Inside Hoops – Page 816 – NBA Blog

Kristaps Porzingis the focus of New York

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the most intriguing Knicks rookie in a very long time:

If it feels like Kristaps Porzingis is a breath of fresh air … well, it’s because he is that and so much more than that: He is a gust of fresh air, a gale of fresh air, a 198-mph wind blast of fresh air. He is 20 years old and having the time of his life, and 12 games into his professional career, he has Madison Square Garden chanting his name.

You want fresher air than this, you’ll have to move to Wyoming.

If it feels like this almost never happens to the Knicks, and for the Knicks … well, it’s because it almost never does. The last 15 years may feel like an endless treadmill of bad trades and bad players and bad drafts and bad decisions but in truth, with rare exception, that’s been Garden policy far longer than the Dolan Era, extending all the way back to the Eisenhower Administration.

You can make an argument, and a good one, that Porzingis is one of only 10 truly impactful rookies the Knicks have had going back to Willis Reed’s magnificent debut in 1964-65, and of all the absurd negative numbers the Knicks have assembled over the years, that might be the coup de grace.

Report: Kevin McHale fired by Rockets

When a team with the exact same core of players that has proven to be successful in the very recent past under a certain coach stops performing up to expectations, what often happens?

The head coach gets fired, that’s what.

And that’s what is going down with the Houston Rockets, who are off to a 4-7 start and have reportedly fired head coach Kevin McHale, per a Yahoo Sports report.

McHale delivered the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals a year ago, but four straight blowout losses and a roster struggling to respond with effort pushed the organization to make a move to salvage what had been expected to be a season of championship contention.

Only 11 games into the season, the move reflects owner Leslie Alexander’s seriousness about winning within the present window with James Harden and Dwight Howard. Alexander and management, including executives Daryl Morey and Gersson Rosas, made the decision on Tuesday to replace McHale, league sources said.

McHale signed a three-year contract extension a year ago and is owed approximately $12 million.

A look at Rockets player shooting percentages this season is alarming: James Harden 37.2%, Trevor Ariza 33.6%, newly-acquired guard Ty Lawson 33.3%, Patrick Beverley 34.2%, Corey Brewer 29.9%.

Even worse, the team’s quality of play so far has actually appeared worse than their 4-7 record would suggest. The Rockets have been one of the lowest-rated squads in the league this short season both offensively and defensively per 100 possessions.

And per the Washington Post:

The symbol of Houston’s disastrous start has been Ty Lawson, a mercurial point guard the Rockets dealt for this summer after a tumultuous prior 12 months with the Denver Nuggets. Lawson – the player who organized Tuesday’s players-only meeting – has been awful thus far, averaging just 8.9 points and 5.6 assists while shooting 33.3 percent overall and 27.3 percent from three-point range. The combination of two ball-dominant guards in Lawson and James Harden, last year’s league MVP runner-up, has made for an awkward pairing.

The Rockets certainly have the roster needed to bounce back. But if it happens, it’ll be under new leadership.

Victor Oladipo should return soon for Magic

The Orlando Magic are 5-6 through Monday’s games and awaiting the return of Victor Oladipo (14.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg this season). Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting the latest:

Magic coach Scott Skiles said there is a chance that SG Victor Oladipo could play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night if he clears the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Oladipo was injured when he ran into center Dewayne Dedmon during the Magic’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers last Wednesday night at Amway Center.

Skiles said Oladipo participated in the Magic’s non-contact practice on Tuesday.

“Vic went through the practice today. He did no contact. We had a no-contact practice anyway,” Skiles said. “And so now he’ll be evaluated again. He did the bike work. He did other exercises. So they build the person up and they give tests again either (Tuesday) or (Wednesday) I think and depending on how that goes, that will determine whether he plays or not.

“He got through all of it and looked pretty good. And now it will all be up to the tests.”

Wilson Chandler undergoes season-ending hip surgery

Nuggets Forward Wilson Chandler underwent successful surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip, Nuggets General Manager and Executive Vice President Tim Connelly announced today.

The arthroscopic surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York.

Chandler has missed all 10 games this season and will miss the remainder of the season.

He is expected to make a full and complete recovery for the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

Jabari Parker out with foot sprain

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker underwent an MRI this morning to address discomfort in his right foot. The scan revealed a mid-foot (talonavicular joint) sprain. Parker will undergo additional testing today and did not accompany the team on this week’s three-game road trip. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Parker returned to action on Nov. 4 after missing the final 57 games of the 2014-15 season and the first four games of this season while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee. He has averaged 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game in five appearances this season, including season highs of 12 points and 30 minutes in Saturday’s double-overtime win over Cleveland.

Myles Turner out six weeks after thumb surgery

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner underwent successful surgery Monday afternoon to repair a chip fracture in his left thumb, sustained during the first half of last Wednesday night’s game at Boston.

The surgery was performed at OrthoIndy Hospital by hand surgeon Dr. Tim Dicke. Turner is expected to miss six weeks.

Blazers lose 5th game in a row

The Trail Blazers on Sunday took a loss at the hands of the Charlotte Hornets. Nicolas Batum unleashed a huge performance in the win. The Hornets are now 5-5, the Blazers 4-7. Here’s the Columbian blog reporting:

The Portland Trail Blazers lost their fifth straight game, extending their season-long losing streak, Sunday afternoon in Charlotte against the Hornets 106-94. Former Blazer Nicolas Batum led the Hornets with 33 points, six assists and five rebounds. Damian Lillard had 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the loss. Hornets shot just under 50 percent and had 29 assists as a team.

Terry Stotts changed up his starting line-up on Sunday against the Hornets. Against the prodding, more bruising Memphis Grizzlies, Stotts went with veteran big man Chris Kaman who to that point in the season had barely seen the floor. He played well, but against the small-ball styled Hornets, he went with second-year man Noah Vonleh at power forward.

The Blazers went to Vonleh on their first possession, where he airballed a shot off a post-up. The Blazers went to him again on the left block, this time it ended with a sweeping hook. We’ve not seen Vonleh get this much meaningful playing time or use so many possessions. He was called for a cheap foul on a lay-up and fumbled a few passes, but overall continued to stoke curiosity about what is there.

Derrick Rose still dealing with double-vision

Here’s CSN Chicago reporting on Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who always seems to be getting over one injury or another and this season is averaging 12.6 ppg and 6.0 apg and shooting just 35.9% FG:

The timetable surrounding when Derrick Rose’s vision would return to normal was as blurry as Rose’s vision itself but now it’s a bit clearer—although it’s not news that would produced immediate normalcy.

According to Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, team doctors said Rose’s double-vision could last for three months, meaning there could be at least another month of it considering he underwent surgery on his left orbital bone on September 30.

“They said it could be as a long as 3 months,” Hoiberg said. “But it’s continuing to improve and that’s obviously a positive.”

The timetable was news to Rose when asked about it after Hoiberg spoke following the team’s practice.

“Nah, this is my first time hearing about it,” he said.

Hedo Turkoglu has retired from NBA

Forward Hedo Turkoglu, who played 15 seasons in the NBA and eight with the Orlando Magic, has announced his retirement yesterday. Turkoglu will be honored and recognized by the Magic during a special ceremony on Friday, December 18, when Orlando hosts Portland at Amway Center (7 p.m. start).

“I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to live out my dream and play in the NBA,” said Turkoglu. “I will always remember my teammates, coaches, staff members and all of the fans who made my career so wonderful for myself and my family.”

Turkoglu played in 497 regular season games (412 starts) with Orlando from 2004-09 and 2010-13, averaging 14.5 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and 3.9 apg. in 32.7 minpg., while shooting .379 (794-2,005) from three-point range and .805 (1,402-1,741) from the free throw line. He also appeared and started in 49 playoff games with the Magic, averaging 14.4 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and 4.5 apg. in 38.0 minpg.

Turkoglu earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2007-08 and helped Orlando reach the 2009 NBA Finals. He ranks on the Magic’s all-time list in nearly every statistical category, including minutes played (fourth, 16,233), three-point field goals made (fourth, 794), points scored (sixth, 7,216), games played (sixth, 497), free throws made (sixth, 1,402), rebounds (2,221) and assists (sixth, 1,927).

Originally selected by Sacramento in the first round (16th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft, Turkoglu appeared in 997 regular season games (571 starts) during his 15-year NBA career with Sacramento, San Antonio, Orlando, Toronto, Phoenix and the L.A. Clippers, averaging 11.1 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 2.8 apg. in 26.8 minpg., while shooting .384 (1,246-3,246) from three-point range. He has also appeared in 109 career playoff outings (72 starts), averaging 9.7 ppg., 3.8 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 27.4 minpg.

Wife of Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer recovering from medical emergency

From President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer:

“On Friday morning, I returned to Atlanta from Boston to be with my family due to an emergency medical situation involving my wife. We are encouraged by her progress to this point and remain cautiously optimistic.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the doctors and support staff at Emory for the outstanding care they have provided my wife. I would also like to thank my coaching staff, our players and the entire Hawks organization for their support and encouragement during this time. We are humbled by the outpouring of support from so many friends and members of the NBA family. It is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I’d like to thank the media and our fans for respecting our family’s continued request for privacy during this period.

I will return to the team as soon as possible and will be happy to answer any basketball-related questions at that time.”