Inside Hoops – Page 755 – NBA Blog

Jonas Valanciunas injured, out for rest of series vs Heat

The Toronto Raptors announced yesterday that center Jonas Valanciunas will miss the remainder of the Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff series versus Miami with a sprained right ankle.

This is a huge blow to the squad. Jonas has been one of their best performers this postseason.

Valanciunas sustained the injury during the third quarter of Saturday’s Game 3 in Miami. He has averaged 15.0 points, shooting .550 (61-111) from the field, with 12.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 28.5 minutes in 10 playoff games this season. In the series versus the Heat, he has averaged 18.3 points on .649 (24-37) percent from the floor, 12.7 rebounds, 1.33 blocks and 33.7 minutes in three contests.

Kings hire Dave Joerger as head coach

Sacramento Kings Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac announced today that the team has hired Dave Joerger as their new head coach.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dave to the Sacramento Kings,” said Divac. “He is a strong and passionate leader with a proven track record of producing results. Dave shares our focus on creating a long-term culture of winning and I look forward to a bright future ahead for the Kings with his leadership on the court.”

Joerger joins the Kings after spending the previous three years as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, where he accrued a 147-99 regular season mark (.598) and guided the franchise to postseason berths in each of his seasons at the helm. Following three straight 50-win campaigns for the first time in club history (2012-13 thru 2014-15), two under Joerger, Memphis again qualified for the playoffs even after injuries forced the team to dress a league-record 28 players last season. Until then, no NBA team had reached the playoffs utilizing 24 or more athletes on its roster in a single season.

Prior to entering the NBA ranks, Joerger won accolades as one of the most successful minor league coaches in history, piloting five teams to championships in three different basketball leagues from 2000-07. Demonstrating strong player development skills, Joerger sent 18 of his players to the NBA during his time in the minor leagues. By the time he was hired by the Grizzlies as an assistant coach in 2007, Joerger had collected titles in the NBA Development League, CBA (Continental Basketball Association) and IBL (International Basketball League).

Kemba Walker undergoes knee surgery

Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The procedure was completed by Hornets Team Physician Dr. Marcus Cook at Novant Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte. Walker is expected to resume basketball activities in early July.

The 6-1 Walker finished second in NBA Most Improved Player balloting in 2015-16, after averaging a career-high 20.9 points per game in 81 games (all starts) and shooting career highs of .427 from the field and .371 from beyond the three-point line. The Connecticut product also added 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Walker was one of only five players in the NBA to total at least 1,600 points, 400 assists, 300 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 three-pointers on the season. He had a career-high 13 games with 30 points or more and led the NBA in scoring in late and close situations (the last two minutes of the fourth quarter when the game is within four points). Walker led the Hornets to the fifth-best season in Charlotte NBA history (48-34, .585) and the best record in the Eastern Conference from Feb. 1 through the end of the season (25-9, .735).

Walker has spent all five seasons of his career in Charlotte, appearing in 364 games (319 starts) with averages of 17.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Walker finished the 2015-16 campaign ranked second in Charlotte NBA history in career three-point field goals (552), third in assists (1,946) and fourth in scoring (6.307).

R.C. Buford wins 2015-16 NBA Executive of Year award

San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford has been named the 2015-16 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the NBA announced today. Buford, in his 14th season as the team’s general manager, previously won the award in 2013-14.

Buford totaled 77 points and received nine of 29 first-place votes from a panel of fellow team basketball executives throughout the NBA.

The Portland Trail Blazers’ Neil Olshey finished second with 63 points (10 first-place votes), and 2014-15 winner Bob Myers of the Golden State Warriors was third with 38 points (five first-place votes). Executives were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Buford assembled a roster that produced the best record in franchise history (67-15). The Spurs won at least 50 games for the 17th consecutive season and captured their fifth Southwest Division title in the past six years. San Antonio finished the regular season 40-1 at home, matching the NBA record set by the 1985-86 Boston Celtics.

Fueled by two-time reigning Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio led the NBA in points allowed (92.9 ppg) and defensive rating (96.6 points per 100 possessions). Leonard, acquired by San Antonio on draft night in 2011, also averaged a career-high 21.2 points, ranked third in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (44.3) and earned his first All-Star selection. He re-signed with the Spurs last July, just as Tim Duncan, Danny Green and Manu Ginobili did.

Also in July, San Antonio’s salary-cap management enabled Buford and Head Coach/President Gregg Popovich to sign free agent LaMarcus Aldridge to a team that went 55-27 in the 2014-15 season. Aldridge averaged 18.0 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds and shot a career-high 51.3 percent from the field in his first season with the Spurs, earning his fifth consecutive All-Star selection.

San Antonio’s moves for this season also included signing two-time All-Star David West, three-time Serbian Super League MVP Boban Marjanovic and undrafted rookie Jonathon Simmons, who was the MVP of the championship game at Samsung NBA Summer League 2015. All three players, along with 2014 first-round pick Kyle Anderson, contributed to the Spurs’ bench, which led the NBA in net rating (outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions) and ranked third in scoring (39.2 ppg).

Raptors win Game 3 vs Heat

Kyle Lowry got his game back at the perfect time for the Toronto Raptors.

And the Miami Heat are in all kinds of trouble.

Shaking off epic playoff struggles, Lowry scored 33 points – including five straight to break a late tie – in a duel with Dwyane Wade to lift the Raptors to a 95-91 victory over the Heat on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The Raptors lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is in Miami on Monday night.

“I felt like it was just a matter of time,” Lowry said.

He was a career 34 percent playoff shooter coming into Saturday, and was shooting 31 percent in these playoffs. But he connected on 11 of 19 shots, 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

— AP

Grizzlies fire coach Dave Joerger

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today that Dave Joerger will not return as head coach next season.

According to the Memphis Commecial Appeal, Joerger had one guaranteed season remaining on his contract, and the team held an option on him for the 2017-18 season.

“After careful consideration, I concluded that a change was needed to foster the strong culture required to achieve sustainable, long-term success for this organization, the city and our fans,” said General Manager, Chris Wallace.

“On behalf of the Grizzlies organization I would like to thank Dave for his work and time in Memphis,” Wallace continued. “We wish Dave and his family all the best and success as he moves forward in his career.”

Joerger started with the Grizzlies as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies prior to the 2007-08 season, eventually replacing Lionel Hollins as head coach on June 27, 2013. Joerger owns an overall career head coaching record of 147-99 (.598), including three NBA Playoff appearances with the Grizzlies. In 22 career playoff games, he holds an overall record of 9-13 (.409).

The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

According to ESPN.com, “Grizzlies management believed Joerger was not fully invested in coaching in Memphis and had been getting indications of that all season, sources said. The Grizzlies were also frustrated by Joerger’s veiled swipes at the front office in the media. Joerger, on the other hand, felt that he did not have management’s full support, according to sources, a sentiment he believes began when he interviewed for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ head-coaching job two years ago.”

Jazz sign Quin Snyder to contract extension

The Utah Jazz are signing third-year head coach Quin Snyder to a long-term contract extension.

“With this contract extension, we are declaring our confidence in Coach Snyder’s ability to continue to develop the Utah Jazz into a championship team,” said Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “The Miller family recognizes the significant progress made under his leadership and we are excited about the direction we are headed.”

“Our relationship with Quin, and this extension, reflect our shared passion for building a championship team,” said Steve Starks, president of the Utah Jazz. “With long-term contracts now in place for Quin, Dennis and other key front office personnel, we are well-positioned for the future.”

“We have continued to take significant steps as a team under Quin’s direction,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey. “His work ethic, basketball intelligence and ability to connect with and develop our players make him the ideal head coach of the Jazz.”

Snyder, who will enter his third season at the helm in 2016-17, became the eighth head coach in Jazz history, and only the fifth since the franchise moved to Utah in 1979, when he was hired on June 6, 2014. Under Snyder’s tutelage, the Jazz have become one of the elite defenses in the league, allowing the second-fewest points in the league over his first two seasons (95.4/game) and holding opponents to 90 points or less a league-high 57 times. The Jazz have also improved their win total by 15 games over the team’s record the year prior to his arrival despite being the league’s youngest and least experienced team.

“I am very grateful for this gesture by the Miller family and the Utah Jazz and appreciative of their belief in me to continue to lead this team,” Snyder said. “Amy and I are fortunate to be a part of a franchise and family that cares deeply for our community, stays true to its values and is committed to winning. More than anything, it is confirmation of our collective commitment to building a championship team.”

Blake Griffin will not play for 2016 Team USA

Clippers forward Blake Griffin won’t participate in this summer’s USA Basketball Team training camps and exhibition tour. That’s the team that will play in the summer Olympics.

Griffin underwent a bone marrow procedure on his left quad tendon on April 27 and has already begun the rehabilitation process with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the 2016-17 NBA season.

The five-time NBA All-Star originally injured the quad on December 25, 2015 against the Lakers.

In 35 regular season games this season, Griffin averaged 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 33.4 minutes. In four playoff games, he averaged 15.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Grizzlies name Matt Woodley head coach of D-League team Iowa Energy

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that Matt Woodley has been named head coach of the Iowa Energy, the team’s NBA Development League affiliate. Woodley becomes the fifth head coach in franchise history after spending the past two seasons with the Energy organization.

Woodley, who served as associate head coach last season, joined the Energy as an assistant coach for the 2014-15 season.

“We are pleased to announce Matt as head coach of the Iowa Energy,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said. “As evidenced last season, our affiliation with the Iowa Energy provides us a critical resource in the development of our players and institution of our organization’s philosophies. Matt’s coaching acumen and background within the Energy franchise make him a terrific fit.”

“We are excited to promote Matt and are confident he is the right person to continue the proud history of Iowa Energy basketball,” said Energy General Manager & Grizzlies Director of Basketball Operations Chris Makris. “Matt has readied himself for this position by playing a tremendous role in the development of our players during his two seasons with our organization.”

Prior to joining the Energy, Woodley served as head coach of the Truman State Bulldogs men’s basketball program for three seasons (2011-2014). He guided the Bulldogs to the 2013 MIAA Tournament while three players earned All-MIAA honors. In addition, Woodley also served as an assistant coach at Washington State University (2006-09), Middle Tennessee State University (2004-06) and the University of Denver (2001-04).

2016-17 Lakers preseason schedule

It’s early, but the Los Angeles Lakers preseason schedule for the 2016-17 season was released today. The preseason line-up includes two games against the Golden State Warriors, in addition to contests against the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns.

Lakers preseason also includes two games being played in the newly opened T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Full 2016-17 Los Angeles Lakers preseason schedule

DATE OPPONENT CITY ARENA TIME

October 4 vs. Sacramento Anaheim, CA Honda Center 7:00pm

October 7 vs. Denver Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center 7:30pm

October 9 vs. Denver Ontario, CA Citizens Business Bank Arena 6:30pm

October 11 vs. Portland Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center 7:30pm

October 13 vs. Sacramento Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena 7:30pm

October 15 vs. Golden State Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena 7:00pm

October 19 vs. Golden State San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center 7:00pm

October 21 vs. Phoenix Anaheim, CA Honda Center 7:00pm