A look at Bradley Beal three-point shooting

A look at Bradley Beal three-point shooting

Here’s CSN Washington reporting on Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, who through Wednesday’s games is averaging 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 33.3 minutes per game this season:

A look at Bradley Beal three-point shooting

Beal sinks 41.4 of his 3-point attempts, ranking 11th in the NBA. His four attempts per game slot much lower.

Of the top 21 qualified 3-point shooting percentage leaders, 11 average at least 12 points per game. Of those 11, only Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton’s takes fewer 3’s per game than Beal. Kyle Korver, J.J Redick, Danny Green and Kevin Durant average six per game. Klay Thompson tries seven, one less than Warriors teammate Stephen Curry.

Overall, 46 players launch more 3-pointers per game than Beal, including James Harden and LeBron James.

Danny Ainge happy with Celtics playoff push

Danny Ainge happy with Celtics playoff push

To make the playoffs or not? If a team has a chance to go far in the postseason, of course they should want in. But if they’re going to be lucky to even be there, and will quickly be sent home, and will receive a lower draft pick as a result? Tough to say what’s better for an organization. Because money is made on home attendance for a couple playoff games. But money also gets made from drafting a better player who helps the team win more and draw more fans and attention. Have fun analyzing all that. Anyway, here’s ESPN Boston reporting on the Celtics:

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge admitted Thursday that he sees value in his team getting a taste of postseason experience and would be disappointed for his players and coaches if the Celtics were to come up short in their quest for a postseason berth.

Ainge, who as overseer of the team’s rebuild must balance a desire for optimum draft position with the benefits of his current players getting big-game experience, has been leery at times of simply sneaking into the playoffs in a lowly Eastern Conference. But with his team playing far more inspired ball in recent months, the possibility of an extended season seems to have grown on him.

“I probably would be [disappointed if the Celtics missed the postseason], just because our guys have worked really hard and our coaching staff. I know how much they’re focusing on getting into the playoffs,” Ainge said Thursday during his weekly call to Boston sports radio 98.5 the Sports Hub. “They’re working, they have goals, and I’d like for them to accomplish the goals that they’ve set. So, yeah, I’d be disappointed for them.”

Pistons happy with Grand Rapids Drive relationship

Pistons happy with Grand Rapids Drive relationship

Here’s Michigan Live reporting on the relationship between the Detroit Pistons and their D-League squad:

The Grand Rapids Drive won’t have a winning season on the court, but management of parent company Detroit Pistons are pleased with the first-year relationship with the NBA Development League team.

“This first year our primary goal was creating a structure that matches our structure,” said Dennis Mannion, president & CEO of Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons. “…We’re getting better at it. We have a monthly call in to go over things and with what Steve (Ybarra, the lead owner of the Drive) has learned it will help him so much in support and planning for next year.”

The Drive, after a promising start to the season, began to sag in January and, at 22-26 heading into Friday’s home finale against Erie, won’t make the playoffs. The season ends Saturday at Delaware.

Lakers guard Wayne Ellington done for season with shoulder injury

Wayne Ellington done for season with shoulder injury

Wayne Ellington done for season with shoulder injury

Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington, who was injured in the fourth quarter of last night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans at STAPLES Center, had an MRI exam today which confirmed a grade 1 shoulder separation. Ellington will miss the remainder of the season.

In 65 games (36 starts) this season, Ellington averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.5 steals in 25.8 minutes per game. The six year NBA veteran set single-game career marks in points (28), rebounds (10), assists (six), and field goals made (12) in 2014-15.

Nikola Pekovic needs surgery, season is over

Nikola Pekovic needs surgery, season is over

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The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced center Nikola Pekovic will undergo a debridement and repair of his right Achilles. The surgery will be performed on Wednesday, April 8 by Dr. Robert Anderson at Ortho Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. Pekovic will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. An update on his progress will be provided when appropriate.

Pekovic played in 31 games this season, averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. The five-year veteran holds career averages of 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Alex Len undergoes surgery for broken nose

Alex Len undergoes surgery for broken nose

Alex Len undergoes surgery for broken nose

Phoenix Suns center Alex Len today underwent successful surgery to repair his broken nose. He is expected to be sidelined at least a week and will be re-evaluated next week.

The surgery was performed in Phoenix by Dr. Ryan Rehl. Len sustained the injury during the Suns’ game at the Portland Trail Blazers on March 30.

The second-year center is averaging 6.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 22.0 minutes in 69 games (44 starts) with the Suns this season.

Kings sign Sim Bhullar to 10-day contract

Kings sign Sim Bhullar to 10-day contract

Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has signed Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has signed Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro. Bhullar becomes the first player of Indian descent to be on an NBA team’s regular season roster.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA team when he inked a contract with the Kings on August 15, 2014. The 7-foot-5, 360-pound center was a member of the Kings squad that captured the 2014 Samsung NBA Summer League title in Las Vegas.

Bhullar played for the Kings D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns and averaged 10.3 points (.727 FG%, .600 FT%), 8.8 rebounds, 3.9 blocks and 25.8 minutes per game in 39 games, of which he started 17. He led the D-League in field goal percentage and blocks per game. Bhullar recorded 11 double-doubles this season and had a triple-double with 26 points (12-15 FG, 2-5 FT), 17 rebounds and 11 blocks on February 22 versus the L.A. Defenders.

On February 26, 2015, Bhullar became the first NBA D-League player to make a guest appearance on a late night talk show when he joined the “The Late Late Show” with guest host Kunal Nayyar of “The Big Bang Theory.”

In his two seasons at New Mexico State, the Aggies standout averaged 10.2 points (.633 FG%, .496 FT%), 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.9 blocks and 25.3 minutes per game in 65 career games. Bhullar was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP, helping the school reach the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. As a freshman, he was named WAC Freshman of the Year after accruing averages of 10.1 points (.621 FG%, .465 FT%), 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 24.4 minutes per game for the Aggies. He set a single-season school record for most blocked shots with 85 and his .621 field goal percentage ranked fourth on the NMSU single-season list and first in the WAC in 2012-13.

David Blatt and Steve Kerr named NBA Coaches of Month for March, 2015

David Blatt and Steve Kerr named NBA Coaches of Month for March, 2015

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ David Blatt and the Golden State Warriors’ Steve Kerr today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.

Blatt led the Cavaliers to the best record in the East during March at 11-4 (.733). The Cavaliers averaged 107.0 points and surrendered just 97.9 points in March, en route to posting the best differential in the conference at +9.1 ppg. Cleveland went 5-0 at Quicken Loans Arena, where it has now won 16 consecutive games.

Kerr guided the Warriors to the NBA’s best record in March at 16-2 (.889). The Warriors averaged 108.4 points and surrendered just 96.3 points, which accounted for a +12.1 ppg differential, good for second in the West. Golden State closed the month with 10 consecutive wins, including six against teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Boston’s Brad Stevens, Brooklyn’s Lionel Hollins, Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks and San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich.

Lakers waive Steve Nash, sign Jabari Brown to multi-year contract

Lakers waive Steve Nash, sign Jabari Brown to multi-year contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Steve Nash and signed guard Jabari Brown to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Brown, previously signed to 10-day contracts on March 10 and March 20, has appeared in 10 games for the Lakers, averaging 9.4 points on 50.0% (32-64) shooting, including 45.8% (11-24) from three-point range, in addition to 1.7 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 24.5 minutes per game.

Monday, Brown had the best performance of his NBA career, scoring a career-high 22 points on 7-10 shooting (3-4 from beyond-the-arc), playing 34 minutes in an overtime victory at Philadelphia.

Prior to joining the Lakers, Brown was a member of the Lakers NBA Development League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, where he led the D-League in scoring at 24.4 points per game to go along with 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 39 games (25 starts). A 2015 NBA D-League All-Star, Brown tallied two of the highest single-game scoring outputs in the D-League this season, finishing with 50 points on January 10th at Sioux Falls and 48 points on February 28th versus Bakersfield.

Glen Davis fined for kicking seat cushion

Glen Davis fined for kicking a seat cushion into the stands

Glen Davis fined for kicking seat cushion

Los Angeles Clippers forward Glen Davis has been fined $15,000 for kicking a seat cushion into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 4:16 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 119-106 win over the Boston Celtics on March 29 at TD Garden.

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