Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kings coach mad at DeMarcus Cousins again

The Sacramento Bee blog reports:

DeMarcus Cousins has his anger issues, but apparently, so does his coach. After Wednesday’s practice – which I missed while monitoring a live chat for the Bee – Paul Westphal announced that his rookie center had been fined and removed from the starting lineup for making a right-handed choke sign during Wednesday’s loss to Golden State. At the time, the Kings led 98-93, were 19.3 from a victory, with Warriors swingman Reggie Williams at the free throw line. Cousins, who was fined Nov. 12 after clashing with an assistant and team trainer, flashed a grin and placed his right hand around his throat. Williams missed two of his three attempts.

The punishment is reminiscent of Westphal’s benching last year of Spencer Hawes. The former Kings center had publicly complained about the player rotations, and when he arrived for the next game, discovered he had been de-activated and his uniform removed from the locker room.

Bobcats name Paul Silas interim head coach

Bobcats name Paul Silas interim head coach

Charlotte Bobcats Chairman and CEO Michael Jordan today named Paul Silas interim head coach of the team, effective immediately.

In 10 seasons as an NBA head coach, Silas has a career record of 355-400 with the Clippers (1980-83), Hornets (1999-2003) and Cavaliers (2003-05) He has also spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach for the Hornets, Knicks, Nets and Suns.

During his four-plus seasons as head coach of the Hornets, Silas compiled a 208-155 (.573) record and led the team to the playoffs in each of his four full seasons. He remains the team’s all-time leader in coaching wins and ranks second in winning percentage. Silas was named interim head coach of the Hornets on March 7, 1999, and led the team to a 22-13 record over the final 35 games of the 1998-99 season after replacing Dave Cowens.

A 16-year NBA veteran, Silas averaged 9.4 points and 9.9 rebounds in 1,254 career games for the Hawks, Suns, Celtics, Nuggets and SuperSonics. He was a two-time All-Star (1972 and 1975) and won three NBA Championships (1974 and 1976 with Boston and 1979 with Seattle). Silas currently ranks 19th on the NBA’s career lists for rebounds (12,357) and games played (1,254).

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Bobcats, coach Larry Brown part ways

February 20, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..Charlotte Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown..Milwaukee Buck won over the Charlotte Bobcats 93-88. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

Charlotte Bobcats Chairman and CEO Michael Jordan announced today that Larry Brown is stepping down as head coach of the team, effective immediately.

“I met with Coach Brown two weeks ago about the team’s performance and what we could do to improve it. We met again this morning after practice. The team has clearly not lived up to either of our expectations and we both agreed that a change was necessary,” Jordan said.

“This was a difficult decision for both of us, but one that needed to be made. I want to thank Larry for everything he has done for our team. He has played a key role in this organization’s development including coaching us to our first-ever playoff appearance last season. Larry will continue to be a valuable advisor to me regarding the team. The search for a successor will begin immediately.”

Brown was named the third head coach in team history on April 29, 2008, and compiled a record of 88-104 (.458) in two-plus seasons with the Bobcats.

The AP reports: The 70-year-old Brown, a Hall of Fame coach who was in the third season of his 13th professional and college head coaching job, had been upset with his team for weeks. The Bobcats (9-19) had lost three games by 31 or more points in 10 days before Tuesday’s fourth-quarter meltdown against Oklahoma City. Brown, who had two years left on his contract, didn’t immediately return a message on his cell phone seeking comment.

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Clippers sign Ike Diogu

Portland Trailblazers forward Ike Diogu dunks in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver on December 22, 2008. (UPI Photo/Gary C. Caskey) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent forward Ike Diogu. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

The ninth overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Diogu last played for the Detroit Pistons during the 2010-11 preseason, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in three games played. Diogu was waived by the Pistons on October 20th. He appeared in 29 games with the Kings and Portland Trail Blazers in 2008-09 before signing as a free agent with the New Orleans Hornets for 2009-10. Diogu was forced to miss all of last season due to surgery on his left knee.

Diogu, 27, has appeared in 187 NBA games and brings career averages of 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists to the Clippers while shooting 50.1 percent from the field in his four-year NBA career.

A former standout at Arizona State University, the 6-foot-9 averaged 21.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocked shots and 35.1 minutes during his three-year collegiate career. As a junior in 2004-5, Diogu was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year and earned was the first player in Arizona State history to earn Second Team All-America honors.

Diogu will be in uniform and available for tonight’s game vs. the Houston Rockets at STAPLES Center.

Carmelo Anthony out tonight due to death in family

Carmelo Anthony out tonight due to death in family

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has been excused from Wednesday night’s game in San Antonio due to a death in his family.

“Our entire organization supports Carmelo during this difficult time for him and his family,” Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said. “It is heartbreaking news, particularly during the holiday season.”

Anthony would like to thank Nuggets fans for their thoughts and prayers and asks that they and the media respect his privacy during this time.

Suns release Earl Barron

earl barron

The Phoenix Suns have released center Earl Barron, the team announced today.

The 7-0, 250-pound center appeared in 12 games for Phoenix, including six starts, averaging 3.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.3 minutes. Barron, a four-year NBA veteran with the Miami Heat (2005-08) and New York Knicks (2009-10), joined the Suns on Nov. 16.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 13.

InsideHoops.com editor says: With new center Marcin Gortat on board and Robin Lopez already around, plus Garret Siler ready to maybe sometimes stand up and get off the bench, the Suns didn’t need Barron’s assistance anymore.

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Bobcats recall Sherron Collins from D-League

The Charlotte Bobcats have recalled rookie guard Sherron Collins from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.  Collins is expected to rejoin the Bobcats tonight when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The 5-11 Collins appeared in five games with the Red Claws, averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 26.0 minutes, while shooting .396 from the field (19-48) and .842 from the free-throw line (16-19).

Collins, who was assigned to the Red Claws on December 9, scored in double figures in three of the five games, including an 18-point, eight-assist outing against the Springfield Armor on December 17.

Brandon Jennings has surgery on left foot

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: NBA player Brandon Jennings arrives at the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today that guard Brandon Jennings (6-1, 169) had successful surgery this afternoon to repair a fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his left foot.  The surgery was performed at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin by Bucks Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Michael Gordon along with foot and ankle specialist  Dr. Eric Malicky.  Jennings is expected to miss four to six weeks of action and will be re-evaluated throughout his recovery.

Jennings, 21, had started all 25 of the Bucks games prior to his injury and led the club with 17.9 points, 5.5 assists and 47 3-pointers. Jennings had started in 107 consecutive games (114 including the postseason) prior to the injury. The second-year pro was a member of the 2009-10 All-Rookie First Team and won the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award in October/November, December, January and March. He tallied 55 points in his seventh professional game (November 14, 2009 against Golden State) and recorded his first career triple-double against Charlotte on October 30, 2010 – becoming the second player in NBA history (along with Elgin Baylor) to score 50-plus points and record a triple-double in their first 100 NBA games.

Sister, cousin of Willie Green killed in car crash

The AP reports:

Sister, cousin of Willie Green killed in car crash

The sister and cousin of New Orleans player Willie Green were killed early Monday when their sport utility vehicle sped from a Detroit area freeway and slammed into a tree a few hours after the Hornets’ overtime loss to the Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Family members identified the victims as Tamara Green, 30, and Ben Green, 27, said Troy police Lt. Robert Redmond.

The pair and other relatives had attended the game to watch Willie Green, a college star at the University of Detroit Mercy, play against his hometown professional team. They had stopped at a nearby restaurant after the game.