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

Raptors coach Nick Nurse pondering alternate ‘jumbo’ lineup

Alternate lineups can often come in handy when the situation calls for some innovation. And it’s always best to work such things out before the playoffs begin. Here’s the Toronto Star reporting on Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and possible lineup experiments that we may see once NBA play resumes July 30:

Nurse isn’t going to get into specifics but it’s pretty certain there will be different looks. Even before this portion of training began he was intrigued by a “jumbo” lineup that would include OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol with one of Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet. And he’ll toy with tweaks to existing plays, all done with plenty of practice time to get them ingrained into the players.

“We are certainly going to add some things,” he said. “I would say our late-game special situations, we will look at some additions there. A lot of it is just kind of building from what’s there. Doing stuff that looks similar but there’s a counter to it or maybe an addition or maybe moving the pieces around a little bit … Your set looks like something is coming and it changes from what maybe they thought was coming and you get an open look.”

The Raptors were an Eastern conference second-best 47-18 when play was put on hold back in March. They’re the reigning NBA champions. And have no plans to go out without a fight.

NBA news: Wizards sign Jarrod Uthoff as Substitute Player

The Washington Wizards today signed forward Jarrod Uthoff (pronounced “YOU-toff”) as a substitute player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Uthoff (6-9, 221) spent most of the season with the Memphis Hustle (the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate), where he appeared in 34 games (all starts) and averaged 18.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in 34.9 minutes. The 26-year-old was also named to the Western Conference Midseason All-NBA G League Team in February. Uthoff saw limited action in four games with the Memphis Grizzlies after signing a 10-day contract on Feb. 27.

His previous NBA stop included a nine-game stint with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2016-17 season, where he averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.8 minutes. Uthoff originally went undrafted out of the University of Iowa in 2016, where he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team as a senior.

Zion Williamson leaves NBA Disney restart campus to attend family matter

Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson departed Orlando this morning to attend to an urgent family medical matter. He intends to rejoin the team in Orlando for the NBA restart at a later date.

“We fully support Zion’s decision to leave the NBA campus to be with his family,” said Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. “Out of respect for the Williamson family, we will have no further comment at this time.”

Spurs forward Trey Lyles out for remainder of season

San Antonio Spurs forward Trey Lyles underwent an appendectomy earlier today in Orlando, Fla.

In his first year with San Antonio, Lyles averaged 6.4 points to go along with a career-high 5.7 rebounds while shooting a career-best .387 from the three-point line. The fifth-year forward had appeared in all 63 games thus far and made 53 starts.

Lyles will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

With knee health in mind, Celtics being cautious with Kemba Walker

NBA play has been on hold since March 11, but the Celtics are still playing it safe with Kemba Walker, whose knee had been giving him issues before the shutdown. Over four months have since passed, but the team is still being cautious. Here’s the Boston Herald reporting:

For now, it sounds a lot like the regular season, when rest and maintenance for the point guard’s balky left knee was a focus after the All-Star break.

As such, Walker is on what Brad Stevens calls a one-day on, one-day off schedule, with him missing Wednesday’s practice. Instead, Walker ran through an intense session on Tuesday when the rest of the team was off.

“He did a harder workout on the off-day, so they’ve got him on a one-day off, one-day on plan,” said the Celtics coach. “He did a lot of running yesterday, shooting. He’s shooting a little bit right now. He’s reacted great, his knee feels good, and that’s a good thing. He’s really prioritizing accumulating strength in that knee, so the day-on, day-off thing will be in effect for awhile.”

The Bucks were looking like the best team in the Eastern conference (and NBA) this season prior to play stoppage, but the Celtics are one of seelct few teams that should be able to put up a serious battle should they meet Milwaukee in the playoffs. It’s definitely a concern that Kemba’s knee might still be an issue.

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox out with sprained ankle

An MRI conducted this evening in Orlando, Fla. on Kings guard De’Aaron Fox confirmed that he sustained a left ankle sprain during practice today. He will be reevaluated in 7-10 days and his status will be updated as appropriate.

A third-year guard and fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Fox is averaging 20.4 points (.475 FG%, .307 3pt%, .703 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 31.7 minutes per game in 45 games (43 starts) for the Kings during the 2019-20 season.

After bout with coronavirus, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic settles in at NBA Disney Campus

Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic has finally made it to the NBA season restart campus at Disney World in Florida. Here’s the Denver Post reporting:

No one could’ve blamed Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic had he been dispirited in the wake of his weeks-long ordeal following a positive coronavirus test.

Precious practice time with teammates was lost, and for weeks, team officials had to answer for his whereabouts.

Instead, speaking for the first time since his weekend arrival in the NBA’s bubble and since the season shut down in March, Jokic was jovial. He didn’t miss a beat while parrying questions and lobbing jokes at the familiar voices coming through Tuesday’s Zoom call.

“It was not difficult at all, I was home,” Jokic said when asked to describe his last three weeks. “I was quarantined for 14-15 days. We had a little private house. I was with my girlfriend, so it was actually a kind of vacation for us. I work out every day, I enjoy every day. It was actually not that bad.”

The 43-22 Nuggets have the third best record in the Western conference heading into the NBA restart, and Jokic is their centerpiece, both literally and figuratively.

Coach Martin Schiller leaves Salt Lake City Stars for job in Lithuania

Martin Schiller has been named the head coach of Lithuanian basketball club Žalgiris Kaunas, which competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League and EuroLeague, the team announced today.

Schiller, who spent the past three years as head coach of the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz), compiled a 73-69 (.514) record and improved his win total each season, twice earning playoff appearances. He led the Stars to the top of the Western Conference last season with a 30-12 (.714) mark and was named the 2019-20 NBA G League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year.

Under Schiller’s guidance, the Stars won the MGM Resorts NBA G League Winter Showcase Tournament in December in the midst of a 14-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA G League last season and tied for second-longest in a single season in league history.

Below are statements from the Jazz and Stars organization on Schiller:

Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz Head Coach): “We are truly excited, as well as proud, that Martin has accepted the opportunity to be the head coach of Žalgiris Kaunas, one of the top programs in the EuroLeague. Additionally, the coaching job he did with the Stars was recognized by his selection as G League Coach of the Year this past season. Not only did the Stars have success, but he also had a significant impact on the Jazz program with his role in the development of the team’s young players. All of us wish Martin and his family the best as he moves forward with this exciting next step.”

Bart Taylor (Utah Jazz Director of Scouting/Salt Lake City Stars Vice President of Basketball Operations): “Martin guided the Stars to marked improvement each season, culminating with his well-deserved Coach of the Year honor last month. He should be proud of what he accomplished during his tenure with the Stars, as he leaves behind a winning culture and a pronounced impact on the Jazz organization through development of players, coaches and staff. We thank him for his dedication to our program. He will be missed.”

Jonathan Rinehart (Salt Lake City Stars President): “I’ve had the privilege to witness firsthand Martin’s passion and drive touch every aspect of our organization over the past three years, from the upward trajectory of our on-court performance and increased connectivity with the Jazz to our efforts in the community. He has been a true asset to the Stars franchise, which has grown immensely during his time with us, and has become a friend to many along the way. He will always be a part of the Jazz and Stars family, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward.”

Wizards practice footage at Disney NBA restart campus, featuring Rui Hachimura

The 24-40 Washington Wizards were just good enough to be one of 22 NBA teams invited by the league to their Disney “quarantine bubble” NBA campus in Florida for a season restart focused on playoff seeding. Already without star point guard John Wall this season, the Wizards recently lost the services of star shooting guard Bradley Beal to a shoulder injury. The most compelling player left on the roster, for our viewing purposes at least, is rookie forward Rui Hachimura. Here’s some Wizards practice footage with Hachimura as the focus. Press play: