October 2015 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

Coach Wittman discusses latest Wizards win

The Washington Wizards beat PASCHOALOTTO/BAURU 134-100 in preseason yesterday. Here’s what Wizards head coach Randy Wittman said after the game:

Randy Wittman on the game: “It is good for us to figure out how they play, and it forced us to switch and play a lot of big on big switching and one-two switching for the first time in the three games we played so far. And we had to defend 100 pick and rolls, which we need to continue to get better at. So I thought it was good to play a team like this, they stretched the floor and shot a lot of threes. A lot of things I thought that helped us tonight.”

Wittman on Kelly Oubre Jr: “He’s a young kid, a rookie, and he’s learning and I love his attitude. He hasn’t put his head down, even though he hasn’t got off to the type of start in terms of numbers I’m sure he wanted to. But he’s out there fighting and he’s out here every day.”

Wittman on Josh Harrellson: “He knows how to play, he’s a very smart player and he can stretch the floor. He has been doing it a lot in practice, just playing and being in the right spot at the right time. I told him today I needed him to play more than ten minutes and not foul out. He has been real solid.”

Wittman on defensive improvements: “Our communication and transition were much better, and we were better defending the pick and roll and communicating together. We are at our best when we have all five players playing together.”

Lakers beat Maccabi Haifa 126-83

Here’s the OC Register reporting on a Lakers preseason win:

Kobe Bryant scored 21 points in 19 minutes and six of his teammates scored in double figures as the Lakers rolled to a 126-83 win over Israel’s Maccabi Haifa on Sunday at Staples Center.

Bryant shot an efficient 6-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers.

Roy Hibbert tallied 16 rebounds to go with 8 points and 5 assists.

It was a breakout night for many, and especially appreciated after the Lakers lost their first three preseason games.

Julius Randle showing off handles in preseason

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting on a key member of the Lakers youth movement:

This summer, Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott came to Julius Randle with an order.

“I told him every time he gets a defensive rebound, I want him to push it,” Scott said Sunday following his team’s 126-83 preseason win over Maccabi Haifa at Staples Center here.

It’s not typical for a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward to have the green light to initiate fast breaks all by himself.

“True,” Scott said with a smile.

But that’s precisely what Randle has done on numerous possessions throughout this preseason, and his agility, athleticism and ball-handling skills have been one of the biggest highlights — and biggest surprises — for the Lakers, continually impressing his teammates, coaches and fans alike.

Pelicans sign Jerome Jordan

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed free agent center Jerome Jordan.

Jordan, 7-0, 253, appeared in 44 games for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2014-15 season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game.

Drafted 44th overall out of the University of Tulsa by Milwaukee in the 2010 NBA Draft, Jordan has appeared in 65 career regular season NBA games with Brooklyn and New York, holding averages of 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per contest. Jordan has also spent time in the NBA Development League with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Reno Bighorns and Erie BayHawks, in addition to playing internationally in Serbia, Slovenia, Italy and the Philippines.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 19.

Hawks waive Arsalan Kazemi and Edgar Sosa

The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on Arsalan Kazemi and Edgar Sosa, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

Each player appeared in one preseason contest.

Lots of players around the league were signed to non-guaranteed contracts that merely brought them onto the team’s training camp/preseason roster. The vast majority of them will be waived in the next few weeks as teams trim their rosters for the regular season.

Daniel Gibson sticks up for Matt Barnes

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Matt Barnes vs. Derek Fisher drama:

NBA bad boy Matt Barnes is getting support off the court after beating up Knicks coach Derek Fisher for dating his ex.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel “Boobie” Gibson said Friday that he has no problem with what Barnes did because he would have done the same thing.

“You don’t want nobody that’s been around you’’ dating your former girlfriend or wife, Gibson told Power 105.1 radio. “You crossing the line’’ by dating them.

Cavs sign Dionte Christmas

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Dionte Christmas to a contract, General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Christmas (6-5, 205) last played for the French professional basketball club, Paris-Levallois of LNB Pro A. He appeared in 42 games (two starts) with the team, averaging 8.9 points on .451 shooting from the field, including a .380 mark from the three-point line, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.4 minutes per game.

Since going undrafted out of Temple in 2009, Christmas has played professionally in Israel, Turkey, Czech Republic, Greece, Russia, Italy and France. He has also appeared in 31 NBA games, all with the Phoenix Suns in 2013-14, when he averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per game.

Kevin Durant looks healthy in preseason

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on Thunder star forward Kevin Durant, who is coming off major injury and fortunately looks like himself again so far:

The first dunk was uncontested, the kind he’s done in practice gyms for weeks. During the third quarter of his first game inside an OKC arena in more than seven months, Kevin Durant jumped a passing lane, sped by a retreating defender and dropped in a dunk with the type of ease that comes when you’re 6-foot-11 with an even longer wingspan.

But the second jam was much more powerful and encouraging.

Two possessions later, Durant shook a defender with a lefty in and out dribble, darted into the paint and, after spotting the rotating big, gathered with both feet, rose and hammered one through, landing, posing and pausing to enjoy the crowd’s roar.

It served as the final two of his 13 points during the Thunder’s 111-81 rout of Fenerbahce Ulker on Friday night and the greatest sign that the star forward is rounding into athletic form this preseason.

Utah Jazz holding open practice October 16

The Utah Jazz will hold a free open practice on Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at EnergySolutions Arena. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and no ticket is needed for admission.

The event will give Jazz fans an inside look at a Jazz practice and will feature returnees Trevor Booker, Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles, 2015 first round draft pick Trey Lyles, as well as rookies Raul Neto and Tibor Pleiss.

Head Coach Quin Snyder will lead the practice and wear a microphone to describe the drills and real-game scenarios that they will showcase. Jazz radio broadcaster David Locke will also be on hand to interview players throughout the evening.

Select concession stands will be open during the event, including new food options, such as Chick-fil-A and CupBop Korean BBQ. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be discounted 10 percent.

Melo looking good in preseason

Health is the most important thing for all of us. You. Me. And professional basketball players, too. Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks and star forward Carmelo Anthony:

After undergoing knee surgery in late February, Carmelo Anthony didn’t shoot a basketball for nearly five months.

He seems to be making up for lost time over the past few days.

Anthony has made 18 of his first 25 shots of the preseason, including 10 of 15 on Friday night against the Washington Wizards.

What’s behind the hot start?

“The most important thing is being healthy,” Anthony said late Friday night. “When you’re healthy, everything kind of falls into place mentally. There’s a lot of clarity for me at this moment where I can just play ball and not worry about [a] tick-tack injury or having surgery or things like that — and I can just help my team.”