NBA Teams – Page 445 – NBA Blog

Role change for Pistons guard Reggie Jackson

The Pistons are off to a nice start this NBA season, and deserve some attention. Blake Griffin is leading the team in scoring with 28.4 ppg, followed by Andre Drummond at 18.4 ppg and then Reggie Jackson at 16.8 ppg. Here’s the Detroit News with a look at Jackson and how his role has changed:

Reggie Jackson stood in the corner, hands on his sides, watching as Blake Griffin dribbled and initiated the offense. Jackson waiting to see how Griffin would break down the defense, as the safety valve in case his defender cheated toward the paint to help on Griffin’s drive.

The defender dipped in just enough to create space for Griffin to find Jackson for a corner 3-pointer.

Swish.

It’s a new era for Jackson — and the rest of the Pistons, in the first year of Dwane Casey’s offense. No longer is the offense predicated on high-pick-and-roll plays with Jackson handling the ball and Griffin or Andre Drummond running to the rim, giving Jackson a choice.

The numbers are showing that the Pistons are benefiting from the switch, with Jackson operating more from the outside. More than half (55 percent) of his field-goal attempts are 3-pointers and he’s shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc, which would be a career high.

— Full Article

Enes Kanter now coming off bench for Knicks

It surprised no one that the Knicks starting lineup changed early in the season. It could happen again. There very well may be season-long changes as new head coach Dave Fizdale figures out what he’s working with on a team that is focused more on the future than the present. Here’s New York Newsday reporting on Knicks center Enes Kanter, who will now contribute scoring and rebounding as a reserve rather than a starter:

After sweating through the hard workout with Wallace loudly urging him on, the real lesson that Kanter seemed to take most to heart is how to avoid saying what’s really on your mind. Like Wallace, who made a game out of answering nearly any question with a refrain of, “Both teams played hard,” during his playing days, Kanter fell back time after time to, “I’m leading the second unit.”

The uncomfortable questions for Kanter and the equally uncomfortable answers he fidgeted through were regarding his role with the Knicks. An accomplished veteran, Kanter has found himself removed from the starting lineup for the time being as the Knicks have fallen to five straight losses and a 1-5 record.

With the season already steering toward the predictable outcome of a rebuilding year, Knicks first-year coach David Fizdale revamped the lineup before Friday’s meeting with the Golden State Warriors, pulling Kanter, Lance Thomas and Trey Burke from the lineup and replacing them with Mitchell Robinson, Damyean Dotson and Noah Vonleh.

“Yeah, he wants me to lead the second unit,” Kanter said, echoing the sentiment he relayed through pursed lips after the game.

— Full article

Coach Tyronn Lue fired by Cavs

Cavaliers Head Coach Tyronn Lue was released today by the team. Associate Head Coach Larry Drew has been named interim head coach. The announcement was made from Cleveland Clinic Courts by Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman.

“This was a very difficult decision. It is especially so, considering Coach Lue’s time with us over the last four years, including four straight trips to the NBA Finals,” said Altman. “We have respect and great admiration for Ty, not only as a coach, but a person. We thank him for the many ways he has contributed to our success, wish him the best and he will always be remembered for leading a very special Cavs team back against the odds to win the title in 2016. This is a different team equation, though, and one that we felt needed a different voice and approach that required this change.”

Coach Lue joined the Cavaliers coaching staff in June of 2014 as associate head coach. He was promoted to head coach in January of 2016, thus becoming the 20th head coach in franchise history. As head coach of the Cavaliers, he had a combined regular season record of 128-83 (.606) and a 41-20 (.672) mark in the playoffs.

Drew was named associate head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers in September of 2016. He spent his first two seasons with the Cavaliers as an assistant coach (2014-2016), including the 2015-16 campaign when Cleveland won the NBA championship.

Before his arrival in Cleveland, Drew served as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013-14. Prior to that, he was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2010 through 2013, where he compiled a 128-102 (.557) overall record and led the Hawks to the postseason in each of his three campaigns on the bench.

Jazz guard Raul Neto remains out

Utah Jazz guard Raul Neto (right hamstring injury) was reevaluated on Thursday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and is showing progress to make a return but remains out. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Entering his fourth season with the Jazz, the guard appeared in 41 games last year, owning averages of 4.5 points, 1.8 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per contest, also seeing action in eight postseason games.

Tyreke Evans will miss Saturday Pacers game due to team rules violation

The Indiana Pacers announced Friday that Tyreke Evans will miss Saturday night’s game at Cleveland due to a violation of team rules.

“I was late for practice,” said Evans. “This is the most professional and team-oriented organization I have been with in my career. They deserve my best every day and I am disappointed in myself for causing a distraction that prevents me from being able to help my team tomorrow. I will do better.”

Kings exercise options on Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson, De`Aaron Fox, Harry Giles and Skal Labissiere

The Sacramento Kings exercised team options on Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson, De’Aaron Fox, Harry Giles and Skal Labissiere today.

In his second season out of Kentucky, Fox is averaging a team-leading 17.6 points and 6.6 assists to accompany 4.8 rebounds and 1.42 steals through five regular season contests. As a rookie in 2017-18, he posted 11.6 points, 4.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.10 steals in 73 games (61 starts).

Giles has appeared in five games as a rookie this season, posting 3.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.2 minutes per contest. The Duke product was originally selected 20th overall by Sacramento in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Acquired by Sacramento in February of 2017, Hield has averaged 14.0 points (.457 FG%, .432 3pt%, .852 FT%), 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.96 steals in 110 games with the Kings. The former Naismith Collegiate Player of the Year and sixth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft earned First Team All-Rookie honors after posting 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 82 games in 2016-17.

Jackson has posted 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.87 steals per game to start his second NBA campaign after being selected 15th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. The former ACC Player of the Year appeared in 68 contests as a rookie last season, making 41 starts.

Currently in his third NBA season out of Kentucky, Labissiere has accrued averages of 8.5 points (.466 FG%, .355 3pt%, .766 FT%), 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 96 games (41 starts).

Knicks vs Warriors pregame notes

The Warriors visit the Knicks tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET. Game televised on MSG and NBATV.

PREGAME NOTES

The Knicks enter this game with a 1-4 record. They beat the lowly Hawks in their October 17 season opener, then lost to the Nets, Celtics, Bucks and Heat. The team’s leading scorer has been Tim Hardaway Jr. (24.4 points, 41.6% FG), followed by Enes Kanter (16.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 57.4% FG), Damyean Dotson (14.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 48.6% FG), Trey Burke (11.2 ppg, 5.0 apg, 38.7% FG), Mario Hezonja (10.0 ppg, 37.7% FG), Kevin Knox (9.3 ppg, 35.5% FG), Allonzo Trier (9.2 ppg, 37.8% FG), Noah Vonleh (7.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg in just 17.0 minutes per game) and Frank Ntilikina (6.6 ppg, 36.1% FG).

The Warriors enter tonight’s game 4-1, beating the Thunder and Jazz, then losing by two points to the Nuggets, then beating the Suns by 20 and the Wizards by 22. They’ve been led in scoring so far this season by Stephen Curry (34.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.8 apg, 55.0% FG, 52.4% 3FG), followed by Kevin Durant (27.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 52% FG, 25.0% 3FG), Klay Thompson (15.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 39.5% FG, 14.8% 3FG), Damian Jones (8.4 ppg, 85.7% FG), Shaun Livingston (7.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 60.0% FG), Jonas Jerebko (6.6 ppg, 50% FG), Kevon Looney 6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 61.9% FG) and Draymond Green (6.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 7.0 apg, 37.9% FG)

A FEW THINGS TO WATCH

The Warriors have to expect that Klay Thompson will find his shot sometime soon. And that Draymond Green will pick things up a bit in that department as well. Also, the Golden State center rotation is always worth watching… The Warriors offense is close to the top of the league, but their defensive efficiency hasn’t been impressive just yet.

Playing without Kristaps Porzingis and talented rookie Kevin Knox, the Knicks in general are in a state of rebuild and early this season in particular are mostly looking for stability in the form of learning which young players are worthy of the most minutes… In their first five games the Knicks defense has been reasonably efficent, but their offense is still a work in serious construction.

BOTTOM LINE

The Warriors are really good.

Enjoy the game.

Moritz Wagner heads to G League for health recovery reasons

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie center Moritz Wagner to the South Bay Lakers on rehab assignment.

Wagner, who sustained a left knee contusion on July 10, has been medically cleared to return to play and will continue his rehab progression with the South Bay Lakers. The Michigan product was selected by the Lakers with the 25th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Nuggets fall to Lakers for first loss of season

The Nuggets are off to a great start this season, but their first loss came courtesy of a LeBron James triple-double fueled Lakers squad. Here’s the Denver Post reporting:

The Nuggets were up 106-98 with 6:11 left in the game before the Lakers closed on a 23-8 run. LeBron James’ triple-double helped, as did Lonzo Ball’s clutch step-back 3-pointer, but give Lance Stephenson credit. He had a personal run of eight straight, including back-to-back 3-pointers that energized the Staples Center crowd with Kobe Bryant sitting courtside.

“Six minutes is a lifetime on the road with a guy like LeBron James,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said.

Veteran Paul Millsap, who struggled from the floor with just six points, put the onus on the Nuggets.

“Something we haven’t been all year, got a little rattled, little rattled down the stretch. Forced a few shots. We didn’t stay poised like we normally do,” he said…

Monte Morris finished with a career-high 20 points, seven assists and three steals as the third Nugget to notch at least 20 points (Nikola Jokic 24, Jamal Murray 22).

— Full article

Bobby Portis injured, out 4-6 weeks

The Chicago Bulls say that an MRI has confirmed that forward Bobby Portis sustained a moderate sprain of the MCL of his right knee during the October 24 game against the Hornets.

It is estimated that Portis will be out for 4-6 weeks.

Starting all four games that he played in so far this season, Portis in 28.3 minutes per contest has been averaging 10.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.

The 1-3 Bulls have been led in scoring by Zach LaVine, who is posting big numbers: 32.3 ppg on impressive 57.1% shooting. But no one else on the team is scoring more than 14.8 ppg.

But so far the team’s offense has been fairly average for the league. The problem early this season has been defense.