Inside Hoops – Page 690 – NBA Blog

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

Pistons assign Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije to D-League

The Pistons today assigned forward Henry Ellenson and guard Michael Gbinije to the team’s NBA Development League (D-League) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive.

Ellenson has appeared in two games this season averaging 1.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 2.5 minutes per game. He was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Gbinije has appeared in one game, the season opener at Toronto, and recorded one assist in five minutes of action. He was selected with the 49th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Thunder assign Josh Huestis to D-League

The Thunder today assigned forward Josh Huestis to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA Development League.

During the 2015-16 season, Huestis appeared in five games for the Thunder, averaging 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game. Huestis has not yet appeared in a game with the Thunder during the 2016-17 season.

In two seasons with the Blue, Huestis has appeared in 69 games (68 starts) and posted averages of 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.52 blocks in 32.7 minutes.

Huestis is being assigned in order to participate in today’s Oklahoma City Blue practice.

Derrick Rose happy for Chicago Cubs World Series win

Derrick Rose isn’t a Bull anymore, but Chicago will always be a part of him. Here’s the Bulls.com blog reporting:

No, the parade Friday wasn’t for Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah returning to Chicago.

But as much as Rose and Noah hoped, wished and envisioned it would be them someday making Chicago feel proud, Rose, nevertheless, said he was thrilled for Chicago.

“Just coming back here, it felt good, to tell you the truth,” Rose told reporters after Knicks practice in the United Center. “Especially the Cubs winning. I felt the energy of the city. The city is on some type of high right now. It’s great for the city with everything that we’ve been going through, the killings, everything. We need some positive light shined here.”

Rose, the Englewood native and Simeon High School star, has been part of the Chicago fabric for almost 20 years, as a prep basketball phenomenon and then as the No. 1 draft pick of the Bulls and the NBA’s youngest ever Most Valuable Player. Though Rose did so unobtrusively, he was one of the more community oriented Chicago athletes. He often joined Father Michael Phleger in the youth social activism in the troubled South Side and made the largest ever charitable gift of a Chicago athlete, a $1 million donation to the non profit After School Matters for teenage out of school programs.

Jazz recall Joel Bolomboy from D-League

The Utah Jazz have recalled forward Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s exclusively owned and operated NBA D-League team. He will re-join the team prior to tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

This marked the first assignment this season for Bolomboy (6-9, 235, Weber State). He has appeared in two games for the Jazz this season, averaging 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocked shots in 2.6 minutes per game. He registered three points, one rebound and one blocked shot at Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 30.

Bolomboy is the fifth player to be assigned to the D-League under the Jazz-Stars single affiliation. Other players on the current Jazz roster with D-League experience include Rudy Gobert and Shelvin Mack.

Utah Jazz assign Joel Bolomboy to D-League

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has assigned forward Joel Bolomboy to the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s exclusively owned and operated NBA D-League team. He is expected to participate in Stars practice today at Taylorsville Recreation Center.

This will be the first assignment this season for Bolomboy. Bolomboy (6-9, 235, Weber State) has appeared in two games for the Jazz this season, averaging 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocked shots in 2.6 minutes per game. He registered three points, one rebound and one blocked shot at Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 30.

Kings sign Jordan Farmar

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guard Jordan Farmar, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac.

Farmar averaged 6.5 points (.471 FG%, 5-11 3pt, .833 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four preseason contests with Sacramento, including 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-5 3pt), one rebound and five assists against the L.A. Lakers on Oct. 13. 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 502 contests.

Al Horford in NBA concussion protocol program

Celtics center/forward Al Horford reported being hit in the head Monday (October 31) during practice and was asymptomatic Monday evening and during the pre-practice period on Tuesday (November 1) and he was subsequently cleared to practice.

However symptoms presented during practice and Horford was immediately removed from practice. He was evaluated last night by Celtics team physicians and has been placed in to the NBA’s concussion protocol program.

Horford is out for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls and his status will be updated as appropriate per the NBA concussion protocol.

Michael Carter-Williams out 4-6 weeks with knee and wrist injuries

Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams underwent an MRI Tuesday morning on his left knee and left wrist. The results of the MRI showed that he sustained a bone bruise with no ligament damage to his knee, as well as a left wrist sprain. His recovery time is estimated to be between four and six weeks.

Carter-Williams suffered the injury in the second quarter of last night’s win at Brooklyn. Acquired in a trade with Milwaukee on Oct. 17, Carter-Williams has appeared in three games with Chicago and averaged 4.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.67 steals in 15.0 minutes.