Author: Inside Hoops

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Suns assign D.J. Strawberry to D-League

The Phoenix Suns have assigned rookie D.J. Strawberry to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Steve Kerr. Strawberry is the 21st NBA assignment to a D-League affiliate this season. Before last night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Suns recalled rookie Alando Tucker from the Thunderbirds.

Strawberry, a 6-5, 201-pound guard, was selected by Phoenix in the second round (59th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft and signed with the team on Aug. 28, 2007. In six games with the Suns, Strawberry averaged 2.0 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 6.2 minutes.

The New York City native played four season for the University of Maryland (2003-07) and averaged 10.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 111 contests for the Terrapins. He is the first player from Maryland to be drafted in the NBA since 2003 (Steve Blake, Washington Wizards).

Phoenix recalled forward Tucker Monday, the day he was named the D-League’s Performer of the Week. The 6-6, 205-pound rookie was assigned to the Thunderbirds on Nov. 28, 2007 and averaged 28.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 39.0 minutes over five contests with the Thunderbirds.

No, Curry did NOT make a guarantee

No, Eddy Curry did NOt make any sort of guarantee that the Knicks would beat the Pacers in New York today.

Apparently, what happened is, a Knicks beat writer JOKED to another reporter that Curry made a guarantee earlier today. Some eavesdropping media member or two heard it and word somehow spread, even reaching the Pacers before the game, who didn’t know it was a joke.

Did Curry guarantee win over Pacers tonight?

NY Newsday reports: Talk around the Garden is that Eddy Curry has guaranteed a Knicks victory over the Pacers tonight. I don’t know who he said this to, but it had to have happened before I spoke with him. Curry never mentioned the Pacers when I talked to him this morning at the shoot-around, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t say it to another reporter.
The Pacers locker room was a-buzz with Curry’s apparent prediction.

InsideHoops.com update:

No, Eddy Curry did NOT make any sort of guarantee that the Knicks would beat the Pacers in New York today.

Apparently, what happened is, a Knicks beat writer JOKED to another reporter that Curry made a guarantee earlier today. Some eavesdropping media member or two heard it and word somehow spread, even reaching the Pacers before the game, who didn’t know it was a joke.

Mavs sending Mo Ager to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have assigned guard Maurice Ager to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

The one-year pro has seen action in seven games this season starting three times.  He has averages of 2.1 points and 0.6 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game.  Against San Antonio (11/5), he finished with a season-high 5 points, 2 rebounds and a career-high 3 assists.

The 66ers will be in action on Dec. 19 when they host the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Bulls recall JamesOn Curry from D-League

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has recalled rookie guard JamesOn Curry from the Iowa Energy of the D-League.

Curry (6-3, 190) was assigned to the Energy on Nov. 15 and in his nine games with the D-League affiliate he averaged 21.9 ppg (10th in the D-League), 5.8 apg (eighth in D-League), 3.6 rpg and 1.00 spg in 41.4 mpg (sixth in D-League). He shot .473 from the field, including .378 from three-point range, and .774 from the free throw line.

Curry was selected by Chicago in the second round (51st overall) of NBA Draft 2007 after three years at Oklahoma State. He practiced with the Bulls today and will be with the team for Tuesday’s home contest versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

Celtics playing great defense

NBA.com reports: The Celtics are grooving on defense, and it’s got them riding a nine-game streak. The Celts lead the NBA in points allowed, FG and TP percentage allowed, and rebounding differential. Boston’s PPG differential is +14.2; the diff for the second-best stoppers, the Pistons, is +7.9. The C’s sit at No. 2 and 3 in SPG and steal differential, and are the No. 1 Scrooge with dimes, allowing 17.3 per game – exactly how many they let Toronto have Sunday. The Raptors normally dish 23 APG. “The plays we usually make just weren’t there,” Chris Bosh said after the C’s 90-77 clampdown. Boston is 20-2 because it believes “stop” means “go”: “We’re trying to have the defense fuel the offense,” said Kevin Garnett, “and it’s been working.”

Rockets recall Steve Novak from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that forward Steve Novak has been recalled from Houston’s D-League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. Assigned on Nov. 11, Novak averaged 18.2 points on 46.1 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in nine games with the Vipers. Prior to his assignment, Novak had been designated as an inactive for the Rockets’ first six games of the season.  He is expected to join the Rockets for tomorrow’s practice at Toyota Center.

Shelden Williams carjacked at gunpoint

The AP reports: Atlanta forward Shelden Williams was carjacked at gunpoint Saturday before the Hawks’ game against Charlotte. Douglasville City Police said two suspects were arrested late Saturday afternoon at Arbor Place Mall in Douglas County, near Atlanta. The suspects were in Williams’ car and were attempting a robbery, according to an officer who answered the phone at the Douglasville Police Department. The officer, who declined to give her name, said one suspect was taken to a hospital after suffering dog bites from the police canine unit during the arrest.

Kenyon Martin suspended 1 game

Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has been suspended for one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two for flagrantly fouling Melvin Ely of the New Orleans Hornets by striking him in the head with an elbow, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 9:40 remaining in the second period of Denver’s 105-99 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Pepsi Center. Martin will serve the suspension tonight when the Nuggets play the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

The following is a statement from Martin: “”I’’m disappointed that I won’’t be out there with my teammates tonight against the Spurs.  What happened with Melvin in Wednesday’’s game was inadvertent.  I apologized to him on the court and again after the game.  He told me he knew it was an accident.””