Author: Inside Hoops

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Rajon Rondo fined by NBA for incidents in Lakers vs Thunder game

The NBA on Saturday announced that they have fined Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo $35,000 for the following reasons:

– Making unsportsmanlike physical contact with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder

– Verbal abuse of a game official

– Failing to leave the court in a timely manner upon his ejection.

Rondo received a Flagrant Foul 2 and was ejected, early 4th quarter this past Thursday, on the road in OKC.

A video clip of the incident is here: http://www.nba.com/video/2019/11/23/lal-okc-rajon-rondo-112219

The Lakers are off to a fantastic start this season. Through yesteday’s games, they have a league-best 13-2 record and are currently riding a six-game winning streak.

Rondo has played in just five games this season, entirely off the bench as a reserve, averaging 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.6 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game.

 

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Kemba Walker injury update: Celtics guard quickly released from hospital

Playing on the road in Denver, the Celtics lost Kemba Walker to injury, and also lost 96-92 to the Nuggets.

Walker was taken off the court on a stretcher, taken to a hospital, diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms, but fortunately was quickly released and cleared to return with the team for their trip back home to Boston.

The Celtics say Walker will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

According to Boston.com, “the injury occurred with three minutes left in the second quarter when Walker hit his head against teammate Semi Ojeleye’s chest when going after a loose ball.”

The Celtics are already without forward Gordon Hayward, who is missing extended time due to a hand injury. But it sounds like they will hopefully have Walker back in action soon.

The next Celtics game is Monday in Boston against the Sacramento Kings.

Hornets reveal new cool gray City Edition uniforms

 

 

 

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The Charlotte Hornets today revealed their new “City Edition” uniforms. The color is “cool gray,” which is an interesting term because lots of people still don’t know if it’s the actual proper name of a shade of gray, or merely the opinion of whoever is mentioning their view on the color. Well, it’s the former. And in my opinion, it’s a great color. The uniforms are cool.

The team says it’s the first gray uniform in franchise history. And that these City Edition uniforms will be worn for the first time on Friday, December 6 in Charlotte when facing the Brooklyn Nets.

The Hornets will wear these gray City Edition uniform for five home games and 10 road games.

Bol Bol quickly blocking shots in the G League

 

 

 

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Denver Nuggets rookie Bol Bol is signed to a two-way contract, which means he’ll be spending most of the 2019-20 season playing in the G League. The Nuggets, of course, get to decide whether or not to also let him get some actual NBA experience. But first, he must prove himself at a lower pro level, while wearing a Windy City Bulls uniform:

According to the Denver Post, “his defensive acumen, boosted by his timing and size, is already apparent. After logging four blocks in his G League debut last Friday, he’s averaging 2.7 per game in just over 17 minutes through three games. As a result of surgery on his left foot that limited him to nine games at Oregon, Bol is on a minutes restriction in the range of 15 to 20 per game. Any lingering effects from his injury weren’t noticeable over his first three games.”

Bol Bol’s full G League stats through three games are 11.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 17.3 minutes per outing.

The Nuggets through Thursday are 10-3 this season, which ties them for the fourth best record in the league.

Blake Griffin must play better, says Blake Griffin

The Detroit Pistons are 4-10, which ties them for the second worst record in the Eastern conference through yesterday’s games. They are on a five-game losing streak.

It’s still early in the season, and rattling off a few quick wins would vault them up in the standings. And power forward Blake Griffin, who has been injured, has only played in three games so far. His stats have been disappointing in those contests: 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 34.8% FG.

Per the Detroit Free Press, here’s what Griffin said about it:  “I just got to be better… I can’t play the way I’ve played the last two games and expect us to win. I know people make more of a deal about numbers than I do, but it’s all encompassing, doing everything or not doing some of the things I’m doing will help us win… I fully take (the blame for) these last two. I just got to be better.” 

Tons of players are rusty merely a few games in after a return from injury. We’ll look at Griffin more closely in the coming 1-2 weeks.

 

Most Inside Hoops stories lately are on the insidehoops.com front page, not here

Hello,

Just a quick update. Lately we’ve mostly been posting stories on our front page, rather than in this blog. Just shifting things around. Everything is good. We were slightly quiet during the big holiday week last week, but during the week, including today, we’re basically updating almost every hour or two all morning, afternoon and a bit in the evening.

So, if you’re reading this, be sure to bookmark http://www.insidehoops.com and when you want NBA news, click that bookmark.

We’ll either be updating this blog in the very near future, or creating a new RSS feed.

In other news, we’ll be posting a lot more player interviews, starting in the next day.

Now go hit our front page.

Raptors, Spurs set to square off on Thursday

Here’s the Toronto Star reporting on former Raptors star DeMar DeRozan, now of the San Antonio Spurs, on Thursday’s Raptors vs Spurs game in San Antonio which will be televised nationally on TNT.

DeRozan isn’t sure how he’ll react Thursday when he plays against the team that he spent his first nine NBA seasons with, but he also knows it won’t be as emotional as it will be in February when he returns to Toronto for the first time.

“Emotional? I don’t know,” he said of Thursday’s game. “I never experienced an emotional game. I couldn’t answer your question right now. I don’t feel like it’s going to be an emotional game, but that’s right now.

“I never thought about it. You have to ask me after.”

DeRozan isn’t likely to face his best friend in Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who is listed as doubtful with back pain. It didn’t stop DeRozan from cracking wise, though.

“He ain’t want to play in the beginning,” he joked. “Nah. I wish he was healthy, able to be out there and play, compete against him.

It’ll be a must-watch game. We’ll be tuned in.

Lonzo Ball likes Earl Watson as candidate for UCLA coaching job

Here’s the OC Register getting Lakers guard Lonzo Ball’s opinion on UCLA head coach candidates:

The only Bruin on the Lakers has an opinion on whom the next UCLA basketball coach should be.

Lonzo Ball said after Wednesday morning’s shootaround that he would like to see Earl Watson, a former Bruin himself, get the head job.

“I know Earl personally,” Ball said. “I think he has coaching experience in the league. Obviously he went there, he’s alumni, so I think he’s a good fit.”

Even if you don’t follow college hoops or UCLA, it’ll be interesting to see who actually gets the job.