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Shawn Marion suffered a broken left pinky in Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat, but said he doesn’t expect it to keep him out Monday against Denver.
“It hurts like hell,” he said. “But I’m a warrior.”
Marion said he hurt the finger – which already was mangled from previous injuries suffered in his career – during the third quarter when he was trying to make a defensive play.
— Via Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News
Knicks rookie guard Iman Shumpert is expected to miss two to four weeks because of a sprained right knee ligament.
The first-round pick from Georgia Tech was hurt in the second half of New York’s 106-104 victory over Boston on Sunday when Celtics reserve Chris Wilcox appeared to bang into his leg. The Knicks say Shumpert sprained his MCL.
Shumpert scored 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting in 22 minutes in his debut.
— Via the Associated Press
NBA Commissioner David Stern opened his lockout-delayed season by hearing boos from Mavericks fans.
Stern was in Dallas for the NBA finals rematch between the Mavericks and Heat, and he was on the court for the start of the Mavs’ banner-raising ceremony honoring their first championship. The jeers came as soon as he started speaking, but he quickly turned them into cheers by offering his congratulations to team owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban’s often contentious relationship with Stern could’ve been as much of a reason for the boos as the lockout, which pushed the opener from Nov. 1 to Christmas and cut the season by 16 games.
Cuban and Miami’s Micky Arison were among five owners who voted against the labor deal. Stern said “it doesn’t send any signal whatsoever” that the two owners in the most recent finals were against the agreement.
— Via Jaime Aron of the Associated Press
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There’s no doubt that Amare Stoudemire wants a ‘W’ for Christmas in the Knicks season opener. But before tip, Stoudemire kept the giving spirit of the holidays when he hosted breakfast for a few hundred Madison Square Garden employees.
“We don’t really get a chance to interact with them much, that’s why I really wanted to talk the time out to show our appreciation and show that we really, truly appreciate their hard work,” he said.
The Amare Stoudemire Foundation provided the pre-game meal for security, ushers, ticket personnel, custodian staff and other MSG staff.
— Via Ian Begley of ESPN New York
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Kobe Bryant felt his body falling apart, so he did something about it. Twice.
Bryant went to Germany on two occasions during the off-season, The Times has learned, undergoing innovative procedures on his ailing right knee and, in a previously unreported development, his chronically troublesome left ankle, according to people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Bryant aggravated his ankle while moving across the lane on defense in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets last season. It was a non-contact injury, his foot buckling under him without any contact. He left the arena that night on crutches but did not sit out any games.
He visited molecular orthopedist Peter Wehling about six weeks later in Duesseldorf to get treatment on an arthritic joint in his knee, as The Times first reported. After deeming it a success, Bryant went to see Wehling for his ankle around the time of a promotional appearance for Nike in Italy in October.
— Via Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times
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After trading four-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers and losing two-time All-Star forward David West in free agency to the Indiana Pacers, the New Orleans Hornets are ushering in a new era of building for the future around younger players. When the Hornets open the regular season Monday night against the Phoenix Suns, it will be the first time in seven seasons their roster won’t be built around a franchise player.
In the trade for Paul, New Orleans acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and center Chris Kaman and Minnesota’s 2012 unprotected first-round pick from the Clippers.
“I think we’re excited to see what’s going to unfold over the next few seasons,’’ Hornets President Hugh Weber said. “As we’ve always said, we are taking a long view of this, and it’s not going to be built overnight. We said a year ago we were going to do it right and not cut corners. I think there is a kind of galvanized confidence among us that we’re definitely on the right path.’’
The Hornets are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, with no player on their roster older than 29. And Gordon, a potential star, is 22, despite entering his fourth season in the league.
— Via John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune
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On the eve of a new season, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose admitted that he still hasn’t completely gotten over the fact that his team lost in five games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals last spring.
“I’m not over it yet,” he said before the Bulls’ Saturday morning practice at UCLA. “I’m still thinking about it. That was one of the things that is still driving me right now is wanting to be able to be in that position again to see what I’m going to do about it. I think I’ve been preparing myself for it, but we will have to see.”
Rose said he can still remember the disappointment he felt after the game that night.
— Via Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago
The Memphis Grizzlies acquired guard/forward Quincy Pondexter from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for guard Greivis Vasquez, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
“We feel this is a trade that benefits both teams. We will miss Quincy and we thank him for his efforts, professionalism and work ethic,” said Hornets GM Dell Demps. “We are excited to add Greivis Vasquez to our team, organization and community. Greivis is an exciting, big guard that plays with a passion that we hope will thrill our fans at the Hive.”
Pondexter (6-6, 225) comes to Memphis after averaging 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in 33.0 minutes in two preseason games against the Grizzlies earlier this month, including a 14-point, 12-rebound performance on Dec. 21. The 23-year-old recorded 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds on .406 shooting in 11.1 minutes in 66 games (six starts) as a rookie with the Hornets last season.
A native of Fresno, Calif., Pondexter left the University of Washington as the school’s career leader in games played (136) and third all-time in scoring (1,786 points), averaging 19.3 points and 7.4 rebounds on .528 shooting in 36 games as a senior with the Huskies.
Originally selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round (26th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Pondexter’s rights were acquired by New Orleans in a draft-night deal on June 24, 2010.
Vasquez (6-6, 211), who was drafted 28th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA Draft, averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 assists in 12.3 minutes of action over 70 games (one start) for Memphis last season. In two preseason games this season, he averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 assists in 14.5 minutes of play. He is the first Venezuelan-born player ever selected in the NBA Draft and only the third Venezuelan to play in the NBA, joining Carl Herrera (1991-99) and Oscar Torres (2001-03). Vasquez was named the ACC Player of the Year and won the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in the nation in 2009-10 while at Maryland University. He is the only player in ACC history to record at least 2,000 points (2,171), 750 assists (772) and 600 rebounds (647) in a career.
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The Boston Celtics today announced that they have signed guard/forward Mickael Pietrus. It is likely a deal for the veteran’s league minimum, of around $1.2 million.
“We are very excited to be able to add Mickael to our team,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “His skills as a perimeter defender and an outside shooter provide great versatility to the roster.”
Pietrus, a 6’6” guard/forward, appeared in 57 games combined between Phoenix and Orlando last season averaging 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. He recorded 20 or more points on four occasions last season with a season-high of 25 against the Clippers on December 26 when he shot 5-of-8 from three-point land. The 11th overall pick in the 2003 Draft by the Golden State Warriors has career averages of 8.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 496 career games over eight seasons. He posted his highest scoring campaign during the 2006-07 season with Golden State when he recorded 11.1 points to go along with 4.5 rebounds per game. Pietrus has posted playoff career averages of 8.9 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 39.1% from three-point territory. During the Magic’s run to the NBA Finals, Pietrus averaged 10.5 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range.
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The Miami HEAT announced today that they have request waivers on guard Eddie House.
House appeared in 56 games (one start) with the HEAT last season and averaged 6.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 17.5 minutes while shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from three-point range and 95 percent from the foul line. Additionally, he appeared in seven postseason games with Miami and averaged 1.6 points in 6.9 minutes of action while shooting 23.5 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range.
The 11-year NBA veteran previously signed with the HEAT on August 3, 2010.