Inside Hoops – Page 1199 – NBA Blog

Deron Williams sick of being injured

Lots of fans complain when certain NBA players seem to keep getting injured and missing games. And that’s understandable. But what fans should remember is, no player actually wants to be injured. It’s in all likelyhood more frustrating for them than for anyone else. As for Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams, here’s the New York Post:

The $100 million point guard sprained his left ankle in the first quarter of Friday night’s 100-98 overtime victory over the Suns, landing on Miles Plumlee’s foot and rolling his ankle. Williams then collapsed to the ground, and lay motionless in pain. He limped to the locker room, ending his night after just five minutes, two points and one assist.

X-rays were negative, according to the Nets.

“It’s frustrating,” Williams said after the game. “That’s the only way to describe it. I’m sick of being injured, sick of being hurt. I just want to be healthy so I can help my team.”

The good news for Williams is he said the sprain is “not even close to as bad” as the injury he sustained in the offseason to his other ankle.

Mike Woodson and Iman Shumpert appear to have some disagreements

Players often have heated disagreements with other players or their coaching staff. It doesn’t necessarily indicate that something bad is up. Sports are competitive, and in the heat of the moment, players/coaches can disagree about certain things, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that something particularly bad is brewing. But when trade rumors are brewing, it does make you wonder what’s up. With that said, here’s the New York Post:

Coach Mike Woodson and Iman Shumpert barked at each other on the Garden court Thursday during the Knicks 109-106 loss to Houston at the Garden.

After the exchange, Shumpert walked away from the coach with noticeable disgust and sat on the bench. If their suspect relationship is improving, it wasn’t apparent during the back-and-forth.

Shumpert is on the trading block, and Woodson hasn’t exactly eased the combo guard’s nerves — even after their meeting when the Knicks played in Atlanta on Wednesday. The Knicks face the Hawks again on Saturday at the Garden.

Carmelo Anthony would not mind a reduction in minutes

Carmelo Anthony, like any NBA star, is ready and willing to play as many minutes as needed to help his team win. That doesn’t mean that he actually wants to be out there on the floor almost nonstop all game long. Here’s the New York Post:

Carmelo Anthony doesn’t lead the NBA in scoring, but he does lead the league in minutes, and that’s something he would prefer not to do, especially after spending so much of the summer rehabbing a torn left shoulder.

Anthony scored 45 points in the Knicks’ 109-106 loss to the Rockets on Thursday night, but also logged 45 minutes. Anthony, who is averaging 40.8 minutes per game, said he realizes with Tyson Chandler out at least another three weeks and J.R. Smith still feeling his way, he has to carry the load.

“I don’t want to play 45 minutes every night,’’ Anthony said Friday at the Boys Club in The Bronx, where he distributed free food as part of the Carmelo Anthony Foundation. “At this rate if that’s what I have to do to try to help this team, then I’m all for it.’’

Mario Chalmers suspended for striking Dirk Nowitzki

Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers has been suspended for one game without pay for throwing a forearm and making contact with the head of Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Chalmers was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of Miami’s 110-104 win over Dallas on Friday, Nov. 15, at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Chalmers will serve his suspension tonight when the Heat visit the Charlotte Bobcats.

To view the play, click on this link.

Pelicans center Greg Stiemsma out 6-8 weeks with knee injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that center Greg Stiemsma suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee. An MRI confirmed the injury, which occurred during the second quarter of Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Stiemsma is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

The Pelicans are off to a 3-6 start. From an efficiency standpoint, their offense is fairly average for the league, but their defense has been a disappointment. Their star so far has been Anthony Davis, who is playing like an all-star this season, averaging 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.

Luke Ridnour should return soon for Bucks

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the Bucks backcourt getting a bit more healthy:

Veteran guard Luke Ridnour participated in the Bucks shootaround Friday morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

And if Ridnour has his way, he will be on the court Friday night when Milwaukee (2-5) meets the unbeaten Indiana Pacers (8-0).

Ridnour has not played this season due to a herniated disc in his back, an injury that cropped up just before the Bucks played the season opener in New York on Oct. 30.

His return would be welcome news for the Bucks, who have relied on rookie Nate Wolters for huge minutes at the point guard spot. That’s because 21-year-old point guard Brandon Knight is sidelined again due to a right hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener.

Diante Garrett off to great start for Jazz

Here’s the Deseret News on a nice surprise the Utah Jazz got to enjoy the other day.

Diante Garrett, a suddenly familiar name in Utah, didn’t hit an unbelievable 3-point shot to beat LeBron James’ team. He didn’t end up celebrating on the scorer’s table at EnergySolutions Arena, either.

He hasn’t quite reached Sundiata Gaines status as a D-League call-up legend.

But the 25-year-old made one heck of a first impression with the Utah Jazz and fans Wednesday night in the team’s 111-105 victory over New Orleans.

“I’m shocked,” Jazz center Enes Kanter admitted. “He came (Tuesday), and then he played (Wednesday). … He played unbelievable. I appreciate him. He stepped up big time and played big.”

And he did it only hours after signing with the Jazz.

Not long after telling media about how he learned of his new opportunity while shopping at Wal-Mart late Monday night, Garrett scored seven points, had five assists and played a key role in Utah’s first win of the 2013-14 season.

Sam Young signs with Sydney Kings in Australia

Here’s the Sydney Morning Herald reporting on Sam Young signing to play in Australia:

Former Indiana Pacers forward Sam Young could play for the Sydney Kings as early as their showdown with NBL frontrunners Perth Wildcats in Perth next Sunday – and, judging by high-level league discussions at head office, he could spark a flow of marquee-style imports to Australia from the NBA.

The signing of Young is a massive coup, but things didn’t go to plan on Thursday, with Young’s manager Joel Bell leaking news of the 198-centimetre 28-year-old’s signing with Sydney.

It placed Kings coach Shane Heal in the unenviable position of having to inform one of the Kings imports, point guard Jesse Sanders, that Friday night’s clash with Townsville Crocodiles at the Sydney Entertainment Centre would be his last.

History of some teams that, like the Pacers, started the season 8-0

The Indiana Pacers were expected to be good this season, but they’ve exceeded expectations, and look as legit an NBA championship contender as anybody. But as for what they’ve done so far, here’s the Indianapolis Star with some history:

Thirty teams have begun a season 8-0. The 12 that had their streaks snapped in the ninth game averaged 55.5 wins. The over-under on victories for the Pacers this preseason, according to Bovada Sportsbook? 54.5.

“Just taking it in stride,” coach Frank Vogel said.

Eight of the 30 teams won titles and four others reached the Finals. It includes legendary teams such as the 1996-97 Bulls, 2007-08 Celtics and 1987-88 Lakers. But it also includes a 1979-80 Portland team that finished with a losing record and Seattle in 1993-94, which started 10-0, finished 63-19 and was the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round, getting upset by No. 8 Denver.

J.R. Smith goes off on Brandon Jennings via Twitter

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on some Twitter fun:

J.R. Smith’s latest Twitter fiasco – an apparent threat to harm Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings – had Knicks coach Mike Woodson contemplating a team policy about using social media Thursday and the organization wondering whether the reigning Sixth Man of the Year might be looking at a disciplinary action from the league.

Smith made what appeared to be a threat against Jennings on Wednesday night shortly after the Knicks’ win in Atlanta, where he started instead of coming off the bench. Jennings posted a dispatch on Twitter in which he questioned why Knick Chris Smith – J.R.’s brother – belongs on an NBA roster.

Smith first came to his brother’s defense and then, according to Deadspin.com, posted a tweet that read, “might call some of my Number street homies an put #Detroit on smash for a min! #DeadSerious.”

Asked before Thursday night’s game whether he intended to threaten with that message, Smith said, “No. There’s a way to threaten somebody and that’s not the way to publicly threaten somebody.”