Darrell Arthur suspended for shoving Dion Waiters

Darrell Arthur suspended for shoving Dion Waiters in back during shot

Darrell Arthur suspended for shoving Dion Waiters

Denver Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur has been suspended one game without pay for shoving Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters in the back as he elevated for a layup, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

It was a dangerous move by Arthur, whose shove sent Waiters flying.

The incident, for which Arthur was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected, occurred with 4.4 seconds remaining in the first period of the Cavaliers’ 110-101 win over the Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Arthur will serve his suspension on Sunday when the Nuggets travel to Portland to play the Trail Blazers.

To view the play, click on this link.

Steve Kerr and Jason Terry share bball roots

As a player, Steve Kerr was a key role player for squads that won championships. Now he’s coaching one of the key squads in the  league.

Guard Jason Terry, now towards the end of his days as a player, still has skills, mostly as a backup guard at this point.

Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting on their past:

Steve Kerr and Jason Terry share basketball roots

Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Rockets guard Jason Terry go back a long way. Not only did the two both play in the NBA at the same time – early in Terry’s career and near the end of Kerr’s – they also knew each other from summer pick up games in the University of Arizona gym.

“I remember when Jason first got to U of A, I was going back a lot in the summers and I played pick up ball with the guys,” Kerr, also an Arizona alum, said. “He was a sophomore and I was maybe in my fifth year in the league and you could tell he was going to be good right away.”

Terry was familiar with Kerr and would speak with him often. The two became friends over the years and have always kept in touch.

Grizzlies assign Jordan Adams and Jarnell Stokes to D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that rookie guard Jordan Adams and rookie forward/center Jarnell Stokes has been assigned to the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies’ exclusive D-League affiliate. Both will be available to play in the Energy’s preseason contest tonight in Memphis against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, which tips off at 5 p.m. CT at FedExForum.

Adams (6-5, 209) was selected by Memphis in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft after two seasons at UCLA (2012-14), where he averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a school-record 2.43 steals on .467 shooting in 30.2 minutes in 69 career games. Adams made his NBA debut on Nov. 3 vs. New Orleans.

The 19-year-old earned First Team All-Pac 12 honors as a sophomore with the Bruins last season, leading the team with 17.4 points and a conference-high 2.64 steals while shooting .485 from the field in 30.1 minutes in 36 games. The Atlanta native totaled a single-season school-record 95 steals, ranking second in the NCAA, and his 626 points marked the second-highest single-season total at UCLA in the last 19 seasons behind Kevin Love (681 in 2007-08).

Stokes (6-9, 263) was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round (35th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft and traded to Memphis on draft night for a 2016 second round draft pick. The Memphis native has not yet made his NBA regular season debut.

The 20-year-old played three years at the University of Tennessee (2011-14), averaging 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.08 blocks on .530 shooting in 29.7 minutes in 87 games. The 20-year-old left the Volunteers ranked fourth in school history in double-doubles (40), eighth in total rebounds (836) and 14th in blocks (94). He led the Southeastern Conference in offensive rebounding in each of his final two years in Knoxville.

David Lee out with hamstring strain

David Lee out with hamstring strain, for two weeks or more

David Lee out with hamstring strain

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee underwent an MRI yesterday that revealed a reaggravated strained left hamstring, the injury that sidelined him for the first three games of the season. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Lee scored six points in his season debut before suffering the injury at the 8:51 mark of the second quarter in Wednesday’s 121-104 win over the Clippers.

OKC Thunder sign Ish Smith

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed free agent guard Ish Smith to a contract pursuant to the NBA’s hardship rule, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Smith (6-0, 175) spent the 2013-14 season with Phoenix where he averaged 3.7 points, 2.6 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 70 games (one start). An undrafted guard out of Wake Forest, Smith owns career averages of 2.9 points, 2.0 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 11.5 minutes in 191 games (eight starts) with Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee and Phoenix.

Gordon Hayward hits game-winning buzzer-beater vs Cavs

The Utah Jazz got quite a thrill in their home arena last night, courtesy of Gordon Hayward, who nailed a beautiful jumpshot at the buzzer to give his squad a win.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, still working to develop team chemistry, are a serious work in progress right now, but still, any win against a team with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on their roster is a good one.

Here’s the Deseret news reporting, followed by video of Hayward’s game-winning, buzzer-beating shot:

Sundiata Gaines has some company when it comes to the part of Utah Jazz lore that includes hitting buzzer-beating shots against LeBron James’ teams.

In a moment that encapsulated the Jazz’s better-than-expected play this fall and highlighted the progression of his career, small forward Gordon Hayward lifted the Utah Jazz to one doozy of a 102-100 win over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers with a buzzer-beating dagger.

“This is crazy. We did it for these guys (the fans). This is exciting,” Hayward said on the court in his walk-off interview as spectators screamed and streamers danced from the ceiling. “We are competitors. We fight until the end. We left it all out there tonight.” …

Hayward scored 21 points — matching center Derrick Favors’ offensive output — but none of his seven buckets will be remembered as much as the one that improved Utah to 2-3 while knocking the struggling Cavs down another notch to 1-3.

J.R. Smith suspended for striking Glen Rice Jr

J.R. Smith suspended one game for striking Glen Rice Jr in groin

JR Smith suspended

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been suspended one game without pay for striking Washington Wizards guard Glen Rice Jr. in the groin, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 5:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of Washington’s 98-83 win over New York on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Madison Square Garden.

Smith will serve his suspension tonight when the Knicks visit the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

To view the play, click on this link.

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced today several additions and promotions to the basketball operations staff. Sachin Gupta has been named Vice President of Basketball Operations and Ben Falk has been named Vice President of Basketball Strategy. Vince Rozman has been promoted to Director of Basketball Operations & Scouting Innovation. Phil Jabour (Director of Scouting Development) and Danny Mills (International Scout) join recently promoted Rod Baker as new additions to the Sixers scouting department. NBA veteran Sean Rooks joins the Sixers as Player Development Coach and Philadelphia native Eugene Burroughs will serve as the Sixers Shooting Coach.

Gupta began his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2006 as General Manager Daryl Morey’s first hire, laying the foundation for the team’s extensive analytics undertaking. In addition to his responsibilities as an analyst, Gupta also assisted in managing the team’s salary cap during his six-year tenure in Houston. Prior to joining the Rockets, Gupta spent two years at ESPN where he developed the widely popular NBA Trade Machine. Gupta joins the Sixers in a full-time capacity after completing his MBA from Stanford, during which he served as a Sixers consultant.

Falk joins the Sixers after spending the previous four seasons as the Basketball Analytics Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers. While with the Blazers, Falk worked closely with both the front office and coaching staff, leading team efforts in integrating statistics and technology into coaching and management processes. Falk originally hails from Potomac, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Maryland.

Rozman begins his ninth season with the Sixers basketball operations department. Rozman served most recently as Scouting Coordinator prior to this promotion.

Jabour joins the Sixers from the Orlando Magic where he served the past two seasons as a Scout. Jabour previously worked five years in the scouting department of the Houston Rockets and served on the support staff of USA Basketball in 2006.

Mills, an Australian Native and a former player at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), was most recently the Video Coordinator of the Bakersfield Jam. Mills brings with him experience in international basketball outside of Australia, having served as an assistant coach in Europe with both Sigma Basket Barcellona and UPEA Orlandina Basket in Italy.

As was recently announced, Philadelphia native and Roman Catholic High School alum Rod Baker was a Sixers call-up from his role as Head Coach of the Delaware 87ers last season. The longtime coach from NCAA, CBA, ABA and the NBDL will join the Sixers full-time as a Scout.

Rooks spent last season as an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. Prior to that, Rooks served on three other D-League coaching staffs following his 12-year playing career, including stops with the Lakers, Mavericks, Clippers, Timberwolves, Hornets, and Magic.

Burroughs, a Philadelphia native who played high school basketball at Episcopal Academy, joins the Sixers as Shooting Coach from Marist, where he served as an Assistant Coach. Prior to Marist, Burroughs 18-year coaching career included stops at Penn State, the U.S. Naval Academy, Hofstra, and American University.

Brook Lopez returns for Nets

Brook Lopez returns for Nets, who beat banged-up Thunder by 31

michael redd

Playing at home in Brooklyn, the Nets on Monday destroyed the injury-riddled Oklahoma City Thunder 116-85 and now have a 2-1 record in the 2014-15 season, which began just last Tuesday.

Nets center Brook Lopez has had major injury problems in his career, and was out yet again recently, this time with a relatively minor issue. He played his first game Monday. All went well.

According to ESPN.com, “Lopez (right midfoot sprain), playing in his first regular-season game since Dec. 20, 2013, finished with 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes, and the Brooklyn Nets rolled to an easy 116-85 victory over the injury-ravaged Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night in their home opener at Barclays Center.”

More from ESPN.com: “It felt good to be out there with the guys,” Lopez said. “It was a little frustrating personally because I got in some early foul trouble, but our guys kept playing. We were fantastic out there. We were great defensively; there were really no lulls. We moved the ball offensively and got what we wanted. We couldn’t have started off in a better way at home.”

Cavs sign Will Cherry

After waiving guard A.J. Price yesterday, Cavs sign Will Cherry

Cavs sign Will Cherry

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Will Cherry, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Cherry becomes the fifth Charge player called up by the Cavaliers in team history.

Last season, Cherry appeared in 18 games (12 starts) with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, averaging 11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. In three postseason games with the Charge, Cherry averaged 13.3 points on .484 shooting with 5.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 37.0 minutes per game.

The University of Montana alum played in five preseason games with the Toronto Raptors this season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 assists in 13.9 minutes.

Cherry also played for the Cavs summer league team in July and averaged 12.8 points on .521 shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in five games.

The Cavs roster now stands at 15.