Inside Hoops – Page 2146 – NBA Blog

Blake Griffin has left knee surgery

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin underwent successful surgery on his left knee Wednesday morning at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Center in Los Angeles.

The two-part procedure, specifically termed a left patellar fragment excision and a patellar tendon repair “couldn’t have gone better” according to Dr. Neal ElAttrache who performed the surgery. Dr. ElAttrache was assisted by Dr. Steven Shimoyama, the Clippers’ Team Physician. Dr. ElAttrache went on to say “the expectation is that Blake will undergo a sequential rehabilitation program that should have him back in action in four to six months.”

Authorized medical personnel will be available to address the news media at STAPLES Center prior to this evening’s Clippers-Bulls game, at 5:30 PM in the Avengers locker room.

Griffin, the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, suffered a non-displaced stress fracture of his left patella during the Clippers’ last preseason game vs. the New Orleans Hornets on Friday, October 23rd.

NBA fines Rasheed Wallace $35,000 for criticizing refs

Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace has been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Wallace was fined for his comments made following the Celtics’ 99-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, Jan. 18.

Bucks assign Joe Alexander to D-League

The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned second-year forward Joe Alexander to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana) of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager John Hammond announced today. Fort Wayne is led by Head Coach Joey Meyer, who previously coached the Bucks D-League affiliate in Tulsa. Alexander will meet with the team tomorrow and his first game with the Mad Ants will be Friday at Iowa.

“This is a good opportunity for Joe to receive regular minutes in real game action and continue his development as he returns from injury,” Hammond said. “We’re looking forward to seeing his progress as he works with Coach Meyer and his Fort Wayne teammates.”

Alexander, 23, was drafted by the Bucks with the eighth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. He appeared in 59 games as a rookie in 2008-09 and averaged 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game. Alexander has not appeared in a game this season after suffering a strained right hamstring in training camp. He played three seasons at West Virginia prior to entering the NBA. In 82 games (70 starts) at West Virginia, he averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks. He was a First Team All-Big East selection as a junior.

In previous seasons the Bucks have sent Ersan Ilyasova (2005-06), Damir Markota (2007), David Noel (2007-08) and Ramon Sessions (2007-08) to the D-League. The NBA Development League also includes the Albuquerque T-Birds (New Mexico), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (California), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, North Dakota), Erie Bayhawks (Pennsylvania), Frisco (Texas), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders (California), Maine Red Claws (Portland), Reno Bighorns (Nevada), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Texas), Sioux Falls Skyforce (South Dakota), Springfield Armor (Massachusetts), Tulsa 66ers (Oklahoma), Utah Flash (Provo).

NBA denies Hawks protest of Dec. 30 loss to Cavaliers

The National Basketball Association announced today that Commissioner David Stern has denied the Atlanta Hawks’ protest of their 106-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 30, 2009.

In the protest, the Hawks argued that the failure of the shot clock operator to reset the shot clock following a defensive rebound by Atlanta with 1:57 remaining in the game warranted a replay of the game from that point forward.

Commissioner Stern determined that the shot clock error did not have a clear impact on the game’s outcome and therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of granting the protest and overturning the game’s result.

Bucks sign Jerry Stackhouse

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse to a contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Stackhouse, 35, is a 14-year NBA veteran who has appeared in 854 games (563 starts) with Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington and Dallas.

Stackhouse (6-6, 218) was the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1995 NBA Draft. He owns career averages of 18.4 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist. His best statistical season came in 2000-01 when he averaged a career-best 29.8 points (second in the NBA), 5.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He has spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.

The North Carolina alum has participated in the postseason seven times with 64 games (16 starts) in games played with Detroit and Dallas. Stackhouse’s playoff averages are 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

Stackhouse was an NBA All-Star in both 2000 and 2001, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1995-96 and earned the NBA’s Community Assist Award in October 2001. He ranks in the top 100 in NBA history in points (15,749, 90th), free throws (4,548, 41st) and three pointers (899, 78th). Stackhouse played two seasons at North Carolina, averaging 15.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 69 games. Like Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, he attended Oak Hill Academy high school.

Eddy Curry out six weeks after knee surgery

New York Knicks center Eddy Curry is very big. Not as big as he was before, but the man is a giant. Despite being thinner now than he was a few months ago, each step he takes makes his knees cry.

And now, once again, he’s actually injured.

The AP reports:

Eddy Curry is expected to miss about six weeks after knee surgery, the latest setback for the injury-plagued Knicks center.

The Knicks said Curry will have an arthroscopic procedure on Monday to remove loose cartilage in his left knee. He will begin rehabilitation within a week.

Curry has only played seven games in 2009-10, averaging 3.7 points and little else in 8.9 minutes per outing.

Stephon Marbury may play basketball in China

Stephon Marbury to play basketball in China

Remember former NBA guard Stephon Marbury? Before he started doing wacky stuff on the internet and arguing with “haters” for seemingly 17 hours a day while reminding web users that “love is love” nearly every minute, he was a very good NBA player.

Not quite as good as his stats suggest. There were issues of bad chemistry, bad attitudes and not making teammates better. Still, Marbury was talented, exciting to watch, and occasionally spectacular and unguardable.

Before falling out of the NBA after years on the New York Knicks and a quick stint on the Boston Celtics, Marbury had made several mentions of wanting to play overseas; specifically Italy.

I’ve learned over the years that tons of overseas reports tend to jump the gun. And there are often language barriers and translation issues. So right now there are two reports. One seems to suggest Marbury will sign. The other says he may do it, but nothing is done.

Until it’s confirmed (hopefully by Marbury himself) that he’s really signing in China, these should just be considered reports on what may happen.

Reuters reports:

Twice NBA All Star point guard Stephon Marbury will become the highest profile American to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) after he agreed to join China’s Shanxi Club.

The 32-year-old, a free agent since leaving the Boston Celtics last season, had agreed a deal with the northern club and would arrive in Shanxi next week, the team announced on their official website (www.sxcba.com).

“The aim of signing Marbury is to pay back our fans and try to win more games in the rest of the season,” said Shanxi boss Wang Xingjiang.

AFP reports:

After bringing in NBA bad boy Bonzi Wells last season, Shanxi Zhongyu of the China Basketball Association are seeking to land former disgruntled New York Knick Stephon Marbury, the team said Monday.

“Marbury will come next week. We want to sign him and we want him to play for us,” club general manager Zhang Beihai told AFP by phone.

“When he arrives we will sit down and talk. Right now it is not clear if he wants to sign. After we talk we will make a decision.”

Assuming he’s kept in shape, Marbury should be able to destroy the competition. Which would be fun to keep track of.

InsideHoops.com will keep you updated.

Chris Wilcox stepping up for Pistons

Detroit Pistons big-man Chris Wilcox has mostly been a forgotten man this season, contributing about as much to the team as you. Which isn’t a lot. Unless you buy Pistons tickets, or gear, or something. Then it’s probably a tie.

Anyway, the 14-25 Pistons have been terrible this season, though constant injuries to key players is a very legitimate excuse. But they’ve rattled off several wins in a row, and Wilcox has helped.

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

After Wilcox, an eight-year veteran power forward, was benched for 13 of the first 26 games, it looked as if he wouldn’t have an impact on this season.

But Wilcox has helped the Pistons to a 3-1 record since coach John Kuester put him in the starting lineup.

And with a 14-point, 10-rebound effort in Saturday night’s victory over the Knicks, Wilcox proved that his athleticism and shooting touch could be a boon to the Pistons the rest of the season.

“I thought in the third period he did some great things,” Kuester said. “Playing the amount of minutes (16) and him giving us that kind of energy … that’s awfully impressive.”

For the season, Wilcox is averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game. His stats are barely better than that in the three recent wins, but he’s hustled and helped the squad.

Elton Brand starting to come alive for Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers are just 13-26 this season, but they’ve actually looked like an NBA team lately. A big reason why has been the emergency of power forward Elton Brand, who is starting to finally come alive.

Tom Moore of Philly Burbs reports:

After injuries limited him to 37 games during the previous two seasons, Elton Brand is finally starting to feel more like the Elton Brand who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first 10 NBA seasons. And it’s showing on the court.

In the Sixers’ last nine games, he’s shooting 58-for-108 (53.7 percent) from the field. The Sixers are 6-3 during that span, with Brand averaging 18.7 points and shooting 59.2 percent in the victories.

Brand had 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting in a Dec. 28 victory over the Trail Blazers, another 25 in a Jan. 9 drubbing of the Pistons and 18 in Monday’s 96-92 win over the Hornets.

Up next for the Sixers is a road game in Minnesota and tough home games vs Portland and Dallas.

Bucks to sign Jerry Stackhouse

Jerry Stackhouse is 35 years old and hasn’t brought much to an NBA court over the last few seasons, but he’ll reportedly get a shot at helping the Milwaukee Bucks, who will be without Michael Redd for the rest of the season.

ESPN.com reports:

The Milwaukee Bucks will sign veteran guard Jerry Stackhouse to a contract for the rest of the season, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Stackhouse is expected to formally sign with the Bucks on Monday or possibly Tuesday after the Martin Luther King holiday.

The former All-Star guard has been looking for a new team since the summer and was targeted by the Bucks — who began play Sunday two games out of the final playoff spot in the East — after Michael Redd suffered a season-ending knee injury last Sunday in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

Stack averaged 12.0 points per game for the Dallas Mavericks in 2006-07, 10.7 ppg on 40.5% shooting (and just 32.6% threes) in 2007-08, and last season played just 10 games for just 4.2 ppg on 26.7% shooting.