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Dirk Nowitzki claims to not know what happened with Rajon Rondo

Dirk Nowitzki claims to not know what happened with Rajon Rondo

Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo doesn’t appear to be a Mavericks point guard anymore. Now he’s a guy that used to play for them, is still signed to the team, but allegedly has a back injury, and also seems grumpy quite often, and now is hanging out someplace else. How’s that for a pinpoint summary? Anyway, here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting:

Dirk Nowitzki has no idea what happened with Rajon Rondo

The face of the Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki – said he’s not been informed on why exactly point guard Rajon Rondo is no longer slated to play any more basketball games with this franchise.

“I wasn’t there if (owner Mark) Cuban or them talked to him,’’ Nowitzki said after Friday morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Center. “I wasn’t there, so I think that it’s something I don’t or can’t comment on.

“Maybe later on I’ll get enlighten more and I’ll be in the loop. But as of now I’m focusing on who’s here and we’ve got an important game tonight in front of our home crowd, and that’s how I look at it.’’

On Wednesday, coach Rick Carlisle said Rondo sustained a back injury early in the first quarter of Tuesday game against the Houston Rockets. But after the game – when Rondo was benched after playing 10 listless minutes – Carlisle said he didn’t put Rondo back in the game because of the effectiveness of J. J. Barea and Raymond Felton.

Paul Pierce says John Wall is the best NBA PG

Paul Pierce says teammate John Wall is the best NBA PG

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting good news, that Wizards forward Paul Pierce thinks Wizards guard John Wall is awesome:

Paul Pierce says John Wall is the best NBA PG

John Wall was one of the primary reasons why Paul Pierce surprisingly joined the Washington Wizards last summer. He viewed Wall and Bradley Beal as an up-and-coming back court on the brink of stardom.

After an all-star regular season and a masterful 26-point, 17-assist Game 2 performance against the Toronto Raptors, Pierce doesn’t think the Wall is just on his way to becoming one of the best point guards in the NBA. The 17-year veteran believes Wall already is at the top of the totem pole.

“Top to bottom, he’s the best point guard,” Pierce claimed Friday morning. “You talk about [Golden State Warriors point guard] Stephen Curry, the amazing things he’s done, the three-point shooting, but I just look at overall game. You look at the way [Wall] can score, the way he can pass, the way he can defend. Top to bottom I think he’s the best point guard in the league.”

Was Draymond Green the real 2014-15 Defensive Player of year?

No Defensive Player of Year award for Draymond Green just yet.

Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting on versatile Warriors talent Draymond Green:

Was Draymond Green the real 2014-15 Defensive Player of year?

After finishing second in the voting for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Warriors forward Draymond Green says he’s not angry. Disappointed? Absolutely. Puzzled? No doubt.

He would truly like to hear an explanation for such fluky, aberrant voting.

Green had more first-place votes than winner Kawhi Leonard (45 to 37) but lost the overall voting because he was completely left off 42 ballots.

“Now, I don’t understand that,” Green said Thursday morning. “I don’t understand that one. But it is what it is.”

Each voter lists three players for the award. Leonard, the San Antonio forward, received 332 points overall. Green finished with 317 points. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan finished third, with 261 points and 32 first-place votes.

Warriors aiming for sweep of Pelicans

Warriors aiming for sweep of Pelicans

Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting on the Golden State Warriors, who were the best team in the league in the 2014-15 regular season and hope to keep it rocking all playoffs long:

The Warriors are up 2-0 despite some obvious difficulties with New Orleans. With the elongated form of Anthony Davis blanketing half the court, the Pelicans have been disruptive on defense. On offense, they’ve utilized screen-and-rolls to get Davis near the rim or, more damaging, to give Quincy Pondexter and Eric Gordon open looks beyond the arc.

But if the Warriors fix those two problems — and they believe they will — it’s realistic to believe they can win twice at Smoothie King Center and achieve the sweep.

“I like the position we’re in,” coach Steve Kerr told CSNBayArea.com. “I don’t think we’re ahead of the game; you don’t get ahead of the game until you win on the road. But I feel good. I know we can play better.”

The Warriors have put together impressive stretches but no truly impressive game, partly because New Orleans is a well-coached, high-quality team. But the Warriors expect better.

Deron Williams struggles badly in Game 2

Deron Williams struggles badly in Game 2 vs Hawks

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on Nets point guard Deron Williams, who shot bricks in Brooklyn’s Game 2 loss to the Atlanta Hawks:

Coming off one of the worst playoff games of his career, Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams knows he needs to produce at a higher level.

Asked to assess where his game is on Thursday, Williams responded, “Do I really have to answer that? I just came off two points, 1-for-7 [shooting]. I can play better.”

In Brooklyn’s 96-91 Game 2 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, Williams, as he said, had just two points on 1-for-7 shooting. He missed a wide-open, potential game-tying jumper with 10 seconds remaining.

The Nets trail the Hawks 2-0 in their first-round series. Game 3 is Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center.

Chandler Parsons out with knee injury

Chandler Parsons out with knee injury

Here’s the Houston Chronicle with an update on injured Mavericks forward Chandler parsons:

A day after the Mavericks announced that he would be out for the remainder of the season, forward Chandler Parsons said he will require surgery on his right knee.

Parsons will meet with more doctors and will have more information next week. He said the knee injury – which he sustained March 29 when the Mavericks played in Indiana – has only gotten worse over the past several weeks.

He said there is no tear or structural damage, but that the knee will need repair.

“I have a few other appointments next week,” Parsons said. “It just never got better and it’s just so frustrating right now because I obviously want to be playing with my team. I want to be out there. It’s the playoffs. It’s the most fun time of the year and I was looking forward to this series against Houston and its all taken away from me, so it is devastating and I want to be out there but I have tried every possible thing to try to play – rehab, rest, different treatments – and nothing has worked. I have a couple of options to go over with doctors next week and make a decision next week on what I am going to do.”

Kawhi Leonard wins 2014-2015 NBA Defensive Player of Year

Kawhi Leonard wins 2014-2015 NBA Defensive Player of Year

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, who became only the sixth forward to lead the NBA in steals per game since the league started tracking the statistic 42 years ago, is the recipient of the 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. He becomes the first Spurs player to win the award since David Robinson in 1991-92.

Leonard garnered 37 first-place votes and 333 total points from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. He edged the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, who tallied 45 first-place votes and 317 points. The Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan finished third with 261 points (32 first-place votes).

Also in the voting, Anthony Davis (Pelicans) came in 4th, Rudy Gobert (Jazz) 5th, Andrew Bogut (Warriors) 6th, and Tony Allen (Grizzlies) 7th.

Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received.

The 6-7 Leonard averaged career highs of 2.31 steals and 5.9 defensive rebounds to help anchor a Spurs defense that held opponents under 100 points per game (97.0) for the 20th consecutive season. According to NBA.com/Stats, San Antonio ranked third in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 99.6 points per 100 possessions. The Spurs gave up only 97.1 points per 100 possessions when Leonard was on the court, a defensive rating that would have led the league over the entire season. When Leonard was off the court, though, San Antonio permitted 102.2 points per 100 possessions, a league-average defensive rating.

Atlanta Hawks sale agreement reached

Atlanta Hawks sale agreement reached

The Atlanta Hawks today announced that a definitive agreement has been signed for the purchase of the NBA franchise by an ownership group led by Tony Ressler, co-founder of Ares Management. The group also includes seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, Clayton Dubilier & Rice partner Rick Schnall, and Spanx founder Sara Blakely and Marquis Jet co-founder Jesse Itzler, who are married.

The transaction, which includes operation of Philips Arena, requires the approval of the NBA Board of Governors. Terms of the sale were not released.

“We are honored and thrilled to have been chosen to become the new stewards of the Hawks,” said Ressler. “We respect the NBA’s approval process and, accordingly, can say no more other than we are incredibly excited by the Hawks’ success and wish them luck in the playoffs.”

“We are excited to welcome this new ownership group and are deeply gratified by its commitment to the Hawks and the Atlanta community,” said Hawks CEO Steve Koonin. “We are pleased that the group is committed to continue building on the franchise’s storied history and recent success.”

The sellers were advised by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Inner Circle Sports, and the buyer by Moelis & Co.

Chandler Parsons out for playoffs, Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with back injury

The Dallas Mavericks announced that after being re-evaluated today forward Chandler Parsons is out for the remainder of the playoffs. He is currently exploring surgical options to address his right knee injury. The Mavs are currently facing the Houston Rockets in the first round of the postseason.

Parsons (6-10, 230) played 36 minutes in Game 1 at Houston and had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Also, guard Rajon Rondo sustained a back injury in last night’s game at Houston. He is out indefinitely and is seeking additional medical opinions.

In two games vs. Houston, Rondo has averaged 9.5 points, 3.0 assists and 1.0 rebound in 18.6 minutes.

In related news, Devin Harris is listed as probable for Game 3 vs. Houston after missing Game 2 with a left great toe injury.

Read fan reaction and share your opinion in this forum topic.

Jason Terry fined for flopping vs Mavs

Jason Terry fined for flopping vs Mavs

Houston Rockets guard Jason Terry has been fined $5,000 by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-flopping rules during Game 2 of Houston’s first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.

The incident occurred with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter of Rockets’ 111-99 victory over the Mavericks last night at Toyota Center.

To view the play, click on this link.