Month: March 2016

No Rookie of Month award for Kristaps Porzingis

New York Knicks interim head coach Kurt Rambis acknowledged rookie Kristaps Porzingis probably has become a step slower defensively because of the so-called NBA rookie wall, but said he doesn’t believe the team’s losing is shaking the 7-foot-3 Latvian’s confidence or enthusiasm.

Porzingis’ failure to win the Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month award for February (Indiana’s Myles Turner captured it) underscored his downturn. Porzingis had won the award for November, December and January. Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who has swept all four Western Conference monthly prizes, is now a heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

In 11 games in February, Porzingis averaged 14.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, as his shot-blocking and rebounding numbers took a downturn.

— New York Post

Sixers coach expects Dario Saric next season

Brett Brown remains confident that Dario Saric will be a member of the Sixers next season.

“Obviously, decisions are going to have to be made on his part,” the Sixers head coach said today. “But we like what we see and we believe he likes what he sees.”

Sixers player-development assistant Chris Babcock returned Friday after spending eight days with the 6-foot-10 power forward in Turkey. Saric plays for Anadolus Efes of the Turkish Basketball League.

The 76ers acquired the rights to Saric’s in the 2014 NBA draft. They traded their first-round pick, Elfrid Payton (selected 10th overall), to the Orlando Magic for Saric, who was picked 12th, plus they landed a 2017 top-11-protected pick and a 2015 second-rounder. Payton made the NBA’s all-rookie team this season.

— Philadelphia Inquirer

Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson still out

Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson still out

Detroit Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson’s shoulder is still not feeling right and the forward, averaging nine points per game, will not be available for the Pistons against the Knicks on Saturday in Madison Square Garden or Sunday, against the Trail Blazers, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

But guard Jodie Meeks practiced for the first time in weeks after breaking his toe, and the team also gave forward/center Justin Harper a second 10-day contract, coach Stan Van Gundy said.

“(Johnson) didn’t do anything today,” Van Gundy said, as the Pistons concluded drills in their practice facility. “So, he won’t be ready to go this weekend.”

— Detroit News

Suns struggling badly on road

The only thing worse than sharing a bad franchise record is owning it.

If the Suns lose Friday on the road against the Orlando Magic, it would give Phoenix 18 consecutive road losses for the first time in team history. It would also be the second-longest road losing streak in the league over the past five seasons. The 76ers lost their first 18 road games this season for a streak of 23 in a row dating back to the previous season.

The Suns are losing by an average of 20.7 points per game during their road losing streak that began after a Dec. 7 last-second Suns win at Chicago…

The Magic is coming off a 120-89 Wednesday home win against Chicago and an off-day Thursday while the Suns played in Miami.

— Arizona Republic

Charles Barkley hops off the Thunder bandwagon

Charles Barkley has been a vocal critic but staunch fan of the Thunder for a long time.

But Thursday night, as the Thunder stumbled to their sixth loss in eight games since the NBA All-Star break, Barkley said he has seen enough. The Inside the NBA TNT studio analyst declared he has jumped off the Thunder bandwagon.

“I’m going to go ahead and say it right now. I’m off the Oklahoma City bandwagon. I am totally off. They are not going to win (the championship). But I will tell you this. You know whose bandwagon I’m on? The Los Angeles Clippers. If Blake Griffin comes back and dominates down low, the L.A. Clippers got a chance of winning a world championship…They’ve got the best leader in Chris Paul. They won’t be making those mistakes that the Thunder make. Chris Paul’s going to get them into something every time.”

Barkley’s biggest beefs with the Thunder through the years have been the team’s reliance on its star tandem of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, its shot selection and its poor late-game execution.

— The Oklahoman

Dirk Nowitzki keeps on hitting scoring milestones

Dirk Nowitzki keeps on hitting scoring milestones

With 13 more points, Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki will have scored 1,000 points in a season for the 16th time in his 18-year career.

“You don’t do things like he’s doing without putting an amazing amount of work and caring into it,” said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, who has coached Nowitzki in the NBA longer than any other coach. “It’s not just the physical work on his body and the skill work on his shot…

The only players in NBA history with more 1,000-point seasons than Nowitzki are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19), Karl Malone (18), Tim Duncan (17) and John Havlicek (16). Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Shaquille O’Neal, Moses Malone, Robert Parish and Nowitzki all have 15 seasons with 1,000 or more points on their resume.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Sixers sign Christian Wood to 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers called up forward Christian Wood from the Delaware 87ers and signed him to a 10-day contract.

Wood has appeared in 26 games with the Sevens this season, averaging a team-high nine rebounds, as well as 16 points on 52% shooting in 27 minutes per game.

Wood, who went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, signed with the 76ers last September 14. He appeared in 14 career NBA games with the Sixers, averaging four points and two rebounds per game. Wood registered career-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds on November 13 at Oklahoma City.

LeBron not looking to explain Miami trip

LeBron James not looking to explain Miami trip

LeBron James had no interest in justifying using consecutive off days for the Cleveland Cavaliers this week to fly to Miami and spend some of that time working out with former Heat teammate Dwyane Wade.

“I don’t care,” James said after Cavs practice Thursday when asked about the perception of him spending time with a potential playoff foe during the season.

“What do I go there for? Go there ’cause I want to,” James said. “I would love to go to L.A., but I’ll take 2½ [hour flight] over 4½. I’ve got a house in L.A., but it makes more sense for me to go South than go West. But I go because I want to.”

— ESPN.com

Jerami Grant fined for throwing water bottle into stands

Jerami Grant fined for throwing water bottle into stands

Philadelphia 76ers forward Jerami Grant has been fined $10,000 for throwing a water bottle into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Sixers’ 116-108 loss to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 29 at Verizon Center.

In 26.1 minutes per game, Grant is averaging 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

The Sixers are a league-worst 8-53 this season. Their rebuilding process continues.

Alexis Ajinca has a fractured sternum

Alexis Ajinca has a fractured sternum

New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca missed tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after being diagnosed with a fractured sternum. An MRI this afternoon revealed the injury, which occurred during the fourth quarter of last night’s game at Houston.

A timetable for his return will be announced following further evaluation.

Ajinca, 7-2, 248, has appeared in 47 contests (nine starts) this season for New Orleans, holding averages of 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.