Inside Hoops – Page 1157 – NBA Blog

Who is the best teammate Dirk Nowitzki has ever had?

Here’s one take from ESPN Dallas on Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and the type of help he’s had:

The hodgepodge of players such as Michael Finley, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, O.J. Mayo, Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler leaves a very mixed bag to select from. It also shines a light on the fact Nowitzki has had to carry the load in Dallas without legitimate, surefire star support. It comes down to Steve Nash, before the point guard hit his MVP stride, and Jason Kidd, returning after he had passed his prime. Nash was the perfect teammate for Nowitzki earlier in his career, and Kidd was just as perfect later in Nowitzki’s career. I’m going to go with Kidd. While Nash could shoot the lights out, Kidd had the better all-around game out of the two point guards. As Nash helped Nowitzki grow as a player, Kidd helped guide him to immortality as a champion.

2014 NBA All-Star data

NBA All-Star 2014 will bring together the league’s most talented players for a global celebration, transforming New Orleans into the center of the basketball universe. Three days of live game action will culminate with the 63rd NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on Sunday, Feb. 16.TNT will televise the All-Star Game for a 12th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 29th season of All-Star coverage. Fans in 215 countries and territories and in 47 languages will be able to experience a weeklong celebration of the game through an array of digital technologies offered by NBA Digital, TNT and ESPN. The following is a look at NBA All-Star 2014 by the numbers:

NBA All-Star in New Orleans

2 — New Orleans has hosted two NBA All-Star Games (2008, 2014).
3 — NBA All-Star 2014 marks only the second time that the Sprite Slam Dunk will feature three All-Star Game participants – John Wall (WAS), Damian Lillard (POR) and Paul George (IND). (M. Jordan, D. Wilkins, C. Drexler – 1988).
5 — Portland’s Damian Lillard, first player to participate in five All-Star events.
77 — NBA All-Star 2014 performers have received a combined 77 Grammy nominations (Pharrell – 25; Earth, Wind and Fire – 20; Dr. John – 15; Janelle Monae – 6; Kendrick Lamar – 7; Gary Clark Jr. – 2; Trombone Shorty – 1, Mack Wilds – 1).

All-Star Global Reach

· 1,800 — More than 1,800 media will cover events, including 265 international reporters.

· 90 — More than 90 international television and radio outlets and websites will be onsite, with 16 doing live courtside commentary including in Arabic, French, Greek, Hungarian, Mandarin, and Polish.

NBA on TNT

12 and 29 — This is the 12th consecutive year the All-Star Game will be shown in prime time on TNT, and 29th season Turner Sports has provided All-Star coverage.

· 360 — For the first time, TNT will utilize the innovative freeD™ – free dimensional video – technology providing fans a 360-degree defining replay view of the action.

NBA Digital

· 140 — NBA TV, NBA.com and NBA Mobile will present more than 140 hours of All-Star coverage.

NBA Social Media

500M — Over 500 million followers and likes combined across all league, team, and player pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Sina, and Tencent that will have access to All-Star.

NBA Cares

· 3,000 – The NBA Cares All-Star Community Caravan, led by more than 3,000 NBA family members, partners and volunteers, will include four days of hands-on community service, featuring more than 35 projects.

NBA All-Star Jam Session

· 500,000 — Jam Session boasts over 500,000 square feet and more than 40 attractions.

80,000 — More than 80,000 fans will attend Jam Session over the course of four days.

NBA Players and Legends

1,416,419 and 10 — The Heat’s LeBron James was the leading vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program presented by Sprint, with 1,416,419 votes. James will be making his 10th All-Star appearance.

Lakers fail to sell out another game at Staples Center

Here’s the Los Angeles Times blog reporting on the Lakers, who usually sell out their games. But this isn’t your average Laker season.

The most compelling number to watch in the Lakers’ box scores the rest of the season could be home attendance.

The Lakers failed to sell out a game Tuesday for the second time this season when they drew a season-low 18,209 against the Utah Jazz, ending a 17-game sellout streak dating to November. The previous non-sellout against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 12 ended a far more impressive streak of 270 consecutive regular-season games (and 320 including the playoffs) going back to December 2006.

The Lakers rank eighth in the NBA in home attendance, averaging 18,937 fans per game. The Clippers have sold out every game this season and rank seventh in league attendance, averaging 19,196 fans. The Chicago Bulls lead the league with an average of 21,639 fans.

Spurs sign Shannon Brown to second 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Shannon Brown to a second 10-day contract.

In his first stint with the Silver and Black Brown saw action in six games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

The eight-year NBA veteran has also played for the Phoenix Suns (2011-13), L.A. Lakers (2009-11), Charlotte (2008-09), Chicago (2007-08) and Cleveland (2006-08). For his career Brown has appeared in 380 games, averaging 8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.5 minutes. The Illinois native was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with 25th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Hawks sign Cartier Martin to second 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Cartier Martin to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Martin has appeared in 27 games (two starts) with the Hawks this season, averaging 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes (.415 3FG%, .821 FT%). He has also played in six contests this year with the Chicago Bulls, and averaged 2.5 points in 7.9 minutes (.625 FG%, .600 3FG%).

On the season, Martin has played in 33 total games (two starting assignments), putting up 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.3 minutes (.426 3FG% – tied for ninth in the NBA, .781 FT%).

Jared Sullinger, Kevin Durant named NBA Players of Week through February 9

jared sullinger won east nba player of week

Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 3, through Sunday, Feb. 9.

Sullinger helped the Celtics to a 2-1 week, which included wins over the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings. He averaged 20.3 points (13th in the conference), 12.7 rebounds (second in the conference) and 1.67 blocks (fourth in the conference). Sullinger posted a point-rebound double-double in all three games, including a 31-point, 16-rebound effort on Feb. 7, when the Celtics topped the Kings 99-89 at TD Garden.

Durant led the Thunder to a 3-1 week, which included wins over Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. He averaged 31.8 points (second in the conference), 9.0 assists (second in the conference) and 8.0 rebounds. Durant posted two-double-doubles, including a 41-point, 10-rebound effort in which he added nine assists on Feb. 9, as the Thunder beat the Knicks 112-100, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee, Charlotte’s Al Jefferson, Detroit’s Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, Houston’s Dwight Howard, Indiana’s David West, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and San Antonio’s Patty Mills.

Pistons interim coach John Loyer confident that players know and trust him

Here’s Michigan Live on the Detroit Pistons, who this past weekend said goodbye to head coach Maurice Cheeks:

John Loyer isn’t going to recreate the Detroit Pistons in time for tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

He’ll settle for players just giving him the respect he believes he has earned from them in two-plus seasons as a Pistons assistant.

“Players figure things out,” Loyer said today after shootaround at the practice facility. “They know, whether you’re a head coach or an assistant coach, one, whether you know your stuff; two, whether you’re in it for the right things; three, can you make them better; and four, are you a good leader. Guys figure that out and I’ll take my chances with what they’ve figured out over the last few years.”

Loyer, an assistant the last two years under Lawrence Frank, and this year under Maurice Cheeks, was promoted to interim head coach when Cheeks was fired Sunday.

Loyer is expected to serve out the remainder of this season as interim coach and said he is “ready for the challenge” and that Detroit “is where I want to be.”

Steve Nash now dealing with nerve irritation in his left leg

The story of the Lakers season has been injuries, injuries, and some more injuries. At this point, it’s safe to assume that some part of veteran point guard Steve Nash will be bumped or bruised. Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog with more:

Steve Nash left the Lakers’ game Sunday against the Chicago Bulls mid-way through the third quarter because of nerve irritation in his left leg, according to the team.

Nash suffered the same damage last season when he fractured his left leg Oct. 31, 2012 against the Portland, an injury that sidelined him for 24 games. The subsequent nerve damage eventually affected his back and hamstrings, sidelining him for eight games, including two playoff appearances. He had just played in the past two games following a three-month rehab surrounding the nerve irritation in his back, which kept him out for all but six games. The Lakers plan to reevaluate Nash on Monday.

Metta World Peace getting little playing time on Knicks

With a 20-31 record, the New York Knicks are having a rough season, and they’re doing so while Metta World Peace mostly watches from the bench. Could he help? Tough to say, but here’s ESPN New York with more:

Clearly, World Peace isn’t going to turn the Knicks’ season around. But he may have put up some resistance against Kevin Durant on Sunday. Durant put up 41 points and none of the Knicks called on to guard him — Carmelo Anthony, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith — could do much to stop him.

Maybe Metta could have helped?

Either way, World Peace continues to take his benching in stride. A recent report suggested that he’s “open” to a trade (of course he’s “open” to being traded; he wants to play). But World Peace responded to the report on Twitter by writing that he’d never talked about wanting a trade and that he’s happy with any amount of playing time that he gets with the Knicks.

Al Harrington should return in not-so-distant future for Wizards

Here’s the Washington Post blog with a status update on veteran forward Al Harrington:

After the Wizards lost in double-overtime the San Antonio Spurs last week, Al Harrington was probably the only player in the locker room with a smile on his face. His teammates were dejected about losing a game that was in their grasp but Harrington — while sharing in the disappointment– was upbeat about moving a step closer to helping on the floor.

Harrington has recently been cleared to participate in some contract work and realized that he would be freed up to play in four-on-four scrimmage on Thursday with some of the Wizards’ backups. He wanted them to know that he was coming after spending the past two months recovering from surgery to remove loose particles in his right knee.

“Y’all gon’ get it,” Harrington warned as he walked out of the locker room, high-fiving his teammates.