Pistons General Manager Troy Weaver is leaving the organization

The Detroit Pistons announced today that General Manager Troy Weaver is leaving the organization.

“I very much appreciate all the dedication Troy displayed to our Pistons franchise,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores. “As much as we have struggled lately, we will look back and see Troy as an important person in the remaking of the Pistons. He took the pain of rebuilding head on and he did the hard work to get us the flexibility we have today. He also assembled a great core of young men with tremendous skill and character to give us a path to the future. Make no mistake, I have real appreciation for who Troy is as a person and what he has meant to the organization. I wish him the very best as he pursues his ventures.”

The decision was agreed upon mutually and comes after the Pistons recently appointed Trajan Langdon President of Basketball Operations.

Clippers sign head coach Tyronn Lue to new long-term contract

The LA Clippers have signed Tyronn Lue to a new, long-term contract, it was announced by President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank.

“T Lue is everything we want in a head coach. He’s a brilliant tactician and a natural leader with an extraordinary ability to connect with those around him, both players and staff,” said Frank. “Four years ago, we felt privileged to hire T Lue, and we feel just as fortunate today. There’s no one we’d rather coach our team. T Lue is a pillar of the organization and will be for a very long time.”

“This is where I want to be. I’ve loved coaching this team for the past four years and I’m excited to head into a new era at Intuit Dome,” said Lue. “I’m grateful to Steve, Lawrence and the entire organization for the opportunity. With our ownership, front office, roster, staff and arena, we have all the advantages we need to win in the present and the future, and I’m confident we will.”

Over four seasons as head coach of the Clippers, Lue has amassed a record of 184-134 (.579), leading the organization to the postseason in three of the past four seasons. During the 2023-24 campaign, Lue guided the team to a 51-31 (.622) record, winning the Pacific Division title for the third time in franchise history and becoming the first Clippers’ head coach to win consecutive Coach of the Month awards. Lue has coached the Clippers to four consecutive winning seasons, extending the longest active streak in the NBA to 13 seasons. The third-winningest head coach in franchise history, Lue also led the organization to its first Western Conference Finals in 2021.

Before joining the Clippers, Lue was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 (.607) record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016. During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship in his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and a player. Prior to Cleveland, Lue worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach and director of basketball development.

A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (No. 10) retired by the school in 2017.

Wizards hire Brian Keefe as their new head coach

The Washington Wizards have named Brian Keefe as head coach. Keefe becomes the 26th head coach in the organization’s history.

“We are excited for Brian to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. “As a leader in the organization, he will continue to positively grow and invest into the development of our players. His wealth of experience will help move our team forward as we build for long-term sustained success.”

Keefe was originally named interim head coach on January 25, 2024, with the team seeing improvement in defensive rating, overall net rating, and opponent three-point percentage over the remainder of the regular season. Under his direction, the Wizards held opponents to the second lowest three-point percentage (34.5%) in the league. Before being named interim head coach, Keefe was in his first season with Washington, serving as the team’s lead assistant coach.

Throughout his 16-year NBA coaching career, he has been influential in the development and evolution of the careers of multiple All-Stars, All-NBA, and MVP caliber players, with stops in Brooklyn (2021-2023), Oklahoma City (2019-20 and 2007-2014), Los Angeles (2016-2019), and New York (2014-2016). Known for his extensive background in player development, multiple Wizards players improved in various statistical categories under Keefe’s guidance as interim head coach.

He started his NBA career as a video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. During his second season, the team won the 2007 NBA championship.

“I am grateful to Michael [Winger] and Will for the opportunity to lead the Washington Wizards,” said Keefe. “I look forward to continuing to work with our players and helping them grow and develop. As a team, we are committed to a collaborative approach to build an environment of accountability and hard work that allows us to improve every day.”

As an assistant coach, Keefe has been a part of teams that have earned playoff berths on eight occasions, including five consecutive playoff appearances (2009-2014) and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Players who made the official 2023-24 All-NBA Teams lists

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been unanimously selected to the 2023-24 All-NBA First Team. Both players received First Team votes on all 99 ballots from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, with Jokić earning his fourth First Team selection and Gilgeous-Alexander his second.

Joining Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander on the 2023-24 All-NBA First Team are Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Dončić (fifth consecutive First Team selection), Antetokounmpo (sixth consecutive First Team selection) and Tatum (third consecutive First Team selection) continue their streaks of First Team honors.

The 2023-24 All-NBA Second Team consists of New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Lakers forward-center Anthony Davis.

Brunson and Edwards make their All-NBA Team debuts. This is the 11th Kia All-NBA Team selection for Durant, the sixth for Leonard and the fifth for Davis.

The 2023-24 All-NBA Third Team is composed of Lakers forward LeBron James, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Suns guard Devin Booker.

James has extended his NBA record for most Kia All-NBA Team selections to 20, having been named to the First, Second or Third Team every season since 2004-05. This marks the 10th Kia All-NBA Team selection for Curry and the second for both Sabonis and Booker. Haliburton is a first-time honoree.

The media voting panel selected players to the All-NBA Team without regard to position. Players were awarded five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for each vote to the Second Team and one point for each vote to the Third Team.

Thunder eliminated by Mavericks in second round of playoffs

Per the Oklahoman:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey. Chet Holmgren clasped his hands on his head. Jalen Williams, after his desperation heave drifted wayward, bent over, hands on knees.

The game was epic, making the Thunder’s 117-116 defeat in Game 6 all the more agonizing.

Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City is headed home.

An electric fourth-quarter filled with spectacular shotmaking and would-be game-defining plays was decided by a whistle. A correct whistle, but a whistle nonetheless.

Gilgeous-Alexander, tremendous all night, fouled his old college buddy, P.J. Washington, on a 3-pointer with three seconds left.

Mayhem preceded the call.

FULL ARTICLE

Lakers announce partial schedule for 2024-25 preseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced three games for the team’s 2024-25 preseason schedule.

The preseason slate is highlighted by an Oct.15 contest in Las Vegas against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena, the site of the purple and gold’s NBA Cup title last season. Tickets go on sale May 20.

In mid-October, the team will continue its tradition of bringing Lakers basketball to Las Vegas when it takes on Golden State Oct. 15 at T-Mobile Arena. The purple and gold own many proud moments in Sin City, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaking the then-NBA scoring record held by Wilt Chamberlain on April 5, 1984, versus Utah. Legend Kobe Bryant was named the 2007 NBA All-Star Game MVP held in Las Vegas after leading the West Team to victory with a game-high 31 points.

Los Angeles will open the preseason with a pair of games in Greater Palm Springs at Acrisure Arena, hosting Minnesota Oct. 4 and Phoenix Oct. 6. The purple and gold boast a rich history in the Coachella Valley, the former home of Lakers training camp. Legends Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal left their mark on the Greater Palm Springs area when they suited up for Los Angeles in the 1997 preseason at the College of the Desert. The Lakers most recently hosted the Suns at a sold-out Acrisure Arena during the 2023 preseason. Tickets for this year’s contests in the Coachella Valley will go on sale May 20 as well.

Suns hire Mike Budenholzer as head coach

The Phoenix Suns last week named Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach.

“We’re excited to name Mike as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and bring him back to his home state of Arizona,” said Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. “Mike has proven himself to be among the most successful head coaches in the NBA. He is the right leader to take us to the next level and reach our championship goals.”

“Mike’s exceptional basketball acumen, championship pedigree and his standing as one of the NBA’s premier coaches will be invaluable as we compete for a championship,” said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones. “We’re confident that under his leadership our team will reach new levels of success.”

“I am honored to be named head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the team I grew up watching,” said Budenholzer. “I would like to thank Mat Ishbia, Josh Bartelstein and James Jones for the opportunity to lead this team. I’m grateful to have a talented roster of players who are ready to compete and play a style of basketball that will bring out the best in all of them, and bring them together as we compete for championships.”

Injury concern for Knicks iron man Josh Hart

Per the NY Post:

It is always surprising — even jarring — to see Josh Hart come out of a game, especially during the playoffs.

Asking out is something else entirely.

The Knicks’ iron man suffered an injury to his abdominal area Friday night in the first quarter of a series-tying 116-103 loss in Game 6 against the Pacers.

Hart, who already has played four complete games in the Knicks’ first 12 of the postseason, even appeared to motion to the bench to be removed nearly midway through the third quarter.

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Pacers win at home, force a Game 7 with Knicks

Per the Indianapolis Star:

After a miserable performance in Game 5 put them on the brink of elimination, the Pacers dominated in all the areas they flopped on Tuesday, pounding the Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to tie the series 3-3 and force a Game 7.

The deciding game will be played at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The winner plays the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals…

The Knicks decision to go small starting in Game 5 with Miles McBride inserted into the starting lineup and Josh Hart moved from small to power forward gave the Pacers an obvious size advantage in the frontcourt. They didn’t exploit it nearly as much as they intended to in Game 5, but it Game 6 they had a lot more opportunities and they took advantage.

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Timberwolves win big, force a Game 7 with Nuggets

Per the Denver Post:

After an exchange of blowouts that has lasted six games, there’s no telling what could happen in the seventh.

Jamal Murray’s shooting efficiency reverted to Game 2 form, Michael Porter Jr. was held to single-digit scoring for a third consecutive game and the Nuggets were crushed, 115-70, by the Timberwolves in a potential close-out Game 6 on Thursday night. It set a new franchise low in playoff single-game scoring.

Anthony Edwards bounced back with 27 points and three steals. Jaden McDaniels supplied 21 points on 10 shots as Denver gave him the Aaron Gordon treatment, living with his shots. And the two Minnesota wings combined to quiet the Nuggets’ second and third options at the defensive end. Murray shot 4 for 18, totaling 10 points. Porter scored eight on 3-of-9 shooting.

Nikola Jokic’s 22 points weren’t enough to overcome the lack of supporting offense. He registered only two assists, matching a season low (at Minnesota in March).

FULL ARTICLE