Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Kyrie Irving likes posting up other point guards

Kyrie Irving

In fact, Irving keeps telling Scott and reporters he wants to play inside more and post up other point guards. He did it, at times, last season with varying degrees of success but wants to do it more often this season.

It’s part of the reason he added a little muscle in the offseason. It wasn’t much — he says it was about five pounds — but it will give him a little more meat to withstand the punishment of a full season. It also gives him a few more pounds to bump around inside when necessary.

“I feel like I added another piece to my game,” Irving said. “Just adding that [weight] and being able to withstand a whole entire game without getting knocked down. Players are more physical in the NBA and I wanted to be more prepared this season.”

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal

Hall of Fame guard Slater Martin dies

Slater Martin, the Hall of Fame guard who won four NBA titles with the Minneapolis Lakers and one with the St. Louis Hawks, died Thursday. He was 86.

Martin died Thursday at a skilled nursing facility in Houston after a sudden illness, daughter-in-law Becky Martin said. She said he was admitted to the nursing home Monday.

Martin was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He went into the University of Texas’ Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1962, entered the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1964, and the school retired his No. 15 in 2009.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Kevin Love releases statement on his injury

Kevin Love

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love was examined today by hand specialist Dr. Andy Weiland of the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York for further evaluation of the fracture of the third and fourth metacarpal in his right hand. The evaluation revealed that surgery will not be required on his hand and confirmed that his expected return will be in 6-8 weeks.

The following is a statement from Wolves Kevin Love regarding his injury:

“Yesterday, I had a post-practice commitment and decided to work out at my home with my personal trainer before heading to Target Center. While doing various pushups, including knuckle pushups, which are part of my regular workout routine, I hurt my hand. I immediately knew something was wrong and called head athletic trainer Gregg Farnam.

“Although I’m disappointed that this injury happened, I will work extremely hard to stay in shape and return to the court as quickly as possible. We have added a lot of depth to our roster this season, and I have complete confidence in my teammates and coaching staff that they will step up and we will be successful during this time. I’m looking forward to supporting our team and helping out any way I can until I get back on the court.”

Trevor Booker brings big energy to Wizards

Booker might not live on the edge, but the small-town simplicity and consistency of the South Carolina native has endeared him to Washington Wizards teammates, coaches and fans, who know what to expect when he steps on the floor: He will battle for rebounds, extra possessions and loose balls, play grinding, physical defense and look to force turnovers. The 6-foot-7 forward out of Clemson rarely leaves the game feeling like he left something behind.

“His energy level is contagious,” Coach Randy Wittman said. “When you’re playing out there with him, you can look silly if you’re not the same level. Having guys like that is always good to have.”

Booker had a team-high 12 points and two rebounds in 16 minutes Wednesday night in the Wizards’ 104-101 loss to the Raptors at Air Canada Centre. He watched from the bench in the closing seconds as Bradley Beal had his potentially tying three-pointer blocked.

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post

J.R. Smith to miss Knicks 3-game road trip

JR Smith

J.R. Smith has been given the boot on this upcoming road trip.

Smith, now wearing a protective boot, didn’t practice Thursday and will not make the Knicks’ three-game preseason road trip that starts Friday night in Montreal vs. the Raptors.

Smith missed Saturday’s game in Hartford with what the Knicks termed a sore ankle but Smith told The Post it was an Achilles injury.

Smith practiced Tuesday, but was shut down Wednesday.

— Reported by Marc Berman on the New York Post (Blog)

Maalik Wayns playing well for 76ers in preseason

Clearly the biggest surprise of the preseason, the Roman Catholic and Villanova product has impressed with his speed and ability to push the ball up the floor with the Sixers’ second unit. In Wednesday’s victory over the Cavaliers, Wayns scored a team-high 19 points, with three three-pointers and four assists.

The downside: five turnovers.

Nevertheless, when Wayns came into the game on Wednesday night, it changed everything, said Collins.

— Reported by John Finger of CSN Philly

Andrew Bogut to have ankle examined

Andrew Bogut

Warriors center Andew Bogut will have his troublesome left ankle examined Monday in Los Angeles.

The Warriors play at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, giving Bogut an opportunity to visit Richard Ferkel, the doctor who performed arthroscopic surgery on the ankle in April.

Bogut, who fractured the ankle in January while with Milwaukee, has yet to practice or play a preseason game. Before Wednesday’s exhibition game at Sacramento, Warriors coach Mark Jackson said Bogut is “still a ways away.”

— Reported by Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group

Kyle Lowry makes debut for Raptors

Kyle Lowry

Landry Fields scored 15 points, and Kyle Lowry had 14 points and six assists in his Raptors debut to help Toronto beat the Washington Wizards 104-101 in exhibition play Wednesday night…

Lowry started after missing the first three games of the exhibition schedule – and a good chunk of Toronto’s training camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia – because of a groin injury. The point guard scored Toronto’s first points of the game off a steal and a drive in front of a crowd that included Jon Bon Jovi and former Raptors star Tracy Murray.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Sacramento Kings exercise options on DeMarcus Cousins and Jimmer Fredette

demarcus cousins

The Sacramento Kings today exercised the 2013-14 contract options of center DeMarcus Cousins and guard Jimmer Fredette, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“We’re looking forward to seeing DeMarcus and Jimmer play this year and continue to grow, improve and help this team be successful,” said Petrie.

Cousins, who is currently in his third NBA season, averaged 18.1 points (.448 FGs, .143 3FGs, .702 FTs), a team-high 11.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game last year through 64 outings, of which he started 62. He has amassed career averages of 15.9 points (.439 FGs, .156 3FGs, .694 FTs), 9.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game over 145 contests, of which he started 124 in two seasons. Cousins was selected by the Kings as an undergraduate out of Kentucky with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and was named to the 2010-11 NBA All-Rookie Team.

Fredette, who is currently in his second NBA season, finished his rookie campaign averaging 7.6 points (.386 FGs, .361 3FGs, .833 FTs), 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game through 61 outings, of which he started seven. He was selected by Sacramento as a senior out of BYU with the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.