NBA News Blog – Page 1353 – NBA Blog

NBA GMs drop Tim Duncan in player rankings

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

For the first time since NBA.com has been conducting a preseason survey of the league’s general managers about the best of everything, Spurs captain Tim Duncan was not named the best of the league’s power forwards.

The GMs first were polled in 2002, after Duncan won his first Most Valuable Player award. He was an overwhelming choice as top power forward then and followed with seven more preseason designations as the league’s best.

This season, however, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and the Lakers’ Pau Gasol tied as the top power forward, according to the GMs, each getting 28.6 percent of the vote. Duncan finished third, with 21.4 percent.

The GMs also picked Duncan the second-best center in the league, behind Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

Jonas Jerebko out five months with torn Achilles

Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News reports:

The Pistons already-thin frontcourt suffered a major loss when second-year forward Jonas Jerebko suffered a torn Achilles tendon Tuesday night in Miami.

Jerebko, who averaged 9.3 points and six rebounds last year, will undergo surgery Friday and is expected to miss at least five months. He landed awkwardly on a drive in the first quarter.

Pistons coach John Kuester sat with Jerebko, 23, on the ride home, trying to keep his spirits up. It’s no question Jerebko’s willingness to improve made him one of Kuester’s favorites.

“He’s a competitor, but he’ll attack his rehab the way he does everything else: the right way,” Kuester said.

Jerebko, a 6-foot-9 power forward, was successful playing next to Ben Wallace because of his boundless energy, which made up for his NBA inexperience (he played professionally overseas) and was one of the team’s best offensive rebounders. Jerebko’s not a natural scorer, but being consistently active helped him be in the right place at the right time.

DeMarcus Cousins rocks preseason NBA debut

Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports:

One exhibition game into his NBA career, Cousins justified the excitement.

The Kings’ first-round pick had 16 points and 16 rebounds in a 109-95 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night at Arco.

“I thought DeMarcus gave us everything we’re looking for in the post on both ends of the floor,” Kings coach Paul Westphal said after the exhibition opener for both teams. “He showed why we think so highly of him. And if he ever gets in shape, he’ll really be able to do a lot.”

Cousins’ conditioning was criticized before the Kings drafted him fifth overall in June.

Cousins averaged just 23.5 minutes in his lone season at Kentucky. He played 29 minutes, 47 seconds against the Suns.

Cousins made 8 of 13 shots. Five of his rebounds were offensive rebounds.

Jonas Jerebko injures shoulder, achilles

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

But when Pistons coach John Kuester picked his starter at power forward for Tuesday night’s exhibition opener against the Heat, he turned to last season’s All-NBA rookie second teamer, Jonas Jerebko, to join fellow starters Ben Wallace, Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

That’s not surprising, considering Jerebko quickly established himself last season as a willing defender and rebounder and was a burgeoning offensive presence as the season progressed.

Jerebko’s next starting assignment will not be any time soon. He left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and also suffered an injury to his right Achilles during the Heat’s 105-89 victory. His status will be in doubt for at least the time being.

Kuester, who is entering his second season, said in pregame comments that he will reserve the right to experiment with lineups during the exhibition season.

Wade hurts hamstring in Heat preseason debut

The AP reports:

The Big 3 were together for merely three minutes. LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack after Dwyane Wade’s preseason debut came to a quick end.

And with that, this era for the Miami Heat got off to a promising, but not perfect, start.

James and Bosh combined for 38 points in their exhibition debuts, and the Heat easily beat the Detroit Pistons 105-89 in the preseason opener for both teams Tuesday night.

“It was something I’ve waited for all summer,” James said. “To be able to be back on the court, it was great. The reception from the fans was awesome and it was great we were able to give them the same energy that they gave us.”

The outcome was meaningless, but the game wasn’t for Miami — not after Wade limped off just 3:17 into the game with a strained right hamstring. He went into the locker room shortly afterward, did not return, and could miss up to two weeks. Wade expects to be back long before the Oct. 26 regular-season opener in Boston.

Detroit officials optimistic Pistons will move downtown after sale

Darren A. Nichols of the Detroit News reports:

Detroit officials say they’re hopeful the Detroit Pistons will relocate to downtown following the sale of the franchise to pizza and sports mogul Mike Ilitch.“We continue to be excited about the possibility of the Detroit Pistons returning to Detroit, which is nationally recognized as a destination for professional sports,” Karen Dumas, a spokeswoman for Mayor Dave Bing, said in a released statement. “The deal is not done, but we remain optimistic.”

Crain’s Detroit Business and other media outlets today are reporting that Ilitch is in negotiations to buy the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc.

Ilitch, who already owns the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars Pizza, could work out the deal with Pistons ownership in the next 30 days, according to the reports.

Talk about the team on the Detroit Pistons forum.

No plans for Doc Rivers to rotate starting centers while Perkins is out

Rob Bradford of WEEI reports:

Speaking after the Celtics’ practice Tuesday, Doc Rivers said that he doesn’t plan on rotating Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal in the starting lineup depending on match-ups, instead going with one consistent starter until Kendrick Perkins returns from his knee injury.

“I doubt it. I don’t usually do that,” said Rivers when asked if he was going to alternate between two big men. “I usually just go with one, and that’s what we’ll do. I’m going to wait until the end of camp and the best big wins.”

Regarding if he feels it makes a big difference which of the two get the starting nod, Rivers said, “It doesn’t. I think it’s going to come down to who we feel is going to give us the best chance to get off to a good start.” The Celtics’ coach also noted that he doesn’t expect to play both Jermaine and Shaquille on the floor at the same time.

What’s your take? Share it on the Boston Celtics forum.

Hornets release Jannero Pargo

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have released guard Jannero Pargo. The training camp roster now stands at 16.

“We want to thank Jannero for his effort and time here in New Orleans during camp,” General Manager Dell Demps said. “Unfortunately, he is not operating at full speed due to a pre-existing injury. To his credit, Jannero tried to come back ahead of schedule, but after talking with him and our medical staff, we feel that it is in Jannero’s best interest that he completes his rehab.”

Share your opinion on the New Orleans Hornets forum.

Nuggets hire Melvin Hunt as assistant coach

The Denver Nuggets announced Monday that they have added Melvin Hunt as an assistant coach.

Hunt, 40, brings a winning pedigree and 11 years of NBA coaching and scouting experience to Denver, most recently serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-10.

“That’s a very good hire this late in the season,” Nuggets head coach George Karl said. “I’m very excited about it. I’ve got John Welch, Adrian Dantley and Chad Iske, who I have tremendous confidence in. Melvin will fit into that group very well. We have Stacey Augmon backing us up. We’re one of the top-five scouting teams, led by advance scout Jesse Mermuys. You’re going to see us continue to try to be one of the best staffs in basketball.”

While in Cleveland, Hunt helped lead the Cavaliers to one of the most successful stretches in franchise history. In 2008-09, the Cavs won a franchise and NBA-best 66 games, while Hunt and the coaching staff earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Cleveland also enjoyed great postseason success during Hunt’s tenure, reaching the 2007 NBA Finals, the 2009 Eastern Conference finals and four consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference semifinals from 2007-10.

Before joining the Cavaliers staff, Hunt spent one season (2004-05) as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers and five seasons with the Houston Rockets (1999-2004). While with the Rockets, he served two years as a video coordinator/scout and two years as an assistant coach before spending his final year as the team’s college and international scout.

Hunt was a four-year letterman at Baylor University from 1987-91 and played professionally in the Caribbean and Mexico before beginning his coaching as an assistant coach at Temple High School (TX). He later moved to the college ranks, where he was the lead assistant coach at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Andrew Bogut set to return Tuesday

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (via blog):

Andrew Bogut will return to the Bradley Center court on Tuesday night for the first time since he suffered a season-ending injury on April 3 against Phoenix.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he anticipated Bogut would play in the 20-minute range as Milwaukee meets the Chicago Bulls in the pre-season opener for both teams.

“I’ll try to get him over 20 minutes for sure, maybe half the game,” Skiles said after the Bucks practice session Monday at the Cousins Center. “We’ll see how the game’s going, how he’s feeling. More than likely we won’t play him 30 minutes, that’s for sure.”

Bogut had his right hand taped but participated in the Bucks’ contact practice on Monday.

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