NBA Teams – Page 647 – NBA Blog

Larry Nance Jr out four weeks with knee injury

Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr., who suffered an injury to his left knee December 20 at Charlotte, was examined prior to Sunday’s game by team physician Dr. David McAllister of UCLA Health. The diagnosis is a bone bruise.

Nance Jr. is expected to be out approximately four weeks.

The Lakers are 12-22 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Western conference.

The team’s leading scorer this season has been guard Louis Williams, averaging 18.7 ppg. Williams has come off the bench for all 34 of his games this year.

The 2017 Sixers draft situation

In possession of their own pick and the Los Angeles Lakers’ top-three protected pick, the 76ers will probably be picking twice in the lottery. The good news for the Sixers is that this draft is shaping up to be a pretty deep one. Even better news is that it’s deep with what they need: guards and wings.

Markelle Fultz is the front-runner to be the No. 1 overall pick. He’d be an excellent fit as a point guard who is more of a scorer/shooter (49 percent from three) than a facilitator to play with Simmons (not to say Fultz is a poor passer). Malik Monk of Kentucky is an undersized combo guard who, like Fultz, can light up the scoreboard. Lonzo Ball of UCLA is another combo guard with the ability to shoot (43 percent from three) and dish (8.3 assists).

Then there’s athletic wings like high-flying Kansas freshman Josh Jackson who can do a little bit of everything. The ACC has two long, athletic wings that can wreak havoc on both ends in Florida State’s Isaac Austin and Duke’s Jayson Tatum. Landing one of these guys would give the Sixers scary length and a potentially disruptive defense.

— CSN Philly

Quick Take: At some point, two things have to happen for the Sixers: 1) Full health. 2) A clear indication that their season will be one of serious competition, and not riding the bottom of the standings anymore. Perhaps that’ll happen in 2017-18.

Will Barton hopes to stay with Nuggets

Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton doesn’t have to seek it out to know what’s going on. The information comes to him.

In the past calendar year he’s been one of the most coveted players on the Nuggets roster. The Nuggets were offered a first-round pick for him last year, but they declined.

Barton hopes he stays with Denver.

“It’s tough but you hear a lot of stuff going around,” Barton told The Denver Post. “I don’t pay any attention to it, I try not to let it enter my mind and enter things that I’ve got going on. I’m here, I like it here. I just try to work hard every day, perform, and just get wins for my teammates. That’s all I care about, just focusing on the Denver Nuggets.”

— Denver Post

Quick Take: Averaging 14.3 ppg, Barton is the third leading scorer on the 12-17 Nuggets this season, behind Wilson Chandler (16.8 ppg) and Danilo Gallinari (16.4 ppg). He’s having a solid season.

J.R. Smith out 12-14 weeks after thumb surgery

Cavalier guard J.R. Smith’s surgery to repair a complex fracture of his right thumb was completed this morning at the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Montrose, Ohio. The surgery was performed by renowned hand surgeon Dr. Thomas Graham of Northwell Health of New York. Dr. TJ Reilly of the Crystal Clinic assisted. Also present was Dr. Richard D. Parker of Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. Smith will now undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation for his thumb and his return to play timeline is currently projected at 12-14 weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate.

George Karl takes shots at Carmelo Anthony in new book

It has been more than five years since Carmelo Anthony played for George Karl, but that hasn’t stopped his old coach from taking shots at him.

Karl has a new book coming out in January, Furious George, which might make his former Nuggets players angrier than anyone. Karl’s book features a number of blindsided attacks on Anthony, who he coached in Denver from Anthony’s second season until he was traded in 2011.

““Carmelo was a true conundrum for me in the six years I had him,” Karl wrote. “He was the best offensive player I ever coached. He was also a user of people, addicted to the spotlight, and very unhappy when he had to share it.

“He really lit my fuse with his low demand for himself on defense. He had no commitment to the hard, dirty work of stopping the other guy. My ideal – probably every coach’s ideal – is when your best player also is your leader. But since Carmelo only played hard on one side of the ball, he made it plain and simple he couldn’t lead the Nuggets, even though he said he wanted to. Coaching him meant working around his defense and compensating for his attitude.”

Anthony knew the questions were coming and he took the high road after the Knicks beat the Magic, 106-95, mostly laughing off the comments.

“Nothing disappoints me anymore,” Anthony said. “I’m past being disappointed. I just hope that he finds happiness in what he’s doing. His book, hopefully will bring him happiness.

— Bergen Record

Quick Take: This is great publicity for the book. We’ll be reading it.

Larry Nance, Jr knee injury update

Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance, Jr., who suffered an injury to his left knee in last night’s game in Charlotte, had an MRI exam today in Miami. Results showed a bone bruise, which will keep Nance, Jr. out indefinitely, but further results were inconclusive due to swelling in the knee. He will be re-examined by team physician Dr. David McAllister of UCLA Health on Sunday in Los Angeles, and an update will be given at that time.

Blake Griffin injury update

L.A. Clippers forward Blake Griffin underwent a successful routine arthroscopic procedure on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to remove loose bodies from his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and assisted by Dr. Steve Shimoyama at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Griffin is expected to miss approximately four-to-six weeks and will continue to undergo treatment and evaluation by the Clippers medical staff.

The five-time NBA All-Star has appeared in 26 games and is averaging 21.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists this season.

DeMarcus Cousins scores 55 points, gets un-ejected in wild game

Following a tumultuous day for Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, he scores a season-high 55 points to help his team defeat Portland 126-121. The game was not without drama, however, and a late technical foul call on Cousins that was overturned.

Ty Lawson, Aaron Afflalo and Anthony Tolliver combine for 38 points off the bench in the Kings’ win over the Trail Blazers.

The Kings fined DeMarcus Cousins $50,000 on Tuesday, but overall, they’re almost shameless apologists for their All-Star center’s poor behavior.

— Sacramento Bee

Quick Take: I think Cousins has always felt that some people were out to get him. He’s had that chip on his shoulder throughout his NBA career. What that stems from might require a psychologist (not saying that as an insult). In some cases, like bad techs, it’s understandable. But in other cases it’s mostly on him.

Ian Mahinmi will have surgery on both knees

Wizards center Ian Mahinmi will undergo PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment on both knees following consultation with Dr. James Andrews and Wizards Head Team Physician Wiemi Douoguih. He is expected to miss approximately six weeks.

Mahinmi underwent surgery to repair a partially torn medial meniscus in his left knee on Oct. 14. During the rehabilitation process, he aggravated patellar tendinitis in his right knee and sustained a bone bruise to his left knee. The PRP treatment will be administered at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Pensacola, FL.

Derrick Rose returning for Knicks tonight

Knicks point guard Derrick Rose was one of the last players to leave the court after Monday’s practice as he tested his back to make sure he will be able to return to the lineup.

Rose went through the entire practice and reported no lower-back pain. He said the plan is for him to play Tuesday night when the Knicks face the Indiana Pacers to start a three-game homestand.

The former MVP, who missed about 58 percent of his team’s games during the previous five seasons as a member of the Chicago Bulls, said he’s not concerned that this will be a lingering issue despite missing the past two games and four of the last six with the back issue.

— NY Newsday

Quick Take: The Knicks are 14-13 this season, which is tied with the Bulls for the 6th best record in the Eastern conference. The 3rd and 8th seeds in the East are only separated by one game. As for the Knicks, they need Rose healthy and effective if they hope to leapfrog that group.