Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

NBA changing All-Star ballot, combining forwards and centers

The NBA is finally doing something about the Duncan Dilemma.

The league will announce Wednesday a change to its All-Star ballot that will, for the first time, allow fans to vote for three undefined “frontcourt” players instead of having to vote for two forwards and a center. With more and more teams playing smaller than in the past, the definition of “center” was becoming increasingly difficult — not to mention finding enough quality big men for whom to vote.

For years, for example, the Spurs have listed Tim Duncan as a power forward, even though everyone on earth knew he was their starting center. And so when it came to All-Star balloting, Duncan would take up a forward spot in a very crowded field of Western Conference stars instead of his logical spot in the middle. This was good for Duncan, who surely would have made his 13 All-Star teams anyway, but it often cost another forward a shot.

— Reported by David Aldridge of TNT/NBA.com

Royce White hits the road to New Orleans

Royce White hits the road to New Orleans

Rockets rookie Royce White says he enjoys the open the road, and he’ll get a chance to see some of it this week as he travels by recreational vehicle to the team’s exhibition games in New Orleans and Orlando.

White, who suffers from generalized anxiety disorder that can manifest itself in discomfort regarding airplane travel, said Tuesday he has an RV lined up for his trip to the two cities and that the Rockets have agreed to pick up his travel costs for the year.

“Since it’s a medical thing and it’s also kind of a team thing, the Rockets were stellar in saying we’ll pick (the costs) up,” he said.

— Reported by David Barron of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)

Byron Scott still deciding Cavs starting lineup

Rookies Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller moved into the Cavaliers starting lineup on Tuesday night against Indiana at The Q, joining Kyrie Irving, Alonzo Gee and Anderson Varejao, who moves to power forward.

Cavs coach Byron Scott is still searching for a starting lineup and opted to take a look at this bigger group against the big Pacers. The move leaves rookie center Zeller paired up against All-Star Roy Hibbert.

Scott said regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, he still is undecided on his starters.

— Reported by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Rasheed Wallace set to scrimmage on Friday

Rasheed Wallace set to scrimmage on Friday

There’s still no telling when Rasheed Wallace will suit up for the Knicks, but he’s expected to take a big step toward getting on the floor Friday when he scrimmages with the rest of the team.

Wallace participated in all team drills and a few individual drills on Tuesday, doing his most extensive work since joining the Knicks.

Mike Woodson said afterward Wallace will not play in the Knicks’ preseason finale against the Nets on Wednesday, but he should start scrimmaging on Friday.

“We’re going to start to get some contact in … and try to test him a little bit there and see where he is,” Woodson said. “And then (we’ll) go from there.”

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Blazers will start J.J. Hickson at center

Blazers will start J.J. Hickson at center

Three weeks, six exhibition games and more than a dozen practices have cemented J.J. Hickson’s stranglehold on the Trail Blazers’ starting center job.

Coach Terry Stotts on Tuesday said Hickson will be his starting center Halloween night, when the Blazers open the regular season against the Los Angeles Lakers.

“He’s earned it,” Stotts said. “He’s played well.”

Heading into training camp, Stotts said the undersized Hickson would be the favorite to man the middle because of his experience in the NBA and his 19-game history with the Blazers last season. But Stotts wouldn’t simply hand Hickson the starting spot, he’d have to beat out rookies Meyers Leonard and Joel Freeland for the gig.

— Reported by Joe Freeman of the Oregonian

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Kobe Bryant misses second consecutive practice

Kobe Bryant

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant missed his second consecutive practice because of a bruised and sore right foot.

The Lakers are listing Bryant as day-to-day, making it unclear whether he will play in the team’s preseason game Wednesday against the Clippers. Bryant originally injured his foot during a collision in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 99-92 preseason loss Sunday to the Sacramento Kings.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Secondary ticket prices soar for Knicks-Nets at Barclays

If you want to see the Knicks play the Nets on opening night, and you want a ticket through the secondary market, you’re going to have to pay.

The current average price for the Knicks-Nets battle at the Barclays Center on Nov. 1 is $819.89, up 21.39% from the price on Oct. 1 ($675.31), according to TiqIQ, a website that tracks ticket prices on secondary markets.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson out with concussion

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson out with concussion

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson is listed as OUT with a mild concussion for tonight’s preseason game at The Q vs. the Indiana Pacers.

Gibson reported symptoms on Monday and was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process at that point. His status will be updated as appropriate and he will be cleared to resume contact and game action once he is symptom free and successfully completes the concussion protocol process.

Bucks, Bradley Center agree to six-year lease

BMO Harris Bradley Center announced Monday that it has reached agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks on a new, six-year lease through Sept. 30, 2017.

The lease extension, which is backdated to Oct. 1 of last year and was expected, is the longest lease between the center and the franchise in more than 10 years and the first multiyear extension since 2007.

“This six-year lease extension represents a long-term commitment between the BMO Harris Bradley Center and the Bucks, offering security for the next five years as the community continues to determine its potential path to a new arena,” said Marc Marotta, BMO Harris Bradley Center board chairman.

The terms of the lease extension are substantially the same as in past years, arena officials said, and will not escalate during the six-year term.

— Reported by Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel