Author: Inside Hoops

InsideHoops.com has been a world leader in NBA basketball coverage for over 20 years. Read our blog, but also be sure to read our main website on www.insidehoops.com

Phoenix Suns want to push the tempo

The Phoenix Suns’ 85-84 loss on opening night to the New Orleans Hornets made Planet Orange’s eyes bleed. A fan base accustomed to a potent offense isn’t used to seeing the Suns struggle through a game with fewer than 90 points. Head coach Alvin Gentry has a solution.

“We got to become more of a running team,” said Gentry after shoot around on Wednesday. “We’re not a running team, we’re a jogging team. We’re not good as a jogging team; we got to find a way to manufacture easy baskets and not to have to work so hard in half-court sets.

Phoenix shot 38% from the field in half-court sets Monday night.

— Via Bryan Gibberman of Arizona Sports

Greg Ostertag seeks NBA comeback, signs contract in D-League

Greg Ostertag

Greg Ostertag, one of the best basketball players to come out of Duncanville and an 11-year NBA veteran, will begin a comeback Thursday night with the Texas Legends that he hopes will lead to the NBA.

The National Basketball Development League team based in Frisco came to an agreement with the 7-2 Ostertag this afternoon and he will make his debut Thursday against Rio Grande Valley in a home game at Dr Pepper Arena.

He’s also expected to play Friday against Tulsa.

Ostertag spent most of his NBA career with the Utah Jazz and was one of the most the best shot-blockers in the league, swatting a shot every 11.4 minutes of playing time.

“I missed playing,” Ostertag said. “I shouldn’t have quit when I did and I feel like I got to give it one last shot to see if I can make it happen.

— Via Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News Blog

Ricky Davis seeks NBA comeback, signs contract in D-League

Ricky Davis

The Maine Red Claws today announced that they have claimed NBA veteran and former Boston Celtic Ricky Davis from the Available Player Pool.

Davis, 32, has played in 736 NBA games in a career that began in 1999 as the first round selection (21st overall) of the Charlotte Bobcats. His 12-year NBA career saw him play for six NBA teams, including three seasons with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics traded the high-scoring swingman on January 26, 2006 to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, Justin Reed, a 2006 2nd round draft pick (Craig Smith) and a 2008 2nd round draft pick (Nikola Pekovic) for Dwayne Jones, Michael Olowokandi, Wally Szczerbiak and a 2009 1st round draft pick (Jonny Flynn). He scored a career-high 20.6 ppg in 2002-03 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Davis last played in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2009-10 and has spent the last season and a half playing abroad in France, Turkey and China. Once considered a one-dimensional yet prolific player, Davis has developed into a formidable rebounder and steady mid-range jump shooter over the years.

“Ricky Davis brings a veteran element to the Red Claws and will undoubtedly become an instant fan favorite at the Portland Expo where many of our fans will remember him from his days with the Celtics,” said Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings. “Ricky is someone who knows what it takes to get to and stay in the NBA and is someone who is hungry to return there. We are all excited to welcome him to Maine.”

Warriors were strong possibility for Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler

According to Chandler, if the Knicks hadn’t wooed him, he very well might have chosen to wear Golden State gold. The Warriors’ rookie coach [Mark Jackson] put on a full-court press during the free agency period, trying to entice Chandler to play in the Bay Area instead of the Big Apple.

“We lived maybe a mile away from each other (in California) and so the last couple of summers we kind of frequented the same restaurants and everything,” said Chandler, who had seven points, six blocks and three rebounds Christmas Day against the Celtics in his Knicks debut. “And his son started working out with me. He was working out with me and (Timberwolves center) Kevin Love at the time so we kind of built a relationship that way. All of a sudden I became a free agent and he was like, ‘Well, we got a relationship already so you should just come over and play for me. We’re trying to do the right thing around here and you’re definitely a piece that we need.’ ”

— Via Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News

Phoenix Suns offense struggles in opener

Steve Nash

In the Steve Nash era one issue you never had to worry about was the Phoenix Suns’ offense.

Might this be changing right before our eyes?

In Monday’s opening night loss the Phoenix Suns fell to the New Orleans Hornets 85-84.

Since Steve Nash has been on the Suns, 2004-05 season to the present, their record in games when they have given up 99 points or less is an incredible 175-23 – a .88 win percentage.

Head coach Alvin Gentry isn’t panicking about the offense yet.

“I think we got very good looks,” said Gentry. “Grant had three wide open looks, Channing had three or four wide open looks, Dudley had three or four ones that we’re very capable of making. The biggest concern I thought was we didn’t shoot the ball well.”

— Via  Bryan Gibberman of Arizona Sports

Drew Gooden suspended for foul on Gerald Henderson

Drew Gooden

Drew Gooden of the Milwaukee Bucks has been suspended one game without pay for his Flagrant Foul Two against Gerald Henderson of the Charlotte Bobcats, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident, in which Gooden made excessive contact with the head of Henderson, occurred with 27.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the Bucks 96-95 loss to the Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. on December 26.

Gooden will serve his suspension tonight when the Bucks host the Minnesota Timberwolves in their home opener.

D.J. Augustin on rise since arrival of coach Paul Silas

DJ Augustin

After a rough start as a rookie, Augustin’s turnaround as a player coincided with the arrival Silas last December.

Under former coach Larry Brown, Augustin was timid and often afraid to shoot. Then Silas arrived.

“Playing for coach Brown, I was looking over my shoulder because I didn’t want to make a mistake,” Augustin said. “He’s still a great coach and taught me a lot of fundamentals. But with coach Silas, he gives you that chance to be free and make plays.”

That was never more evident than in a game last season against Minnesota.

Augustin was having a horrible night shooting from the field, and Silas noticed he was starting to pass up open shots.

So Silas called a timeout.

When Augustin got the sideline, Silas looked him in the eyes and gave the 6-foot point guard a lesson he’s never forgotten.

“I brought him over to the bench and I said, `Son, if you ever pass up another shot I’m going to take you out of the game and I’m not going to play you at all,'” Silas said. “I told him, `Listen, every time you get the ball, I want you to shoot it.'”

— Via Steve Reed of the Associated Press

Chris Bosh still trying to find place in offense

Chris Bosh

Much was made here and elsewhere of the muscle that Chris Bosh added this offseason, especially visible in his upper arms.

And yet, in the second preseason and regular season opener, Bosh hasn’t managed to do much in the low post.

It’s too early to make too much of this, especially since foul trouble limited Bosh’s minutes, and hurt his rhythm, in Dallas. But it bears watching. With Erik Spoelstra tailoring much of the offense to the versatile talents of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and encouraging them not only to push the pace but also to sometimes set up camp down low, Bosh is the guy who could get left behind.

After Tuesday’s shootaround, Bosh acknowledged that it remained “a feeling out process.”

— Via Ethan J. Skolnick of the Palm Beach Post Blog

Anthony Mason Jr named D-League performer of week

Anthony Mason Jr. of the Sioux Falls Skyforce was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Dec 19-25.

For the week, the 6-7, 205-pound forward out of St. John’s averaged 21.0 points on 51 percent shooting, to go with 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists, as the Skyforce went 2-1.

Mason Jr. registered his first double-double of the season, finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Skyforce defeated Springfield, 103-99 on Sunday, Dec. 25, the team’s third game in four nights. Mason tallied 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a 104-95 loss to Canton on Friday, Dec. 23. He opened the week with 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting in a 100-96 win over Fort Wayne on Thursday, Dec. 22. For the season, Mason Jr. is averaging 16.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Other top performers considered include the Reno Bighorns’ Blake Ahearn, who averaged 23.5 points and 9.0 assists; the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ Stanley Asumnu, who averaged 20.0 points and 7.0 rebounds; the Idaho Stampede’s Tony Bobbitt, who averaged 22.0 points and 5.5 assists; the Maine Red Claws’ Justin Brownlee, who averaged 22.0 points and 11.0 rebounds; the Los Angeles D-Fenders’ Brandon Costner, who averaged 27.5 points and 7.5 rebounds; the Maine Red Claws’ Paul Harris, who averaged 19.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists; the Springfield Armor’s Lance Hurdle, who averaged 17.0 points and 5.7 rebounds; the Bakersfield Jam’s Juan Pattillo, who averaged 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds; the Maine Red Claws’ Courtney Pigram, who averaged 24.0 points and 3.0 assists; the Texas Legends’ Chris Roberts, who averaged 24.0 points and 3.5 rebounds; the Rio Grand Valley Vipers’ Julian Sensley, who averaged 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds; and the Iowa Energy’s Ben Strong, who averaged 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.