Category: General NBA insight

General NBA insight

History of some teams that, like the Pacers, started the season 8-0

The Indiana Pacers were expected to be good this season, but they’ve exceeded expectations, and look as legit an NBA championship contender as anybody. But as for what they’ve done so far, here’s the Indianapolis Star with some history:

Thirty teams have begun a season 8-0. The 12 that had their streaks snapped in the ninth game averaged 55.5 wins. The over-under on victories for the Pacers this preseason, according to Bovada Sportsbook? 54.5.

“Just taking it in stride,” coach Frank Vogel said.

Eight of the 30 teams won titles and four others reached the Finals. It includes legendary teams such as the 1996-97 Bulls, 2007-08 Celtics and 1987-88 Lakers. But it also includes a 1979-80 Portland team that finished with a losing record and Seattle in 1993-94, which started 10-0, finished 63-19 and was the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round, getting upset by No. 8 Denver.

Rick Carlisle discusses how hard it is to repeat as NBA champs

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Rick Carlisle

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said that a litany of things could go wrong that can prevent a team from repeating. That list includes injuries, trades, players becoming selfish and management not willing to sign critical free agents.

“It’s just that when you’re the defending champs people are gunning for you,” Carlisle said. “And then you have to fight the letdown of being the champions.

“It’s a lot of the human nature stuff that are inherent in sports, but that’s what makes the world go round.”

In addition to missing out on a successful repeat as a coach with the Mavs, Carlisle also missed a chance with the Boston Celtics. In 1986 Carlisle was with the Celtics when they beat the Rockets in six games to win the championship, but then lost in the ’87 Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Jared Sullinger playing well in limited minutes for Celtics

The Boston Celtics are off to a 4-5 start, which is better than what most expected of the rebuilding squad. Here’s ESPN Boston on a Celtic that’s playing well so far this season.

Jared Sullinger

Hey, Jared, how’s your back?

“I thought people forgot about my surgery; hardly anybody ever talks about it anymore,” replied Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger, who underwent season-ending lumbar disk surgery back in February and worked hard to get back on the court for the start of his sophomore campaign.

The reason his surgery has become a mere footnote is because Sullinger is playing so effectively. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds over 19.7 minutes per game in seven appearances.

Even as he works to ramp up his conditioning after a surgery that left him inactive for much of the summer, Sullinger has surprised even himself with how well he’s started the year…

According to Synergy Sports data, Sullinger leads the team in post-up chances and production. Over 26 plays in post-up situations, he has averaged 1.077 points per play (that ranks him in the 83rd percentile among all league players). For comparison’s sake, Brandon Bass has 24 post-up plays (second highest on the team), but that’s in nearly twice as many minutes of playing time as Sullinger (Bass is averaging 1 point per play, ranking in the 78th percentile).

Sullinger is trying to give the Celtics a little bit of everything. He has extended his range beyond the 3-point arc with a green light from Stevens to fire away. He’s only 2-for-10 thus far from downtown, having air-balled a shot or two, but he won’t shy away from an open look. His total rebound percentage (15) is below last season’s mark (17.5) but that should rise with more minutes and better conditioning.

DeJuan Blair playing well for Mavericks

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog on the fine addition rugged frontcourt man DeJuan Blair has been to Dallas:

dejuan blair

DeJuan Blair calls this his new lease on life.

Saddled at the end of the San Antonio Spurs’ bench last season, Blair has been a key contributor for Dallas after signing a one-year, $884,293 free agent contract with the Mavericks in August. The five-year veteran backup center is averaging 8.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, and is fifth in the NBA in steals with 2.43 per game.

In describing his displeasure at being mired in Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s doghouse to where he is now, Blair said it’s like going from the outhouse to the penthouse.

“Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Blair said after Tuesday’s shoot around at American Airlines Center.

Utah Jazz exercise contract options on Alec Burks and Enes Kanter

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has elected to exercise its fourth-year team options for guard Alec Burks and center Enes Kanter.  The options for both players are through the 2014-15 season.

Burks (6-6, 205, Colorado) is entering his third NBA season after appearing in 64 games (all as a reserve) and averaging 7.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 17.8 minutes during his sophomore season for the Jazz in 2012-13.  He scored in double figures on 19 occasions, including a career-high 26 points in 27 minutes at Sacramento on February 9.

The 22-year-old was originally selected by the Jazz with the 12th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.  Burks averaged 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 23.9 minutes in eight preseason games for the Jazz.

The 21-year-old Kanter (6-11, 248, Kentucky) is also entering his third NBA season after appearing in 70 games (two starts) for the Jazz in 2012-13 and improving his averages in every major statistical category over his rookie campaign.

The center from Turkey averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting .544 from the field in 15.4 minutes during his second season, scoring in double figures 22 times and grabbing double-digit rebounds twice, including career highs of 23 points and 22 rebounds vs. Charlotte on March 1.

Originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (third overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Kanter averaged 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds on .513 (41-80) shooting in 23.6 minutes per game during the 2013 preseason.

Spurs waive Josh Howard, possibly for D-League reasons

Josh Howard

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have waived forward Josh Howard.

They signed him just yesterday. Why this quick series of events? According to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News earlier today before this move was announced, “NBA rules allow each team to allocate three players cut from the preseason roster to the Development League club of its choice. If the Spurs were to waive Howard before Nov. 1, they could place him in Austin — provided he agrees to sign a D-League contract — and monitor his progress there.”

Howard was originally drafted 29th overall in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks where he played for seven seasons (2003-10). He has also suited up for the Washington Wizards (2010-11), Utah Jazz (2011-12) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-13).

In 507 career NBA games, the Wake Forest University product has averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 30.3 minutes.

Bucks vs. Raptors preseason game ends early due to court conditions

The Milwaukee Bucks game vs. the Toronto Raptors earlier tonight, Oct. 25, was called by NBA referee Dan Crawford with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter due to concerns about conditions of the playing surface.

Crawford spoke with a pool reporter regarding the stoppage of the game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center:

“We (the officials) just concluded that the floor was just unplayable. We went out beforehand, because it’s under the control of the Bucks to make a decision initially. We went out initially and tested the floor and we thought the floor was OK. Once the players started slipping, we said we should end this just to make sure we have no issues later.

“They (the players) actually complained beforehand but we didn’t know what that was about. As I said, Karl (Lane) and I were out there and we thought the floor was playable. But we’re not making those instinctive moves and sharp cuts. I think they were having issues with the sharp cuts.

“There was no condensation at all. None whatsoever.

“We kept making eye contact out there and we saw the players were having issues with traction. Then when we had a few guys go down, we figured we should have a conference. And both teams wanted not to continue the game.”

Magic waive Mickell Gladness, Manny Harris, Kris Joseph, Romero Osby

The Orlando Magic have waived center Mickell Gladness, guard Manny Harris, forward Kris Joseph and forward Romero Osby, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.  The roster now stands at 15 players.

Gladness (6-11, 220, 7/26/86) was signed as a free agent on Sep. 27.  He played in three preseason games, averaging 1.3 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 3.00 blkpg. in 12.3 minpg.

Harris (6-5, 185, 9/21/89) appeared in six preseason games, averaging 4.3 ppg. and 1.3 rpg. in 9.0 minpg.  He was signed as a free agent on Sep. 27. 

Joseph (6-7, 210, 12/17/88) was also signed as a free agent on Sep. 27.  He played in five preseason games, averaging 5.6 ppg. and 1.8 rpg. in 11.0 minpg.

Osby (6-8, 230, 5/7/90) was selected by Orlando in the second round (51st overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft.  He played in seven preseason games, averaging 5.7 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. in 15.4 minpg.