all-star-voting-results.shtml

Read fan reaction or discuss your opinion in this forum topic.

Grizzlies sign Tyrus Thomas to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed free agent forward Tyrus Thomas to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the Grizzlies’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, according to Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace.

Thomas (6-10, 225) has averaged 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.00 blocks in 26.9 minutes while shooting .588 from the field in two games with Iowa this season. The 28-year-old scored a D-League season-high 15 points in his Energy debut on Jan. 16 at Delaware and posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds on Jan. 18 vs. Erie.

Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Thomas holds NBA career averages of 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.31 blocks in 19.8 minutes in 400 games (129 starts) over seven seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets). A native of Baton Rouge, La., Thomas led Louisiana State University to the 2006 NCAA Final Four as a freshman in his lone season with the Tigers.

Jrue Holiday out 2-4 weeks with leg injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced Wednesday that guard Jrue Holiday is expected to miss the next 2-4 weeks. Additional tests by team physicians yesterday revealed that Holiday developed a stress reaction in his right lower leg. Holiday will be held out of basketball activities until his symptoms improve and will be re-evaluated each week.

In 37 games this season, Holiday averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.7 minutes per game. The 6-4 guard holds career averages of 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 369 contests.

The Pelicans are 21-21 this season. They’re 16th in the league in points per game, and 17th in the league in opponents’ points per game. They’re led by Anthony Davis (24.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.53 spg, 2.95 bpg), Tyreke Evans (17.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.3 apg), Holiday (15.2 ppg, 7.1, 1.62 spg), Ryan Anderson (14.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Eric Gordon (11.8 ppg).

LeBron James trying to recruit Ray Allen to Cavs

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that LeBron James wants Ray Allen in Cleveland, and recently made an attempt to recruit him:

While the principal reason LeBron James visited Miami during his recent two-week rest period was to seek out warmer weather while he rehabbed strains in his left knee and lower back, he also had another item on his agenda.

During James’ Miami jaunt, the four-time MVP met with free-agent guard and former Miami Heat teammate Ray Allen to try to appeal to the league’s all-time leader in 3-pointers again about joining the Cavs this season, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

Allen hasn’t played since his 18th season ended with a Finals loss for the Heat to the San Antonio Spurs in June.

ESPN Radio’s Ryen Russillo reported last month that Allen’s message to teams inquiring for his services earlier in the season was to check back with him in January and he would make his decision to return or not — and which team to join if he did opt for season No. 19 — in February.

Pablo Prigioni not getting playing time lately

The play of Langston Galloway has bumped Pablo Prigioni to the far end of the bench. For now, at least. Stuff can change. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Pablo Prigioni getting few minutes for Knicks lately

With the emergence of rookie guard Langston Galloway, veteran point guard Pablo Prigioni remained buried on the bench.

Prigioni did not play for the second straight game Wednesday during the Knicks’ 98-91 victory over the Sixers after not getting in against New Orleans Monday. This after playing just four minutes in Thursday’s game in London. He has one year and $1.7 million left on his pact, but only $300,000 is guaranteed. The Knicks could cut the 37-year-old Argentine without hurting their 2015 cap situation, or deal him to a playoff contender for a draft pick.

Nevertheless, Knicks coach Derek Fisher said Prigioni’s banishment is temporary.

Shawn Marion plans to retire after this season

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting that Shawn Marion, aka “The Matrix,” will call it a career after this season:

When Shawn Marion headed to the Cleveland bench late in last week’s game at US Airways Center, “The Matrix” was saying goodbye to Phoenix.

Marion said he plans to retire after this season with Cleveland, ending a 15-year NBA career that was mostly spent as a star with the Suns.

When the Suns drafted Marion in 1999, Marion set a goal to play 15 seasons. The 36-year-old believes he could play another three seasons but being away from his first child, 8-month-old Shawn, has convinced him to retire after this season with the Cavaliers.

“I wanted to go out on my terms,” Marion said. “The biggest thing is having a son. I got attached to him. Seeing him periodically is hard. Watching him grow up on pictures and videos is hard.”