NBA News Blog – Page 1140 – NBA Blog

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert heals quickly

Iman Shumpert could return for tomorrow’s game against the Bobcats, easily beating the Knicks’ 2-to-4-week timetable.

The Knicks dynamic rookie combo guard spent the morning shootaround leaping and dunking, cutting and grooving to the basket. Shumpert hasn’t played since spraining his left MCL in a collision with the Celtics’ Chris Wilcox in the season opener.

After undergoing multiple agility drills yesterday with success, he is ready to participate in his first practice today, and coach Mike D’Antoni would not rule out Shumpert for the Charlotte game if all goes perfectly.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Spencer Hawes off to strong start for Sixers

Spencer Hawes, the source of boos and displeasure last season, is the brightest of bright spots now for the Sixers, who have split wins and losses in the first four games, with the fifth tomorrow night in New Orleans.

Hawes is averaging 12 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists and is shooting 67.6 percent from the floor. He is barely recognizable if you compare him to what he was last season.

But if there is a stat that truly stands out, that shows just how much different a player Hawes is, it’s that he is averaging only 2.3 fouls a game – in 33.3 minutes of play. Last season, the 7-1 center was often in foul trouble, part of the reason he was on the floor for only 21.2 minutes a game.

There are many variables as to why Hawes has become such a good player in the middle for coach Doug Collins. His conditioning is so much better. He has a better frame of mind, has more confidence, and has a familiarity with his coach, all factors in his game that he has never had before.

— Reported by Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News

Ray Allen on fire early in 2011-12 season

The Celtics have won three straight after dropping their first three and are tied for first in the Atlantic Division, a testament to this bizarre, lockout-shortened season. But one thing that can be counted on is Allen’s immaculate conditioning and his 3-point shooting.

Allen was 6 of 7 from deep last night, raising his season percentage from .552 to .611. He leads the Celtics in scoring at 20 points per contest.

After the game, Allen stunned the media when he revealed he had been battling a cold all day.

“The minute I sat down in the locker room afterwards my nose started running and I started coughing again,’’ he said. “Any time you have any small issue, you always focus a lot more. It’s like that little bit of playing around you do, you cut that out and you focus more.’’

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Jason Kidd hopes to play 1-on-1 with President Obama

With a visit to the White House coming early next week, the Dallas Mavericks are looking forward at the opportunity of possibly playing some basketball against President Barack Obama.

An avid basketball fan, President Obama has been known to have a mean jumpshot and a slittery drive to the basket. The Mavs, who will visit the White House on Monday as part of the honor of being the defending NBA champions, hope to play a game of one-on-one with the Commander In Chief and see what they can learn from one of the most powerful people in the world.

“It’s going to be a great honor to meet the Chief, so we look forward to it,’’ guard Jason Kidd said. “Maybe we might have a little time to play a little one-on-one.’’

Asked if he believes he can truly get a call to go his way playing against the President, Kidd smiled and said: “Well, we know he’s going to get the benefit of the calls. And he has homecourt advantage, so we’ll just try to keep it close.’’

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Blog

Manu Ginobili suffers broken left hand

Spurs scoring leader Manu Ginobili on Monday suffered a broken bone in his left hand with 2:38 remaining in the Spurs’ game against the Timberwolves at Target Center here.

Ginobili, who is left-handed, appeared to suffer the injury reaching in an attempt to strip the ball from Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver as Tolliver went up for a shot near the 3-point line…

Spurs officials reported the injury was a fractured fifth metacarpal.

— Reported by Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News

Phoenix Suns waive center Garret Siler

The Phoenix Suns today waived center Garret Siler, the team has announced.

The 6-11, 300-pounder averaged 2.1 points per game for the Suns last season in 21 games played. He did not play in any of the 2011-12 regular season games.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 13.

Josh Howard fined for foul on James Anderson

Josh Howard of the Utah Jazz has been fined $25,000 for his Flagrant Foul Two, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

Howard was initially called for a Flagrant Foul One against James Anderson of the San Antonio Spurs. The league office has upgraded the call to a Flagrant Foul Two.

The incident occurred with 03.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the Jazz’ 104-89 loss to the Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX on December 31.

NBA ratings, attendance strong early in 2011-12

After the 1998-’99 lockout, television ratings and attendance significantly dropped. Au contraire says 2011-12. The LA Times reports that the five Christmas day opener produced healthy ratings on TNT, ABC and ESPN, including ABC drawing in 11 million viewers for the Bulls-Lakers game.

Twenty-five of the first 32 games in the shortened season were sellouts which is up from 19 of the first 32 last season. Maybe fans want to get their NBA fix in quick while it lasts. After the holidays, however attendance might fall, but the NBA is prepared for that.

The NBA encouraged teams to make around 500 tickets per game available at $10 or less according to NBA Executive Vice President Chris Granger. Granger told the LA Times that about one million $10 tickets will be availble over the course of the season.

— Reported by Angie Wiatrowski of CSN Chicago

Spurs assign Gary Neal to D-League for medical rehab

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have assigned Gary Neal to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League for a medical rehab assignment. Neal underwent an appendectomy on December 12, 2011.

Neal enjoyed a successful rookie campaign during the 2010-11 season. He averaged 9.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 21.1 minutes in 80 games. He led all rookies in three-point field goal percentage, posting a .419 mark, and earned a spot on the 2011 All-Rookie First Team.

Neal will practice with the Toros on Monday and Tuesday of this week and then be re-evaluated by team doctors. At that point, a timeline for his return will be determined.

Suns guard Steve Nash playing with bruised rib

Believe it or not, there was a time when this Suns season was starting to go well — in the season opener.

After a sluggish first half against New Orleans, the Suns took command with 18 points in the first six minutes of the second half as Steve Nash made his first four shots.

It also might have been their worst stretch thus far. During that span, Nash fouled Greivis Vasquez on a 3-point play and took a Vasquez shoulder into his ribs as he jumped into Vasquez. Shortly thereafter, Nash grimaced and asked out of the game. A week later, Nash still is not right, and his 7-for-29 shooting since that game reflects the pain he has endured from the bruised rib.

Nash said it improves nightly with medication, but in each game he inevitably takes a blow to the left-rib-cage area and aggravates it. The intercostal muscles in the rib cage allow it to expand and drop during breathing.

“It’s like I’m holding my breath a lot,” Nash said. “I’m tired a lot. I’m bracing. It’s not fun.

“It’s definitely affected my shot and mobility.”

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic