The AP reports: The NBA said Thursday that Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith won’t be suspended for throwing an elbow that angered Dallas Mavericks coach Mark Cuban. The excitable owner might still face punishment for going onto the court to voice his displeasure with Smith. NBA spokesman Tim Frank told The Associated Press on Thursday that Smith has been cleared of any wrongdoing and “Cuban is still being reviewed.” Cuban took offense when Smith threw an elbow that barely missed Mavericks forward Antoine Wright late in the first half of Dallas’ game at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night.
Day: January 15, 2009
Wizards interviews: Nick Young playing great
Here is Washington Wizards interim head coach Ed Tapscott:
On Nick Young’s recent play (25.8 ppg, .717 fg% in last four games): “Nick has hit a spot where he’s got his rhythm back and he feels good about what he’s doing. He knows we’re going to run some plays for him so he doesn’t feel pressed and he knows he’s going to get minutes. When all of a sudden you get minutes and plays called for you, you can be selective, and better shots mean more minutes. People now are going to game-plan for him. He has to be prepared for one of those games where they have someone trying to deny him, and instead of getting 33 points he gets 16 and still feels like he has a good game because he helped open up the floor for other people.”
On last night’s game versus the New York Knicks: “The Knicks try to make you play fast, and like I said last night they did a better job of imposing their play-style on the game. We played well offensively. We scored a lot of points. Normally 122 points wins you a lot of basketball games, but we didn’t play very well defensively. They imposed their style of play on the game much more effectively than we did.”
On today’s practice: “Today we decided to go with more of a mental practice than anything physical because we’re going to play the same team (tomorrow night). With their pace, you want rested legs. Now the real key is figuring out how to impose our style of play on the game with more effectiveness.”
Hers is Wizards small forward Caron Butler:
On last night’s game versus the New York Knicks: “It was a lot of up-and-down fast tempo play. It was a tough loss obviously, but hopefully we can redeem ourselves tomorrow night in our building.”
On Nick Young: “He’s on a roll. He’s scoring at a rapid pace. Scoring 33 points in three quarters is unbelievable. Just to come out and be aggressive the way he has, assert himself early and establish a rhythm is unbelievable, and it shows a lot about him as a player. Now you’re seeing him explore with his ability. He’s getting the ball and he’s being real creative. He’s doing some stuff on the fly, and that’s what makes a special player.”
And here is Wizards guard Nick Young:
On his recent play: “I’m feeling good. The difference has been my confidence level. Coach is running plays for me, and seeing my shot go in is always good. Gil (Arenas) has been staying after practice with me, so I’ve been getting extra shots and working out with him.”
On if teams will start game-planning for him: “The more Antawn and CB (Caron Butler) get going (other teams) are not going to worry about me (as much). If we get them going early, I can come in and be that spark off of the bench.”
Warriors re-sign Jermareo Davidson
The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Jermareo Davidson to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today.
Davidson, who signed his first 10-day with the Warriors on January 5, has appeared in one game with Golden State, logging four minutes at Portland on January 10. Davidson began the season with the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, where he averaged 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 15 games. At the time of his call-up, the 6’10’’ forward ranked first in the D-League in double-doubles (10) and third in rebounding (10.8).
Thunder have new sponsor
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a new major corporate partnership.
One part of the deal will be that the sponsor get naming rights for the team’s practice facility.
The Thunder will announce full details Monday afternoon.
New season of 24 on Fox
The new season of the Fox TV show 24 began a few days ago, and in terms of nonstop action and plot twists it’s just as fun as ever.
I was recently a bit disappointed by a two-hour 24 special called “Redemption,” but fortunately that was a one-time thing.
Fox put multiple back-to-back episodes together, so after just two days of shows they’re already four episodes deep into 24. The fifth episode is on January 19.
What makes it a fun show is how quickly the story changes. Constant drama. Almost every minute is entertaining.
24 is on Monday nights.
Heat want big-man for Marion
Miami Heat forward Shawn Marion is at the end of his contract, and the team would happily trade him for someone who fits in better. Here’s the Miami Herald (Israel Gutierrez):
So the only lingering question is what the Heat could receive in return for a player whose stock is plummeting and whose most attractive feature is his $17 million expiring contract. The Heat’s goal in moving Marion is to get back a quality big man with a contract that expires in the 2010 offseason. Makes enough sense. Not only would it fill the Heat’s biggest glaring need (Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire have filled in admirably, but no one’s convinced they can be the sole answers to the Heat’s height deficiency), but it would set up the Heat brilliantly for a run at the 2010 free agent class. Imagine how satisfying it would be for Pat Riley to steal the Knicks’ thunder by retaining Wade and signing Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, putting together a duo that would rival any combination New York and its bags of money can purchase.
This season Marion is averaging just 12.1 points with his 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.41 steals and 1.06 blocks per game on very good 47.2% shooting, though he’s connecting on just 19.4% of his three-point attempts.
Daniel Gibson getting his groove back
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Brian Windhorst) reports on Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson: Overall, this has been a choppy season for Gibson, statistically the poorest of his career. He’s making just 35 percent of his 3-pointers, a steep decline from last season. His scoring, assists and even minutes are down, too. It should be easy to explain. He had a rather severe shoulder surgery last May, which knocked him out of the playoffs early. Then ankle surgery in June, which wasn’t major, but it kept him from doing his normal shooting work for a month. When he finally seemed to be getting back to the dead-eye spot-up shooter that turned him into a fan favorite in mid-December, he suffered a toe injury that ruined his rhythm and forced him to learn how to shoot without tweaking it when he returned after a 10-day absence. Over the last couple of weeks, though, Gibson again seems to be getting back into the groove he was establishing in December. Over the last five games, Gibson has made 10 of 14 3-pointers.
Kobe Bryant commits to Team USA
The Orange County Register (Kevin Ding) reports: “The best player on the planet,” as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called Kobe Bryant late Wednesday night, can’t wait to make the Earth move some more in 2010 and ’12. Bryant said Wednesday night he is willing to commit to play for USA Basketball in 2010 at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London, where Bryant expects to go for the gold again. “The chance to represent your country, that’s not even a thought-process for me,” Bryant said Wednesday. “If they want me to be on it, I’m all game.” Bryant’s words should stabilize the U.S. ship at a time when many of Bryant’s teammates from the 2008 Olympic gold-medal team are choosing to be future international men of mystery.
Nenad Krstic already helping Thunder
The Oklahoman (Darnell Mayberry) reports: It’s taken Nenad Krstic only five games to show Oklahoma City how much better he makes the Thunder. Krstic recorded his first double-double in Wednesday night’s 114-93 win over the Utah Jazz, scoring 14 points with 11 rebounds in a season-high 32 minutes. He added two blocked shots for the fourth time in five games, continuing to contradict his critics who have labeled him a defensive liability. “He’s a great addition,” said Kevin Durant, who scored 21 points with nine rebounds. “He’s getting used to everybody. Any player would take a couple of games, but he’s getting used to it quick. He’s learning quick, and he’s doing well.” Because of his relatively cheap three-year contract at just less than $16 million, Krstic was a low-risk addition when Thunder general manager Sam Presti lured him away from his Russian club team.
Hawks beat Clippers to snap 4-game losing streak
The AP reports: The goal is 50 wins and home-court advantage in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. The Atlanta Hawks are determined to make it happen. Josh Smith scored 26 points, Joe Johnson added 21 and Atlanta beat the Clippers 97-80 on Wednesday night to end a four-game losing streak and hand Los Angeles its 12th straight loss… Ronald Murray added 17 points for the Hawks, who avoided a season-high fifth consecutive loss by beating up on the Western Conference’s second-worst team… Al Thornton scored 25 points, and rookie Eric Gordon added 18 for the Clippers, who haven’t won since a 117-109 double-overtime victory at Indiana on Dec. 19. They fell to 3-16 at Staples Center this season. Marcus Camby had 12 points and 18 rebounds.