NBA Teams – Page 1083 – NBA Blog

Nuggets guard Randy Foye hopes to heal over All-Star break

All-Star weekend is fun for fans, and even for some of the players involved, but the average NBA player loves the weekend mostly because it gives them a few days to rest and heal from various bumps and bruises. Here’s the Denver Post blog with more:

No Nuggets player needs the All-Star break more than guard Randy Foye. He simply gutted out the last two games on the team’s recent road trip, and probably shouldn’t have been playing in Minnesota on Wednesday night due to a bad ankle injury in addition to a hamstring ailment.

His hope is he didn’t do any damage that would cause him to miss any games after the four-day break. But on a team with no point guards, that desperately needed someone to handle the basketball, he played through his injuries instead of sitting.

“I’m extremely banged up,” Foye said. “It started in the New York game, where I tweaked my hamstring and then…it seemed like every game, it’s the first time this year where every game something happened to me.”

Derrick Rose not thinking about returning this season

Here’s ESPN Chicago with quotes from Bulls guard Derrick Rose confirming what was already assumed to be the case, which is that nobody should expect to see him in action this season:

Derrick Rose says he isn’t thinking about a possible return this season and is just focusing on his rehab as he makes his way back from a torn medial meniscus in his right knee suffered on Nov. 22.

Speaking to reporters for the first time in about two months at a Bulls’ charity event, Rose acknowledged that he hasn’t started running yet, but is staying in good spirits.

“I haven’t even had a chance to think about it, to tell you the truth,” Rose said of a possible return this season. “I’m just worrying about my next stage in this process and that’s running right now. I’m on the Alter-G right now running on that and hopefully be running without it pretty soon.”

After having surgery in late November, Rose was ruled out for the rest of the season by the Bulls. In his initial news conference after the injury he said he wouldn’t rule out a possible return for the playoffs, but he seemed to back off those comments Tuesday night. When asked why he was keeping the door open on a return if the organization already ruled him out, Rose hinted that he was still a long way from playing in games.

Blake Griffin not officially retired from Slam Dunk contest

Blake Griffin remains one of the world’s most exciting dunkers. Good news for NBA fans is he has not “officially” retired from participating in the NBA Slam Dunk contest again, someday. We advise you to not hold your breath waiting, though. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:

Blake on comparisons with fellow All-Star Weekend participant Karl Malone

“I’m humbled by that. That’s a honor. He was one of the best power forwards to ever do it, so obviously I have a lot of work to do to get to where [I can approach] what he accomplished. That’s not a bad person to be compared to … I’ve watched a lot of tape of him. I’ve watched mostly [from] his later years after he had really developed and had really become a force scoring the basketball. And the thing I love about him is everyone I’ve talked to about him talks about his work ethic and how hard he worked. And then on top of that just how he put together a complete game and used his strength to his advantage but also could step out and knock down shots.”

Blake on his future in the dunk contest
“I haven’t retired officially. It isn’t something I’ll never, ever do again. But for right now, I try to take my rest when I can. And this year I really wanted that Saturday night rest. So not this year.”

Suns hope to get Eric Bledsoe back in somewhat near future

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, who has been out of action for a long time now. The team has done fine without him, but is still stronger with him healthy and on the floor:

The Suns players and staff get a pick-me-up at every practice and when they walk through the training room.

They have been seeing rehabilitating point guard Eric Bledsoe taking shots on the court and running on a treadmill.

Friday will mark five weeks since Bledsoe’s right-knee surgery. No timetable for a recovery or return was shared, but many believed he could return not long after the All-Star break.

“He’s making good progress on his rehab,” Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said. “He’s progressing as expected. We’re still optimistic that he’ll return some time after the All-Star break.

“He’s been working diligently with our training staff and the reports are encouraging.”

Should Taj Gibson start ahead of Carlos Boozer for Bulls?

Here’s the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reporting on the Bulls frontcourt rotation. It’s assumed Carlos Boozer will continue to start ahead of Taj Gibson. But for fun, ponder another possibility:

Carlos Boozer said Wednesday he expects to play against Brooklyn, the Bulls’ last game before the all-star break. He’s missed the past three contests with a left calf strain.

“I think I will (play),” Boozer said before the “Evening with the Bulls” fundraiser at the United Center. “The break will be good for it. (But) if I’m healthy, I want to play.”

A better question is will he be the starter when he’s healthy again. Taj Gibson averaged 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4 assists during the past three games, while the Bulls had two of their highest-scoring first quarters of the season in the past two outings against Atlanta and L.A. Lakers.

Asked if Boozer is still the starter, coach Tom Thibodeau gave a straight answer, with a qualifier.

“Yeah. Again I have to know what the minutes restrictions are,” Thibodeau said.

Who is the best teammate Dirk Nowitzki has ever had?

Here’s one take from ESPN Dallas on Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and the type of help he’s had:

The hodgepodge of players such as Michael Finley, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, O.J. Mayo, Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler leaves a very mixed bag to select from. It also shines a light on the fact Nowitzki has had to carry the load in Dallas without legitimate, surefire star support. It comes down to Steve Nash, before the point guard hit his MVP stride, and Jason Kidd, returning after he had passed his prime. Nash was the perfect teammate for Nowitzki earlier in his career, and Kidd was just as perfect later in Nowitzki’s career. I’m going to go with Kidd. While Nash could shoot the lights out, Kidd had the better all-around game out of the two point guards. As Nash helped Nowitzki grow as a player, Kidd helped guide him to immortality as a champion.

Lakers fail to sell out another game at Staples Center

Here’s the Los Angeles Times blog reporting on the Lakers, who usually sell out their games. But this isn’t your average Laker season.

The most compelling number to watch in the Lakers’ box scores the rest of the season could be home attendance.

The Lakers failed to sell out a game Tuesday for the second time this season when they drew a season-low 18,209 against the Utah Jazz, ending a 17-game sellout streak dating to November. The previous non-sellout against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 12 ended a far more impressive streak of 270 consecutive regular-season games (and 320 including the playoffs) going back to December 2006.

The Lakers rank eighth in the NBA in home attendance, averaging 18,937 fans per game. The Clippers have sold out every game this season and rank seventh in league attendance, averaging 19,196 fans. The Chicago Bulls lead the league with an average of 21,639 fans.

Hawks sign Cartier Martin to second 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Cartier Martin to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Martin has appeared in 27 games (two starts) with the Hawks this season, averaging 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes (.415 3FG%, .821 FT%). He has also played in six contests this year with the Chicago Bulls, and averaged 2.5 points in 7.9 minutes (.625 FG%, .600 3FG%).

On the season, Martin has played in 33 total games (two starting assignments), putting up 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.3 minutes (.426 3FG% – tied for ninth in the NBA, .781 FT%).

Jared Sullinger, Kevin Durant named NBA Players of Week through February 9

jared sullinger won east nba player of week

Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 3, through Sunday, Feb. 9.

Sullinger helped the Celtics to a 2-1 week, which included wins over the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings. He averaged 20.3 points (13th in the conference), 12.7 rebounds (second in the conference) and 1.67 blocks (fourth in the conference). Sullinger posted a point-rebound double-double in all three games, including a 31-point, 16-rebound effort on Feb. 7, when the Celtics topped the Kings 99-89 at TD Garden.

Durant led the Thunder to a 3-1 week, which included wins over Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. He averaged 31.8 points (second in the conference), 9.0 assists (second in the conference) and 8.0 rebounds. Durant posted two-double-doubles, including a 41-point, 10-rebound effort in which he added nine assists on Feb. 9, as the Thunder beat the Knicks 112-100, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee, Charlotte’s Al Jefferson, Detroit’s Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, Houston’s Dwight Howard, Indiana’s David West, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and San Antonio’s Patty Mills.

Pistons interim coach John Loyer confident that players know and trust him

Here’s Michigan Live on the Detroit Pistons, who this past weekend said goodbye to head coach Maurice Cheeks:

John Loyer isn’t going to recreate the Detroit Pistons in time for tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

He’ll settle for players just giving him the respect he believes he has earned from them in two-plus seasons as a Pistons assistant.

“Players figure things out,” Loyer said today after shootaround at the practice facility. “They know, whether you’re a head coach or an assistant coach, one, whether you know your stuff; two, whether you’re in it for the right things; three, can you make them better; and four, are you a good leader. Guys figure that out and I’ll take my chances with what they’ve figured out over the last few years.”

Loyer, an assistant the last two years under Lawrence Frank, and this year under Maurice Cheeks, was promoted to interim head coach when Cheeks was fired Sunday.

Loyer is expected to serve out the remainder of this season as interim coach and said he is “ready for the challenge” and that Detroit “is where I want to be.”