Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden, the visiting Orlando Magic edged the Knicks 97-95. MSG always has famous faces in the crowd, and last night model Kate Upton and singer Taylor Swift were in the building:
Author: Inside Hoops
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Lance Stephenson a rebounding machine for Hornets
Shooting must improve, but Lance Stephenson a rebounding machine for Hornets
The NBA season is just over two weeks old, and still new enough for teams to hold off on sounding any sort of emergency alarms if key new players haven’t totally learned to fit in just yet. The Charlotte Hornets are off to a 3-5 start, not quite what they hoped for — but again, it’s very early. New Hornet Lance Stephenson has been shooting bricks, but scoring aside he’s racking up assists, and doing monster things on the glass. Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting:
The way Lance Stephenson has been rebounding the ball this early NBA season, you’d think he’s trying to make up for something.
Oh, wait. He is.
“I’m just trying to get boards,” Stephenson said at morning shootaround in Portland, Ore., Tuesday. “My offensive game is not coming. I’m working on that, learning how to score in this offensive system.”
Stephenson is shooting just 33 percent from the field in the Hornets’ 3-5 start, but you can’t argue with his contribution on the boards. He’s averaging 10.9 rebounds, 10th-best in the NBA.
His 14 rebounds against the Trail Blazers tied a career high. At 6-foot-5 he is the only guard among the top 19 rebounders in the league – all the others are either centers or power forwards.
K.J. McDaniels playing well for Sixers
K.J. McDaniels playing well for Sixers
Yeah, I know. There is little reason to take the Philadelphia 76ers seriously this season. And naturally a few players will emerge only because, well, somebody has to put numbers up. All that aside, this is still the NBA, and talent will rise. So, meet K.J. McDaniels. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer:
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A growing portion of 76ers fans are wondering why K.J. McDaniels isn’t in the starting lineup.
Understandably so.
The rookie guard has been the team’s most exciting player. Yes, even more exciting than Tony Wroten, who averages a team-best 21.9 points. McDaniels, a former Clemson standout, is posterizing opponents will alley-oop dunks (ask Orlando Magic’s Moe Harkless) and swatting shots into the third row (ask the poor lady sitting in the stands in Toronto after McDaniels’ volleyball spike of Greivis Vasquez shot nearly gave her a concussion). He’s also the team’s best three-point shooter at 42.1 percent.
“It would mean a lot,” McDaniels said of being in the starting lineup. “But I still have to go in there and do my job, you know coming in here, bring excitement either coming off the bench or starting.”
Wizards notes: November 12, 2014
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Washington will face Detroit tonight at Verizon Center. The Wizards and Pistons split the 2013-14 season series 2-2. Washington hasn’t won a season series against Detroit since the 2005-06 season when they swept the Pistons 3-0.
With a win tonight the Wizards would improve to 6-2 which would mark their first 6-2 start since the 1975-76 season.
With a win over the Pistons, the Wizards would improve 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
John Wall averaged 25.8 points and 8.6 assists in four games against Detroit last season.
Wall is averaging 2.8 steals in his last five games.
Paul Pierce recorded his 4,500 career assist in Saturday’s win over Indiana.
Pierce has averaged 21.1 points per game in 52 career games against Detroit.
Wayne Ellington’s father shot, killed
Wayne Ellington’s father shot, killed in Philadelphia
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The following statement was released today by Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak regarding the death of guard Wayne Ellington’s father, who was shot and killed Sunday night in Philadelphia:
“Our players are upset for their friend and teammate. Additionally, ownership and all Lakers employees are also saddened by this tragedy. Those of us who work with and have gotten to know Wayne have come to know what a wonderful and caring person he is. Our hearts go out to Wayne and his family, as do our thoughts and prayers.”
Ellington has been granted an indefinite leave of absence and it is unknown at this time when he will rejoin the team.
STATEMENT FROM WAYNE ELLINGTON
“My family and I are devastated by the news of my father’s murder on Sunday night in Philadelphia,” said Ellington. “We appreciate everyone’s support and ask that you respect the privacy of our family during this very difficult time.”
Warriors waive Nemanja Nedovic
Warriors waive Nemanja Nedovic
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The Golden State Warriors have waived guard Nemanja Nedovic, the team announced today.
As a rookie in 2013-14, Nedovic appeared in 24 games and posted averages of 1.1 points, 0.5 assists and 0.6 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per contest. The 23-year old guard spent 15 games with the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, tallying 14.9 points, 4.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 28.5 minutes. He did not appear in a game for Golden State this season.
Originally selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 30th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Golden State acquired the rights to Nedovic in a draft-day deal on June 27, 2013.
Patrick Patterson not a fan of sleeved jerseys
Like many players, Patrick Patterson not a fan of sleeved jerseys
Here’s the National Post in Canada reporting on Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson, who appreciates the ability to freely move his arms when playing basketball:
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“For those guys who have broad shoulders, large muscles on their arms, per se, it tends to get tight, real snug,” Patterson said on Tuesday morning when asked what he thought about the Raptors’ alternate jerseys that feature sleeves. “A lot of guys are uncomfortable with it. I wish I would have known ahead of times we are wearing those, because I’d have prepared. It’s for a solid cause. I believe we’re doing it for the right reasons. At the end of the day, I don’t like sleeves.”
Jamal Crawford starting for Clippers lately
Jamal Crawford starting for Clippers lately
Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the Clippers, who are a modest 4-3 to start the 2014-15 NBA season. It’s an adjustment, for both Crawford and the team as a whole. As for if it’ll continue, we’ll have to wait and see:
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The Clippers are 1-1 since coach Doc Rivers inserted two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford into the starting lineup, replacing Matt Barnes.
Rivers told reporters ahead of Monday night’s 89-85 loss to San Antonio that he made the move for the team, and intimated it was to inject more offense into it.
Crawford scored 20 points on 7 of 16 shooting in Saturday’s 106-102 victory over Portland. But he scored just 10 points on 3 of 13 from the field – he was 1 of 7 from 3-point range – against San Antonio.
Video: Top defensive plays of week, through November 9
Enjoy this video of the top defensive plays of the week, through November 9
Lakers get first win of season
Lakers get first win of season
Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the Lakers, who won their first game of the 2014-15 NBA season yesterday and are now 1-5:
The streamers dropped from the Staples Center rafters. Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” blared over the loudspeakers. Fans giddily cheered over both receiving free tacos and witnessing a rare Lakers’ win.
But inside the Lakers’ locker room, the reaction over a 107-92 victory Sunday over the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center hardly showed a team excited over ending their five-game losing streak.
Kobe Bryant offered clipped answers with a stoic demeanor. Jeremy Lin seemed more relieved when his press conference ended, which always attracts a crush of overseas reporters. Carlos Boozer didn’t even bother emerging at his locker room to bask in the win. Lakers coach Byron Scott sounded as businesslike in his first victory as the team’s head coach as he did when the team had its worst start in franchise history in 57 years.
“Nobody was overjoyed in there,” Scott said. “From a standpoint of being [ticked] off and wanting to get a win because of what our record is, it was nice. But other than that, it’s no more than any other win.”