Author: Inside Hoops

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Knee bruise limits Byron Mullens in Bobcats practice

Charlotte Bobcats power forward Byron Mullens was held out of contact drills at practice Monday due to continued swelling in his right knee.

Mullens sat out Saturday’s preseason loss to the Detroit Pistons with the same injury. It happened in practice Friday, in a collision with teammate Bismack Biyombo.

“Biz hurt me – he’s taking people out,’’ Mullens joked after practice.  “It was a knee-to-knee thing (causing) a little bone bruise. Got a little swelling going on.’’

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Blog)

Wizards forward Trevor Booker says he likes to get crunk

Trevor Booker climbed Milwaukee Bucks center Samuel Dalembert for a putback slammed, then stared over at his bench, where his teammates hooted and hollered.

Then, just as he crossed half court, Booker stole the ball from Brandon Jennings and was sprinting down the court for another two-handed dunk. Afterward, Booker screamed and shouted loud enough for fans in half-empty Bradley Center to hear him. Again, his teammates reacted giddily.

“I like getting crunk,” Booker said of his emotional outbursts in the Wizards’ 102-94 victory over the Bucks. “That’s a part of me. That’s a part of my game. Off the court, I’m laid back. But on the court, I’m very passionate.”

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post (Blog)

Lakers waive Chris Douglas-Roberts and Greg Somogyi

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Chris Douglas-Roberts and Greg Somogyi, it was announced today.

Douglas-Roberts, a three-year NBA veteran out of the University of Memphis, was originally selected by the then-New Jersey Nets in the second  round (40th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. Douglas-Roberts has appeared in 155 NBA games (53 starts) for the Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, recording career averages of 7.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.6 minutes.  The 6-7 forward spent the 2011-12 season playing for Virtus Bologna of the Italian League, where he averaged 12.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 27.0 minutes. Douglas-Roberts played in four preseason games for Los Angeles where he averaged 4.0 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.3 minutes.

Somogyi, a 7-3 center out of UC Santa Barbara, played all four years for the Gauchos where he posted career averages of 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 12.2 minutes. In three preseason games with the Lakers, Somogyi averaged 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 7.7 minutes.

The Lakers training camp roster now stands at 16 players.

Gilbert Arenas may play in China

Gilbert Arena may play in China

Gilbert Arenas is nearing an agreement on a one-year contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, a source told Yahoo! Sports.

Arenas, 30, was a three-time All-Star who averaged 20.7 points over 11 seasons for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies. He was suspended for most of the 2009–10 season after bringing guns to the Wizards’ locker room. He averaged 4.2 points and 1.1 assists while playing in 17 games for Memphis last season.

— Reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

Pacers exercise Paul George option, release Luke Nevill, Sundiata Gaines and Blake Ahearn

Paul George

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have exercised the team option on forward/guard Paul George for the 2013-14 season. George will be entering his third season with the team.

It’s a no-brainer that the team would hang onto George. This was a completely expected move.

The Pacers also announced Monday that center Luke Nevill along with guards Sundiata Gaines and Blake Ahearn have been released, putting the Pacers’ roster at 15. Nevill saw limited game action in two games, scoring one basket. Gaines also played in two games, scoring four points, and Ahearn played in three games, scoring five points.

The Pacers close out the preseason this week with games at Cleveland Tuesday night and at South Bend, IN, Friday night against the Chicago Bulls. They will open the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Toronto, visit Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 2 and have the home opener in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Saturday, Nov. 3, against the Sacramento Kings.

Indiana Fever win 2012 WNBA championship

Tamika Catchings finally won her long-awaited WNBA championship.

She scored 25 points to help the Indiana Fever win their first title with an 87-78 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night.

Catchings, who was the MVP of the Finals, averaged 24.8 points in the series, which the Fever won 3-1 over the defending WNBA champions.

Erin Phillips added 18 points and eight rebounds while Shavonte Zellous and Briann January each had 15 points.

The Fever won even though No. 2 scorer Katie Douglas missed most of the series with a severely sprained left knee. Douglas checked in with 3.2 seconds left to a loud ovation…

Seimone Augustus, Minnesota’s leading scorer in the playoffs, was held to eight points on 3-for-21 shooting. Lindsay Whalen scored 22 points and Moore added 16 points for the Lynx, who were vying to become the first team to win consecutive titles since Los Angeles in 2001 and 2002.

— Reported by Cliff Brunt of the Associated Press 

Dwight Howard set to make Lakers debut

Dwight Howard is set to make his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers in a preseason game against Sacramento on Sunday night.

Coach Mike Brown says Howard is in the Lakers’ starting lineup with no restrictions on his playing time. Howard finally will hit the Staples Center court in his gold No. 12 jersey just more than six months after the six-time All-Star center had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.

Howard didn’t play in the first five preseason games for the Lakers (0-5), who acquired him from Orlando in August through a four-team trade that sent All-Star center Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia.

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

Timberwolves guard Luke Ridnour dealing with back issue

Wolves guard Luke Ridnour dealing with back issue

The Timberwolves are hoping veteran guard Luke Ridnour, the team’s oldest player at 31, does not become the latest injury concern.

Ridnour said Sunday, Oct. 21, that he has a herniated disc in his lower back, an ailment that has sidelined him for three of the Wolves’ five exhibition games. Ridnour did not practice Sunday but said his back is “feeling much better” after getting a cortisone shot on Friday.

“By taking care of it now, I’ll be able to nip it in the bud and move forward from here and be pain free,” Ridnour said after practice. “I just want to make the necessary steps, so I can be ready for November. I’ll be ready to go.”

Ridnour is a vital player in the Wolves’ attempts to adjust without Kevin Love (broken hand) and Ricky Rubio (knee).

— Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Anthony Davis developing quickly on offense in Hornets preseason

Anthony Davis developing quickly on offense in preseason

Through three weeks into the preseason, New Orleans Hornets rookie Anthony Davis has progressed so rapidly that Coach Monty Williams has used him at multiple positions and has run set plays designed to take advantage of his mid-range shooting.

If he continues to develop as a scoring threat in the post and perimeter, Davis could eventually cause match up problems much the same way Dallas Mavericks 7-foot forward Dirk Nowitzki imposes on teams because of his shooting ability.

Already, Davis has developed a high release on his jump shot similar to Nowitzki that makes it difficult for defenders to block.

“I’m just trying to get better each and every practice and not get comfortable,’’ said Davis, who has played limited minutes at small forward. “I’m just doing what Coach Monty wants – nothing more; nothing less.’’

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune