Day: April 13, 2009

Raptors sign Quincy Douby through next season

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed guard Quincy Douby for the remainder of this season and the 2009-10 season. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. The Raptors signed the free agent to consecutive 10-day contracts March 24 and April 2.

Douby has appeared in six games for Toronto, averaging 5.2 points and 1.7 assists in 10.7 minutes. He has averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 14.0 minutes in the past three games, shooting .667 (10-15) from the field and three-point range (4-6) during that span.

Douby, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, averaged 18.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 28.6 minutes in five games with the D-League’s Erie BayHawks this season. He scored in double figures in all five games, with a high of 23 points at Albuquerque.

Douby, 24, was the 19th selection as an early entry candidate by the Sacramento Kings in the 2006 NBA Draft. He averaged 4.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in 116 career games with the Kings. He posted a career-high 32 points at the Los Angeles Lakers on April 15, 2008. He was released by Sacramento on January 21.

Douby averaged 17.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 95 career games at Rutgers University. He finished his career ranked sixth in school history in scoring (1,690) and holds the school record for points scored in a single season (839 in 2005-06). He averaged 25.4 points as a junior, leading the Big East in scoring and finishing sixth nationally. He earned first-team All-Big East honours in his junior season.

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Hedo Turkoglu is OK

The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports (via blog): But there was good news: Hedo Turkoglu, said Van Gundy, has no swelling in his ankle and could have played against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight if the game meant something. He should be ready for the first round of the playoffs this week, which open in Orlando. Turkoglu sprained his left ankle late in Saturday night’s loss to the New Jersey Nets. “He was had very little swelling and no discoloration,” Van Gundy said. “To be quite honest, if this were a game we had to have, I think he could actually go tonight. He and Rashard could both go.”

Euroleague MVP for March/April: Erazem Lorbek

Euroleague.net reports: A former Euroleague Rising Star Trophy winner, all grown up now at age 25, has done the seemingly impossible during March and April – made defending champion CSKA Moscow look even stronger. While CSKA was qualifying for its record seventh consecutive Final Four over the last two months, big man Erazem Lorbek was solidifying his role as the newest major contributor for the Russian powerhouse. During the five victories in March and April with which CSKA reached and then swept through the playoffs, Lorbek led the champs in scoring, index rating or both in every game except one. For his outsized role in keeping CSKA’s back-to-back title hopes very much alive, Lorbek is Euroleague Basketball’s choice as March/April MVP.

Russell Westbrook developing

The Oklahoman (Darnell Mayberry) reports on the Thunder: But no matter which direction the front office is leaning on Russell Westbrook, the rookie has shown over the past three games that he’s starting to get it. Only now, after 70-plus games, does Westbrook fully understand what it takes to run an NBA team. Westbrook’s execution still is erratic. But more than ever, he’s slowing down. He’s setting up his teammates first and looking for his shot second. He’s making the simple play rather than the shaky one. Westbrook is averaging a season-high seven assists this month, and his assist-to-turnover ratio stands at 1.91, not great but trailing only January’s 2.03 as his highest ratio in any full month.

Ben Wallace has left knee strain

Ben Wallace left the Cavaliers game last night at home vs. the Celtics in the 2nd Quarter with a left knee contusion and did not return to play. He did not travel with the team to Indiana last night for tonight’s game vs. the Pacers.

Ben was re-evaluated at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health this morning and received an MRI, the results of which revealed a left patella tendon strain.

He will receive treatment and rehab here in Cleveland today and is now listed as Out for tonight’s game in Indiana and Doubtful for Wednesday’s game at home vs. Philadelphia. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Curtis Stinson is D-League Performer of week

Curtis Stinson of the Iowa Energy today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played the week of April 6, 2009.  Stinson is the second Energy player to earn the honor this season.

Stinston led Iowa to a 2-0 record last week as the team clinched the Central Division title with averages of 21.5 points, 15.0 assists, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals.  His two 15-assist games marked the 19th and 20th time he has reached double-figures in assists this season.

This season, Stinson ranked third in the NBA D-league with 8.4 assists while also adding 16.1 points in 50 games, all starts for the Energy.  The 6-2 guard from Iowa State is playing his third season in the NBA D-League.

Other top performers last week included Albuquerque’s Will Conroy, who averaged 31.0 points and 7.8 assists in four games for the Thunderbirds; Colorado’s Trey Gilder, who averaged 23.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in four games for the 14ers; Austin’s Malik Hairston, who averaged 38.0 points in three games for the Toros; Austin’s Dwayne Jones, who averaged 22.0 points and 18.5 rebounds in four games for the Toros; and Erie’s Maureece Rice, who averaged 28.0 points and 8.0 assists in two wins for the BayHawks.

Stephen Jackson predicts changes

The San Francisco Chronicle (Jannny Hu) reports: Stephen Jackson plans on being at Oracle Arena tonight for the Warriors’ home finale, and he might be taking a good look at the teammates around him. As far as Golden State’s captain has been told, not everyone will be back when the team reconvenes next season. “There will be change, things will be shifted,” Jackson said this past week, “but I think the core will be here. I think as a team and an organization, we know the steps that we have to take to correct a lot of these wrongs that we had this season.”

Bynum sharp in Lakers 92-75 win over Memphis

The AP reports: Andrew Bynum scored 18 points in his third game back from a knee injury and the Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 92-75 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. Kobe Bryant took just nine shots, made seven, and finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Pau Gasol, often matched against his brother Marc in the middle, scored 12 points and had 13 rebounds. Trevor Ariza also scored 12 in the Lakers’ balanced attack… O.J. Mayo led the Grizzlies with 20 points, and Marc Gasol had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Controversial Finley 3 leads Spurs past Kings

The AP reports: Michael Finley’s 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left counted despite a fairly obvious shot-clock violation, and San Antonio came from behind for a 95-92 victory over Sacramento on Sunday night… Parker had 25 points and nine assists—including the pass to Finley for the winner that probably wasn’t—as the Spurs moved into a tie with Houston atop the Southwest Division with two games left despite keeping Tim Duncan out of uniform to rest his sore knees… Spencer Hawes scored a career-high 24 points for the Kings, who played without star Kevin Martin for the sixth straight game because of a sore left ankle.

Bosh scores 22 as Raptors beat 76ers 111-104

The AP reports: Chris Bosh scored 22 points, Jose Calderon had 11 points and 11 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat Philadelphia 111-104 on Sunday night, handing the 76ers their season-high fifth straight loss… Anthony Parker scored 18 points, Andrea Bargnani had 17 and Shawn Marion had 14 for the Raptors, who won for the first time in five games. Louis Williams had 23 points and Andre Iguodala had 21 for Philadelphia, with Samuel Dalembert adding 18 points and 12 rebounds. Miller and Marreese Speights each had 10 points for the 76ers, who have their first five-game losing streak since dropping seven in a row between Jan. 2-14, 2008.