The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Ronald Tillery) reports on Mike Conley: The second-year point guard, taken fourth overall in the 2007 draft, hasn’t logged a single minute in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies’ past two games. He’s yielded to third-year reserve Kyle Lowry, whose defensive toughness, speedy play and adequate decision-making has earned him a role as the closer at that position. So what’s going on with Conley? He’s not injured. “That question requires reflection,” Griz coach Marc Iavaroni said after benching Conley for the entire fourth quarter of a 96-86 loss Saturday at Chicago. “Right now, Kyle is playing with more energy and physicality so I’m going with him.”
Category: General NBA insight
General NBA insight
Mo Williams still adjusting to Cavs
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Brian Windhorst) reports: The Cavaliers aren’t off to a great start at 1-2 heading into tonight’s game against the Mavericks, but the sky certainly isn’t falling. Yet Mo Williams, touted far and wide as the injection the Cavs needed, seems to be taking the offense’s somewhat shaky start hard. It has only been three games, two of them on the road at juggernauts Boston and New Orleans, and Williams hasn’t played all that poorly, averaging 13.3 points and 4.3 assists. But his body language and comments hint he seems to be putting quite a bit of pressure on himself to perform, an affirmation of his competitive nature. “Personally, I’m just not there yet. I’m still trying to get comfortable,” Williams said. “I’m trying not to lose any sleep over it. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Daequan Cook defending well
The Miami Herald (Michael Wallace) reports: Heat guard Daequan Cook has seen an increase in playing time because of his improved play on defense, not just because he regained his shooting touch. Cook, who had been mired in a preseason slump, has emerged as the first guard off the bench. Cook, who scored 13 points in each of the first two games of the season, has impressed on defense, where he had struggled with poor footwork and bad technique. ”For me, it was being focused, being patient and realizing what’s going to get me out on the floor is defense,” said Cook, who is averaging 25 minutes a game. “On the defensive end you get looked at more.”
Sean Williams asked Nets to skip option
The New York Post (Fred Kerber) reports: The Nets’ Sean Williams admitted yesterday he asked team president Rod Thorn not to pick up his option, which would have helped him get a new contract quicker and become a free agent. But he insisted he still wants to be a Net. “I told Rod I didn’t want him to pick up my option,” said Williams, whose third year – 2009-2010 at $1.629 million – was picked up on Thursday. “It had nothing to do with me not wanting to be here as part of this team because I love this team. “It’s part of the business. I want to get to my second deal as fast as possible.”
InsideHoops.com editor (Jeff) says: Williams is super-athletic and can apply it in ways that can help a team, but for the next few seasons will have to keep refining his game. Right now he’s more of a good 8th-10th man who can show flashes of being a good 6th man.
Wade getting lit up
The Palm Beach Post (Chris Perkins) reports: Guard Dwyane Wade (19 points on 5-for-15 shooting) stayed in foul trouble the entire night. And his defense has to be eyed suspiciously. In his last four games he’s allowed Memphis’ O.J. Mayo 28 points, New York’s Jamal Crawford 29 points, held Sacarmento’s Kevin Martin to nine points and allowed Charlotte’s Jason Richardson 23. Coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be happy with his team’s effort. It appeared Udonis Haslem (16 points, seven rebounds) was upset with his teammates the entire night.
Marcus Williams reflects on Nets
Marcus Williams was a backup point guard on the Nets and didn’t play tons of minutes because extremely good players were always ahead of him. Now he’s barely playing for the Warriors and the point guards ahead of him are lucky to even be in the league. Here’s the New York Daily News (Julian Garcia):
As for what went wrong in Jersey, Williams said playing behind a legend after being drafted in the first round of the ‘06 draft made it tough for him to get anything going personally. “I played behind Jason,” Williams said. “Obviously that prevented me from playing as much as I wanted to. And then they brought in Devin, and Devin was having a career year. You can’t really stop a guy from playing who’s having a career year. So I think situations and opportunities weren’t here.” Williams had a reputation for being out of shape while with the Nets, and not necessarily working hard enough to get into shape. He also suffered several injuries along the way that prevented him from earning steady playing time.
I don’t see Williams falling out of the league anytime soon. He’ll have a few more seasons to prove himself worthy of a job before that would happen.
Dalembert not himself yet
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports: Through two games, Samuel Dalembert has looked slightly … off. He has rebounded very well (12.5 average), scored decently (8.5 average), but struggled with some close-range shots. Remember, Sam missed a decent amount of the preseason with a knee sprain. Said Dalembert: “I’m not quite back. The [knee] is uncomfortable still. I’m not quite myself. I’ve been missing a lot of stuff I usually don’t miss. I’m catching the ball and just something is off, not quite on balance. It’s all part of it, and as games go by and I keep playing more, it will get better. I’m one little bit away from a big game.”
Sean May is out of shape
The AP reports: Bobcats forward Sean May was on the inactive list for Saturday’s game against Miami, two days after coach Larry Brown criticized his fitness following a sluggish performance in the season opener. May started in Charlotte’s 96-79 loss to Cleveland on Thursday night, but was 0-for-6 from the field and played only three minutes in the second half.
InsideHoops.com editor (Jeff) says: I hope he didn’t try to eat the bench while sitting on it. Because then the bench would disappear. And everyone sitting on it would fall down. Someone could get hurt.
Rockets-Thunder team connections
Rockets Assistant Coach Jack Sikma joined Houston after spending four seasons on the coaching staff in Seattle … Sikma, who was selected by the Sonics with the eighth overall pick of the 1977 NBA Draft, had his jersey #43 retired by Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise on Nov. 21, 1992 … Houston Assistant Coach R.J. Adelman worked as an NBA advance scout for the former Sonics before coming to Houston … Gerald Madkins, Houston’s as Director of Scouting, joined the Rockets after serving as the Director of West Coast College Scouting for Seattle in 2007-08 … Brent Barry still ranks fifth all-time in Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise history with 669 3-pointers made … originally chosen by Seattle in the second round (31st overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Houston obtained the draft rights to forward Carl Landry on June 28, 2007 … Scott Brooks, an assistant coach with the Thunder, played three seasons with the Rockets (1992-95) … Oklahoma City Assistant Coach Mark Bryant also played one season with Houston (1995-96) … Thunder guard John Lucas III played two season with the Rockets (2005-07).
Meet agent for coaches Warren LeGarie
The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports: Warren LeGarie is one of the most important movers and shakers of the NBA you’ve never heard of. Best known for founding the wildly successful NBA Las Vegas Summer League five years ago that has knocked out all competitors, LeGarie is also coach Mike D’Antoni’s agent and a key reason he wound up in New York and not Chicago… LeGarie is the agent for five other NBA head coaches – Rick Carlisle, George Karl, Mike Dunleavy, Mike Iavarone and Mike Brown, plus Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe.