Inside Hoops – Page 1205 – NBA Blog

Rick Carlisle believes Kevin Love could be an NFL quarterback

No, Kevin Love has no plans to retire from basketball and try this out, but Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is a fan of Timberwolves forward Kevin Love’s throwing arm. Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog:

From Rick Carlisle’s standpoint, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love could probably have a pro career with the Minnesota Vikings if he wanted it.

“The guy can throw a chest pass 100 yards,” the Dallas Mavericks’ coach said after Friday’s shoot around. “He should be an NFL quarterback and can throw chest passes to the receivers.”

One player well known for his chest passes was Wes Unseld, who led the Washington Bullets to the 1978 NBA title. Carlisle sees some Unseld in Love.

“I remember Wes Unseld,” Carlisle said. “Unfortunately, that’s how old I am.”

Vince Carter suspended for elbowing Steven Adams

Dallas Mavericks guard-forward Vince Carter has been suspended one game without pay for throwing an elbow and making contact with the head of Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Carter was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter of Dallas’ 107-93 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Carter will serve his suspension tonight when the Mavericks visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

To view the play, click on this link.

Brooklyn Nets assign Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor to D-League

The Brooklyn Nets have assigned forward Tornike Shengelia and guard Tyshawn Taylor to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.

Shengelia appeared in 19 games last season with the Nets, averaging 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game. In 10 games for the Armor last season, Shengelia held D-League averages of 24.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He has not appeared in a game with the Nets this season.

Taylor appeared in 38 games last season with the Nets, averaging 2.2 points in 5.8 minutes per game. Taylor averaged 24.6 points, 7.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds in eight D-League appearances last season. He has not appeared in a game with the Nets this season.

Both players will join the team tomorrow for the start of Springfield’s training camp.

Stephen Curry is banged up, but seems fine

Good news from the Golden State Warriors this afternoon. Not that an injury to Stephen Curry is good news. Rather, that it’s minor, and no big deal.

Curry suffered a left ankle bone bruise during last night’s 106-93 victory at Minnesota, an MRI conducted this morning in Minnesota confirmed. He is listed as day-to-day.

According to Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group, “Warriors point guard Stephen Curry got some good new Thursday. An MRI revealed he sustained a bone bruise in his left ankle, per Golden State. No ankle sprain.”

Sacramento Kings arena working to improve food service

Look. You can’t just attend a sporting event and watch the sport. You have to eat, and drink, and then eat and drink some more. And then halftime comes, and you keep eating and drinking. And on it goes. It’s important. And here’s the Sacramento Bee on the situation at Kings games:

The Sacramento Kings acknowledged they’re having “growing pains” with some of the new services available to fans at Sleep Train Arena.

Most notably, fans have taken to social media to complain about long lines and slow service at the arena’s revamped concession stands. Those stations are offering food from local farms and ranches, along with some local beer and wine.

Fans have generally had good things to say about the quality of the food – but say it isn’t getting to them fast enough.

Zach Randolph leaves Grizzlies game as fiancee goes into labor

If there’s one reason for a professional basketball player to leave right in the middle of a game, this is it. The Associated Press reports:

Memphis forward Zach Randolph left the Grizzlies’ game Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans when his fiancee, Faune, went into labor.

Randolph played 8 minutes of the first quarter and hit his only shot before leaving the arena in the second quarter.

Houston Rockets assign Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington to D-League

The Houston Rockets have assigned rookies Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The assignments are the first and second of the 2013-14 NBA Development League season and the first for both players.

Gerald Wallace still adjusting to life on the Celtics

The Boston Celtics are reconstructing themselves, and there are bound to be some growing pains in the process. Here’s NESN reporting:

Wins do wonders to smooth frayed nerves.

A couple of hours after expressing exasperation with his role and frustration with being taken out of the starting lineup, Gerald Wallace changed his tune after the Celtics recorded their first win of the season with a 97-87 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The 13-year veteran even joked a little about his 31-year-old body’s adjustment to the rigors of coming off the bench.

“My back tightened up coming in there,” Wallace said. “It’s a lot different coming off the bench, but other than that, it was a fun experience for me.”

Wallace scored nine points — his second-highest scoring total of the season — in 23 minutes as a reserve as the Celtics hung on after letting their 25-point lead get whittled down to six points in the fourth quarter.

Knicks center Tyson Chandler out 4-6 weeks with injury

The New York Knicks are off to a rough start this season. They’ve been without J.R. Smith, but even so, there are some issues. And now things get tougher due to a major injury. Here’s New York Newsday:

Tyson Chandler had returned this season stronger and looking to make amends for his poor playoff performance last year. But Chandler won’t be helping the Knicks anytime soon.

The Knicks said Chandler will be sidelined four to six weeks after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula in Tuesday night’s loss to the Bobcats. According to the Knicks, Chandler doesn’t have any ligament or nerve damage and won’t require surgery.

But this is a still a huge loss for the Knicks, who have dropped three straight games after winning their opener. Chandler is one of their most indispensible players, and their defensive anchor in the middle.

In Tuesday night’s 102-97 defeat, the Bobcats met little resistance inside and outrebounded the Knicks 51-33. Chandler played just the first 6:35 of the game.

Caron Butler fined $15,000 for obscene gesture

The NBA has rules about how players can express themselves. There is a code of conduct, and it is not to be broken.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Caron Butler has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Bucks’ 105-98 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday, Nov. 1, at TD Garden in Boston, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Butler’s actions occurred with 3:54 remaining in the fourth quarter of the game.