Month: January 2018

LaVar Ball says Luke Walton has lost the Lakers

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LaVar Ball is currently in Lithuania, where his teenage sons will soon be playing pro basketball against disgruntled 30-year-olds with something to prove. Like anybody else, he can watch Laker games on TV. But unlike almost anybody else, son Lonzo is a key part of the team and obviously has a pulse on the squad’s situation. Here’s ESPN.com reporting LaVar’s take on the current state of the team, who have lost nine games in a row and have the second-worst winning percentage in the league:

Ball, who was up at 5 a.m. local time Saturday to watch his son Lonzo Ball in his first game back with the Lakers since suffering a shoulder injury on Dec. 23, expressed his frustration with Walton in an exclusive interview with ESPN.

“You can see they’re not playing for Luke no more,” LaVar said from the spa resort in Birstonas, where he is staying while his two youngest sons get ready to make their professional debuts. “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him.”

“That’s a good team,” he added of the Lakers, who have lost nine straight games. “Nobody wants to play for him. I can see it. No high five’s when they come out of the game. People don’t know why they’re in the game. He’s too young. He’s too young. … He ain’t connecting with them anymore. You can look at every player, he’s not connecting with not one player.”

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Lakers waive Andrew Bogut

Lakers waive Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut’s time with the Lakers is over. The young team, built for the future, waived the veteran center today.

Since becoming a Laker on September 19, Bogut appeared in 24 games, including five as a starter. He did little, putting up 1.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per outing.

The team’s roster now consists of 16 players, including two Two-Way players.

The Lakers are a disappointing 11-27 this season, which is the second worst record in the NBA, just above the rebuilding Atlanta Hawks (10-28).

Blazers coach Terry Stotts on hot seat?

 

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The Trail Blazers are a modest 20-18 this season. A solid record, good for 7th best in the Western conference through Friday’s games, but not spectacular. More was expected. But not a lot more. There’s no reason to think this squad should be fantastic this year. But perhaps a bit better than they’ve been. Should that put the coach on the hot-seat? Not in our opinion. But as for the local chatter, here’s NBC Sports Northwest:

Amid chatter that Terry Stotts is on the coaching hot seat and in jeopardy of losing his job, several Trail Blazers players said their coach not only has the team’s attention and respect, but has become a rallying point for the players.

“We all know what’s going on,’’ veteran Ed Davis said. “The guys on the team, we read about it, and I know Coach does … that ‘Hot Seat’ stuff and things like that. Everybody sees it, and I know while I’m here, (along with) a bunch of the rest of the guys in the locker room, we are going to fight for Coach. Every night. There is no quit in us. He’s our leader.’’

The Blazers (20-18) are seventh in the Western Conference, but have a losing record at home (9-10), and have scuffled for much of the season with inconsistent, disjointed play that several times has led disgruntled Moda Center crowds to leave games early, and in exodus.

Stotts, who is under contract through next season, has become a lightening rod for fan discontent as the team has struggled offensively and at times looked unmotivated as it dropped games to bottom-tier teams like Atlanta, Brooklyn and Sacramento.

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Blazers Team Notes on Stotts

Now in his sixth season with the Trail Blazers, Terry Stotts was hired as the franchise’s 14th head coach on August 7, 2012. Stotts led the Trail Blazers to a 41-41 record in 2016-17 and has compiled a 243-205 record in fi ve-plus seasons with Portland. Stotts is the fourth-winningest coach in franchise history, and the fi rst Trail Blazers head coach since Mike Dunleavy (1998-2001) to reach the playoffs in four consecutive seasons (fourth overall in franchise history). Stotts was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month in March 2017 after guiding Portland to an NBA-best 13-3 record for the month. With Stotts at the helm, the Trail Blazers have ranked in the top-10 in scoring for each of the past four seasons (’13-14 to ’16-17).

Tim Hardaway Jr targeting January return

The Knicks need Tim Hardaway Jr in action. He’s their main young building block aside from Kristaps Porzingis. Here’s the NY Daily News with the latest on Hardaway:

The $71 million guard, who has already missed five weeks with a stress injury to his leg, progressed Saturday to contact practice for the first time Saturday. He will be re-evaluated next week and is hoping for a return when the Knicks are on a Western Conference road trip from Jan. 17-26.

The 25-year-old said he’ll have another bone scan next week…

The Knicks are 7-11 without Hardaway Jr. and have lost seven of their last eight. More than anything, the offense has suffered without New York’s best transition scorer.

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Some recent Knicks game notes:

After Doug McDermott drained a game-tying triple to send the game into overtime, the Miami Heat regrouped and were able to outlast the New York Knicks on a Friday night 107-103 at AmericanAirlines Arena. Courtney Lee paced the Knicks with a game high 24 points on 9-16 shooting, three rebounds and two steals over 40 minutes. Michael Beasley continued his hot streak with 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals over 23 minutes for a double-double. Kristaps Porzingis added 15 points and seven rebounds. Wayne Ellington led the Heat with 24 points and four rebounds off the bench. Josh Richardson recorded 18 points, three steals and two assists over 40 minutes. Goran Dragic added 19 points, six rebound and six assists over 40 minutes.

Draymond Green now all-time Warriors triple-double leader

 

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The Warriors are 31-8, leading the NBA in winning percentage as well as in multiple important stat categories, and as good as expected. Draymond Green continues to be one of their key contributors. He’s described as a role player, but if a “superstar role player” is a real thing, Green is that. And he just crossed an amazing milestone, becoming the all-time Warriors franchise leader in triple-doubles, despite only being in his mid 20’s. For more, here’s NBC Sports Bay Area reporting:

Few guys in the NBA are as good as Green is at sensing what his team needs and finding a way to deliver it. Which is why he is, at [age 27], already the Warriors all-time leader in triple-doubles.

His 21st came Thursday night in a 124-114 win over the Rockets. The Warriors were without Kevin Durant, so Green provided 17 points and 14 rebounds. With Stephen Curry spending a fair amount of time at shooting guard, the Warriors needed another playmaker. So Green dropped 10 assists.

Add it all up, and he’s the franchise leader in a category that illustrates versatility. The Warriors are 21-0 when Green posts a triple-double.

“It’s not something I ever thought about or thought would happen, especially not playing much my first two years,” Green said. “It’s kind of crazy. But it’s definitely something to be proud of.”

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Gary Harris scoring big for Nuggets

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The Nuggets are 20-17 this season, good for sixth in the Western conference, narrowly ahead of the Trail Blazers and Pelicans. A solid record, considering they’ve been without new addition Paul Millsap for much of the season. Leading the team in scoring this season has been guard Gary Harris at 16.6 ppg. As for what he’s been producing lately, here’s the Denver Post reporting:

Gary Harris went 9-of-10 from the field in Wednesday’s first quarter against the Suns, unleashing a combination of “easy” cuts and finishes, jumpers from all over the floor and transition buckets.

So when Nikola Jokic glanced up at the scoreboard and saw 20 points next to Harris’ name, any initial surprise quickly subsided.

“I was like, ‘What?! That’s a lot,’ ” Jokic recalled after the game. “You see how he’s aggressive. That’s how he’s supposed to be.”

That was the start of the latest offensive gem for Harris, who went a blistering 14-of-17 from the floor Wednesday night to tie his career-high with 36 points. And that offensive gem was the latest example of the fourth-year guard’s blossoming offensive repertoire, which is now stretching well beyond his reputation as an outside catch-and-shoot threat and benefactor of backdoor passes from Denver’s big men.

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Dennis Smith Jr doing big things for Mavs

Judging by their season records, the Mavericks (13-26) and Bulls (13-25) are two of the less potent teams in the league. But a glance at recent play suggests that it’s worth looking a bit deeper: The Mavs play solid basketball these days when rookie Dennis Smith Jr is healthy and on the floor, and the Bulls have been a much better squad ever since Nikola Mirotic returned to action. They two teams face each other tonight. For more, here’s the Dallas Morning News:

The Mavericks have won five of eight since Dennis Smith Jr. has returned from injury. The Bulls are 10-5 since Nikola Mirotic returned from injury. He’s averaged better than 18 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes per game during that run.

“He’s one of the best plus-minus guys in the league since then,” Mavericks’ coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s really changed their team. They were playing well but losing a lot of close games until then. He’s just given them more juice, more scoring, he’s a deceptive rebounder and the efficiency is there. With him and (rookie Lauri) Markkanen, you got two of the stretch fours in the game. And they’re really good at what they do.”

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Growing process for young Lakers

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The Lakers through Tuesday’s games are 11-25, which is the second worst winning record in the league. They’ve got lots of young, undeveloped talent. Fun to see who develops. But there’s a lot of losing. For more, here’s the LA Times:

What young players such as rookies Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart, and second-year forward Brandon Ingram are experiencing now, their veteran teammates remember well.

“It’s tough when you’re a rookie; everybody hits the wall,” said Corey Brewer, who is in his 10th NBA season. “Mentally you’ve got to just figure it out. … They’re kids still in my mind. They’re kids. They’re gonna learn. We’re only gonna get better.”

Jordan Clarkson, in his fourth year, says his second NBA season was much easier than his first. Clarkson started getting significant minutes in January of his rookie year. He became a starter in his second season.

“I understand,” Clarkson said. “They’re coming fresh from college, their season probably would be over by now. Travel, everything probably catching up to few of those guys. You gotta learn what fits you recovery wise, how to take care of your body, eating, stuff like that.”

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Sixers say Markelle Fultz is making progress in eventual return

Look. When it comes to the Sixers, we have no choice but to trust the process. That’s just how it is. As part of the process, each important Sixers rookie gets hurt, and then eventually they’re not hurt, and then I guess we’ll see what happens. How’s that for a summary? Just trust it. As for the latest, here’s NBC Sports Philly:

According to the team, Fultz is cleared to begin “the final stage of his return-to-play program.” This final stage for Fultz will consist of “gradual re-integration into team practices and training, complemented with additional conditioning work to support fitness readiness for gameplay.”

What exactly does that mean? Tuesday, Fultz played half-court 4-on-4 with his teammates at practice. He also played some 1-on-1 with Jacob Pullen and James Michael McAdoo and did individual skill work after practice, including pull-up jumpers from about 15 to 18 feet (see more here).

“I think he looked OK,” Brett Brown said. “I think everybody shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves in relation to what does that mean, but it is the most he’s done with me in a while. What I saw today was just encouraging to see him playing with his teammates, and playing live basketball.”

It’s not as if Fultz is on the brink of game action, but it’s the closest he’s been since he was shut down in late October.

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Isaiah Thomas makes successful Cavs debut

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The Cavs are 25-12 this season through yesterday’s games, They’re led by LeBron James (27.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 9.2 apg, 1.62 spg and 1.03 bpg), Kevin Love (20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg), Derrick Rose (14.3 ppg, though that’s only in seven total games played), Dwyane Wade (11.3 ppg, almost entirely as a reserve) and Jeff Green (10.8 ppg, entirely as a reserve). But Tuesday was a huge day: new point guard Isaiah Thomas made his long-awaited debut for the squad. And in the limited minutes he played, it was a complete success.

Here’s the News Herald reporting:

The Cavaliers played nearly half the season — 43.9 percent of it to be exact — without getting any return from their biggest dividend in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Celtics.

The waiting officially came to an end Jan. 2 at The Q when 5-foot-9 guard Isaiah Thomas with 4:29 left in the first quarter entered a game for the first time since May 19 of last year when a hip injury prematurely ended his playoff run with the Celtics…

“It was a special moment,” Thomas said. “I hadn’t even played in a game, so you think I would have been here a few years and battled in the Finals with this team. It was special to have my wife and kids here to see that. That was genuine love right there”

Thomas scored 17 points and had three assists in 19 minutes in the Cavaliers’ dominating 127-110 demolition of the Trail Blazers. He looked at ease. He looked confident, and if he was rusty, he’s going to be fun to watch when he shakes the rust off.

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And here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Thomas entered at the 4:33 mark in the first quarter to a standing ovation and 28 seconds later passed to former Celtics teammate Crowder for a layup.

Thomas’ first field goal was a 14-footer off a James assist with 1:11 to go in the quarter. His most daring play came at the 32.8 second mark when he drove for a layup, somewhat of a prayer heave, and was fouled by Al-Farouq Aminu as he went down behind the basket. Thomas converted the free throw.

Lue called a timeout at 9:32 in the second quarter to get Thomas out. At that point, Thomas had made 3-of-6 field goals, 1-of-4 3-pointers and his only free throw with one assist for a plus/minus of plus-7.

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