Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Norris Cole sits out for Heat

Miami Heat guard Norris Cole had hoped to use Saturday’s performance against the Brooklyn Nets as a steppingstone.

Now, he will have to take a couple steps back before making progress. Cole did not play in Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards because of a strained groin.

Cole went through the morning shootaround, but coach Erik Spoelstra said it was best for him to rest rather than risk further injury. He suffered the injury at some point during Saturday’s victory against the Brooklyn Nets.

The decision to sit him was made for precautionary reasons.

— Reported by Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

New Orleans Hornets may change name to Pelicans

The New Orleans Hornets are expected to change their nickname to the Pelicans as early as the 2013-14 season, numerous sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Hornets planned to change their nickname since Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, purchased the team on April 14. Benson also owns the rights to the nickname Pelicans.

The Hornets also considered the nicknames Krewe (groups of costumed paraders in the annual Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans) and Brass.

— Reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

Pau Gasol out with knee tendinitis

Pau Gasol out with knee tendinitis

The Lakers’ much-discussed search for a way to make Mike D’Antoni’s offense work with Pau Gasol, or to make Gasol effective next to Dwight Howard, is on hold.

Gasol, who had been benched at the end of recent games including Sunday’s loss to the Magic, will be out tonight against the Rockets because of tendinitis in both knees. The former All-Star who had been dealt to the Rockets in a trade later vetoed a year ago this week, had been struggling with the injury and the Lakers’ switch to an up-tempo offense in which he was usually at the high post, rather than inside.

“He was playing hurt,” D’Antoni said. “In this league, you just can’t do that. They got to get him healthy, whatever it takes, one game, two games, 10 games, day-to-day, I don’t know. But he’s got to get healthy. It wasn’t fair. He was trying to battle through some stuff. In this league, you just can’t do it.”

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle Blog

Charlotte Bobcats abuzz with marketing

The Charlotte Bobcats want Wednesdays to be the new day to party.

The team is spending $18,000 advertising on the city’s light-rail trains and forming partnerships with several EpiCentre restaurants and nightclubs. The hope? That young people will turn a mid-week basketball game into a full night out.

Senior Vice President for Marketing Seth Bennett said the team hopes it will be a stimulus to the whole uptown corridor. The Bobcats also hope it will boost attendance on a day when it is generally much more difficult to fill seats.

Team President and CEO Fred Whitfield said he charged the marketing department with coming up with a plan to boost attendance on Wednesdays soon after the team received its schedule. It called for 13 Wednesday home games, the most it’s ever had. And the opponents – including the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers – were pretty good draws.

— Reported by Andrew Dunn of the Charlotte Obsever

Derrick Rose may be weeks away from practicing

Derrick Rose may be weeks away from practicing

It now looks like it was no coincidence that Adidas showed the final episode of Derrick Rose’s ‘‘The Return’’ ad campaign last week.

According to an NBA source, while ‘‘The Return’’ to the court for NBA games is still up in the air for Rose, the all-everything point guard could be just weeks away from practicing with the Bulls again after surgery on his left anterior cruciate ligament last May.

‘‘That’s the belief that a couple of [the Bulls’] players are under,’’ the source said.

Rose has been expected to be able to play in games by February, but that has been inferred more than actually stated. Even if the Bulls receive the ultimate Christmas present of getting him back on the practice court just before Dec. 25, it doesn’t mean he’s necessarily ahead of that February schedule — or behind it.

— Reported by Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times

Rockets recall Terrence Jones from D-League

terrence jones

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled forward Terrence Jones from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Jones (6-9, 252, Kentucky), who was assigned to the Vipers on Nov. 30, averaged 22.5 points and 17.5 rebounds in two starts with Rio Grande Valley. In his D-League debut at Tulsa (11/30/12), Jones posted 27 points (9-17 FG, 3-7 3FG, 6-10 FT), 16 rebounds and two blocks. Jones followed that up with 18 points (8-21 FG) and 19 boards at Texas (12/1/12).

Warriors recall Jeremy Tyler from D-League

jeremy tyler

The Golden State Warriors have recalled forward/center Jeremy Tyler from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.  He will rejoin the NBA club in time for tonight’s home game versus the Orlando Magic.

Tyler was assigned to Golden State’s D-League affiliate yesterday and registered five points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal in 29 minutes of the team’s 95-79 victory at Reno yesterday afternoon.

Spurs recall Nando De Colo from D-League

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-called guard Nando De Colo to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

De Colo was assigned to the Toros on Dec. 2 and finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in Austin’s 97-82 victory over Idaho.

He has appeared in 13 games this season for San Antonio, averaging 2.5 points, 1.4 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes.

The French native is currently in his first season playing for the Silver and Black. He was selected by the Spurs with the 53rd pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft and spent the past three seasons playing for Valencia of the Spanish ACB League.

Rip Hamilton out with torn plantar fascia in foot

Rip Hamilton out with torn plantar fascia in foot

The Bulls announced that Richard Hamilton’s MRI exam on Sunday revealed he tore the plantar fascia in his left foot. The release said the veteran shooting guard will return to play when his symptoms permit.

When James Johnson suffered a partially torn plantar fascia as a Bull in 2010, he missed one game. Tearing the plantar fascia actually is better than suffering from plantar fasciitis. One treatment option for the painful latter condition actually is tearing the plantar fascia to begin healing.

Either Marco Belinelli or Jimmy Butler will start at shooting guard. Hamilton could be out a week or more. The Bulls have one roster spot open, but if they sign somebody that player wouldn’t crack the rotation ahead of Belinelli or Butler.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune