The New York Post reports: With Eddy Curry turning into a November disappointment on both ends of the court, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas is – believe it or not – eyeing center Jerome James’ return with anticipation. Though James is at least one month away from returning, The Post has learned he had a heart-to-heart talk with Thomas after James’ foot surgery to remove a cyst-like growth. Thomas told James he is still in Thomas’ plans, and that the coach hopes to go get James into the rotation.
Day: December 3, 2007
Jerry Sloan signs extension
The Utah Jazz announced today the decision by Jerry Sloan to return as head coach through the 2008-09 season which will mark his 21st season at the helm of the Jazz.
“Jerry has led the Jazz franchise for the past 20 years and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Jazz Owner Larry H. Miller. “He teaches the game the way it ought to be played.”
Sloan has been Utah’s head coach since assuming the reins from former head coach Frank Layden on December 9, 1988. Sloan is the franchise’s winningest coach (953-573) and has the longest active tenure with one team of any coach in major professional sports. With 47 more wins, he will achieve the status as the only coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games with the same franchise.
More info on InsideHoops.com.
No S.Nash for Team Canada
The Associated Press reports: Canada still has a chance to play in the Olympics, but shouldn’t expect any help from Steve Nash. The Phoenix Suns star said Sunday night he probably would not play for the Canadians next summer even if they land a spot in the Beijing Games.
Nash hasn’t played for Team Canada in several years, since becoming a Phoenix Sun.
Bobcats benching Brezec, starting Dudley
The Charlotte Observer reports: Primoz Brezec is out and rookie Jared Dudley is in. Charlotte Bobcats coach Sam Vincent is making that shift in the starting lineup against the Toronto Raptors tonight. It’s a move that makes the Bobcats smaller, but likely better defensively. Vincent confirmed the change at shootaround Monday, saying “when you lose five games, you look at something different.” Brezec, a 7-foot-1 Slovenian and an original Bobcat, has struggled throughout this season.
Tim Duncan back soon
The Associated Press reports: Tim Duncan most likely will miss no more than a few games after injuring his ankle and knee. The San Antonio Spurs star was hurt against Portland on Sunday, and the team said his MRI came back negative Monday.
The Lenovo +/- Stat
NBA News – The Lenovo Stat shows the power of teamwork. It’s a way of showing the best-engineered/best combination of players on the court. The Lenovo Stat is a plus/minus statistic that looks at the point differential when players are both in and out of the game, to see how the team performs with various combinations. The Lenovo Stat can look at a variety of combinations including the best two player, three player and even five player combinations for each game.
Josh Smith blocking and stealing
NBA News – Atlanta’s Josh Smith ranks among the league’s best in blocks and steals. Smith, who leads the NBA in blocks (3.6 bpg) and is tied for sixth in (1.9 spg), is only player in the top 10 of both categories.
Magic match best start ever
NBA News – Orlando is 15-4 in its first season under coach Stan Van Gundy, matching the best start in the franchise’s 19-year history. The Magic had the same record to begin the 1994-95 campaign and matched that the following season. Just four years ago, they opened 1-18. Orlando also is 11 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the strike-delayed 1998-99 season 33-17, and leads the NBA with a 10-2 road mark.
Raptors swishing from line, outside
NBA News — Toronto ranks first in the NBA for both three-point and free throw shooting. The Raptors are shooting .426 from behind the arc and have three players ranked among the NBA’s top-20 three-point shooters. Anthony Parker ranks sixth (.509), followed by Jason Kapono (.500) and Andrea Bargnani (.452). No other team in the NBA has three players ranked among the top 20 in three-point shooting. At the charity stripe the Raptors have made 263-of-312 (.843) for the year. T.J. Ford leads the team’s qualified players with a .889 shooting percentage, followed by Chris Bosh at .876. The Raptors have six players shooting over .800 at the free throw line.
Players of Month: D.Howard, Boozer
The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Utah Jazz’s Carlos Boozer today were named Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played from the start of the season (Oct. 30) through November.
Howard averaged 23.8 points on .618 shooting and a league-high 15.0 rebounds while leading the Magic to a 14-4 record. The 14 victories tied for the league high for wins in November with San Antonio. Howard recorded an NBA-best 15 double-doubles and scored 30 or more points six times, including a career-high 39 in a 110-94 win on Nov. 28 in Seattle.
Boozer ranked third in scoring (25.4 ppg) and tied for eighth in rebounds (11.2 rpg) while helping the Jazz to an 11-5 start. Boozer’s .577 field goal percentage was the sixth-best mark in the league. Boozer scored at least 30 points six times and posted 12 double-doubles, including six straight to open the season.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, Houston’s Tracy McGrady, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Kaman, New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson, Phoenix’s Steve Nash, and San Antonio’s Tony Parker.