General NBA insight – Page 143 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves need a superstar

The AP reports:

Al Jefferson and Kevin Love are quality pieces of the foundation, as is Corey Brewer, who showed considerable improvement this year. But that’s not enough.

”We don’t have THE block,” president David Kahn said. ”That one block where you can build everything else around.”

They went 15-67, tying the 1991-92 Timberwolves for the worst record in franchise history. They lost 29 of their final 31 games of the season and played in front of sparse crowds that became more disillusioned as the year passed.

Now it’s time to find out if taking those lumps all season long was worth it.

”Now, it’s very hard to say we’re going to get that guy this summer, and I hope we can. … But somehow, some way over the next certain amount of time we’ve got to find our great player,” Kahn said.

Bucks should fill seats before seeking new arena

Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:

David Stern was asked about the Bucks’ performance this season, in which they made the playoffs, the team’s financial state and the Bradley Center.

“I think that it certainly is up to the Bucks to fill up their arena before we spend a lot of time thinking about a new one,” Stern said. “It’s also fair to say that the powers that be in Milwaukee understand that the Bradley Center is reaching sort of the end . . . . It will soon be among the oldest non-renovated or replaced buildings in the NBA. But that’s not an immediate decision. That’s something people are working on and looking at there.”

The Bucks drew an average of 15,108 fans per game at the Bradley Center this season, 281 fans fewer per game than last season. The Bucks finished 24th in the league in attendance, the same ranking they had the previous season.

Charlie Villanueva needs to learn defense

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

When Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars signed Charlie Villanueva, 25, last summer to a five-year, $35-million contract as an unrestricted free agent from the Milwaukee Bucks, eyebrows were raised.

Villanueva, a highly skilled power forward with long-distance touch and the ability to score with either hand in the paint, also was known as a defensive liability and uninterested in rebounding.

But “stretch fours,” as Pistons coach John Kuester calls power forwards with three-pointer ability, are rare, and the thinking was Villanueva could be coached up on the grittier aspects of basketball.

However, that hasn’t happened this season. Villanueva is constantly exploited by opponents on defense, and it’s hard to count the number of offensive rebounds he has allowed. He hasn’t been completely healthy all season, either.

Veteran Chauncey Billups still rocking

Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports:

The Nuggets’ point guard is in his 13th NBA season, and this may be his best. He’s averaging 19.7 points per game, his highest ever. He was named to the all-star team, just as he was in the previous four seasons. He is, Denver’s strength-and-conditioning coach said, in the best shape of his life.

Asked if Billups’ body is younger than his age, Steve Hess answered: Absolutely.

“If you look at age, I think it’s irrelevant — I don’t think it matches everyone. . . . Chauncey’s body is not his age,” Hess said. “He’s bought into a healthy lifestyle — staying hydrated, better eating, doesn’t go out (at night), does more stretching, gets massages, does more resistance training, taps into the whole thing. That enables you to get more out of your body.

“Is his age indicative of his body? Absolutely not, because he’s continually improving it.”

Andray Blatche has bright future

Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports (via blog):

The crowd of reporters then encouraged Andray Blatche to say what was on his mind. Blatche slumped his shoulders and finally relented. “Something I can take from this season? Most improved player,” Blatche said. “I feel I worked hard for it. A couple of guys have complemented me, as well. I hope it works out for me.”

Blatche certainly has blossomed since the Wizards dealt away Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood before the trade deadline. In 30 games since the all-star break, Blatche is averaging 22.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists and has recorded 12 double-doubles over that span.

“I was a little nervous,” Blatche said of his intial reaction to the trades, “but also, I knew it was an opportunity for me. I just tried to do my best.”

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld thought that Blatche would be able to respond well after the trades, but this level of production caught him off guard as well.

Dahntay Jones needs better outside shot

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Pacers want Dahntay Jones to develop outside shot

Jones’ impact on the court has been at a minimum the past few weeks.

The reason?

He’s a poor 3-point shooter.

For Jones to be a regular in the rotation next season, he’ll likely have to improve his outside shooting stroke.

“Let me answer it this way: I like to space the court,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said. “I think if we were to get a point guard that can really space the court, shoot the 3, I think you can get away with having a wing that doesn’t space the court.”

The Pacers knew Jones was not a 3-point specialist when they made him their prized free agent acquisition last summer. They signed him to a four-year contract with a player option on the fourth year.

Bob Cousy thinks Rajon Rondo is awesome

Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports:

Rajon Rondo already has Bob Cousy’s Celtics record for most assists in a season, but he also has something more valuable. Cousy’s respect and admiration.

“I’ve been saying since probably the first year that it seems to me he touches all the bases for a point guard,” said the Cooz. “If there is a negative – and I don’t know how much of a negative it is – he seems to be insecure about his shooting. But, hell, the guy’s shooting almost 52 percent. How much better could he be if he looked for his shot all the time? But that’s not the function of a point guard.

“Everything else is there. He rebounds much taller than he is. He’s a tough, tough defender. And he creates well. He adds a little something, so he’s obviously getting more confident with the moves and the imagination that he shows. As far as I’m concerned, he’s their most valuable player this year.”

Nate Robinson, Marquis Daniels out of Celtics rotation

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

Doc Rivers said Nate Robinson, who will return to New York tonight for the first time since being traded by the Knicks, and Marquis Daniels, are out of the playing rotation. Neither played Sunday against Cleveland.

Robinson has shot fewer than 39 percent as a Celtic and hasn’t scored in double figures since March 12. The club expected scoring punch off the bench and solid point guard play but Robinson has been tentative offensively. Rivers said he was upset that Robinson attempted a 3-point shot with 19.9 seconds left in the first quarter Friday against Houston with 19 seconds remaining on the shot clock.

Daniels has struggled since returning to the lineup in February after recovering from a torn left thumb ligament. He was signed to spell Rajon Rondo and provide solid defense, but he has gradually lost Rivers’s confidence. He averaged 9.4 points in nine games after returning from injury, but has averaged 3.7 in 18 games since.

Jrue Holiday a bright spot for Sixers

Tom Moore of the Burlington County Times reports:

Jrue Holiday is the best – only? – good thing to come out of the Sixers’ disappointing 2009-10 season.

Despite being the youngest player in the league, Holiday is showing he can defend, run the offense and even score in this league. The more he plays, the better he gets.

Holiday had a season-high 25 points Saturday on 10-for-12 shooting, hitting a 3-pointer with 58.9 seconds left in regulation and another with 3:44 to go in overtime, in a 128-123 home loss to the Raptors.

While Holiday looks like a core player for years to come, the Sixers should still take Kentucky point guard John Wall if they’re fortunate enough to land the No. 1 overall pick in the May 18 draft lottery.

Warriors find great D-League talent

Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reports:

Why are the Warriors so good at finding talent in the minors?

“The Warriors are by far the best team at getting talent out of the D-League,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said after Anthony Tolliver and Reggie Williams combined for 54 points against the Suns on March 22. “They should be commended for that as an organization.”

Three of the 20 players called up this season are getting regular minutes with the Warriors and could be in the NBA for good. Throw in swingman Kelenna Azubuike and guard C.J. Watson, past D-League call-ups who have become part-time starters in the league, and the Warriors’ track record is ridiculously successful.

“I don’t think there’s any secret,” general manager Larry Riley said. “We study them a lot. We believe in it. We work at it.”