Nene didn’t play in the Rockets first four playoff games but he saw action in the team’s closeout win over the Jazz and Game 1 loss to the Warriors, as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes.
“It’s a man’s game and he’s a man,” coach Mike D’Antoni said of Nene’s play. “He’s effective for limited minutes. We have to be careful with him because we like for him to last the whole time. But he was good.”
Nene only suited up in 42 games for the Rockets this season. He’s made all six of his attempts over the past two playoff games, giving Houston 22 minutes of solid play.
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- The Pelicans have poached athletic trainer Aaron Nelson from the Suns, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports (Twitter link). Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin worked with Nelson while the two were in Phoenix together.
- Rudy Gay is the only free agent of “significance” in San Antonio, Sean Deveney of Sporting News writes in his Spurs offseason preview, adding that Gay would like to stay with the Spurs on a “team-friendly” deal. The combo forward made slightly over $10MM this past season.
- The Spurs could look to trade either Bryn Forbes of Marco Belinelli, Deveney contends in the same piece. The team has a logjam at their guard spots and both Dejounte Murray and Derrick White have too much upside for Spurs to think about moving either of them. Deveney also adds that coach Gregg Popovich, who’s expected to sign a new deal with San Antonio, values Patty Mills as a leader, making his departure unlikely.
We should have hired David Griffin to be our GM.
Another poster and I would be surprised if Gay signs for $8MM/yr. Per18, 40% from 3, other stats solid, poised, and the team is thin at forward.
The article also said the Spurs, 6th in offense, were last in 3pt attempts but first in 3pt %, while also shot the lowest percentageof shots in the paint.
They can improve just by shooting more 3s. Also, Derozan and Poeltl got integrated in as starters, they have two r1s, and Murray is returning. It looks good for them.
Shooting threes isn’t Pops strategy or game. Inside the arch is what he preaches.
They’re going to have a BKN situation with Murray and White and BKN is making it work with DLo and Dinwiddie/ Levert. I’m sure Pop will do the same. A Murray/White backcourt would compliment a frontcourt of Derozan/ Aldridge/Poeltel quite nicely. Then 2 1sts, Lonnie Walker, Mills, Bertans and resign Gay. Trade Bryn Forbes for a cpl future 2nds.