2021-22 Playoffs vs Dallas

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Marc Stein: Luka Dončić is scheduled for an MRI exam today to determine the severity of his left calf strain and likely recovery timetable. Dallas opens the playoffs Saturday against Utah at 1 PM ET; Dončić was hurt in Sunday’s regular season finale. More from me: marcstein.Substack.com
– via Twitter TheSteinLine

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Adrian Wojnarowski: There’s initial optimism that Dallas star Luka Doncic hasn’t suffered a significant injury, source tells ESPN. Team is calling it a strained left calf.
– via Twitter wojespn





Callie Caplan: Jalen Brunson on Luka Doncic: “For some reason I feel like he’ll be ready to go, knowing the competitor he is.”
– via Twitter CallieCaplan

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The source said Vivek Ranadive and Brandon Williams were driving forces behind the decision to draft Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic in 2018, but there was consensus within the organization because Bagley was a “modern-day big who could run the floor with De’Aaron Fox.” The source said the Kings nearly acquired Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade involving Yogi Ferrell, but they didn’t act fast enough due to Ranadive’s involvement. Instead, the Cavaliers traded Clarkson to the Utah Jazz, where he would become the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, in exchange for Dante Exum and two future second-round draft picks.

– via Sacramento Bee

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Longtime Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers center Wayne Cooper died on Monday, the Nuggets announced. He was 65.
– via Ryan Young @ Yahoo! Sports




Mark Kiszla: Wayne Cooper was gentle giant. In NBA galaxy long ago, he took cub reporter under wing. Wrote playoff diary for Post in ’85. After L to Lakers during WCF, was knock at my hotel room door. “Is it too late to re-write?” Coop asked. “Thought of better way to start it.” RIP, Coop.
– via Twitter






Marc J. Spears: Crushed to hear that Wayne Cooper has passed. Amazing giant of a man literally and figuratively who had a respectable career as a player and a front office executive. No ego. Great Louisiana people who cared about others. Brilliant. Will miss him dearly.
– via Twitter MarcJSpears

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Dwain Price: Spencer Dinwiddie on on if Luka will play in Game 1 of the series against the Jazz: “I haven’t gotten any indication that he won’t be, so I’m preparing as if he will be. They haven’t told us anything. They haven’t said be ready.”
– via Twitter DwainPrice

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Maxi Kleber hasn’t played in a game since April 1 due to right ankle soreness, but after going through a full practice on Wednesday, he pronounced himself “100% better.” That isn’t exactly the same as saying he is 100% healthy, but judging from Kleber’s smile and confident expression, it’s safe to say he is in a much better place physically than he’d been at any point in the last seven weeks.
– via Brad Townsend @ Dallas Morning News




As he noted Wednesday, he would like to think he still contributed in other areas, especially as a screen-setter on offense and as Dallas’ best rim protector. He was asked whether the ankle issue affected his shooting. “Hard to tell,” he said. “Obviously when your ankle hurts you shift maybe a little bit more to one side and lean over, which you shouldn’t do. But then again you should still be able to make some shots.”
– via Brad Townsend @ Dallas Morning News

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Shams Charania: Mavericks star Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 vs. Jazz on Saturday night due to strained calf, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium .
– via Twitter ShamsCharania

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A Jazz first-round exit could increase the chances of combo guard Donovan Mitchell asking for a trade out of Salt Lake City, though it’s hardly a given, according to NBA sources.

– via Marc Berman @ New York Post

you lose it's time to look in the mirror not run away

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The Quin Snyder thing is interesting, just because Quin and Rob Pelinka have a friendship and relationship dating back many years. And you feel like if there was a coach who Rob would kind of get out of the way for… it would be Quinn.
– via Spotify

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Those in the league with knowledge of the situation expect Toronto’s Nick Nurse, Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers and Utah’s Quin Snyder to be candidates should they become available. Former Portland coach Terry Stotts, former Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, former Lakers coach Mike Brown and Utah assistant Alex Jensen also might be considered. Same for Juwan Howard, who interviewed in 2019, although sources told The Times that his intention is to continue coaching Michigan, where two of his sons play.

– via Dan Woike, Broderick Turner @ Los Angeles Times

cotm!

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Tim MacMahon: There’s a strong Knicks contingent — including William Wesley and Allan Houston — in Dallas to scout Game 1 of the Jazz-Mavericks series.

– via Twitter espn_macmahon

as long as the Jazz get Barrett!

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https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/17/ru...trail-blazers/

This deal would see the Blazers add a second All-Star next to Lillard, cementing a new duo moving forward in Portland. And for the Jazz, this would be their chance to start fresh.

fresh = tank

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Rylan Stiles: Sam Presti confirmed Josh Giddey and Aleksej Pokusevski will play in Utah’s Summer League.
– via Twitter Rylan_Stiles

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Portland State basketball legend Freeman Williams has died at the age of 65. Freeman, who played from 1974-1978, was one of the most dominant athletes in the history of PSU athletics. The 6-foot-4 guard remains the second all-time leading scorer in Division I history behind Pete Maravich at 3,249 points with an average of 30.7.

– via Aaron Fentress @ Oregonian

part of the Dominique trade I believe

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Jordan Schultz: #Mavs superstar Luka Doncic is “making progress, but not likely to play” Game 3 versus the #Jazz, per source.
– via Twitter Schultz_Report