Chris Wilcox stepping up for Celtics off bench

chris wilcox

When the season began, Chris Wilcox was an everyday rotation player who entered games as a first-quarter sub for Kevin Garnett.

Injuries, inconsistent play and the emergence of Jared Sullinger (and to a lesser extent, Jason Collins) relocated Wilcox to near end-of-the-bench status even after he was cleared to play following his most recent ailment.

Sullinger’s season-ending back surgery has paved the way for Wilcox to garner more minutes, and the veteran is making the most of the opportunity.

Although the final score in Boston’s 116-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers was decisively lopsided, Wilcox’s play off the bench was among the subtle but important contributions in the Celtics victory.

— Reported by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE

Rick Carlisle impressed with Warriors

Just because the Golden State Warriors played and lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, 99-93, on Friday night, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t believe that gives his team a distinct advantage when they face the Warriors tonight at 7:30 at American Airlines Center.

“They’re very, very good and they always bring it,” Carlisle told three reporters after this morning’s shoot around. “The other thing about them statistically, a lot of teams have big dropoffs on (the second game of) back-to-backs.

“These guys actually have better stats in a lot of areas on back-to-backs, which shows what great condition they’re in and how tough-minded they are.”

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Blog)

Knicks defense can use improvement

raymond felton

John Wall torched the Knicks on pick-and-roll plays in the Wizards’ win over New York on Wednesday. The Bucks and Magic backcourt scored at will against the Knicks in the first half of recent home games. And Jeff Teague (27 points) and Jrue Holiday (35 points) had big scoring nights against New York, thanks to pick-and-roll success.

“When you’re playing quick point guards like that you have to stick to the game plan and if the game plan doesn’t work, then you have to make adjustments,” Tyson Chandler said last week. “We had problems in accomplishing either.”

The Knicks have relied heavily on switching against the pick-and-roll play, rather than having the player guarding the ball handler fight through the screen. This has led to favorable mismatches for the opponent. It’s also forced the Knicks into defensive rotations that oftentimes have created fissures in coverage.

“We’ve got to stop begging for help,” said Woodson, whose team has another tough test on Sunday against Chris Paul and the Clippers.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Efficient LeBron playing at highest level yet

lebron james

He’s made 37 of his last 47 shots over his last 111 minutes, a torrid 79-percent clip. For the season, he’s shooting a career-best 56 percent so far, easily on pace for the sixth straight season of improvement in that department. His 3-point shooting, at 42 percent this season, is much improved. He’s shooting 70 percent inside the paint.

“I want to continue to push the button, continue to get better, maximize my potential and not waste an opportunity,” James said.

The numbers go on and on. He’s averaging 26.9 points this season. According to STATS LLC, only five players in NBA history have averaged that many points while shooting at least 56 percent over a full season. Maybe that’s why Heat guard Dwyane Wade marvels when talking about James these days, saying “every year, it seems like he does the amazing.”

“Numbers don’t lie,” James said.

At least, they don’t in this case. After winning his third MVP award, second Olympic gold medal and first NBA championship, James said he wanted to get even better.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Dwight Howard`s father speaks up on Lakers drama

dwight howard

When asked about the unfolding soap opera in Los Angeles, Dwight Sr. defended his son and criticized both Bryant and Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni.

“I told him before he said it publicly, ‘It’s your career. No person can say what you need to do or not do. You can’t worry about what Kobe or anybody else says,’” the elder Howard said. “Nobody can say what Kobe said — that’s stepping into another man’s shoes. I understand what Kobe was trying to do, but he went about it the wrong way. He’s trying to win a championship. But Dwight has to tell Kobe, ‘I appreciate your opinion, but that doesn’t matter. We’re two men on this team. We need to be reasonable about this.’”

Dwight Sr. said he believed Bryant was trying to motivate his son, but that the advice was misplaced, adding: “The problem is the coach. (D’Antoni) needs to step in and say, ‘You guys have got to be quiet. We’re trying to secure something here. Dwight is probably looking at the coach, thinking, ‘What are you going to do?’ I promise, if that had been Stan Van Gundy, that wouldn’t have happened. (Howard) wouldn’t have been admonished publicly. I think the coach has a lot to do with who controls Kobe’s mouth right now.”

— Reported by Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Blog)

Hawks optimistic Lou Williams will be ready for camp

louis williams

The Atlanta Hawks say they are optimistic guard Lou Williams will be ready for training camp following reconstructive surgery on his right knee.

Williams’ surgery was performed on Thursday in Gulf Breeze, Fla., by Dr. James Andrews, leaving about eight months before the start of next season’s training camp. The Hawks say they are basing their optimism on the success of other athletes who have had surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments, including Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Pistons center Andre Drummond injured, out 4-6 weeks

The Detroit Pistons announced this evening that Andre Drummond will be out of the line-up for approximately 4-6 weeks due to a stress fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebra. The injury was diagnosed following examinations conducted on Thursday, February 7 by team medical personnel.

Drummond has been placed in a custom brace and activity levels will be modified while the injury heals. He will be re-evaluated on a regular basis. Team doctors anticipate a full recovery with rest and rehabilitation.

The 6-foot-11 forward has appeared in 50 games this season averaging 7.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.68 blocks in 19.7 minutes per game.

leads all NBA rookies in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and ranks second in blocks (1.68 bpg), fourth in steals (0.94 spg) and eighth in points (7.3 ppg).

Grizzlies say they will not trade Zach Randolph this season

zach randolph

The Grizzlies say they will not trade Zach Randolph this season.

The team has fielded calls proposing trades for its all-star, but Griz CEO Jason Levien said he told Randolph on Thursday that he won’t be dealt this season. NBA teams have been told the Grizzlies aren’t looking to move the 31-year-old forward, who averages 15.7 points and 11.7 rebounds.

Randolph, speaking after the Grizzlies’ Friday morning shootaround in FedExForum, said he hadn’t been bothered by the trade speculation.

— Reported by Ron Higgins and Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Shawn Marion says bad teams should not try to trade for him

shawn marion

The Feb. 21 NBA trade deadline is approaching. Shawn Marion doesn’t know if his name will be wafting in trade winds, but he says this much for certain:

“The thing is, right now, you come into a position like I am, this is my 14th season,” Marion, 34, said after practice Friday. “If I’m going to get traded, they’re going to tell me what’s going on and where I’m going.

“Because if I’m going to a (crummy) situation, I’m not going. It’s just that simple.”

Marion does not have the ability, by contract, to veto trades, but he does have a 15-percent trade-kicker clause.

— Reported by Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News

Celtics once again assign Fab Melo to D-League

The Boston Celtics today re-assigned rookie center Fab Melo to the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the record 126th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, and is the sixth for Melo this year. He is one of a record 52 NBA players who’ve been assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Melo (7-0, 215, Syracuse) returns to the Red Claws where he previously appeared in 19 games,  averaging 11.3points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game.

Originally selected in the first round (22nd overall) by Boston in the 2012 NBA Draft, he has played in two games for the Celtics this season, scoring two points in eight minutes.

Melo is expected to join the Red Claws today and be available tonight when the team hosts the Bakersfield Jam.