Category: General NBA insight

On one hand, the club knows it needs to get him ample rest if he is to play at a high level. On the other hand, the C’s can’t afford to have him out of the game for too long.

Doc Rivers has tried to manage the 36-year-old center’s minutes, and Wednesday night in Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers Garnett played 41 and had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Boston’s 82-75 loss that set up a Game 7 Saturday.

“It can be hard, but we’ve got to give him breaks or we wouldn’t be getting what we are from him,” said Rivers.

Veteran guard Keyon Dooling may have put it best.

“Unfortunately this isn’t a video game,” he said. “You actually need a little rest.”

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that an MRI today confirmed that Kendrick Perkins suffered a right hip muscle strain in last night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Perkins’ return to play will be based on his progress and recovery in the coming days.

First, the Thunder took a hard-earned day off Sunday while waiting to find out whom they’ll face in the Western Conference semifinals. Kevin Durant and Co. won’t know until at least Tuesday night, and possibly not until Saturday, whether it will be the Los Angeles Lakers or the Denver Nuggets

The Lakers held a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4 in Denver on Sunday night.

The Thunder won the season series against both potential opponents 2-1, losing to both in the final week of the regular season with top reserve James Harden out for the last part of the Lakers game and all of the Nuggets game after getting elbowed by L.A.’s Metta World Peace.

The sweep could give Oklahoma City its longest break of this lockout-shortened season. The only time the Thunder had more than three straight days off was a five-game layoff over the All-Star break.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Just two games into their first playoff run together, the Los Angeles Clippers are already hurting and hobbling.

That’s what happens to opponents of the bruising Memphis Grizzlies, but the Clippers are hoping a return home will get everybody healthy in a hurry.

With a third of their roster nursing injuries, the Clippers took the day off Thursday after a highly eventful two-game opening set in Memphis. Los Angeles left with a split and seized home-court advantage in the series despite following up one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history with a 105-98 loss Wednesday night.

While they prepare for their first playoff game in six years in front of their long-suffering Staples Center fans in Game 3 on Saturday, the Clippers must figure out where to find the postseason will already possessed by the Grizzlies, who rebounded from their stunning series-opening collapse with a gritty, grinding equalizer.

”We played better, but it’s no moral victories around here,” said Chris Paul, who had 29 points, six assists and five turnovers in Game 2. ”At the end of the day, it’s 1-1. We did what we were supposed to do, yeah, win one game. But I feel like we could have got two. Now we’ve got to take care of two.”

The Grizzlies boarded a plane with similar resolve Thursday.

”We do have to win on the road, just like the Clippers had to win,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. ”It’s an evenly contested playoff series. Nobody is safe wherever.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy walked into the Magic’s practice session Thursday toting an armload of statistics to illustrate why they’ve lost two straight games and fallen into a 2-1 series hole against Indiana.

But Van Gundy knows simply harping on numbers the next two days won’t be enough to pull his team out of its funk in time for Game 4.

”Our point today wasn’t really on adjustments or anything…I wanted them to see it,” he said. ”I mean the numbers say one thing, but to watch it on film and to see what we’re talking about, because the mindsets gotta change, the disposition’s gotta change, the energy’s got to change.

”And then from there you can make adjustments.”

After squandering a late-game lead in Game 1, the Pacers have won two straight by owning the first and third quarters of play.

On Wednesday night in a 97-74 win, they outscored the Magic 32-17 in the third quarter, running their edge in that period for the series to 81-43. In the first quarter that advantage is 69-56.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Anthony Davis,who led the University of Kentucky Wildcats to this year’s NCAA championship,and Oklahoma City Thunder standout guard James Harden have been added to the list of finalists for the 2012 USA Basketball National Team, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced today. The official 12-man U.S. Olympic team roster will be announced later this year.

“After a lot of deliberations, after reviewing our roster, we think these two additions strengthen our National Team program immeasurably. James Harden probably is the sixth man of the year in the NBA, and Anthony Davis brings a dimension to our pool we don’t have. He’s young, but it’s exciting to think about the possibilities,” said Colangelo.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be this young and have a chance to represent my country. This is a great opportunity and I’m excited to be a part of something like this,” said Davis.

Davis played and started in all 40 UK games and as a freshman led the Wildcats to a 38-2 record, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season title and the NCAA championship. The 6-10 forward averaged team highs of 14.2 ppg.,10.4 rpg. and 4.7 bpg., while adding 1.3 apg. and 1.4 spg. He shot 62.3 percent from the floor and 70.9 percent from the foul line.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jordan Hill faces a felony assault charge after his girlfriend accused him of choking and shoving her in Houston earlier this year.

Hill is charged with assaulting 28-year-old Darlene Luna on Feb. 29 at his apartment while the New York Knicks’ former first-round draft pick was playing for the Houston Rockets.

The 24-year-old Hill was charged by Harris County prosecutors in March, and he has a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday in Houston.

Hill was apologetic, but said little about the accusations after the Lakers’ practice at their training complex Monday.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics has been suspended one game without pay for making contact with a game official,it was announced today by Stu Jackson,NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 0:41 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’83-74 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on April 29.

Rondo will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Celtics play the Hawks in Game 2 of their opening round series in Atlanta.

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that Paul Silas will not return as head coach and a search for his successor will begin immediately.

“I would like to personally thank Paul for everything he has done for this team under some pretty unique circumstances,” Higgins said. “His basketball experience as a coach and a player speak for themselves. We have been fortunate to have someone of his character associated with this franchise and we hope he will continue to be a valuable resource to us in the future.”

Silas recently completed his first full season with the Bobcats, after being named interim Head Coach on December 22, 2010, and then having the interim title removed on February 16, 2011. He led the team to a 25-29 record (.463) over the remainder of the 2010-11 season and compiled an overall record of 32-88 (.363) with the Bobcats.

In 11 seasons as an NBA head coach, Silas has a career record of 377-531 with the Clippers (1980-83), Hornets (1999-2003), Cavaliers (2003-05) and Bobcats. He also spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach for the Hornets, Knicks, Nets and Suns.