Warriors win 2014-15 Pacific Division title

Warriors win 2014-15 Pacific Division title

The Golden State Warriors have clinched the 2014-15 Pacific Division title, improving to 58-13 on the season following Tuesday’s 122-108 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. This marks the organization’s first Pacific Division title since the San Francisco Warriors won back-to-back Pacific crowns in 1974-75 and 1975-76.

This is the organization’s fifth division championship since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962, with the Warriors claiming Western Division titles in 1963-64 and 1966-67. Overall, the team has now won eight division championships in franchise history, including Eastern Division titles by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947-48, 1950-51 and 1955-56.

The Warriors are slated to make their third consecutive postseason appearance as the team finished second in the Pacific Division in each of the past two seasons, with records of 47-35 in 2012-13 and 51-31 in 2013-14. Golden State’s 58 wins thus far, with 11 games remaining in the 2014-15 regular season, are the second most in team history and just one shy of the franchise-record 59 wins by the 1975-76 squad.

Hawks sign Austin Daye to second 10-day contract

Hawks sign Austin Daye to second 10-day contract

Hawks sign Austin Daye to second 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks (53-17, having amazing season, but struggling a bit recently) have signed forward Austin Daye to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

Daye has appeared in two games with the Hawks. He also played in 26 contests (four starts) earlier this season with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.3 minutes.

In 10 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, Daye averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocks in 28.5 minutes.

Bucks struggling since trading Brandon Knight

Bucks struggling since trading Brandon Knight

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the struggling Bucks:

Since Brandon Knight left the Bucks in a trade deadline deal, Milwaukee has struggled to a 4-13 record.

Knight has not played recently for his new team, the Phoenix Suns, due to a sprained left ankle. The Suns are 4-6 in the games he has played and 9-8 since making the trade for Knight and two other deals on Feb. 19.

Knight told azcentral.com about the Bucks: “Their struggles aren’t my struggles any more. I moreso feel bad for the guys that I was there with. I feel a little bit bad for them because they know the hard work we put in. I know they feel it kind of went down the drain a bit.

“I wish those guys the best. Hopefully they can get back on track. I’m about the Suns right now.”

Pelicans re-sign Toney Douglas

Pelicans re-sign Toney Douglas

Pelicans re-sign Toney Douglas

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has re-signed unrestricted free agent guard Toney Douglas.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, appeared in three games for New Orleans, averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 22.0 minutes per game while signed to two 10-day contracts with the team. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Douglas played for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 35 games while averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals. Drafted 29th overall out of Florida State in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas has appeared in 300 career NBA games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State, Miami and New Orleans, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Douglas will wear #16 and be available for Wednesday night’s home game against Houston.

New Orleans’ roster stands at 14.

Trey Burke is shooting below 37% FG this season

Trey Burke is shooting below 37% FG this season

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune reporting on Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke, whose longterm NBA need is a better jumpshot:

Trey Burke is shooting below 37% FG this season

Trey Burke had a rough night.

The Utah Jazz point guard took 22 shots. He made four of them. And one of those makes might have been just as costly as any miss.

With 10.7 seconds left in overtime and the Jazz trailing 105-102, Jazz coach Quin Snyder wanted a 3-pointer. Instead, the lane opened up for Burke and the point guard took it to the hole for a layup.

“It was a called play for a 3,” Burke said. “I didn’t want to force anything like I did the last shot [of regulation] but they gave me the whole lane and there were still 12 seconds*, so I got in there and tried to get a quick two.”

But it wasn’t quick enough…

As for the rest of Burke’s night, the point guard did manage to dish out six assists and record four steals. But he countered that with five turnovers and, of course, a dreadful shooting performance.

After going 4 for 22, Burke’s shooting percentage is down to 36.8 on the season. Both his overall percentage and his 3-point field goal percentage are down from his rookie campaign.

Metta World Peace signs in Italy

Metta World Peace signs in Italy

Metta World Peace signs in Italy

Metta World Peace remains alive and well, and is still a basketball player. And will be taking his talents to Italy.

The Italian basketball team Pallacanestro Cantu, via their verified account, tweets that they have signed World Peace (the artist formerly known as Ron Artest) for the remainder of their season.

It’ll be interesting to see how Metta fares at this late stage of his playing career.

Grizzlies beat Knicks, clinch playoff spot

Grizzlies beat Knicks, clinch playoff spot

The Memphis Grizzlies clinched a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season on Monday night. They hope this is only the beginning.

Zach Randolph scored 23 points and Marc Gasol had 21, leading Memphis to a 103-82 win over the lowly New York Knicks.

The Grizzlies (50-21) shot 52 percent from the field in their third consecutive victory. Vince Carter added 14 points, Jeff Green scored 12 and Kosta Koufos had 10.

“This is the NBA,” said Randolph, who also had seven rebounds and five assists. “We have been together a long time and we have to keep playing. We know what we are playing and getting ready for.”

— Associated Press

Bulls beat Hornets, clinch playoff spot

Nikola Mirotic scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and the Chicago Bulls clinched a playoff spot with a 98-86 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Pau Gasol had 27 points and 12 rebounds as Chicago moved into a tie with Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference. Jimmy Butler added 19 points in his return to the lineup after missing 11 games with a sprained left elbow.

The Bulls played without center Joakim Noah, who was scratched because of general soreness, but managed to bounce back from an ugly 107-91 loss at Detroit on Saturday.

Kemba Walker had 29 points and Mo Williams scored 15 for the Hornets, who were without Cody Zeller (right shoulder) and shot just 34.6 percent from the field.

— Associated Press

James Harden drops 44 points on Pacers

James Harden scored 19 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter and Josh Smith added 18 to help the Houston Rockets beat Indiana 110-100 on Monday night, handing the Pacers their sixth straight loss.

The Rockets (47-23) have won four of five.

Indiana’s sinking playoff hopes took another big hit despite 23 points from C.J. Watson.

George Hill had 20 points for the Pacers (30-40).

— Associated Press

Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul named Players of Week through March 22

dwyane wade

The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 16, through Sunday, March 22.

Wade led the Heat to a 3-1 week, averaging 24.5 points (second in the East), 4.0 assists and 2.25 steals (fourth in the conference). He shot 53.2 percent from the field, including a 13-of-18 performance during a 32-point outing in a 106-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 16. The All-Star guard also scored 32 points and added six assists in a 108-104 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 18.

chris paul

Paul powered the Clippers to one of the NBA’s two 4-0 weeks. He ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring (26.0 ppg) and second in the West in assists (11.3 apg). The All-Star guard had 30 points and 11 assists in a 116-105 victory against the Sacramento Kings on March 18, and two nights later he contributed 30 points and 15 assists in a 113-99 win over the Washington Wizards. Paul totaled 45 assists and seven turnovers in the four games.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson, Houston’s James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Orlando’s Elfrid Payton, Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe and P.J. Tucker, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.