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Joakim Noah fined $25,000 for pushing a fan
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Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has been fined $25,000 for pushing a fan, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred at halftime of the Bulls’ 106-91 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 6 at Quicken Loans Arena.
Slight hope that injured John Wall can return during these playoffs
Here’s CSN Washington reporting on John Wall, who has multiple hand and wrist injuries and is still presumably done for the playoffs:
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While the end appears near for John Wall this postseason, he’s not giving up hope that he could actually play again in this series with the Atlanta Hawks that is tied 1-1 with Game 3 Saturday at Verizon Center. Or at some point in the playoffs if the Wizards can advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Friday, he avoided giving any specifics on a timetable for his return from a left hand and wrist that has five non-displaced fractures.
“It’s moving better but there’s still pain there,” said Wall, who led the Wizards to a 104-98 win in Game 1 with 18 points and 13 assists. “I haven’t tried dribbling again so I’ll probably try it tomorrow. Just the same pain has been there even if the swelling goes down a little bit.
“I have no idea (if I can play again). Depends on my swelling and how all the pain goes away. I finished Game 1 with it not knowing I had anything wrong and then I came back and got evaluations so I have no idea.”
Matt Barnes says Chris Paul will play Rockets-Clippers Game 3
Here’s ESPN LA quoting Matt Barnes on Chris Paul:
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Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul plans to start Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets on Friday, according to teammate Matt Barnes.
After going through an on-court workout on Thursday and a shootaround on Friday, Paul told teammates he plans to play in Friday’s game.
“He said he’s playing tonight,” Barnes said Friday after going through shootaround with Paul. “You just hope that he’s ready. His game is so much stop-and-go, and he’s such an integral part of our team. I hope he can stay healthy throughout the game because we’re going to need him for this run.”
Chris Paul making progress, may play in Game 3 vs Rockets
The Clippers stepped up without Chris Paul in Game 1 but could have used him in Game 2. And need him back as soon as possible. Here’s the OC Register reporting:
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The Clippers left Houston with a win, plenty of confidence and homecourt advantage. But the biggest, most important thing leaving town with the Clippers was a point guard who wasn’t any more injured.
Chris Paul, the man whose last-second shot sent the NBA’s defending champions packing in Round 1, didn’t have to push it in Houston. He didn’t need to try and play to prove the Clippers can be competitive.
Instead, he rested. He healed. He put himself in position to possibly come back.
Paul went through a comprehensive workout on the court Thursday, giving him his best chance to play Friday in Game 3.
John Wall has multiple wrist and hand fractures
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Washington Wizards guard John Wall underwent multiple examinations yesterday that revealed five non-displaced fractures in his left wrist and hand.
Wall and the team are currently in consultation with multiple physicians and specialists to determine the best course of action and his playing status has yet to be determined. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Quincy Pondexter recovering after knee surgery
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Quincy Pondexter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this morning. A timetable for his return to basketball activities will be announced in the near future.
The Pelicans qualified for the 2015 playoffs as the Western conference 8th seed but were swept in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.
Pondexter, 6-7, 220, was acquired by New Orleans on January 12, 2015 in a three-team trade with Boston and Memphis. Appearing in a total of 75 games this season with Memphis and New Orleans, Pondexter averaged 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. Pondexter appeared in all four playoff games against Golden State, averaging 7.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Nets cannot count on upcoming NBA drafts
Here’s the New York Post providing perspective on the Brooklyn Nets NBA draft situation for the next few seasons. And no, the dog in the photo above is not draft-eligible, so don’t ask:
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Nets general manager Billy King will meet with the media Wednesday morning to address his team’s season and what lies ahead this summer.
The Nets have no control of their own first-round draft picks between now and 2019 — and are without a first-round pick in 2016 and 2018, with both of those selections headed to the Celtics as part of the trade that brought Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn in 2013. That leaves many challenges ahead for King, who will try to keep the Nets competitive between now and July 2016, when they are scheduled to have plenty of cap space to remake their roster.
There is still a whole season to play until then, however, and finding the most competitive way to bridge that gap will be King’s biggest challenge.
Mike Conley returns, helps Grizzlies beat Warriors in Game 2
Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting on Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who returned to action and helped his squad beat the Warriors in Golden State to tie their second-round playoff series at one win apiece:
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After his fearless performance in a Game 2 win over Golden State on Tuesday night, the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley admitted that he was getting pushed and pulled in different directions as to whether he should play so soon after a serious facial injury.
The push was likely coming from some teammates, who sorely missed their point guard’s presence in a decisive Game 1 loss. The pull was coming from his parents, who believed that the 27-year-old should wait a little longer before putting himself at risk again.
A game-high 22-point effort, including nine first-quarter points and a key three-pointer in the closing minutes, and Conley’s parents are probably just fine with their son’s gutsy decision.
“I had to tell my mom and dad, no, I’m playing regardless,” Conley said. “But, I think they’re happy at the end of the day. They support me.”
Blake Griffin steps up as vocal leader
With Chris Paul out, it was the Blake Griffin show even more than usual yesterday. And he stepped up in multiple ways. Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting:
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Blake Griffin has always been a quiet leader.
When Chris Paul is yelling instructions or screaming for his teammates to huddle, Griffin can usually be found standing beside the rest of his teammates listening.
“I’m not ever one of those guys that’s going to yell at guys,” Griffin said. “It’s about helping them out.”
On Monday, Griffin helped out the Los Angeles Clippers by morphing into the vocal leader they were missing. With Paul sidelined for the game with a strained left hamstring, Griffin took over and made sure his play, and his voice, were heard loud and clear in leading the Clippers to a 117-101 Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets.
Griffin notched his second straight triple-double — and third in his past eight postseason games — with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. He became the first player with back-to-back triple-doubles in the postseason since Jason Kidd accomplished the feat in 2002 and just the third non-guard with back-to-back triple-doubles in the postseason since John Havelick in 1967 and Wilt Chamberlain (twice) in 1968.
Isiah Thomas now president and part-owner of NY Liberty
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The New York Liberty and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas today announced that Mr. Thomas has been named team president, with responsibility for basketball and business operations. Mr. Thomas has also taken an ownership interest in the team.
It’s very surprising that Thomas is once again working for the Garden. According to the New York Post, “during a disastrous stint as Knicks president and coach, Thomas was implicated in a sexual harassment involving former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders, who received an $11.6 million settlement from the Garden in 2007 for a hostile work environment.”
“In the fall, Isiah and I began discussions about a possible role for him with the Liberty. Since that time, Isiah has been advising the team, and we are very pleased with the results. He has overseen the strengthening of our coaching staff, with the return of three-time WNBA Champion head coach Bill Laimbeer and the hiring of Herb Williams as assistant coach, as well as our recent free agent signings, draft strategy, trade for Epiphanny Prince and the return of Liberty legend, Teresa Weatherspoon,” said Mr. James Dolan, executive chairman, The Madison Square Garden Company. “Now, we’ve agreed that it is time for him to take a lead role with the team as president, and through his ownership interest. He’s an excellent judge of talent, and I’m confident that he will put all of his energy and experience into making the Liberty a perennially competitive and successful team.”
Mr. Thomas said: “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the New York Liberty and help the franchise reclaim its position as one of the elite teams in the WNBA. Following a conversation with Jim about his thoughts on the franchise, I expressed my interest and enthusiasm for taking responsibility for both the basketball and business operations, as well as for taking an ownership interest in the team. To me, basketball is basketball. These women are outstanding athletes who want to compete for a championship in New York. I look forward to this challenge – not just to win a title, but also to help broaden the team’s fanbase.”
The New York Liberty was founded in 1996 as one of eight original members of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in 12 of its 18 seasons, with four trips to the Finals in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2002.