Theus Still A King On The Court

The Sacramento Kings, minus the injured Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin, beat the Knicks 107-97 at MSG on Wednesday [January 2]. The win boosted the Kings’ record to 12-18.

“[During the interview with the Maloofs], I had told them,” said Reggie Theus, their first year coach, “that I will coach this team hard, and I wouldn’t play guys if they didn’t deserve to be on the floor. I let them know that before they gave me the job ‘cause I needed to know where my support was coming from. We needed to change the culture around here.”

Theus, who averaged 18.5 points and 6.3 assists over 13 seasons, also weighed in with this summation of the Knicks. “I didn’t see any quit in them. But, I didn’t see any effort to take it to the next level. I didn’t see anyone out there [on their side] that was trying to make a difference.”

So, how much of that is Isiah Thomas’ fault?

“The coach is not on the floor. That is the players’ fault. I know Isiah is telling them the right things. There is a lot of talent over there. But, this league coddles the players way too much. Players have to take responsibility, and be accountable for [their play] on the floor. That’s the way it should be.

“The blame has to be spread out. I’ve been on losing teams. I know what it’s like. I’ve never had a coach tell me not to do certain things. In a lot of cases [when I played], it was talent-based. We weren’t very good. But, the Knicks are a lot better than that. The coach has to take the hit; we all understand that. But, the accountability still needs to fall on the players’ shoulders.”

Paul Davis out 6-8 months after right knee surgery

Los Angeles Clippers’ forward Paul Davis underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.  The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Davis is scheduled to remain in Birmingham undergoing physical therapy until his return to Los Angeles on January 11th.  The timetable for his return is expected to be six to eight months.

Davis originally sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Clippers’ game in Dallas on December 21st.  In 22 games this season, Davis averaged 2.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 8.8 minutes per game.

NBA suspends Zach Randolph one game for throwing headband

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: Zach Randolph of the New York Knicks has been suspended one game without pay for throwing his headband and hitting an official, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 1:47 remaining in the third period of the Knicks 107-97 loss to the Kings on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at Madison Square Garden.

Randolph will serve his suspension tonight when the Knicks visit the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

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Jelani McCoy signs with D-League’s L.A. D-Fenders

The Los Angeles D-Fenders have reacquired center Jelani McCoy, who was a free agent.  McCoy, Los Angeles’ first-round selection in the 2007 NBA D-League Draft, returns to the D-Fenders after earning the second NBA Gatorade Call-Up of the 2007-08 season by the Denver Nuggets.

McCoy, 6-10, 245-pounds, was signed on Nov. 29 and appeared in six games (one start) for the Nuggets.  Before being waived by Denver on Dec. 27, McCoy averaged 1.2 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.5 points in 5.5 minutes of action.  During his first stint with the D-Fenders he averaged 8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds 4.0 blocks and 3.5 assists in two games.

A seven-year NBA veteran, McCoy has played with Seattle, the L.A. Lakers, Toronto, Cleveland and Atlanta.  He holds NBA career averages of 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 254 career appearances.

To make room for McCoy on the roster, the D-Fenders waived forward/center Robert Whaley due to injury.  Whaley averaged 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 13 games (8 starts) for the D-Fenders.

Unselfish Camby defending, rebounding

NBA.com reports: Marcus Camby just might be the most unselfish player in the NBA. While playing alongside Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, two of the league’s top four scorers, the veteran center’s role is usually limited to the defensive end and the glass. On Thursday, he once again proved his value by posting 18 rebounds and four blocks to go along with six points to help the Nuggets top the San Antonio Spurs.

Blazers have heart, baby

NBA.com reports: They might not be the flashiest or most talented team in the league, but is there any team playing with more heart than the Portland Blazers right now? Portland won 10 at home during its 13-game winning streak and lost in Utah on Monday, leaving many to believe that its recent hot streak was a result of easy home scheduling. But after rallying from 14 down in the second half and outlasting the Bulls in a 115-109 double-overtime road decision on the second day of a back-to-back Thursday, you can’t help but think Brandon Roy and Co. are for real. Roy, who is not even among the top 10 vote-getters for Western Conference guards, tallied 25 points and 11 assists, while Travis Outlaw scored 21, including a big three-point play down the stretch.

Rumors Commentary: TJ Ford is OK

Great news that TJ Ford is going to be OK and will resume his basketball career sometime in the near future. Not that there was specific reason to doubt he’d return, other than remembering how serious his past injury situation was. He really needs to stop this getting hurt nonsense. Or next time just sprain a finger or lightly twist an ankle or something.

Isiah Thomas saying this team should head for a championship is ridiculous and it impresses me that none of the reporters there to hear it burst out laughing. Does Isiah really believe what he’s saying, or was he told to say it by ownership? Maybe that’s part of his contract, having to say what owners tell him, no matter how silly it is. Does Isiah read the papers? If so he’d see that literally every single reporter who heard the comments mocked how ridiculous it is to say that stuff.

As the Feb. 21 trade deadline approaches this rumors page will become even more interesting than it already is, and that’s saying a lot. But once the deadline passes we’ll still be a must-read page. The tone merely changes a bit.

Damon Stoudamire probably only has a few seasons left in his career, which I guess is why he and his agent want him moved as quickly as possible. If he just rides this one out, his next contract may be for the league minimum for a player with his experience. But if he gets traded and gets minutes somewhere, he stil has a shot at getting something higher than the minimum. He’s already 34. Most point guards are washed up right around 35 or so.

Who is the better defensive stopper at this point, Ben Wallace or Chris Kaman? Only answer if you’ve seen at least four Clippers and four Bulls games this season.

So it turns out that former Magic coach Brian Hill was right about almost every aspect of the team. Does that mean he gets his job back? No need, because Stan Van Gundy appears to have as good a grasp on the situation.

Speaking of giving coaches their job back, maybe the Rockets should bring Jeff Van Gundy back. It won’t happen, obviously. But I hope Van Gundy stays on television, where he’s terrific to listen to.

At this rate, the Nets will move to Brooklyn right around the time T.J. Kidd (Jason Kidd’s son) has a grandson declaring for the Draft.

This light, unedited editorial is a response to today’s NBA rumors stories. You absolutely need to hit the insidehoops rumors page every single day — with one main morning update, and more stories later in the day as they develop. Also hit that page to see the photo caption that accompanies the commentary. And of course, read the read of insidehoops.com as well. Discuss today’s hot stories on our basketball forum.

No Nets in Brooklyn until 2010 at earliest

The AP reports: The Nets will play most or all of the 2009-10 N.B.A. season in New Jersey instead of in their new arena in Brooklyn, a team spokesman said Thursday. The spokesman, Barry Baum, said the Nets could begin the 2009-10 season at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., and then move to Brooklyn in the first half of 2010. The Nets had planned to play in their new arena starting in 2009. But in October, the Nets’ principal owner, Bruce Ratner, said the arena, to be called the Barclays Center, probably would not be ready by the start of that season.

Iverson’s son OK after fall, surgery

The Rocky Mountain News reports: Allen Iverson was playing with plenty else on his mind. He had missed practice Monday and Wednesday (the Nuggets were off Tuesday) because his 4-year-old son, Isaiah, had fallen off a stool early Monday morning and suffered what Iverson called a “big gash under his mouth” that needed plastic surgery. “He had hands in his shirt, and it was a high stool,” said Iverson, who said there was lots of blood and his son must go back to the doctor every other day in the next week. “When he fell, he couldn’t brace it. . . . (It was tough because) my wife had to go through what she went through and my kids and (Isaiah) having to go through it. The toughest part was when they sedated him. . . . I was just mentally out of it.”

Damon Stoudamire wants trade from Grizzlies

Looks like Memphis point guard Damon Stoudamire, who this season in 21.5 minutes per game has averaged 7.3 points and 3.9 assists on 39.7% shooting, has no interest in being bench fodder while young Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry pass him on the depth charts. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Grizzlies veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire will seek a trade or contract buyout, his agent said Thursday. Stoudamire was removed from the starting lineup in favor of first-round draft pick Mike Conley. Stoudamire was on the inactive list for the Grizzlies’ victory Wednesday over Indiana. Aaron Goodwin, an experienced NBA agent with a star-studded client list, called the decision to relegate Stoudamire to an insurance player at the point unacceptable and disrespectful.

The Grizzlies have struggled this season and with 9 wins and 22 losses are tied for the 5th lowest winning percentage in the league.