January 2016 – Page 8 – NBA Blog

Marc Gasol needs to step up for Grizzlies

Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal reporting on Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, who has taken a step back in the effectiveness department this season:

First play of the game against the Denver Nuggets. Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger draws up a play to get Marc Gasol a bucket inside. It works, beautifully. Gasol gets the ball under the hoop. And without hesitation, Gasol zips a pass to Jeff Green, standing beyond the 3-point line. Green misses the jumper. Grizzlies fans everywhere want to scream.

Why didn’t Gasol just take the bleeping shot?

What exactly is running through the man’s head?

Didn’t he just say that he was going to “break plays and take it to the hole?”

And, finally: What is wrong with Marc?

As the Grizzlies prepare to take on the Boston Celtics at FedExForum, that last one is the question of the day. Nearly twelve months after being named a first-team All-Star, and nearly six months after signing his new $113 million deal, Gasol is struggling to emerge from a funk.

His scoring (17.4 points to 15.9), shooting percentage (.494 to .450) and rebounding (7.8 to 7.3) are all down from a year ago. In his last four games, Gasol has made just 18 of 60 shots (30 percent). And while Gasol finally mustered the aggressiveness to take 17 shots Friday night against the Nuggets, he made just five.

Grizzlies medical updates on Jordan Adams and Jarell Martin

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced medical updates for guard Jordan Adams and forward Jarell Martin.

Adams (6-5, 209) will undergo a surgical procedure on his right knee on Tuesday, January 12 at the Campbell Clinic, which will be performed by team physician Dr. Fred Azar and Dr. Robert Miller. There currently is no timetable for his return. The 21-year-old holds career averages of 3.2 points and 0.9 rebounds in 8.2 minutes in 32 games (zero starts) since he was selected by Memphis in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at UCLA. The Atlanta native has appeared in two games this season.

Martin (6-10, 239) sustained a bone bruise in his left foot while playing for the Grizzlies’ D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, and will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days. The injury is unrelated to his previous foot injury. Selected by Memphis in the first round (25th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft after his sophomore season at Louisiana State University, the 21-year-old Baton Rouge native has played two games for the Grizzlies and four games for the Energy during his rookie season.

Suns sign Lorenzo Brown to a 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns announced today they have signed guard Lorenzo Brown to a 10-day contract. The sixth “Call-Up” in the NBA this season, Brown has averaged 16.4 points, 6.1 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 16 games with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League.

A 6-5, 189-pound guard, Brown is a two-year NBA player who has appeared in 55 total games with Philadelphia in 2013-14 and Minnesota in 2014-15. Originally selected with the 52nd overall pick by Minnesota in the 2013 NBA Draft, Brown played in 29 games (seven starts) with the Timberwolves last season seeing action in each of their final 22 games. Brown has four career double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 13 points in his most recent NBA appearance on April 15 of last season against Oklahoma City.

With Grand Rapids this season, Brown ranks sixth in the D-League with 6.1 assists per game and ninth with 1.9 steals per game, in addition to averaging 16.4 points on 47.8 percent shooting from the field and 87.7 percent from the free throw line. In 2014-15, Brown was named an NBA D-League All-Star as he averaged 16.8 points and 3.9 assists in 19 games with the Drive prior to signing with the Timberwolves. As a rookie in 2013-14, Brown averaged 17.3 points and 6.3 assists in 20 total games with the Delaware 87ers and Springfield Armor of the D-League.

A native of Roswell, Ga., Brown played collegiately at North Carolina State University where he averaged 11.6 points in 101 games over three seasons. Brown earned Second Team All-ACC honors as a junior in 2012-13 when he averaged 12.4 points, led the ACC with 7.2 assists per game and ranked second in the conference with 2.0 steals per contest. Brown and Suns forward T.J. Warren were teammates at N.C. State for the 2012-13 season, helping the Wolfpack to an NCAA tournament berth.

Brown will wear number 41. The Suns’ roster now stands at 14

Grizzlies sign Elliot Williams to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract as a Call Up from the NBA Development League’s Santa Cruz Warriors.

Williams (6-5, 183) leads the D-League in scoring at 28.1 points per game (.500 FG/.361 3P/.794 FT) and also averages 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 40.9 minutes in 16 games (all starts) this season for Santa Cruz. He was named D-League Player of the Month for games played in November.

Last season, Williams was named a D-League All-Star and recognized on the Second Team All-D-League after averaging 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 36.0 minutes in 29 games for the Warriors, ranking fifth in the D-League in assists and 10th in scoring. He helped guide Santa Cruz through a seven-game march to the 2015 D-League Championship and captured Finals MVP honors after averaging 27.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 40.0 minutes during the Warriors’ two-game sweep.

The 26-year-old holds NBA career averages of 5.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 13.7 minutes in 104 games (two starts) for the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans. A Memphis native, Williams played high school basketball at St. George’s Independent School in Collierville and collegiately for the University of Memphis after transferring from Duke University. The 2008 McDonald’s All-American was selected by Portland in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft after he averaged 17.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his sophomore season with the Tigers.

Phoenix Suns waive Bryce Cotton and Cory Jefferson

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Bryce Cotton and forward Cory Jefferson.

Cotton originally signed with the Suns on Nov. 25. The second-year NBA player saw action in three games, totaling four points and three assists in 33 minutes.

Jefferson signed with the Suns prior to training camp on Sept. 16. He appeared in six games with Phoenix in his second NBA season, posting totals of 12 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 13 players.

Grizzlies waive Ryan Hollins

The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that the team has waived center Ryan Hollins.

Hollins (7-0, 240) averaged 1.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.00 blocks in 7.0 minutes in four games with Memphis since signing with the Grizzlies on Dec. 29. The 31-year-old has averaged 3.7 points on 58.1 percent shooting and 2.2 rebounds in 490 career games (67 starts) over a 10-year NBA career with the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies.

The Pasadena, Calif. native was selected by Charlotte in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft following his senior season at UCLA.

CJ McCollum accidentally left off Blazers roster vs Clippers

This is a new one. Here’s the Oregonian reporting on a clerical error resulting in one of the key Trail Blazers being unable to play tonight vs the Clippers:

CJ McCollum was not a part of the Trail Blazers’ active roster Wednesday night for their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Moda Center.

And it was not by design.

A rare and confusing set of circumstances resulted in the Blazers’ starting shooting guard being left off the Blazers’ active list when official game rosters were submitted one hour before tipoff.

It was not immediately clear how the mistake unfolded, but when Blazers coach Terry Stotts signed the Blazers’ game roster, it included rookie Luis Montero instead of McCollum.

DeMarre Carroll undergoes knee surgery

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday forward DeMarre Carroll had arthroscopic surgery this morning on his right knee. The procedure was performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Carroll’s status will be updated as appropriate.

Carroll sat out Monday’s game at Cleveland with a swollen right knee. He had played in the previous five contests after missing nine games (December 7-22) with a right knee contusion.

Carroll has averaged 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 31.9 minutes in 23 games. He had a season-high 21 points on two occasions: October 30 at Boston and November 22 at the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Raptors face the Brooklyn Nets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center.

Zach Randolph coming off bench for Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are a disappointing 19-17 this season, and in an effort to regroup changed their starting lineup a while back. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting the latest on veteran power forward Zach Randolph, who has played 31 games this season but only started in 20 of them:

Zach Randolph continues to come off bench for Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies were throttled by 37 points in their last meeting against the Thunder. In that game, veteran Zach Randolph was a starter.

In 11 of the 14 games since that 125-88 blowout, however, the burly power forward has come off the bench for Memphis, as the Grizzlies have transitioned to a small ball lineup to start games. The Thunder’s small-ball efficiency in the two teams’ last matchup may have been a turning point for Memphis, as Matt Barnes has replaced Randolph as a starter at power forward.

“It’s not about you. If you feel a certain way and want to do something negative then you’re not professional,” Randolph told the Memphis Commercial Appeal about his role change. “I’m going to play and prove I can still do what I do.”

Since making the move to the bench, Randolph has shot 53 percent from the field in 25 minutes a game and is still finishing games. The Grizzlies, however, are only 5-6 in the latest string of non-starts for Randolph.

Day after loss to Sixers, Timberwolves hold team meeting

The Philadelphia 76ers are an improved basketball team lately. Still, a loss to them can put some teams over the edge. Not to be over-dramatic; the Minnesota Timberwolves have been searching for an identity all season. But after falling to Philly yesterday, the Timberwolves (12-23 record, tied for 25th in the league) decided today was going the time for some good honest conversation. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting:

Instead of a regular practice Tuesday, the Timberwolves did a little housecleaning.

Interim coach Sam Mitchell and the players watched some film. Then players and coaches went out onto the practice court, stood in a circle near midcourt, and spent about 90 minutes clearing the air.

“We talked about what we wanted to be as a team,” Mitchell said. “Normally the coach is the one who’s always talking. But we let the players talk. What are the goals for the year, as a team, individually? And I think it was good for us.’’

Mitchell encouraged everyone to talk, both veterans and young players.

Some of the themes?

According to Mitchell, much of the talk was about sacrifice. What sacrifices – both great and small – that each player needs to make to make the team better. The need for the young players to learn to focus for the length of a game was talked about, too.