Inside Hoops – Page 689 – NBA Blog

Big Jimmy Butler game wasted in loss to Hawks

Here’s the Bulls.com blog with a look at Wednesday’s Bulls-Hawks game:

Welcoming back to your box of chocolates Chicago Bulls. That’s right, you just never know what you are going to get.

Sure, you’ll generally get good performances from Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, Butler with 39 points Wednesday and Wade 25 in the Bulls 115-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

But a Bulls team that was leading the league in number of rebounds and rebounding margin was outrebounded 49-30, outscored 20-9 on second chance points. A Bulls team that was 25th in the league in steals plundered Atlanta for 15 steals, six by Butler and five by Wade. A Bulls team second poorest in the NBA in forcing turnovers harassed Atlanta into 24 turnovers for a whopping 38 points. But a Bulls team allowing opponents some of the best shooting games of the season also couldn’t stop the Hawks, Atlanta with an early 17-point lead, 50.6 percent overall shooting and pulling away down the stretch after the Bulls got within 103-101 with 4:55 remaining in the game.

Russell Westbrook not looking to discuss election results

A lot of people in the national celebrity spotlight aren’t looking to discuss politics or election results. Here’s the Norman Transcript reporting on Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook:

Russell Westbrook wasn’t getting in line next to the supporters of President-elect Donald Trump after the GOP nominee won the presidency Tuesday night.

“I didn’t vote for Trump. I can tell you that much,” Westbrook said. “That’s all I’m gonna say.”

A reporter followed up, asking another election-related question. Westbrook didn’t budge.

“I just told you, I didn’t vote for Trump,” he said. “I would prefer not to elaborate on it, but I didn’t vote for him.”

— Oklahoman

John Wall fined $25,000 by NBA

The Wizards are off to a 1-5 start (through Tuesday’s games) and some frustration may be mounting.

Wizards guard John Wall has been fined $25,000 for inappropriate interaction with a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Wall was ejected for receiving his second technical of the game with 33.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Wizards’ 114-106 loss to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 7 at Verizon Center.

Nets sign Yogi Ferrell

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Yogi Ferrell from their NBA D-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. Ferrell becomes the first call-up in Long Island Nets history.

Ferrell (6’0”, 180) originally signed with Brooklyn on August 5 and appeared in three preseason games with the Nets, recording averages of 4.3 points and 1.7 assists in 9.6 minutes per contest. The Indiana native was waived by the team on October 21.

The four-year Indiana University product was named to the All-Big Ten First Team twice (2015 and 2016) and garnered second-team honors as a sophomore (2014). As a senior, Ferrell averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.7 minutes per game, earning Associated Press Third Team All-America honors and capping his career as Indiana’s all-time assists leader with 633. Ferrell also led Indiana to three NCAA Tournament appearances and helped the Hoosiers advance to the Sweet 16 twice. In 137 career games (all starts) at IU, Ferrell averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 32.8 minutes per game.

Ferrell will be wearing No. 10.

Nets waive Greivis Vasquez

The Brooklyn Nets have waived guard Greivis Vasquez.

“Greivis did everything we asked of him and more to try to get back on the court at full strength,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “The passion, grit and perseverance he has shown since he joined the team have been remarkable. We are thankful to Greivis for all of his efforts and wish him well in the future.”

Vasquez appeared in three games this season with the Nets, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 assists in 12.9 minutes per game. He was originally signed as a free agent by Brooklyn on July 13, 2016.

Al Horford still recovering from concussion

New Celtics addition Al Horford’s concussion was the real thing. And it’s taking a little while for him to fully recover from it. Here’s ESPN Boston with the latest:

One week after Boston Celtics big man Al Horford suffered a concussion during an off-day practice, coach Brad Stevens said the 10th-year veteran has not progressed in the NBA’s concussion protocol and he is uncertain when Horford will return to basketball activities.

Horford, who signed a four-year, $113 million contract with the Celtics over the summer, has missed Boston’s past three games. The concussion was diagnosed Tuesday, after he experienced nausea while attempting to practice a day after absorbing an inadvertent blow to the head from a teammate.

Kings waive Jordan Farmar

The Sacramento Kings waived guard Jordan Farmar today.

According to CSN Bay Area, Farmar was waived “to make room for the returning Darren Collison. Sacramento was granted a short reprieve with their roster when Collison was shifted to the league’s suspension list after his fifth missed game, allowing the team to ink Farmar to a deal for depth.”

In two games played with the Kings this season, Farmar averaged 6.0 points (.333 FG%, 4-9 3pt), 1.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists, including 9 points (3-8 3pt), two rebounds and a team-high seven assists against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 5. A 10-year NBA veteran, Farmar has tallied career averages of 7.7 points (.423 FG%, .374 3pt%, .739 FT%), 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 19.5 minutes per game in 504 contests.

Pelicans waive Lance Stephenson, sign Archie Goodwin

The New Orleans Pelicans waived guard Lance Stephenson today, and then signed guard Archie Goodwin.

Goodwin, 6-5, 205, has appeared in 150 career games (15 starts) with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.5 minutes per contest. The University of Kentucky product was selected 29th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City.

Goodwin will wear #4 and be available for the Pelicans’ game tonight at Golden State.

Stephenson, 6-5, 230, was originally signed by New Orleans on Sept. 14. In six games this season, Stephenson has averaged 9.7 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per game.

Drafted 40th overall by Indiana in 2010 out of the University of Cincinnati, Stephenson has appeared in 340 career regular season games with Indiana, Charlotte, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis and New Orleans, holding career averages of 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 25.1 minutes per game.

Stephenson is at a key point in his career. His stock has fallen, and at this point he needs to make sure that he signs with a team that he really fits in with, even if it means doing so in a limited bench role.

New Orleans’ roster currently stands at 15.

LeBron James, George Hill named Players of Week

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Utah Jazz’s George Hill today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 6.

James led the unbeaten Cavaliers to a 3-0 week, averaging 24.7 points (fourth in the East), 11.3 assists (first in the East) and 9.3 rebounds. On Nov. 3, he scored a season-high 30 points and added 12 assists and seven rebounds in a 128-122 win over the Boston Celtics. He followed that performance with 25 points, 14 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 102-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 5. During the game, James passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 10th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Hill helped the Jazz to a 3-1 week behind averages of 20.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He connected on 31-of-53 (58.5 percent) shots from the field, including 11-of-20 (55.0 percent) from three-point range. On Nov. 2, he scored a season-high 25 points to go with six rebounds and four assists in a 97-81 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Hill capped his week by recording 23 points and a season-high nine assists in a 114-109 win over the New York Knicks on Nov. 6. Utah improved to 4-0 when Hill scores at least 20 points.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Dwight Howard, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Houston’s James Harden, the LA Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Orlando’s Evan Fournier, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.

Knicks defense needs big improvement

The latest example came on Sunday afternoon, when the club allowed 65 points to Utah in the second half of a 114-109 loss. They walked off the court with the worst defense, statistically, in the NBA.

The Knicks struggled, in particular, to defend the pick-and-roll. Utah’s George Hill created several open looks for his teammates with the play, which is part of the reason the Jazz made 24 of their 38 shots after halftime.

“We gave this game away,” Anthony said after New York fell to 2-4.

— ESPN NY