Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 56 – NBA Blog

Deron Williams sick of being injured

Lots of fans complain when certain NBA players seem to keep getting injured and missing games. And that’s understandable. But what fans should remember is, no player actually wants to be injured. It’s in all likelyhood more frustrating for them than for anyone else. As for Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams, here’s the New York Post:

The $100 million point guard sprained his left ankle in the first quarter of Friday night’s 100-98 overtime victory over the Suns, landing on Miles Plumlee’s foot and rolling his ankle. Williams then collapsed to the ground, and lay motionless in pain. He limped to the locker room, ending his night after just five minutes, two points and one assist.

X-rays were negative, according to the Nets.

“It’s frustrating,” Williams said after the game. “That’s the only way to describe it. I’m sick of being injured, sick of being hurt. I just want to be healthy so I can help my team.”

The good news for Williams is he said the sprain is “not even close to as bad” as the injury he sustained in the offseason to his other ankle.

Nets recall Tornike Shengelia from D-League

The Brooklyn Nets have recalled forward Tornike Shengelia from the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.

Shengelia, who was assigned to the Armor on November 7, will rejoin the Nets in advance of tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

Brooklyn Nets assign Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor to D-League

The Brooklyn Nets have assigned forward Tornike Shengelia and guard Tyshawn Taylor to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.

Shengelia appeared in 19 games last season with the Nets, averaging 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game. In 10 games for the Armor last season, Shengelia held D-League averages of 24.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He has not appeared in a game with the Nets this season.

Taylor appeared in 38 games last season with the Nets, averaging 2.2 points in 5.8 minutes per game. Taylor averaged 24.6 points, 7.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds in eight D-League appearances last season. He has not appeared in a game with the Nets this season.

Both players will join the team tomorrow for the start of Springfield’s training camp.

Andray Blatche fined by NBA for making obscene gesture

Brooklyn Nets center-forward Andray Blatche has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Nets 101-100 win over the Heat on Friday, Nov. 1, at Barclays Center, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Blatche’s actions occurred with 2:40 remaining in the 4th quarter of the game.

Shaq says Nets could knock off Heat in East

The Miami Heat are still considered the best team in the East — and the league. But on paper, the Brooklyn Nets look able to at least compete with the champs. And Shaquille O’Neal agrees. Here’s the New York Daily News:

The big-name acquisitions made over the summer by GM Billy King have the Nets talking NBA title contention. But the championship rhetoric isn’t contained within the confines of the Barclays Center or the team’s training site in East Rutherford.

Some believe the Nets have what it takes to knock LeBron James and the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat from their perch. Former NBA great and current TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal is one of them. He feels Brooklyn’s title aspirations are legitimate, provided its star players can stay on the court and build chemistry.

“If they can stay healthy, I think they can give Miami a run,” O’Neal said Monday at a TNT luncheon in New York, according to SI’s Richard Deitsch. “If they come together, I think they can take Miami.”

The consensus at Nets practice Monday was they were appreciative of his comments and agree with his qualifier regarding the team’s health.

Brooklyn Nets waive Jorge Gutierrez, Chris Johnson and Adonis Thomas

It’s “get rid of extra players” time in the NBA, as teams need to trim their rosters to 15 players or less by the start of the NBA regular season, which tips off Tuesday.

And so, the Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Jorge Gutierrez and forwards Chris Johnson and Adonis Thomas, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Gutierrez, who was signed to the training camp roster on September 30, appeared in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Johnson, who was also signed to the training camp roster on September 30, played in seven preseason games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Thomas, who was signed to the training camp roster on October 18, did not appear in any preseason games for the Nets.

The Nets roster now stands at 15 players.

Nets patiently waiting for Deron Williams

It definitely would have helped the new Brooklyn Nets players had point guard Deron Williams been healthy in training camp and preseason. Team chemistry takes a while. But long-term health is way more important than a quick start. Here’s Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:

Deron Williams didn’t play again in Boston on Wednesday, just as he didn’t in the five previous preseason games for the Nets. Though he and the Nets have been very pleased with his progression over the past several days from a sprained right ankle that he suffered last month, Williams admitted it could be “tough” to make it back in time for next Wednesday’s regular-season opener in Cleveland because of how little he has done on the court so far this preseason.

While it would be a disappointment for Williams, there’s no reason for the Nets to rush their star point guard back so he can play one game in October. The Nets haven’t put together a team with a payroll of over $100 million — that will cost, including luxury taxes, near $190 million — to win their season opener. They did so to compete for a championship, and they only will be able to do that if Williams is healthy and playing the way he did in the second half of last season.

Nets waiting for Deron Williams to get healthy

Injured Nets guard Deron Williams won’t play in Wednesday’s preseason game at Boston, and neither will ex-Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Brooklyn hasn’t had all its pieces together this preseason, but according to Pierce, health is more important than quick cohesion, the second half more important than the opener…

“Truthfully, if Deron is there at the beginning or not, the most important time is after All-Star break, anyway, to start peaking,’’ Pierce said. “We’re not going to reach our potential in the first week, second week of the season. I don’t think any team is. The only team that is [are] teams that’s already there, like the Heat. It’s important for us to just get healthy right now, and peak at the right time.’’

Reported by Brian Lewis of the New York Post

Brooklyn Nets undergoing an attitude adjustment

The Brooklyn Nets are undergoing an attitude adjustment, with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett overseeing the transformation.

On Thursday against the defending champion Miami Heat, Pierce delivered a hard foul to longtime rival LeBron James in the first quarter of the Nets’ 86-62 win. Pierce said the playoff-type body check was “a message to the league” of what the Nets’ identity will be this season.

Garnett then delivered a stern postgame message to James by telling the Heat star to mind his own business after James commented about how Ray Allen was criticized for leaving Boston when discussing the trade that sent Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry to Brooklyn earlier this week.

“He’s entitled to his own opinion,” Terry said about James on Friday, “which we don’t care about.”

Jason Kidd has to be smiling about not just the tough rhetoric but the more physical play. Upon taking over as Brooklyn’s rookie head coach, Kidd made it crystal clear that he wants his team to have a tougher, more physical and defensive-minded identity this season.

Reported by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York

Nets add Adonis Thomas to training camp

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Adonis Thomas to the training camp roster, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Thomas, a 6’7” forward out of the University of Memphis, went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was signed to the Atlanta Hawks’ training camp roster on Sept. 30, where he appeared in one game before being waived on Oct. 14. Thomas averaged 11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds for Memphis during the 2012-13 season.

The Nets roster now stands at 18 players.