Inside Hoops – Page 819 – NBA Blog

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.”

Paul George playing great for Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are 6-4, and through Friday have won three straight games. Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on one of the biggest reasons for the team’s current success:

[Paul] George has become only the fourth player in franchise history to score 26 or more points in six straight games, tying Danny Granger’s feat from Jan. 3-12, 2009 according to STATS, LLC. Over the same six-game stretch, George has scored 176 points, the second-highest mark in his career — in six consecutive games from Jan. 14-24, 2014, he scored 177 points.

Also during the past six games, George has shot 47.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, and his rebounding has swelled to 9.5 per game, all while defending the best wing player on the opposing team.

On Friday night, George scored a game-high 29 points on efficient 8-of-17 shooting, another example of how the offense seems to suit him. He’s free to rise up in catch-and-shoot situations or be aggressive within the space and make plays in isolation. And that’s the whole point, as the 2015-16 Pacers are the vessel to launch George back into the NBA cosmos where the stars live.

Allen Crabbe playing well for Blazers

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on the Portland Trail Blazers bench:

Allen Crabbe is emerging as the Blazers’ best and most consistent scoring threat off the bench.

Over the last five games, the backup shooting guard/small forward has reached double figures in scoring four times and is averaging 11.0 points. During the run, he’s shooting 59.5 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent from three-point range, while adding 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

Twice, Crabbe has been perfect from the field, logging a 7-for-7 outing against the Detroit Pistons and a 5-for-5 performance in the loss to the Grizzlies.

Crabbe said he not only feels more confident, but also can see a more confident player when he watches himself on video.

Ty Lawson says he appreciated his time with Denver Nuggets

Houston Rockets point guard Ty Lawson is averaging a modest 10.5 points and 5.6 assists per game as he continues to develop chemistry with his new teammates. Here’s the Denver Postreporting on Lawson and his former team, the Nuggets:

Ty Lawson says he appreciated his time with Nuggets

Ty Lawson was trying out a product in his future while talking about the past. He was sitting in one of the baseline seats at the Pepsi Center, in Houston Rockets garb, with his new business venture on his feet — a pair of big slippers called Sleekers, which are due out later this month.

“It’s a little different, coming through here seven years, just coming back,” he said after Rockets shootaround Friday morning.

Lawson makes his Denver debut in a different uniform in the Nuggets game against Houston. It is the first time he’ll take the Pepsi Center court as anything other than a Nugget, which he was for six seasons.

“It was pretty great,” said Lawson of his time with the Nuggets. “I had a good couple of years here. This team gave me my first opportunity and chance. So I have nothing bad to say.”

Justin Anderson trying to establish himself with Mavs

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting on Mavs rookie Justin Anderson, who has only been playing eight minutes per game this season, but is starting to get some attention:

After what he was able to accomplish against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, Justin Anderson is now on the NBA radar.

That means teams will start game-planning for the Dallas Mavericks rookie, will start getting more physical with him, and will start doing all those nuances to mentally get in his head and get him off his game.

“Look, this is where it gets more challenging because the next opponent looks at the film and then they feature you as part of the film,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said after Friday morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Center. “They’re going to pay more attention to him than the Clippers probably did, and he’s going to have to do the same things.

“Keep it simple, go hard and play within the system.’’

Thunder coach Donovan says Kevin Durant injury is not serious

The OKC Thunder are 5-3 this season, but are currently without the services of Kevin Durant, who through eight games is averaging 28.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 3.0 apg. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting the latest:

Thunder coach says Kevin Durant injury is not serious

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said Thursday that Kevin Durant’s injury is “nothing too serious” and that Durant hasn’t been frustrated by his latest injury setback.

On a day when Durant was not made available to the media, Donovan was asked about Durant’s mood since straining his hamstring against the Washington Wizards this week. Durant was third in the league in scoring (28.1 points per game) before the strain, which will keep him sidelined at least 7-10 days.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist helping Hornets coaching staff

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting on injured Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is still being put to work in an intelligent way by the squad:

You might describe Charlotte Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist this season as the NBA’s highest-paid, quality-control scout.

Kidd-Gilchrist is out for the season following shoulder surgery last month to repair a torn labrum. He’s now out of his sling and traveling with the team, something he insisted on doing.

Between his physical rehabilitation sessions, the Hornets have put him to work filling out game reports on what the team does well and what needs improvement.

Kidd-Gilchrist loves it.

“I’m actually on the coaching staff now, so that helps,” Kidd-Gilchrist said during the team’s recent three-game road trip. “I have homework for every game on what I see out on the floor and how can we get better at the defensive end. It’s fun learning the game from the other side.”

Arron Afflalo makes Knicks debut

Wednesday night in Charlotte, the Hornets edged the Knicks, 95-93. Knicks shooting guard Arron Afflako, coming off injury, made his debut and in 28 minutes shot 6-of-13 for 12 points and six rebounds. For more, here’s the New York Post:

Lost amid the commotion over the final frantic 30 seconds and Kristaps Porzingis’ near-miracle buzzer-non-beater was Arron Afflalo’s first game as a Knick.

Putting aside the heartbreaking defeat, it went very well. Afflalo, a key free-agent signing for two years and $16 million, had more bounce than rust, hitting three of his first four shots as the Knicks seized control in the first quarter. Afflalo also hit a big 16-footer with 1:27 left to tie the score, but admitted to fatigue after his big start.

“I haven’t played since training camp,’’ said Afflalo, whose last action was Oct. 21 in the preseason finale in Boston. “Mentally, you feel you can take on the world until you get out there and you’re short on oxygen. It was good for a first game, getting tired battling with those guys in a close game. But I expect myself to be much better Friday.’’ …

With Afflalo, the Knicks seem like a different club. Even point guard Jose Calderon looked a lot smoother playing alongside the 30-year-old vet. Calderon had a nice night, shooting 6-of-9 from the field for 13 points. The Calderon-Afflalo pairing makes sense.

Rockets defense not up to par

Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting on the Rockets, who are off to a disappointing 4-4 start:

Last season, the Rockets were the NBA’s sixth-rated defensive team, allowing 100.5 points per 100 possessions and were considerably better when Dwight Howard played.

Through eight games this season, they rank 27th, allowing six more points per 100 possessions with opponents making 47.1 percent of their shots, the third-worst field goal percentage defense in the league.

The problem, they said, was made clear when the low-scoring and previously winless Nets burned them for 106 points on Wednesday.

“Effort and rebounding,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of the primary issues. “We have not been very good defensively.”