NBA Teams – Page 1139 – NBA Blog

Darren Collison shines for Clippers in preseason game

Despite a 17-point outburst in the fourth quarter from Darren Collison, the Clippers couldn’t rally and fell, 94-84, to Portland Friday night in their Staples Center preseason opener.

Collison finished with 31 points and had six assists and two steals for the Clippers (3-2), who will play Denver Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Playing without J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes and Maalik Wayns and Willie Green, Collison took advantage of the 34 minutes Coach Doc Rivers gave him and made 8 of 16 shots from the field and 15 of 16 from the free-throw line.

Reported by Phil Collin of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Boston Celtics may not have official team captain this season

For the first time in 63 years, it is likely that the Boston Celtics will not have a formal captain this season. But just because first-year coach Brad Stevens prefers not to formally designate a leader doesn’t meant that this team won’t have one.

Stevens went out of his way Friday to again laud the guidance of Rajon Rondo, offering the latest vote of confidence for the rehabbing point guard.

“I don’t know what the leadership roles were like last year, because I wasn’t here,” said Stevens. “The guy that’s been the most vocal leader for us has been Rondo. I think he’s done a really good job of it.”

Rondo isn’t expected back on the floor until December — or whenever he feels his right knee is healthy enough to resume activity after undergoing surgery in February to repair a partial tear of the ACL — but he’s been an on-court presence for the Celtics every day since camp opened Oct. 1 in Newport, R.I.

Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

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

Quick glance at Mavs guard Wayne Ellington

Ellington will be a 3-and-D guy off the Mavs’ bench. His job is to space the floor on offense and defend well on the other end of the floor.

At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Ellington doesn’t have the size to guard small forwards who are scoring threats, but he’s an a good on-ball defender against shooting guards. That’s especially important considering that starting guards Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis didn’t arrive in Dallas with decent defensive reputations. Offensively, Ellington isn’t much of a creator, but he’s a catch-and-shoot threat who has hit 38.2 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career.

Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Utah Jazz sign Derrick Favors to contract extension

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed forward/center Derrick Favors to a multi-year contract extension. According to Yahoo Sports, the deal is for four years, $49 million.

That’s a lot of money for a young player who, while capable of rebounding, shot-blocking and playing good defense, still has a lot of developing to do.

According to Yahoo, “the deal includes bonus incentives that could push the package well over $50 million, sources said.”

“We have tremendous respect for and confidence in Derrick and see him as an important part of our future. He brings a toughness and defensive mindset that make him a key piece to what we are trying to build here,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey. “Derrick is also a high-character individual and he has shown a dedication to continue to improve all aspects of his game.”

The 22-year-old Favors (6-10, 248, Georgia Tech) will be entering his fourth NBA campaign in 2013-14, and has improved his averages in every major statistical category over the previous year each of the last two seasons. Favors played in 77 games (eight starts) in 2012-13, averaging career-highs of 9.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.69 blocks in 23.2 minutes per game. Favors registered nine double-doubles on the season, scoring in double figures 34 times while grabbing double-digit rebounds in 16 games. In his eight starts last season, Favors averaged 10.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.25 blocks in 27.3 minutes.

Noted for his defensive mindset, Favors was chosen to participate in the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Mini-Camp held this past July in Las Vegas, Nev. The previous summer Favors was one of just 13 players chosen for the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that trained against the USA Basketball Men’s National Team prior to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“We have been impressed with Derrick’s hard work, development and strong desire to be a part of the future of the Jazz franchise,” said Steve Miller, President of Miller Sports Properties. “There was mutual interest in Derrick remaining part of our team moving forward and my family and I are excited to be able to announce his contract extension.”

A 2010 first-round pick (third overall) by New Jersey, Favors was acquired by the Jazz on February 23, 2011 and was selected to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team following his first year. During his second season with Utah, Favors was chosen to compete in the Rising Stars Challenge during 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando. The Atlanta native and former MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game was selected as the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year during his lone collegiate season at Georgia Tech.

“I would like to thank the Miller family and Jazz organization for their trust and confidence in me and my abilities to help lead this team into the future,” said Favors. “Utah has become my home and I am excited to be able to continue my career playing for the Jazz and the best fans in the NBA.”

Sixers face rough road ahead

Even if they don’t read the papers or worry about what is said in the electronic media, as forward-center Spencer Hawes advises, 76ers players and members of the organization won’t be able to escape the negative vibe following the team this season.

The team’s strategy is simple: clear as much cap space as possible and build with younger players on a road back to respectability.

It’s a route that often takes longer to travel than originally anticipated.

While that seems like a sound strategy, the reality is what the team faced last week, two blowout preseason losses in which the only things missing were the offense, defense, and any answers against two teams of differing skill levels.

Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Bill Russell arrested for carrying gun at airport

Hall of Fame center Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage.

Russell was arrested Wednesday night as he attempted to go through security. Airport spokesman Perry Cooper confirmed Friday night that Russell was cited for having a weapon in a prohibited area. Russell’s gun was confiscated and he was released.

Russell’s gun was a .38-caliber pistol and was loaded with six rounds, according to a TSA spokesman.

Reported by the Associated Press

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.

Bulls shut down Joakim Noah for a week

Bulls shut down Joakim Noah for at least week

Joakim Noah will be held out of basketball-related activities for a week because of lingering soreness in his groin, according to team officials. The All-Star center will be re-evaluated at that time.

Given that Noah won’t resume practicing until Oct. 25 at the earliest, the development puts Noah’s availability for the Bulls’ Oct. 29 regular-season opener in Miami in serious jeopardy.

Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

Knicks test Melo at PF, Bargnani at C

Mike Woodson experimented with playing Carmelo Anthony and Andrea Bargnani together at the power forward and center positions, respectively, on Thursday night.

And in a statement that may scare some Knicks fans who value interior defense, Woodson says he likes what he saw.

“We started with the big lineup but also put Melo back at the 4 and had Bargnani at the 5 and that was pretty positive,” Woodson said. “I’ll go back and look at it a little closely on tape.”

To be clear, Woodson did not commit to the idea of playing Anthony and Bargnani at power forward and center in the regular season. It was probably something that he was curious about, so he decided to try it in a preseason game.

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York