Draymond Green steps up in win vs Clippers

The Warriors haven’t been at their best most of the still-new season so far, but they certainly made a statement in yesterday’s absolute domination of the Clippers. The whole Warriors team did well, including Draymond Green, who was due for a breakout performance. Here’s the San Jose Mercury News reporting:

The shot went off Draymond Green’s hands and sailed into the air. It dropped into the basket, leading the Warriors’ forward to yell and let out an infectious smile.

The fourth-quarter basket technically bore little significance as the Warriors were already on their way toward a breezy 141-113 victory over the Clippers on Monday. To Green, though? The shot meant everything.

“When you’re missing like I’ve been missing, it feels good to make one,” Green said afterwards with a grin. “It pisses you off badly when you miss another one.”

A day after he vowed he needed to play more aggressively, though, Green did not hinge his performance on how well he shot the ball. Instead, he posted a 16-point performance by blending in a lot of attacking (5-of-8 from the field), a lot of defense (nine rebounds), a good amount of playmaking (six assists) and a little outside shooting (1-of-2).

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Pistons had big week in NBA

The Detroit Pistons capped Week 2 with a comeback victory at Golden State on Sunday, extending their winning streak to three games. One day earlier, Detroit handed the LA Clippers their first loss of the season. The Pistons have shown impressive versatility during their Eastern Conference-best 5-2 start. Tobias Harris already has two 30-point games this season after not recording any last season. Reggie Jackson is healthy again and playing with confidence; his new backcourt mate, Avery Bradley, has provided defense and three-point shooting after arriving in an offseason trade from the Boston Celtics. And Andre Drummond remains a force in the paint. Detroit completes its three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

— NBA Broadcasters Bulletin

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Grizzlies off to great season start

The spirit of “Grit and Grind” is alive and well in Memphis as the Grizzlies have gotten off to an NBA-best 5-1 start through Week 2, including two wins over the Houston Rockets and a victory against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Stars Marc Gasol and Mike Conley have embraced the opportunity to lead a collection of tough-minded players with something to prove. Starters Andrew Harrison and James Ennis are former second-round picks. Rookie Dillon Brooks, another second-round pick, has made an immediate impact. Veterans Tyreke Evans, Mario Chalmers and Brandan Wright have fortified the bench along with Chandler Parsons, who scored 24 points against the Rockets on Saturday. Parsons is seeking to regain the form that made him a top free-agent signing two summers ago.

— NBA Broadcasters Bulletin

Discussion Thread

Will Knicks keep Jarrett Jack?

Here’s NY Newsday reporting on veteran guard Jarrett Jack, who has been helpful to the Knicks so far this short season:

Will Knicks keep Jarrett Jack?

Jarrett Jack is the only Knick with a non-guaranteed deal, but he’s making it very easy for the team to keep him.

They will have to do something soon to create a roster spot. The Knicks have been able to carry an extra guy on the roster because Joakim Noah is on the suspended list. Management could try to trade someone for a draft pick or do a two-for-one deal to keep Jack before Noah comes off in two weeks.

Jack became the Knicks’ starting point guard three games ago. Jack’s calming influence on the court helped the Knicks to wins over the Nets and Cavaliers in his first two games. He totaled 14 assists and three turnovers in his first two starts.

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Carmelo Anthony has a catch-phrase for rebounds

Here’s a fun item on Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony, who has brought to OKC a catch-phrase he apparently yells each time he grabs a rebound. And amusing comments from joke-cracking teammate Steven Adams. The Norman Transcript reports:

Carmelo Anthony’s rebounding has gone viral — and it’s not because of the quality of his boarding.

Anthony has developed a catch phrase: every time he corrals a missed shot, he screams “Get the [expletive] out of here!” It’s loud enough that the microphone on to the rim often picks up the sound.

“I’ve been doing it for a long time,” he said. “I think now it’s just coming with the whole mindset thing, focus, that motivation to want to get that on the rebound attempt and being aggressive on the glass and just kind of motivating myself.”

Of course, Thunder center Steven Adams, who has never, ever cursed in his whole life, has stronger thoughts on Anthony’s on-court profanities.

“I let him get [the rebound]. He doesn’t have to say those harsh words,” Adams said of Anthony calling him off for boards. “He doesn’t have to talk like that, mate…It’s a bit mean. I thought we were on good terms.”

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Hornets exercise option on Frank Kaminsky

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has exercised its fourth-year option on forward Frank Kaminsky.

“We’re happy to have Frank as a part of what we’re developing here in Charlotte,” Cho said. “His work ethic and commitment to improvement are showing early returns this season and we look forward to what the future holds for Frank.”

The 7-0 Wisconsin product is in his third NBA season after appearing in 156 games (19 starts) in his first two seasons in Charlotte. In five games this season, Kaminsky is averaging 14.2 points per game on 45.6% shooting, a mark good for sixth in the NBA in bench scoring. He holds career averages of 9.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23.7 minutes per game in 161 contests. Kaminsky was selected by the Hornets ninth overall in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Pelicans sign Josh Smith

Pelicans sign Josh Smith

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team has signed forward Josh Smith after receiving an injury hardship exemption by the NBA.

Smith, 6-9, 225, most recently played for Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 26 games in China, Smith averaged 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Smith has appeared in 891 career regular season games (772 starts) with Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers, holding career averages of 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. Additionally, Smith has appeared in 73 career postseason games (60 starts), averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in 31.6 minutes.

Selected 17th overall by Atlanta in the 2004 NBA Draft out of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Smith was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2010.

Smith will wear #5 and be available for New Orleans’ game tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Smoothie King Center.

Bulls exercise options on Bobby Portis, Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne

Bulls exercise options on Bobby Portis, Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne

The Chicago Bulls have exercised third-year options on guards Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine, and fourth-year options on guards Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne, along with forward Bobby Portis. By exercising their options, all players will be under contract with the Bulls for the 2018-19 season.

The Bulls acquired Dunn in a Draft-night trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves last offseason in which Dunn, Zach LaVine and the rights to Lauri Markkanen were exchanged for Jimmy Butler and the draft rights to Justin Patton. In his rookie year with the Timberwolves, Dunn played in 78 games (7 starts) and averaged 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He ranked sixth among rookies in assists, second in steals and fourth in blocks. Dunn has missed the start of the 2017-18 season while rehabbing the dislocation of his left index finger.

Valentine was selected 14th overall by Chicago in the 2016 NBA Draft. The Michigan State product saw time in 57 games and averaged 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game his rookie year. Valentine hit at least one 3-pointer in 15 consecutive games from March 8 to April 4, and hit multiple 3-pointers in seven games in a row from March 8 to 18, both of which were the longest such streaks on the team last season. He scored a career-high 19 points with five 3-pointers made at Washington on Jan. 10. This season, Valentine is averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists through four games.

Grant has played in 67 games for the Bulls after completing his rookie year with the New York Knicks (76 games). He was acquired by the Bulls, along with Jose Calderon and Robin Lopez, in a trade for Derrick Rose, Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick on June 22, 2016. Grant has career averages of 5.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 rebounds per game, but through four games (4 starts) this season is averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists. He has posted his first two career double-doubles in his last six regular season games: April 10, 2017, and Oct. 24, 2017.

Payne was traded to Chicago on Feb. 23, 2017, along with Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow, for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second round draft pick. The former Mr. Basketball in Tennessee has career averages of 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists through 88 games. He only appeared in 31 games in 2016-17, missing time due to a right foot injury, but in the 10 games he played with the Bulls, Payne averaged 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 12.9 minutes. He has not played in 2017-18 while recovering from offseason surgery on his right foot.

Selected by the Bulls 22nd-overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Portis has appeared in 126 games (17 starts) with career averages of 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds. He was the 25th player in Bulls history to have a double-digit scoring career debut (10 points in 10 minutes at Charlotte on Nov. 3), and was the first Bull to post a double-double with 20 points and 11 boards in one of his first five career games since Elton Brand in 1999 (at New York on Dec. 19). He scored a postseason-high 19 points with nine rebounds in his playoff debut on April 16 at Boston. Portis has not played in 2017-18 while serving an eight-game team suspension.

NBA notes, Oct. 26, 2017

Cleveland’s Isaiah Thomas guest-starred as himself on Wednesday’s episode of Law & Order: SVU, one of his favorite television shows. “To be a part of SVU is something I’ll tell people about forever,” Thomas said.

Brooklyn is the first team to score at least 115 points in each of its first five games since the 1985-86 Pistons. The Nets have opened 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

With San Antonio’s 4-0 start, coach Gregg Popovich has moved within two victories of passing Phil Jackson (1,155) for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list.

Cleveland’s LeBron James needs 75 points to become the seventh player in NBA history to reach the 29,000-point mark.

On Wednesday, 24-year-old Andre Drummond of Detroit became the second-youngest player to reach 5,000 career rebounds. Dwight Howard did it at age 23 in 2009.

— Via NBA News newsletter

Warriors playing lousy defense so far this season

The Warriors have the same core roster this season as last, so on paper they’re still the best team in the NBA. However, on the court so far, they’ve been disappointing. The season is still brand new. So, no reason to panic. Way too early. Still, here’s the San Jose Mercury News/Bay Area News Group reporting:

So far this season, Golden State is yet to put together a 48-minute game where they look good on both ends of the court, but outside of pride, what’s their incentive to go all-out for a full game? This Warriors roster is so talented, they can win with mediocre all-around performances on a near nightly basis.

Offensively, the Warriors are fine so far this season. The Golden State offense doesn’t seem to be fully operational, but the talent on the court at any given moment is so lopsided that it hasn’t mattered — the Warriors are going to put roughly 120 points on the board every single night.

The issue for Golden State — the reason they’re 3-2 on the season and could easily be 2-3 with a 0-2 home record — is the defense.

“Our defense has been horrible,” Green said. “Nobody’s communicating.”

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