Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 56 – NBA Blog

Jason Kidd fined $50,000 for intentionally spilling drink on court

The Brooklyn Nets haven’t learned to win just yet this NBA season, but at least new head coach Jason Kidd has found a new way to keep things interesting. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Not only did “Cupgate” fail to get the Nets a win, it’s also going to cost Jason Kidd some cash.

The NBA announced Thursday night it had fined Kidd $50,000 for intentionally spilling his cup of soda late in Wednesday’s 99-94 loss to the Lakers in Brooklyn.

Because Kidd was caught on camera telling Tyshawn Taylor to “hit me” just before the player bumped into him, it isn’t surprising the league would choose to crack down on the Nets coach.

Kidd’s antics came with 8.2 seconds remaining in Wednesday’s loss, and as Lakers guard Jodie Meeks was preparing to shoot the second of two free throws with the Lakers leading 96-94.

As Taylor exited the court as part of an offense-defense substitution with Mirza Teletovic, Kidd — who was holding a cup of soda with ice in it — clearly said “hit me” as Taylor walked toward him.

Nets avoid fourth-quarter meltdown, finally end five-game skid

The Brooklyn Nets are struggling, and injuries are making things even worse. Any win lately is a big one. Here’s the New York Daily News on results from Tuesday:

They nearly blew it, but the Nets will take a win any way they can get one.

Despite an awful start to the season in which they’ve been without four key players for long stretches, have crumbled in third quarters and been left searching for answers, they entered their first division game of the season Tuesday night somehow only three games behind their opponent, the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors.

Thanks to an effort in which they were better defensively in transition, won the rebounding battle and actually looked competent in the third quarter, the Nets pulled to within two games of first place with a 102-100 win at the Air Canada Centre, averting disaster by holding off a late Raptors run to snap a five-game skid and win for the second time in 10 games.

“Those guys in that locker room found that they had enough,” coach Jason Kidd said after his team nearly blew all of a 15-point lead in the final 5:22. “You’ve got a bunch of guys in there with pride and they knew what they had to do tonight against the division-leading Raptors and got a big win on the road.” …

Andray Blatche carried the offensive load for Brooklyn early, scoring 15 first-half points on 7-for-10 shooting in a variety of ways: easy points in the paint, difficult drives to the hoop and 20-foot jumpers. He finished with a team-high 24 points.

DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points for Toronto (6-8) and Kyle Lowry had 24 points and six assists.

Kevin Garnett has good things to say about the Timberwolves

The Brooklyn Nets are in Minnesota, where they will play the Timberwolves tonight. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune blog:

Kevin Garnett says good things about Timberwolves

Garnett had nice things to say about the Wolves, calling Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. He called the Wolves “electrifying.’’

“They play with a real fast pace,” Garnett said. “Kevin Love is in an unbelievable groove…. They’re playing with a lot of confidence. And trying to slow any of these guys down is going to be a task for all of us tonight.’’

But Garnett deflected any questions about where he is at in his career. When asked if he has contemplated retirement after this season, he said, “Next question.” A question about whether he could see a scenario in which he finished his career in a Wolves uniform got the same response.

Indeed, Garnett said, he is not thinking much about the past or the future. He’s worried about the present. Namely, trying to get the Nets back on track. “You deal with reality,” he said. “You deal with the current (situation). I don’t think outside of whatever I’m doing at the time. And the focus needs to be (there). ‘’

Brooklyn Nets off to disappointing start

Here’s the New York Post on early-season Brooklyn Nets struggles:

After an underachieving start, the Nets used all kinds of adjectives to describe the mood around the team, and none of them were good. Paul Pierce went with angry, Kevin Garnett said dismal and even the normally taciturn Brook Lopez admitted they were disappointed in themselves.

The Nets (3-7) arguably are the biggest disappointment in the NBA, having dropped five of six, including a Monday loss to Portland that had rookie coach Jason Kidd trying to shoulder the blame. It’s misguided and overly simple; there is far too much blame to go around, and far too much misery as well.

“Dismal. No one’s happy about how we’re playing. No one likes the current state. But everybody’s willing and committed towards changing it. The way you change it is through work, and that’s what we’re doing,’’ Garnett said. “The blame’s on all of us. It’s not just on Jason. You can’t put the [blame] all on him. We’re players who obviously have to be professional, come out here and do our jobs.’’

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.