Euroleague.net reports: Although it may seem contradictory, the best testimony for the first monthly MVP of the 2008-09 Euroleague season is how little he played while pacing his team to early dominance in its group. Ersan Ilyasova of Regal FC Barcelona did so much so early in both games during October that his team coasted to easy victories without needing his help to finish them off. Against quite distinct opponents and in quite different circumstances, Ilyasova and Barcelona won their first two games in Group B by an average of 26 points. That the second of those blowout wins came by 24 points against another group favorite, Panathinaikos, capped off in spectacular fashion what was already an incredibly busy and successful month for Barcelona. In between tying for first place in the Spanish League with a 4-1 record in October and taking on the Euroleague, Barcelona flew to Los Angeles for 72 hours in the middle of the month play two 100-point-plus exhibition games is less than a day against NBA teams. Every step of the way, Ilyasova’s versatility has been apparent. He ranked seventh among all Euroleague players in performance index rating for the month, third in rebounds, 11th in scoring. Most telling, he led Barcelona in both scoring and rebounding despite playing only the fourth-most minutes on the team. For his amazing efficiency on the court in a pair of huge wins that could easily have been difficult for his team, Ersan Ilyasova is Euroleague Basketball’s choice as October MVP.
Week 3 Euroleague MVP is Igor Rakocevic
Euroleague.net reports: One of world basketball’s best shooters has outdone himself at the start of the Euroleague season. Tau Ceramica guard Igor Rakocevic, a former Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy winner, recorded the competition’s best individual performance in Week 3 to lead his team to a blowout 106-65 home win against Alba Berlin. Tau is now the only undefeated team in Group C and one of four Euroleague teams that has yet to lose. Rakocevic needed just 25 minutes to score 27 points against Alba on 6-for-6 three-point, 1-for-3 two-point and 7-for-7 free-throw shooting. Rakocevic also added a game-high 5 assists and 4 fouls drawn to reach a performance index rating of 34. Sani Becirovic of Lottomatica Roma followed with a 33 index rating based on his 23 points in a road win over Union Olimpija.
Nov 6: Blazers 101, Rockets 99 OT
The AP reports: Brandon Roy made a 30-foot jumper as time expired in overtime to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a thrilling 101-99 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who snapped a five-game losing streak to the Rockets in a game that featured three dramatic shots in the final 1.9 seconds. Roy first hit a turnaround 21-footer that put the Blazers up 98-96 and sent a sold-out Rose Garden into a frenzy. But Yao Ming scored and drew a foul against Roy on the other end with 0.8 seconds left, then made the free throw to give Houston the lead. Portland called timeout and the inbounds play went to Roy, who swished the winner to send a charge through the delirious crowd.
InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: For Portland, Aldridge had 27 and 9 plus 3 blocks. Brandon Roy (just 6-of-18) had 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists (but 5 turnovers). Rudy Fernandez (5-of-9, 3-of-5 three-pointers) scored 15 off the bench. Travis Outlaw (5-of-12) had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks off the bench. Steve Blake had 8 points and 8 assists. For Houston, Tracy McGrady (11-of-23) had 30 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals. Luis Scola (7-of-10) had 14 points and 4 rebounds. Aaron Brooks (5-of-9) scored 14 off the bench. Yao Ming (4-of-13) had just 13 points and 6 rebounds. Ron Artest had a mere 10 points and 4 assists.
Nov 6: Magic 98, Sixers 88
The AP reports: Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis scored 20 points apiece and the Orlando Magic overcame Dwight Howard’s foul trouble to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 98-88 on Thursday night. With All-Star center Howard limited to only four minutes in the first half, the Magic got strong performances from Tony Battie and Lewis, who picked up the rebounding slack as Orlando won its third straight game. Thaddeus Young scored 19 points for Philadelphia, which placed four players in double figures. The Sixers cut a 23-point deficit to six in the fourth quarter but couldn’t draw closer… Jameer Nelson had a season-high 16 points for Orlando, and Howard scored seven of his 14 points in the fourth.
InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Magic shot 45.1%, the Sixers just 37.9%. The Magic also got double the free throw attempts, though bricked a lot from the line. The Magic only committed 10 turnovers. Nelson had 16 points and 9 assists. Dalembert had 10 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Elton Brand had just 6 points on bad shooting, and 12 rebounds. Iguodala had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, but 5 turnovers.
David Harrison signs in China
Fiba.com reports: American center David Harrison has been reunited with good friend and former NBA colleague Dontae Jones in China’s with Beijing. The seven-footer, who averaged almost 13 minutes in 55 games for Indiana last season, said to Titan: “I came here for the sake of basketball. “I love basketball. Besides, my good friend Dontae Jones is here, which is amazing we are together here in China playing basketball. “I will try all my best to bring the team a champion’s title.”
Adam Morrison talks with InsideHoops
Charlotte Bobcats small forward Adam Morrison averaged 11.8 points per game as a rookie in 2006-07, didn’t play last year, and is getting used to being back on the court in the early part of the new season. One big change is formerly famous long hair was now buzzed off; he almost looks like a totally different person. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner met with Morrison in Madison Square Garden Wednesday night for an exclusive interview.
Read the Morrison interview on important subjects like haircuts and video games.
Matt Barnes now father to twin boys
Phoenix Suns forward Matt Barnes left the team prior to last night’s 113-103 win over the Indiana Pacers to be with his fiancée, Gloria Govin, who gave birth to twin boys, Isaiah Michael Barnes and Carter Kelly Barnes.
The timetable for Barnes’ return is undetermined. The Suns return to action Friday night in Chicago against the Bulls at 6:30 p.m. (Phoenix time).
Jerry Sloan has 999 coaching wins
Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan is one win shy of 1,000 victories as head coach of the Jazz. With the win, Sloan will be the first head coach in NBA history to achieve 1,000 wins with one team. The Jazz head coach currently holds an overall record of 1093-717 and a 999-596 record with the Jazz.
Currently in his 21st season as head coach, Sloan is 204 victories ahead of Red Auerbach (second all-time wins with one team) and 366 wins ahead of the only other active coach in the top five, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (third all-time). Sloan is also the longest tenured coach in all of major professional sports. There have been 219 coaching changes in the NBA since he was named head coach of the Jazz on December 9, 1988.
Over his first 20 seasons, he has produced two conference championships, seven division titles, 16 consecutive winning seasons, 12 seasons with 50-plus wins and 18 playoff appearances. The 4-0 Jazz are seeking their third straight Northwest Division title in 2008-09.
Sloan will celebrate his 20th anniversary as Jazz head coach on December 9 when the Jazz travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves at 6 p.m. MST.
Greg Oden still hurting
So far, Greg Oden’s NBA career has consisted of weight-gain and injuries. He’ll be OK eventually. And this will be ancient history someday. Hopefully. But for now, things are questionable.
The Oregonian (Jason Quick) reports: It’s not exactly encouraging news on the Greg Oden injury front. As of Wednesday night, Oden was definitely being ruled out for tonight’s game against Houston, Saturday’s game against Minnesota, and now his status for the team’s upcoming trip east is tenuous at best because of his sprained right foot. “He’s not pain free,” coach Nate McMillan said. “He still feels something.” Today marks Day 9 since Oden suffered the injury on opening night against the Lakers. The team figured his rehab would take 2-to-4 weeks, and a popular prognosis being sold by some people was that Oden’s recovery would be closer to the two weeks than the four.
JJ Redick not a baller yet
The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports: The Magic aren’t expected to make any changes for tonight’s game at home against the Sixers, meaning J.J. Redick will return to a familiar spot: the bench. Redick, mired in a shooting slump, has not only been passed in the rotation by Keith Bogans, but it appears that Coach Stan Van Gundy is willing to give rookie Courtney Lee whatever minutes might be available. What that means for Redick is unclear. But it’s hard for him to get too upset after his 0-for-8 start. Bogans bided his time after an uneven preseason and has played well when the lights have come on.