The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: As expected, free agent Antonio McDyess has decided to return back to the Detroit Pistons, according to his agent Andy Miller tonight… The Celtics were among 18 teams that were interested in the 2001 NBA All-Star and president Danny Ainge made calls to Miller and McDyess. Indications from the beginning, however, were that McDyess would return to Detroit although he can’t officially sign until Dec. 7.
Category: Denver Nuggets Blog
Nuggets blog – Denver Nuggets blog. A great Nuggets news blog
Nuggets notes
Billups Earns Player of the Week Honors: Chauncey Billups was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from 11/10-11/16. Billups led Denver to a 3-1 record in the four games, averaging 21.5 ppg to go along with 5.8 apg, 2.3 rpg and 1.25 spg.
A Win is a Win: Denver shot .337 (28-83) from the field in their win vs. Minnesota on 11/16, setting a new season-low. Incredibly, only one other time in team history have the Nuggets shot that poorly and still won the game – that being on 10/29/03 vs. San Antonio (.292 in a 80-72 win).
Like Old Times: The Nuggets scored a season-high 29 fast break points vs. Milwaukee on 11/18. This is only the second time this season that Denver has scored 20+ transition points, whereas last season Denver tallied 20+ points on the break on 38 occasions.
Sonny Weems has yet to see any action this season due to a left groin strain.
Steven Hunter underwent successful surgery on his right knee on 11/14 and is expected to miss 12 weeks.
Chris Andersen suffered a 7th rib fracture to his left rib cage vs. Memphis on 11/9 and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
Nov 19: Nuggets 91, Spurs 81
The AP reports: Chauncey Billups made big shots and the Denver Nuggets got plenty of key stops. Billups scored 22 points, Carmelo Anthony added 21 and the surging Nuggets cruised to a 91-81 victory Wednesday night over the injury-riddled San Antonio Spurs. Kenyon Martin added 18 points and Nene had 16 to round out a balanced attack by the Nuggets (8-4), who have won four straight and seven of eight overall since Billups joined the lineup following a blockbuster trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit… Still playing without All-Star guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs (5-6) failed to move above .500 for the first time this season. They shot 39 percent from the floor and were led by rookie George Hill’s 20 points. Michael Finley had 13.
Nov 18: Nuggets 114, Bucks 105
The AP reports: Linas Kleiza scored 25 points and Carmelo Anthony had 17 and the Nuggets whipped Milwaukee 114-105 Tuesday night. The Nuggets got double-digit scoring from all their starters, plus Kleiza and Renaldo Balkman, and they beat their season high in total points, 113 in overtime against the Clippers on Oct. 31… The Bucks, who got 25 points from Charlie Bell, played their eighth straight game without star Michael Redd (ankle) and their third straight without starting power forward Charlie Villanueva (hamstring), and the Nuggets took advantage early on, building a 64-50 halftime lead.
Richard Hamilton struggling lately
Michigan Live (A. Sherrod Blakely) reports: In the six games he has played with Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton has averaged 16.6 points while shooting 35.4 percent from the field. Hamilton has never averaged fewer than 17 points per game with Detroit, and his worst shooting percentage in a season is 42 percent, which he did as a rookie in Washington. “It’s all about timing right now,” Hamilton said. “Anytime you play with a different point guard … with Chauncey, I knew what he was going to do every time up the court. He knew when I was going to come off a screen. He knew where to put the ball at. Now I have to learn (Iverson), just like I learned Chauncey when I first came here.” Joe Dumars said he is not surprised to see Hamilton struggle with the adjustment more than some of the other players.
Players of Week: LeBron, Billups
Denver Nuggets G Chauncey Billups was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 16, the NBA announced today.
For the week, he averaged 21.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.3 rpg and 1.25 spg in four games last week as the Nuggets went 3-1, leading Denver to wins at Charlotte, at Boston and vs. Minnesota.
Billups has led Denver to an overall record of 5-1 since being acquired from Detroit on Nov. 3. He has posted averages of 19.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.2 rpg and 1.83 spg in his six contests with the Nuggets.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named today as the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week for games played Monday, November 10th through Sunday, November 16th.
In three games during the week, James averaged an NBA-high 33.7 points on .600 shooting, 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 41.0 minutes per game. James has now won the award 15 times in his career: for the second time this season, three times during 2007-08, twice in 2006-07, five times in 2005-06 and on three occasions during the 2004-05 campaign.
Nov 16: Nuggets 90, Wolves 84
The AP reports: Chauncey Billups scored 26 points, J.R. Smith had eight of his 14 points in a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and the Denver Nuggets overcame poor shooting to hand Minnesota its eighth straight loss, 90-84 on Sunday night. Carmelo Anthony added 14 points and 12 rebounds to help Denver improve to 5-1 since the Nuggets acquired Billups in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit. Al Jefferson had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Randy Foye added 18 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves haven’t won since beating Sacramento in their opener… The Nuggets won despite a poor shooting night from Billups and Anthony, who were a combined 11-for-40 from the field.
Nov 14: Nuggets 94, Celtics 85
The AP reports: The Nuggets are 4-1 since Billups’ arrived after a Nov. 3 trade with the Pistons. And on Friday night, the Nuggets added a statement game to their resume, beating the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 94-85. “It’s a huge win,” said Billups, who scored 18 points and had seven assists… Carmelo Anthony had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets. Martin had 16 points and Nene added 14. Smith and Linas Kleiza each scored 10 points. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Celtics (8-2). Ray Allen led all scorers with 26 points. Paul Pierce had 19 points and Garnett added 16 for the Celtics, who lost at home for the first time this season.
Steven Hunter out at least 12 weeks
Nuggets C Steven Hunter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. Hunter will be sidelined a minimum of 12 weeks.
Both Denver-area newspapers recently reported that Hunter may be considering retirement if it appears his knee will continue to be a major problem.
I’d assume Hunter will rehab and focus on regaining his health first, and then examine his status and future.
He hasn’t played this season. For his career he averages 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 15.4 minutes per game, with 56.4% shooting.
Nov 13: Cavs 110, Nuggets 99
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 22 points, most of them coming with good buddy Carmelo Anthony guarding him, and Williams scored a season-high 24, making a critical 3-pointer with James on the bench, as the Cavaliers improved to 5-0 at home and beat the Nuggets for the first time since 2005… Daniel Gibson snapped out of a shooting slump and added 15 points for the Cavaliers, who held the Nuggets to 18 points in the fourth on 39 percent shooting… Chauncey Billups scored a season-high 26 points — 16 in the first quarter — Carmelo Anthony had 18 and Kenyon Martin 12 with 10 rebounds for Denver. Martin, who had missed the previous two games with a sprained wrist, was ejected with 55 seconds left after he was called for a flagrant-2 foul for slamming his shoulder into Cleveland forward Anderson Varejao… Cleveland’s Ben Wallace had a season-high 11 points but sat out the fourth with a bruised left knee.