NBA News Blog – Page 1108 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies assign guard Josh Selby to D-League

Josh Selby

Can dominate summer games during lockouts

The Memphis Grizzlies assigned guard Josh Selby to the Reno Bighorns, the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Selby (6-2, 183) has averaged 2.9 points and 1.4 assists on .389 shooting in 10.3 minutes in 18 games during his rookie season with the Grizzlies. The 20-year-old was selected by Memphis in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft.

The Baltimore native posted 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26 appearances last year as a freshman at Kansas.

The Grizzlies will complete their season-long five-game home stand tomorrow night when the team hosts the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. at FedExForum.

Jeremy Lin and Russell Westbrook named NBA Players of Week

Jeremy Lin

He really exists.

Linsanity is running wild, and the NBA league office has taken notice.

About six games ago, Knicks guard Jeremy Lin was considered a 15th man, and a player on the fringe, having to fight to stick around in the league.

Things change quickly, sometimes.

Lin and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 12.

Lin led the Knicks to a 4-0 week, averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2.0 steals. His 109 points over his first four career starts are the most by any player since 1976-77, and he became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts. Lin scored a career-high 38 points on Feb. 10, in a 92-85 win over the Lakers.

Westbrook helped the Thunder to a 3-1 week, averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals. Westbrook scored 28 or more points in all four of Oklahoma City’s games, and posted one double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) on Feb. 6, in a 111-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Westbrook connected on a career-high 15 field goals on Feb. 9, during a 106-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Here is a recap of the week for Lin and Westbrook:

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks

Feb. 6 vs. Utah: Posted 28 points, eight assists and two steals in a 99-88 win over the Jazz.

Feb. 8 @ Washington: Tallied 23 points, 10 assists and four rebounds in a 107-93 win over the Wizards.

Feb. 10 vs. L.A. Lakers: Scored a career-high 38 points and added seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in a 92-85 win over the Lakers.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Feb. 6 @ Portland: Tallied 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists during a 111-107 overtime win over the Trail Blazers.

Feb. 7 at Golden State: Posted 31 points and added seven assists and two steals in a 119-116 win over the Warriors.

Feb. 10 at Utah: Collected 28 points and added six rebounds and three assists during a 101-87 win over the Jazz.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Golden State’s Monta Ellis, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.

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Clippers hope to sign J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith

Not afraid to shoot while double-teamed

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of a handful of teams vying for free-agent guard J.R. Smith, who will be eligible to return to the NBA on Wednesday after his Chinese team’s season concludes, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.

The Clippers were interested in Smith even before the season-ending injury to Chauncey Billups last week, believing they could use more offensive firepower off the bench. That was going to be a harder sell to Smith, who is looking for a larger role. Now, they can offer Smith the opportunity to start.

Like Billups did with recently-signed Kenyon Martin, point guard Chris Paul has taken a lead role in recruiting Smith, according to the source. The two are close from their two seasons as teammates with the Hornets.

— Reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles

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Celtics forward Brandon Bass out 10-14 days

Forward Brandon Bass, the Boston Celtics’ top reserve, will miss 10 to 14 days with inflammation in his right knee, coach Doc Rivers said before Sunday’s 95-91 win against the Chicago Bulls.

Bass felt some discomfort in the knee during a win over the New York Knicks on Feb. 3. He sat out the following game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but played in three games last week. Rivers said the news came as a bit of a surprise to him, as he was informed by team trainer Eddie Lacerte on Sunday morning that Bass almost certainly will be out through the All-Star break, which begins Feb. 23.

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Nets guard Keith Bogans undergoes surgery, out for rest of season

New Jersey Nets guard Keith Bogans will not play again this season.

Bogans today underwent successful surgery to repair a torn deltoid ligament as well as a fractured left ankle, Nets General Manager Billy King announced.

The injury occurred during the Nets’ February 8 contest versus the Detroit Pistons.

The procedure was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan by foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley and Nets team orthopedist Dr. Riley Williams III.

Bogans, who signed with the Nets as a free agent on February 1, 2012, played in five games this season, averaging, 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game.

He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2012-13 training camp.

Heat sign Mickell Gladness to 10-day contract

Mickell Gladness

Has a confusing name

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed center Mickell Gladness to a 10-day contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Gladness appeared in six games with the Heat this season, after previously being signed by Miami on December 10, 2011, totaling two points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 21 minutes of action while connecting on his only shot from the field before being waived on February 7, 2012. Prior to that stint, Gladness was signed by the Heat on September 27, 2010, playing in two games on the Heat’s 2010 summer league squad, totaling eight points, five rebounds, two steals and a block in 28:53 minutes of action while shooting 2-of-4 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line before being waived on October 11, 2010.

Gladness, a member of the 2010 NBA Development League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers, has appeared in 81 career NBA D-League games (20 starts) and averaged 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.41 blocks and 13.9 minutes while shooting 57 percent from the field and 60.7 percent from the foul line.

During his collegiate career, Gladness appeared in 85 games (83 starts) at Alabama A&M and averaged 7.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.66 blocks and 26.8 minutes. He was named as the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year while also earning All-SWAC First Team honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He finished his junior season with 188 total blocks, the third most in NCAA history, including a game in which he set a new NCAA single-game record after blocking 16 shots vs. Texas Southern on Feb. 24, 2007.

First black NBA player gets honor at Atlanta Hawks game

Earl Lloyd remembers when he suited up for the Washington Capitols more than 60 years ago as the first black to play in an NBA game and wondering if he would make a good enough impression to stick around.

Lloyd and the Capitols lost the game. But he played well enough to earn a roster spot and break the color barrier in a league that had only three black players in 1950 and now features the highest percentage of African-American athletes in any of the major professional leagues.

“Before the game, I was terrified,” recalled Lloyd, who scored six points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Capitols in a 78-70 loss to the Rochester Royals on Oct. 31, 1950. “I had a fear of disappointing the people who depended on me. Luckily, letting people down was not a part of my DNA.

“I’m glad I was part of something that helped pave the way for others.”

Now, as part of Black History Month, the 83-year-old Hall of Famer will be honored for his breakthrough at halftime of the Atlanta Hawks-Miami Heat game on Sunday. The former West Virginia State standout along with six other African-Americans will be recognized at all Hawks home games this month.

— Reported by Jonathan Landrum Jr. of the Associated Press

Anderson Varejao suffers right wrist fracture

Anderson Varejao

Has big hair

Cavaliers forward\center Anderson Varejao received a follow-up exam and MRI on his injured right wrist today at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Sports Health with Dr. Thomas Graham and Dr. Tom Anderson.

The injury occurred during last night’s Cavaliers game against the Milwaukee Bucks at The Q in Cleveland with 9:01 remaining in the third quarter. Varejao did not return to play the remainder of the game.

The results of today’s MRI revealed a non-displaced fracture of the wrist.

He is now listed as Out and a timeline for his return to action will be established next week after further testing and examination is conducted at Cleveland Clinic. His status will be updated as appropriate.

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Scott Brooks earns spot as West All-Star coach

Scott Brooks

Should buy Durant and Westbrook a dinner

Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks and his coaching staff will guide the Western Conference All-Stars on February 26th at Amway Center in Orlando, it was announced by the NBA.

With Oklahoma City’s 101-87 win over the Utah Jazz Friday, the Thunder (21-6, .778) have clinched the best record in the conference through games played February 15.

This season, Brooks and the Oklahoma City staff have guided the Thunder to multiple winning streaks including an NBA season-high tying seven games, five games and four games. He earned Western Conference Coach of the Month honors for games played in December/January. The Thunder has won a conference best 12 games on the road this season.

In his 4th season as head coach, Brooks has a career mark of 148-112 (.569). In his first full season as head coach, Brooks was named 2009-10 NBA Coach of the year after guiding the Thunder to a 50-32 (.610) and the franchise’s first playoff appearance in Oklahoma City.

The coach of the East All-Stars will be determined by the team with the best record in the conference through games played February 15. The Boston Celtics Doc Rivers, who coached last year’s East squad, is not eligible to coach this year’s All-Star Game.

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

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Bucks coach Scott Skiles ejected vs Cavs

Scott Skiles

Doesn’t like nonsense

Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles has been ejected in the third quarter against Cleveland after picking up two technical fouls within seconds.

Skiles was complaining to referee John Goble, who whistled him for his first technical with 2:46 left in the third quarter—after Mike Dunleavy was called for a blocking foul. Skiles walked onto the floor and took a few steps toward Goble, who quickly tossed the coach. Skiles punched the air before he was assessed the second technical.

— Reported by the Associated Press