Hornets guard Malik Monk is seeking to regain the trust of his teammates after being suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy in February, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes.
Monk, who missed eight games due to the suspension and lost roughly $200K in salary, claims he’s in a better physical and emotional state now.
“I did it. I took my consequences for it,” Monk said of his suspension. “I think I’m making up for it right now. … I’m in a great place with my mind and my body. The responsibility now is even bigger for me to stay like this, instead of swerving off a little bit.”
Monk, the No. 11 pick of the 2017 draft, averaged 10.3 points and 2.1 assists in 21.3 minutes per game this season. He shot a career-high from the field (43.4%), though it was coupled with a career-low shooting mark from three-point territory (28.4%). Monk is entering the final year of his rookie contract, making him eligible for free agency in 2021.
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- The Heat are utilizing veteran experience from Udonis Haslem and Andre Iguodala as they seek to reach their first NBA Finals since 2014, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes. Haslem and Iguodala are the only Heat players to ever play in the Finals — both players are three-time NBA champions (Haslem with Miami in 2006, 2012, and 2013; Iguodala with Golden State in 2015, 2017 and 2018).
- Chris Forsberg of NBC Boston explores how Enes Kanter saved the Celtics’ season with his energetic play in the first half of Game 5. Kanter recorded eight points, four rebounds, and two assists in just over nine minutes, providing a spark to keep Boston within reach entering halftime. “[Kanter] kind of kept us at bay,” head coach Brad Stevens said. “We were struggling, they hit some really tough shots. [Duncan] Robinson was going nuts, and Kanter’s points in the paint, I thought, really helped. And kind of helped steady us and give us a chance at halftime, only being down 7.”
- Billy Reinhardt of NetsDaily examines whether the Nets’ offseason plans hinge on the fate of Spencer Dinwiddie, who could be traded in a package for a third star or kept as the lead ball-handler off the bench next season. Dinwiddie stepped up his play this season and has stated his willingness to surrender offensive opportunities for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, averaging a career-high 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game on the season.
Just goes to show you never know about draft prospects. I thought Monk was going to be a stone cold beast in the league. (Atleast Jamal Murray level). Although he is not a bad player, he is far below all star consideration.
Decent rundown on Dinwiddie followed by a bonus, a crabby mod in the comments.
I still don’t think Dins gets enough credit for being able to help shape a team oncourt and offcourt (and there’s too much credit given to HC Atkinson). The presense of Dins makes the rough insertion of KI & KD plausible to me, as he can blend them in. This is a key point as we saw what happened when Kawhi & PG were slammed into the Clipper culture… the new and old did not get along.
Some say Dins “deserves” a chance to run a team at PG and so root for a trade now, at a time optimal to the Nets given his contract. But somehow I’m hoping it waits until next year. There is work to do and nutty KI is a tough ward.
It would be so fitting if LeBron loses to his old team, the Heat.
It would be so fitting for the Rockets to ever make it past rounds 1 or 2, but they won’t.
Go Heat! Pat Riley is the man…you know he is looking forward to this.
Jaylen Brown/Marcus Smart basketball IQ will keep Celtics from winning championship. Their shot selection is awful. They keep jacking up 3s and missing. Kemba and Hayward should be primary shooters.
The NBA is the front runner in having the inmates running the asylum. Starting at the very top, they promote the league by promoting their stars. In itself that would seem logical. But the nature of humanity takes over and the promoted player realizes that without him the league would die. He then begins to slowly demand that the team play the way he thinks it should. He then uses his leverage to bring other players to join him. The GM’s HAVE to cater to his every whim. With all of this going on, where does this leave the Coach, who is tasked with the responsibility of getting all of his players on the same page, especially on the court. He can’t even draw up a play, unless he realizes it will please his star player. In the end, the coach is evaluated on results. The media will rarely inform the public of all the machinations, fearing turning the star against them. Making their job impossible. Finally the coach gets fired and fans start evaluating the coach. Meanwhile the star gets ready to make sure the next coach knows who is in charge.
Obviously exceptions exist, Boston and San Antonia come to mind. Both have Coaches who are valued by their owners and have stars who have respect and humility. Tim Duncan and Kamba Walker illustrate this. Having coaches who know their owners have their back and star players who understand the importance of respect breeds a winning program.
Basketball might be the ultimate in the need for coaches and players being on the same page. Each player has specific talents that must be maximized. Everyone must stay in their proper lane. Each player doing what his talents demand and the coach in making the decision to best all the talent together into a team production.
What brings this on?