Inside Hoops – Page 1183 – NBA Blog

Stay positive, says Knicks guard Raymond Felton

With an 8-17 record, the New York Knicks aren’t off to the start they envisioned. But things have looked better lately, and should keep improving now that center Tyson Chandler is back in action. Here’s ESPN New York with more:

Raymond Felton’s heard the “Fire Woodson” chants at Knicks home games. He’s heard the throaty boos from the MSG faithful when the Knicks struggle.

But the point guard has a request for Knicks fans — stay positive. Please.

“All we’re trying to do is stay positive. That’s what we’re trying to explain to the fans, to the media, that all the negativity, the booing, the ‘get rid of Woody, the trade this guy, trade that guy.’ Like, c’mon man, just ride with us,” Felton said at his second annual holiday party, where he provided gifts and a basketball clinic to 100 local children at Basketball City.

“Last year when we were doing well, we were winning all these games everybody was riding with us. Ride with us now, when we’re in our tough times. Because everything is not always perfect.”

Former Suns player Richard Dumas arrested

Here’s CBS 5 reporting on former NBA player Richard Dumas, who has gotten himself into some big trouble:

The U.S. Marshals Service has wrapped up a three-day pre-holiday sting appropriately dubbed “Operation Grinch Stopper 2” throughout Arizona in which more than 150 people were arrested, including a former Phoenix Suns player.

The operation targeted individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for property crimes, including armed robbery, larceny, burglary and any other Grinch-type crime, according to a U.S. Marshals spokesman.

There were 112 arrests made by officers from 27 agencies that participated in the operation in Maricopa and Pinal counties, and 39 arrests in and around Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff…

Richard Dumas, 44, was wanted by Maricopa County prosecutors after being indicted for eight counts of organized retail theft. Dumas, a former Phoenix Suns basketball player, was located at the Dumas and Friends Athletic Association in Litchfield Park and arrested without incident.

Joakim Noah visit to Thunder locker room angers Kendrick Perkins

Now this would have been fun to see video footage of. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on a postgame locker room visit gone wrong:

Following the Thunder’s win over Chicago on Thursday night, the starting centers for both teams got into a brief but heated exchange inside the Thunder’s locker room.

Bulls center Joakim Noah accompanied friend and Thunder starter Thabo Sefolosha into Oklahoma City’s dressing room. Perkins immediately took exception.

“They let anybody into the locker room, huh?” Perkins shouted after spotting Noah at the entrance of the dressing room while seated at his locker.

Russell Westbrook, from across the room, soon chimed in.

Noah then addressed Perkins directly, asking if he wanted him to leave and saying if Perkins wanted him out he would leave. Perkins, still seated, responded with an obscenity-laced retort, which he capped by saying “Get yo’ (expletive) up out of here.”

Kobe Bryant out six weeks with knee injury

The basketball world had Kobe Bryant back, but now he’s out again. Here’s the Associated Press with more:

Kobe Bryant is expected to miss about six weeks with an injured left knee, dealing the second major injury setback of the year to the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar guard.

An MRI exam on Thursday revealed Bryant has a fracture in his lateral tibial plateau – the top of his shinbone near his knee.

Bryant made his season debut with the Lakers Dec. 8 after nearly eight months away while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He apparently was hurt again Tuesday night in Memphis while playing his fourth game in five nights.

After playing six games in 10 days, the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history is out again until February or longer – and the Lakers’ already miserable run of injuries got even uglier.

“You hate it for Kobe,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters after practice Thursday. “He’s worked so hard to get back, but he’ll be back. He’ll be back in six weeks. We’ve just got to weather the storm until he gets back.”

Michael Carter-Williams set to return for Philly

The Philadelphia 76ers need help, and they’re about to get it in the form of their fantastic rookie point guard. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

A second straight strong practice has 76ers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams feeling ready to return to the lineup for Friday’s game at the Wells Fargo Center against the Brooklyn Nets.

Carter-Williams missed the last seven games with a skin infection and soreness in the front of his right knee.

While he is listed as a game-time decision, coach Brett Brown and Carter-Williams indicated that, barring any setback, he would play Friday.

“Nobody is making a 100 percent commitment that he is playing. We think he is, he has practiced well,” Brown said after Thursday’s workout. “We assume he will be in the lineup.”

Carter-Williams was also making that assumption.

Michael Carter-Williams should return soon for 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers need rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams back, in a big way. Fortunately, MCW may return as early as tomorrow. And if not, it should be soon. Here’s the Philadelphia Daily News reporting:

There could be some good news coming for coach Brett Brown and his 76ers, and they sure could use it. Rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who has missed seven games with a knee infection, practiced yesterday and might be available tomorrow night when they host the Brooklyn Nets, a team that drilled them by 36 points Monday, the Sixers’ seventh consecutive loss.

“It went pretty well,” Carter-Williams said about yesterday’s practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I practiced pretty much throughout the whole thing. I was out there and my wind wasn’t too bad and my knee was feeling good.”

Asked whether he thought he could play tomorrow, MCW said: “I hope so. I hope I get to go out and play. I’m not 100 percent sure yet.”

It can’t be overstated how much his presence would be welcomed. Though backup Tony Wroten has done more than an admirable job of filling in for Carter-Williams, the rookie’s absence has disrupted Brown’s rotation.

Boston Celtics have interest in Omer Asik

The Houston Rockets are expected to trade Omer Asik soon. Here’s ESPN.com reporting some possibilities:

Boston Celtics reportedly have interest in Omer Asik

The day has arrived for the Houston Rockets to live up to their vow to trade disgruntled center Omer Asik.

The Rockets have been telling teams for two weeks that they will trade Asik by Thursday, and according to sources close to the process, they gradually continued to move in that direction Wednesday.

ESPN.com reported Tuesday that the Boston Celtics had emerged as the strongest rivals to the Philadelphia 76ers in terms of Asik’s likely destination. Entering the final hours before the Rockets’ self-imposed deadline, sources said Houston officials spent much of Wednesday weighing the merits of Boston’s offer of forward Brandon Bass, guard Courtney Lee and a future first-round draft pick for the 7-footer from Turkey while also remaining engaged in talks with Philadelphia and leaving open the possibility that other teams could still join the bidding.

The Rockets, sources said, have been interested in prying veteran center Spencer Hawes away from the Sixers along with a future first-round pick, but they won’t know until Thursday whether Philadelphia is prepared to part with that much for Asik or whether Boston’s offer is the best available.

Lakers guard Jordan Farmar out at least another week

Lakers guard Jordan Farmar had an ultrasound test and was examined today by Dr. Luga Podesta of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Results show that there is progress in his torn left hamstring, which Farmar injured in the first half of the Lakers game against Portland on December 1, but that the injury is still not healed.

Farmar will be out at least another week, and his next evaluation is scheduled for December 24, at which time another update will be issued

Nuggets forward Jordan Hamilton suspended one game

Denver Nuggets forward Jordan Hamilton has been suspended one game without pay for throwing a punch and making contact with the shoulder of Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Hamilton was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of Denver’s 105-93 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Pepsi Center.

Hamilton will serve his suspension when the Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Dec. 20, at US Airways Center.

Sacramento officials presenting arena impact study tonight

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on the city’s quest to build a new downtown arena:

Sacramento city officials will present their draft Environmental Impact Report on the proposed downtown arena to the public tonight. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. in the lobby of City Hall, 915 I St.

The report, released Monday, concluded that a new arena would not cause serious traffic impacts on downtown streets before and after events, partly due to the fact that 10 to 15 percent of fans are expected to travel to games and concerts by public transit and walking.