Category: General NBA insight

General NBA insight

Kevin Durant discusses an annoying Shane Battier defensive habit

kevin durant

Shane Battier began the practice of sticking his hand in an opposing shooter’s face midway through his career and, by now, is known for it around the league. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant said he “hates” it, the first time Battier says any player has acknowledged it.

“Kobe would never say that,” Battier said. “He’d swear up and down on all his championship trophies it doesn’t bother him. He wouldn’t give you anything.”

Battier said he respects Durant as much as anyone in the game for how he carries himself and plays the game. The public talk of Battier’s defense surprised the Heat player, though.

Asked if anyone else in the league face–guards opponents like he does, Battier said: “A couple of guys do it to me just to piss me off. But their technique needs work. It wasn’t effective.”

— Reported by Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Kevin Durant aims to keep improving

”There’s always another level you can go to. In basketball, you always can be better at something, I think,” Durant said Saturday after Oklahoma City’s practice.

”I haven’t seen a guy that totally dominates the game in every aspect. He can’t make every shot, he can’t get every rebound, he can’t get every assist, so I think you can get better. That’s the mindset I take.”

Durant has gotten his fair share in each of those categories, particularly this season. Durant became the seventh player in league history to win three straight scoring titles, averaging 28 points per game, and set career highs in shooting percentage, 3-point shooting, rebounding, assists and blocks.

And yet he’s still driven to want more.

”I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied,” Durant said. ”I’m happy that I progressed a little bit. I have a long ways to go and I think that if I continue to just keep getting better at the mental part of the game – watching film and knowing where the defense is going to play, knowing where my teammates are going to be – then I can get better.

”I’ve just got to keep improving.”

— Reported by Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press

Charlotte Bobcats may change team colors

The Charlotte Bobcats appear to be contemplating a change to their uniform colors, but a team spokesman says that has nothing to do with a potential nickname change.

Pictures circulated on the Internet Friday night of a Bobcats cap tied to the 2012 draft. Most of the cap looks like the Bobcats’ current blue primary color. The bill is a new, lighter shade of blue. The only orange in that cap is the small “Charlotte’’ stenciling.

Asked if the Bobcats are contemplating color changes, team spokesman B.J. Evans said Saturday, “We’re always trying to explore accenting our colors in different ways. It’s an on-going process.’’

There has been a grassroots effort of late, lobbying the Bobcats to acquire the Hornets nickname from the New Orleans Hornets.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Sefolosha helps Thunder pound Spurs 102-82 in Game 3

Thabo Sefolosha

In a Western Conference finals filled with established stars, Thabo Sefolosha used a stretch of defensive excellence to turn the momentum in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s favor and stop a dominant seven-week run by the San Antonio Spurs.

Kevin Durant scored 22 points, Sefolosha set playoff career-bests with 19 points and six steals, and the Thunder snapped San Antonio’s 20-game winning streak by beating the Spurs 102-82 in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday night.

The Thunder’s fears of falling into a historically insurmountable 3-0 series deficit faded quickly as Sefolosha got four steals to power an 8-0 Oklahoma City run in the first 3 minutes and set the tone for San Antonio’s worst offensive outing of the season…

Coach Scott Brooks assigned him to clamp down on All-Star point guard Tony Parker, who had 34 points in Game 2…

Parker and Stephen Jackson led the Spurs with 16 points apiece. Tim Duncan had 11 points on 5-for-15 shooting, taking 11 of San Antonio’s first 25 shots as the offense went through the All-Star center instead of Parker…

Parker and Duncan didn’t play in the final 15 minutes, and Popovich pulled the plug after a series of three straight turnovers allowed the deficit to reach 23 points early in the fourth quarter.

— Reported by Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press

Led by Sefolosha’s game-high six, the Thunder registered 14 steals. That helped the Thunder force San Antonio into a series-high 21 turnovers, which led to 20 OKC points.

kendrick perkins

Brooks stuck with Perkins despite many calling for Perkins to sit more in this series. And Perkins came through for his coach, grabbing a game-high eight rebounds while blocking four shots. Perkins also helped limit Tim Duncan to 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting, which directly helped hold the Spurs to a series-low 24 points in the paint.

Brooks, however, reminded everyone that the series still is far from over.

“We’ve done nothing but won our home game, and we have a tough one Saturday night.”

— Reported by Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman

Give the Spurs credit for one thing. When they finally went down, they went down hard.

Thursday’s game was their most lopsided playoff defeat since a 103-81 loss to Dallas in the 2010 first round, a series the Spurs ultimately won.

Plagued by a playoff-high 21 turnovers, generating 20 OKC points, the Spurs fell in a 54-41 hole at halftime and never could recover.

With Sefolosha (six steals) patrolling the perimeter and Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins (three blocks apiece) defending the rim, the Spurs managed their fewest points since an 87-79 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 27.

The Spurs got 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from Jackson, but little from more typical sources. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili combined for 19 points and missed all but six of their 20 attempts.

Duncan did block five shots, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time NBA postseason record (478).

“We have to give them credit,” Ginobili said. “They just smashed us.”

— Reported by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News

Dennis Rodman sentenced in child support case

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman might soon find himself working with at-risk teens or cleaning up streets.

The flamboyant former player known for his rebounding skills and wild, off-court behavior was sentenced Tuesday to 104 hours of community service after being found guilty last year of four counts of contempt for failing to pay child support.

The ruling also placed Rodman, 51, on three years of informal probation on the condition he keep up his child and spousal support payments.

It was the latest development in a series of legal disputes that began in 2004, when Rodman’s wife at the time filed for divorce.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Vinny Del Negro to return as Clippers coach next season

Vinny Del Negro will be back as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers next season.

The team said Tuesday that it has exercised its contract option on him to return for a third season. Del Negro led the Clippers to a 40-26 record during the lockout-shortened season and the second round of the playoffs, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

Their winning percentage of 60.6 this season was the highest in franchise history.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Orlando Magic waive Von Wafer

The Orlando Magic have announced that the team has waived guard Von Wafer.

Wafer (6’5”,209,7/21/85) appeared in 33 games (one start) with Orlando this season, averaging 5.9 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 14.2 minpg. He also played in one playoff game, tallying six points and one rebound.

Originally selected in the second round (39 th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by the L.A. Lakers, Wafer has played in 200 career regular season games with the Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Denver, Portland, Houston, Boston and Orlando, averaging 5.3 ppg. and 1.2 rpg. in 12.4 minpg. Wafer has also appeared in 17 career playoff outings, averaging 6.6 ppg. in 11.3 minpg.

Knicks sign head coach Mike Woodson to contract extension

The New York Knicks announced today that Head Coach Mike Woodson has been given a multi-year contract extension.

“Mike took over the team under challenging circumstances and made it clear, starting on day one, that he was going to hold every player on our roster accountable,” said James Dolan,Executive Chairman,The Madison Square Garden Company. “We saw a significant improvement since Mike took over and believe our team will only keep improving under Mike’s direction.”

Woodson, who had served as New York’s interim head coach since Mar. 14, 2012, guided the Knicks to an 18-6 regular-season mark and the franchise’s second consecutive playoff berth. Over the last 24 games of the regular season, the Knicks posted the second-best record in the NBA and the team’s defense ranked fifth in the NBA in points allowed (91.8) and eighth in opponents’ field goal percentage (.440). Woodson became the first head coach in franchise history to win his first five games and posted the second-best winning percentage ever by an NBA coach who took over a team midseason.

“Mike has the respect of every person in this organization,” Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald said. “He and his staff led the team in an impressive push into the playoffs over the last 24 games and we believe he is the right man to lead the franchise as we move forward.”

“I’m very humbled and honored to continue coaching the franchise where I started my NBA career,” Woodson said. “Our goal is to build off the success we had at the end of last season and to continue our quest of bringing an NBA Championship to Madison Square Garden.”

Woodson joined the organization as an assistant coach on Aug. 29, 2011 after six seasons as the head coach of Atlanta (2004-05 through 2009-10). He improved the Hawks win-loss record in each of those seasons, leading the franchise to the postseason in each of his final three years. Previously, he served eight seasons as an assistant coach with Milwaukee (1996-97 through 1998-99), Cleveland (1999-2000 through 2000-01), Philadelphia (2001-02 through 2002-03) and the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons (2003-04).

He enjoyed an 11-year NBA playing career, averaging 14.0 points over 786 games with New York (1980-81), New Jersey (1981-82),Kansas City/Sacramento (1981-82 through 1985-86), L.A. Clippers (1986-87 through 1987-88), Houston (1988-89 through 1990-91) and Cleveland (1990-91). He was originally selected by the Knicks in the first round (12th overall) in the 1980 NBA Draft.