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Tobias Harris discusses how to try to guard LeBron

Tobias Harris discusses how to try to guard LeBron

At 6pm ET today, the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Orlando Magic. Guarding LeBron James has always been a difficult task, and it’s probably even harder now that Cavs chemistry has improved. Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting:

Tobias Harris discusses how to try to guard LeBron

Tobias Harris, Maurice Harkless and Aaron Gordon almost certainly will spend time guarding James one-on-one at some point tonight. But Borrego and Magic players said the task for slowing James and James’ teammates will be more of a “collective effort.”

“You’ve just got to be physical all night,” Harris said. “You’ve got to be tuned in. It’s gonna be a group effort from everybody, because he’s somebody that can make plays for everybody on the floor. He’s such a good passer that he gets everybody going. So it’s really going to be a collective effort from everybody on our team tonight.”

The Magic (21-46) need a win, any win, these days.

They’ve lost their last three games following a winless road trip to Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Boston in which they faltered down the stretch against the Bucks and the Celtics.

Byron Scott plans to start Jeremy Lin during final stretch of season

Byron Scott plans to start Jeremy Lin during final stretch of season

Look. This wasn’t going to be the Lakers’ season, even if Kobe Bryant was healthy. Now, what does that point have to do with this particular story? Not a lot. It just needed to be said, for the sake of general overall perspective. As for Jeremy Lin, here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting:

Byron Scott plans to start Jeremy Lin

Lakers coach Byron Scott will soon make a move that Jeremy Lin supports.

Scott plans to start Lin at point guard, likely with 10 games left in the season. The timing is not definitive. The Lakers (17-46) will host the Atlanta Hawks (51-14) on Sunday at Staples Center featuring Jordan Clarkson at point guard for the 22nd consecutive start. The Lakers will also feature Wayne Ellington (shooting guard), Wesley Johnson (small forward), Jordan Hill (power forward) and Tarik Black (center), a lineup that has started for the past three contests.

But Scott plans to start Ryan Kelly at power forward at some point and Lin at point guard, the latter scenario seeming more definitive on the timing.

“I want to see how much of a difference it is now as opposed to the start of the season,” Scott said after Sunday’s morning shootaround at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo.

Hawks sign Austin Daye to 10-day contract

Atlanta Hawks sign Austin Daye to 10-day contract

Hawks sign Austin Daye to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Austin Daye to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

Daye appeared in 26 games (four starts) earlier this season with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.3 minutes.

In 10 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, Daye has averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocks in 28.5 minutes.

A five-year NBA veteran, Daye has played in 285 career games (29 starts) with Detroit, Memphis, Toronto and San Antonio, totaling 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14.2 minutes. He has also appeared in five career playoff games. Daye was originally selected by the Pistons in the first round (15th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft after a two-year college career at Gonzaga.

He will wear uniform no. 3.

Joel Freeland, Shawne Williams suspended for headbutting each other

Joel Freeland, Shawne Williams suspended for headbutting each other

Portland Trail Blazers center Joel Freeland and Detroit Pistons forward Shawne Williams have been suspended one game without pay for headbutting each other. The penalties were announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ 118-99 win over the Pistons on Friday, March. 13, at Moda Center.

Williams will serve his suspension tonight when the Pistons travel to Utah to play the Jazz. Freeland will serve his suspension on Sunday, March 15, when the Trail Blazers travel to Toronto to play the Raptors.

To view the play, click on this link.

Mike Scott out with toe injury

Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott suffered a left toe injury against the Denver Nuggets on March 11 that was initially diagnosed as a strain. After further consultation and an MRI examination, taken yesterday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Phoenix, a fracture of his left great toe was revealed. He will see a foot specialist at Peachtree Orthopaedics in Atlanta on Monday to determine the appropriate course of action. A timeline for his return will be updated at a later date.

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to second 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams to a second 10-day contract.

Williams, 6-5,180 has appeared in three games with the Pelicans, averaging 4.0 points, 1.0 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game.

Prior to joining New Orleans, Williams played for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League. Appearing in 25 games for Santa Cruz, Williams averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per game while being named a NBA D-League All-Star. Williams had signed 10-day contracts with Utah and Charlotte earlier this season, appearing in five games for Utah, averaging 3.6 points in 8.4 minutes per contest.

Selected by Portland with the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Memphis, Williams has appeared in 99 career games, averaging 5.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Sergey Karasev undergoes season-ending knee surgery

Sergey Karasev undergoes season-ending knee surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Sergey Karasev underwent successful surgery on his right knee on Thursday, March 12, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The surgery was performed by Nets’ Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III along with Dr. David Altchek.

Statement from Dr. Riley Williams III:
“Sergey underwent successful right knee surgery to repair damage that occurred in association with a patellar dislocation on Thursday night. The surgery included the removal of several loose bodies as well as the repair of the medial patella femoral ligament and the medial collateral ligament. A full recovery is anticipated, and he is expected to be ready for training camp next season.”

Karasev played in 33 games (16 starts) for Brooklyn this season, posting averages of 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game.

Suns sign Earl Barron for remainder of season

Suns sign Earl Barron for remainder of season

The Phoenix Suns have signed center Earl Barron for the remainder of the season.

Barron signed his first 10-day contract with the club on Feb. 21, and his second 10-day on March 3. The 33-year-old center has appeared in eight games (one start) with Phoenix this season, averaging 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 5.7 minutes.

The 7-0 Barron averaged a double-double in 27 games with the Bakersfield Jam this season, posting 20.3 points and 10.9 rebounds for the Suns’ NBA Development League affiliate. Barron played with the Suns during the 2014-15 preseason and averaged 3.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in six appearances, including a 10-point, 13-rebound performance in 24 minutes at Houston on Oct. 13.

Barron, who saw action in 12 games with the Suns in 2010-11, is an eighth-season NBA veteran from the University of Memphis who has also played with New York, Miami, Milwaukee, Portland, Golden State and Washington.

Warriors recall James Michael McAdoo from D-League

Warriors recall James Michael McAdoo from D-League

The Golden State Warriors have recalled forward James Michael McAdoo from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

McAdoo, who signed with Golden State for the remainder of the season on February 19, has appeared in four games with the Warriors, averaging 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.0 minutes.

The rookie forward has appeared in 32 games (30 starts) with Santa Cruz, averaging 19.4 points (12th in the D-League), 8.8 rebounds (12th), 2.3 assists, 2.00 steals (fourth) and 2.06 blocks (sixth) in 32.9 minutes while hitting 58.3 percent from the field.