Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Judy Seto reportedly no longer with Lakers training staff

Judy Seto, a veteran member of the Lakers’ training staff, is no longer with the team — this as her contract expired — according to individuals familiar with the situation.

Since 2019, Seto has served as the team’s director of sports performance. She formerly worked as the Lakers’ head physical therapist from 2011 to 2016. Before that, she worked closely with Kobe Bryant, who praised her job as “indispensable.”

Bryant commended Seto with helping him stay in the league for so long.

Via the Los Angeles Times

On the future of the Utah Jazz beyond the 2022 playoffs

A factor to consider after these playoffs is the team’s age. If the Jazz weren’t on the older end of the age spectrum, management might be more patient. The team’s leader, Donovan Mitchell, is only 25, while Bojan Bogdanovic is 33 and Mike Conley is 34, making them two of four players over 30. Conley has been in the professional game for 15 years, one longer than Bogdanovic.

According to Sporting News, the Jazz were tied for second among the NBA’s oldest teams entering this season. The Lakers (30.0) were the only team that was older. At 28.1, the Jazz and Nets came in second and third, respectively.

The Celtics (25.9), Grizzlies (24.2), Timberwolves (24.3), Pelicans (25.0), Raptors (25.2), and 76ers (25.8) are all rising young teams. The Jazz are in the Western Conference with a lot of the league’s best young teams.

Via the Deseret News

Donovan Mitchell good to go for Mavs at Jazz Game 6

Donovan Mitchell, star guard for the Utah Jazz, said that he will be available for Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, a day after an MRI on his left hamstring came back negative.

Mitchell stated he’s suffering from soreness as a result of a bilateral quadriceps contusion, as diagnosed by the team’s medical staff. He did, however, state unequivocally that he would be able to play in Thursday’s home game against the Jazz, who are in danger of being eliminated.

Via ESPN.com

Injury update on Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell:

Mitchell (6-3, 222, Louisville) was re-examined Tuesday morning by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing on his left hamstring. The results were negative. Mitchell has bi-lateral quadriceps contusions and will continue treatment. His status for Game 6 of Utah’s First Round series against Dallas will be updated on Wednesday.

Ja Morant wins 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player Award

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is the recipient of the 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today.

The first player in franchise history to receive the NBA Most Improved Player Award, Morant received 221 points (38 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray finished in second place with 183 points (20 first-place votes). Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland finished in third place with 178 points (11 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Morant averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.16 steals in 33.1 minutes in 57 appearances (all starts) this season and helped guide the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record, the second-best in the NBA during the regular season. Memphis tied its 2012-13 franchise record for wins and captured the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.

In his third NBA season, Morant set career highs for scoring average, rebounds per game, steals per game, field goal percentage (.493) and 3-point percentage (.344). Compared to the 2020-21 season, he raised his field goal percentage by 4.4%, while increasing his shot attempts by 5.4 per game, and upped his 3-point percentage by 4.1% on an additional 0.7 attempts per game.

The 22-year-old was selected as a starter for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, becoming the second All-Star starter in franchise history and the youngest Grizzlies player to participate in the event.

Morant led all NBA players in points in the paint per game (16.6), becoming the first guard to do so in 25 seasons since data was first tracked, and ranked second in fast break points per game (4.4), helping the Grizzlies lead the NBA in both categories. He set a single-game franchise record with 52 points on Feb. 28 vs. San Antonio, the first 50-point performance in Grizzlies history.

In addition, Morant became the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in his age-22 season, joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61), Kobe Bryant (2000-01), Tracy McGrady (2001-02), LeBron James (2016-17) and Luka Dončić (2021-22).

Morant has started all of his 187 regular season appearances and has averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 32.2 minutes through his first three NBA seasons. He was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year after being second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at Murray State University.

Raptors’ Scottie Barnes wins 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year award

The Toronto Raptors announced on Saturday that swingman Scottie Barnes has been named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season. Barnes joins Vince Carter (1998-99) and Damon Stoudamire as the third player in franchise history to earn the honor.

Barnes was selected fourth overall by the Raptors in the 2021 NBA Draft (1995-96).

“We are incredibly proud of Scottie, and are thrilled and grateful that his hard work has been recognized with this honour,” Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri said. “What you see on the court is exactly who Scottie is: enthusiastic. Joyful. Athletic. Skilled, and a winner. We – and our fans – loved seeing his development through this season, and we can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Barnes received 378 points (48 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Evan Mobley finished in second place with 363 points (43 first-place votes). The 15-point difference between the first- and second-place finishers marks the smallest margin in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting under the current voting format, which began with the 2002-03 season.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham finished in third place with 153 points (nine first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Barnes averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.08 steals, 0.74 blocks, and 35.4 minutes per game (first among all rookies) in 74 games (all starts) this season, and was the only rookie to rank in the top five in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He scored 20 points or more 17 times and had 13 double-doubles while shooting.492 (459-932). In ten games, Barnes led the club in scoring, rebounds 21 times, and assists 15 times.

Barnes, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, was voted Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month twice (in February and March/April) and competed in the NBA All-Star Rising Stars and Taco Bell Skills Challenge. He became the first Raptors rookie – and the only rookie in the NBA this season – to score 1000 points, 500 rebounds, and dish out 250 assists in their rookie season. Barnes was also the first rookie to average 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists since Luka Doncic (2018-19).

Barnes’ year was highlighted by season highs of 31 points (14-21 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT) and 17 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers on Mar. 18. In a road win against Denver on Mar. 12, he scored 25 points and had a season-high 10 assists. Barnes equaled a season high with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and five thefts against the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 28, becoming the only rookie since Shaquille O’Neal (1993) to score at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and five steals in the same game.

Charlotte Hornets fire head coach James Borrego

Mitch Kupchak, President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Charlotte Hornets, announced yesterday that Head Coach James Borrego has been relieved of his coaching duties.

“I want to thank JB for his hard work and commitment during these past four seasons,” said Kupchak. “Beyond his work as a coach, he is a tremendous person. I wish him and his family the best in the future. These decisions are always difficult. Having said that, we have a talented, young core of players which has me very excited about the future of the Hornets. We will begin the search for our new head coach immediately.”

Via the Charlotte Observer:

Borrego, who compiled a 138-163 mark in his tenure, is out as the Hornets’ coach just over a week after their season came to a halt with a 132-103 loss to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. General manager Mitch Kupchak informed Borrego on Friday the team was moving in a different direction and relieving him of his duties.

In pulling the rug out from under Borrego, the Hornets made a decision that caught more than a few people off guard. While ultimately owner Michael Jordan had to sign off on the move, a source told The Observer he wasn’t the man who delivered the edict to sever ties with Borrego, who had two years remaining on his contract after signing an extension in August.

Kupchak has been the architect of the Hornets’ blueprint and that wasn’t suddenly altered this week. He made the choice to let Borrego go, figuring it was a necessity to propel the Hornets’ young core led by LaMelo Ball forward. There were a variety of factors that pushed Kupchak in that direction, things that were hard to ignore when he began the full evaluation process.

On May 10, 2018, Borrego was named the Hornets’ 11th head coach in team history. Borrego had a stellar four-year career with Charlotte.

Pelicans forward Jaxson Hayes ejected from Game 3 vs. Suns

Jaxson Hayes of the New Orleans Pelicans was ejected from Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs on Friday night in the second quarter after receiving a flagrant foul 2 for shoving Phoenix Suns player Jae Crowder.

Hayes was pounding the boards from the left corner after a made CJ McCollum jumper with 5:15 remaining in the first half when he crashed past Crowder, slamming him to the ground.

Initially, no foul was called, but play was paused and the play was reviewed as Crowder rushed across the floor to confront Hayes and Suns guard Chris Paul quickly sprinted to another official.

– Via ESPN.com. See full article.

Celtics take 2-0 playoff series lead on Nets

Via the New York Daily News:

Steve Nash wants fans to think that the Nets’ playoff aspirations aren’t just dependent on Kevin Durant; his team’s success is a result of good teamwork rather than the superstars they signed to max contracts.

The Nets’ 114-107 Game 2 defeat to the Celtics, as well as a regular season that spiraled while both of those stars were unavailable, proved otherwise. The Nets’ supporting cast couldn’t handle the weight in a game where none of their stars showed up.

Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time NBA scoring champion, bowed to the pressure and intensity of the league-best Celtics’ defense for the second game in a row. And the Nets paid the price with a loss for the second game in a row, which hurt even more than the buzzer-beating game-winner that lost them Game 1.

In Game 2, Durant turned the ball over six times after missing 15 shots and turning the ball over six times in Game 1, and he shot 4-of-17 from the field for 27 points, almost all of which came at the foul line. He went to the free throw line 20 times, converting on 18 of them.

— Full Article

Bulls forward Patrick Williams has big defensive role against Bucks in playoffs

Young Patrick Williams has a big role on the Chicago Bulls as they face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. Via the Chicago Tribune:

Patrick Williams is well aware that guarding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is a difficult task.

Williams is seven years younger, four inches shorter, 30 pounds lighter, and four inches shorter than Milwaukee Bucks star Nikola Mirotic. He has never participated in the NBA playoffs and missed the entire regular season with the Chicago Bulls due to a wrist injury.

But the Bulls forward can not let uncertainty enter in if he wants to slow down one of the league’s top players.

“I feel like a lot of people in this league are scared or nervous to guard guys like that,” Williams said Wednesday ahead of Game 2. “Obviously (Antetokounmpo) is good. He’s a two-time MVP. But he puts his pants on the same way I do. He is good, but he’s not God.”

Despite his youth, Williams is a perfect match for Antetokounmpo’s defense. Williams is long enough to hinder Antetokounmpo’s shot around the rim while also being quick enough to disrupt his straight-line drives to the rim. [But] no one expected to slow Antetokounmpo down in a one-on-one matchup.

Game 2 of the series is tonight in Milwaukee at 9:30 PM ET on TNT TV.