Inside Hoops – Page 2156 – NBA Blog

Thunder assign DJ White to D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has assigned forward DJ White to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

White has appeared in eight games this season for the Thunder averaging 4.8 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game.

White, who was assigned to Tulsa three times last season, appeared in six games for the 66ers in the 2008-09 season. He averaged 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 31.3 minutes per contest.

Eddy Curry frustrated by lack of minutes

New York Knicks center Eddy Curry has had a rough time over the last few seasons, playing just 59 games in 2007-08, a mere three in 2008-09, and just seven this season. He also became a big fatso, before slimming down recently.

But despite getting into relatively decent shape, Curry still sits on the bench twiddling his thumbs. And apparently he’s getting frustrated.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Curry made a point to say he’s spoken with Donnie Walsh but not D’Antoni. In fact, Curry refused to use D’Antoni’s name.

“It’s frustrating, because I worked so hard to get back and to be ready to go and now it’s just like go every game trying to figure out if I’m going to play or not, sitting over there waiting to see what’s going to happen,” Curry said. “It’s tough to deal with, especially at this stage of my career, at this age. I ain’t that old, but I’ve been here for a while.”

The Knicks have played well recently and as long as that continues it’s possible both Curry and Nate Robinson will see little time on the court.

Andrew Bynum has faded since Pau Gasol return

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Andrew Bynum was the top center in the Western Conference the first month of the season as he effortlessly absorbed Pau Gasol’s points and rebounds while the Lakers’ power forward missed 11 games.

Then Gasol returned from a hamstring injury and Bynum disappeared.

There’s not a lot to criticize on a team tied with Boston for the NBA’s best record (23-5), but Bynum continues to take steps back.

His numbers without Gasol: 20.3 points and 11.8 rebounds a game. His numbers since Gasol’s return: 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.

Joel Przybilla out for season

Portland Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla underwent successful surgery today to repair a ruptured right patella tendon and will be out for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, it was announced by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

The two-hour surgery was performed by Dr. Don Roberts at Southwest Washington Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash. Przybilla is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the Trail Blazers Fall Training Camp.

“Joel has been a pillar of our team and he is now on the road to recovery,” said Pritchard. “We believe very strongly in Joel and look forward to his return next season.

“We are also grateful and appreciative, especially here during the holidays, that we have such talented and caring doctors associated with our team. Dr. Roberts and Dr. Tom Reis have done an impeccable job of caring for our team during these challenging times.”

The injury occurred at the 3:12 mark of the first quarter in Tuesday’s 85-81 win at Dallas.

Przybilla, 30, averaged 4.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.43 blocked shots in 30 games (nine starts) this season. He ranks among NBA leaders in rebounds and blocked shots per game, and places second on the team in both categories. Przybilla recently put together a stretch of six straight games with 10-plus rebounds from Dec. 11-20.

He ranks sixth all-time in Trail Blazers history with 593 blocked shots.

Celtics re-assign Lester Hudson to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that guard Lester Hudson has been reassigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. This is Hudson’s second assignment to the Red Claws this season.

Hudson, a 6’3” guard, appeared in three games for the Red Claws earlier in the season and averaged 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 34.0 minutes per game.

Ron Artest injured at home

Lakers Forward Ron Artest was injured last night at his home when he tripped over a box and fell down a flight of stairs, suffering an injury to his head and left elbow.

Artest received treatment at the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center, where he was released after undergoing a series of tests, including a CT scan. He received stitches to the back of his head and to his elbow.

Artest did not accompany the team to Sacramento this morning and is not expected to play in tonight’s game against the Kings. Artest will be examined today in Los Angeles by a neurologist and after that examination, an update will be given with an estimate as to when Artest will be able to rejoin the team.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Artest should try to stay away from dangerous places like home and stick to the safety of a basketball court.

Update: Ron Artest was examined today in Los Angeles by a neurologist. Diagnosis from his examination showed that Artest did suffer a concussion in last night’s fall. Artest’s condition has improved since last night; however, he will continue to see a neurologist on a daily basis until he is cleared to return. He is definitely out for tonight’s game against the Kings at Sacramento and his status beyond that will be considered day-to-day.

Leandro Barboa returns

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Leandro Barbosa still might have been sore, but the Suns did not hurt for having him back.

The guard returned to action from an ankle sprain after missing nearly four weeks, recording 12 points and four assists in 21 minutes during the Suns’ 124-93 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at US Airways Center.

Barbosa helped stretch a four-point lead to eight during his first nine minutes of action in the second quarter, when he scored six points by penetrating on the baseline, off a curl and on an isolation drive. It was a one-on-one speed element that the Suns had missed.

“I was feeling comfortable out there,” Barbosa said.

Yi Jianlian good in return

Jonathan Lehman of the New York Post reports:

In the span of 30 minutes Wednesday night, forward Yi Jianlian might have played his way into the starting lineup. At 2-27, the moribund Nets have little to lose — except their ninth straight game.

Yi showed little rust in his return from a seven-week absence because of knee and lip injuries, scoring 22 points in the 103-99 home loss to the (almost) equally woeful Timberwolves. He hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 7 of 12 shots overall, giving the Nets — who shoot a league-worst 41.6 percent and 27.9 on threes — a sorely needed perimeter threat.

“He stretches the floor for us,” point guard Devin Harris said. “He came out ready to play and it shows how hard he’s been working. His stroke we’ll definitely need for the rest of the season.”

Gilbert Arenas had unloaded guns in locker

The AP reports:

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas stored unloaded firearms in a container in his locker, according to the team, and the NBA is looking into the situation.

The Wizards issued a statement Thursday night saying there was no ammunition in the locked container, and Arenas and the team have notified authorities and the league.

Mike Jones of the Washington Times reports:

In a phone interview with The Washington Times, Arenas said he had guns at his home, but following the Dec. 9 birth of his third child, daughter Hamiley Penny, he decided he didn’t want the weapons anywhere his children could get to them. So on Dec. 10, Arenas brought them to Verizon Center, where he stored them in his lockbox until he could figure out what to do with them. A week later, he turned the guns over to team security and asked that they be turned over to the D.C. police.

Anthony Randolph blocks 8 shots in start

Marcus Thompson II of the Oakland Tribune reports:

In just his second start of the season, second-year man Anthony Randolph gave the Warriors an immediate defensive presence inside.

Randolph started at center and finished with a career-high eight blocks in the Warriors’ 108-102 loss Wednesday to the New Orleans Hornets. It was the most blocks by a Warrior since Adonal Foyle had nine against New York on Feb. 21, 2003.

Randolph’s six first-quarter blocks were two off the team record for a quarter.

“I feel the (previous) couple games I did poorly on defense,” said Randolph, whose previous career-high was five blocks in a game against San Antonio in March. “I kind of took it upon myself to come out here and try to control the paint and help my teammates out as much as I can when they got beat.”