New Knicks point guard Austin Rivers was held out of practice on Wednesday with a groin injury, according to Steve Popper of Newsday.
“I think it puts you behind, but you also want to be smart about it,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said about his approach with the injury going forward.
Marc Berman of the New York Post tweets that, given the way Thibodeau has discussed the injury, Rivers’s preseason availability could be up in the air. The Knicks’ new guard has not taken any contact in practices to this point.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- New Sixers swingman Danny Green will be bringing a championship pedigree and veteran leadership to his new club, as Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer details. Green has started for three title teams, including the two most recent champions. New Sixers head coach Doc Rivers applauded Green’s “unbelievable” shooting during his first practice for Philadelphia.
- In a conversation with Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck discussed the departure of forward Gordon Hayward, the knee troubles of starting point guard Kemba Walker, and his excitement about Boston rookies Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard. “[Team president] Danny (Ainge’s) excitement about Aaron Nesmith is about the shooting and skill and size on both sides of the ball,” Grousbeck said. “I’m not saying Payton Pritchard is (Rajon) Rondo, but Danny had that level of excitement about seeing this kid on the team.”
- Raptors reserve guard Norman Powell will lead a new-look bench unit for Toronto, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. “This year the team looks a little different,” Powell said. “I think that’s the biggest challenge for me this year, is how do I get the new guys coming in to have that [same] chemistry [we had last season] so we can make an impact and sustain that high level of play and competitiveness, and keep playing Raptors basketball.” Second unit mainstays Serge Ibaka and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson both departed in free agency,
Rivers was a solid addition but curious why he would come to NY in a rebuild
Maybe cause they make trade. And move some guards. Smith, Payton could be gone. Rivers can play either guard position. Plus he is also a trade candidate come TD. Knicks could be very active this yrs TD.
They offered him the most money.
Payton is no Rondo. He’s a better shooter though. He’s a tough competitor and shoots. I can see him eventually getting backup mins. Rondo was a great defender on Celtics. And ran the team as well as any PG at the time. Rondo is definition of hard work will get you somewhere. Not as talented as Bron. But as committed. True professional baller. Respect
I have to completely agree. I didnt like Rondo, due to his dust ups with Captain Kirk and the Bulls..lol However, when he came into the league he was as raw as they come..Now, look at him, he could have easily had a career like Frank Ntilikina or however you spell his name, but instead he put his talents to good use, worked extremely hard, and he developed becoming a better and better player every year..
I think part of his maturation and growth came directly from watching Pierce, Allen, and Garnett as a younger player, but he still put in countless hours of work to become ultimately a good to great player..
It’s almost like you haven’t followed Rondo’s career. He’s the ultimate regular season coaster. He doesn’t play regular season during the regular season. That’s. Why he’s been on so many different teams since the Celtics traded him.
Passing-wise, he’s elite but he’s always been a poor shooter. He’s a poor man’s Jason Kidd.
IIRC wasn’t Ainge trying hard to trade up in the draft? Don’t know if I trust this stuff on Nesmith stuff. If he was as excited as he was drafting young Rondo he wouldn’t try to trade up. Seems like complete PR.
Nesmith is a great shooter. But that’s all he did. And he’s more a catch and shoot. And open shooter. He can develop a handle and D. But they could of had Achiuwa instead. A PF they need and very good 2way player. That could of grown with young stars. Shooting is at a premium today. So considering they signed Thompson. Ultimately it can work out. Achiuwa would have been a great mix with Jalen n Tatum.
Pritchard was projected to go lower than where Danny Drafted him.
Yeah and I even heard that Boston promised Pritchard that they would take him in the first round. I mean I know he was a Mr. Basketball in the state of Oregon like Danny Ainge but promising to take a 6’2” 4 year college white guard that early when you could’ve gotten him later is a bit of a passion play and crazy IMO
why not just say 6’2” 4 year college guard why does it matter that he’s white ?
By all accounts, Nesmith is a high level shooter,but doubts about his athleticism have dogged him! Guess we’ll see whether he can get his own shot! He is long armed so he should be decent defensively!
It seems lately that guys that are extremely talented,yet lack athleticism have been doing pretty well for themselves in today’s NBA. Maybe Nesmith and Avdija will be the next guys to prove the doubters wrong..
I mean Paul Pierce and his slow self lasted until he was practically 50, Kyle Anderson for the Spurs and Grizzlies carved out a nice career for hisself, and he was slow as dirt. Zach Randolph also couldn’t jump over a phonebook, and he had a very solid NBA career
Even more recent, you have guys like Luka, Olynyk, Illyasova, Sabonis, etc..
Also, for what it’s worth, Jamal Crawford and Kevin Durant couldnt even bench press 185 pounds at the Draft Combine…Which, is pretty dang sad honestly…lol Also, Trae Young and Tyler Herro both had some of the shortest reaches and hand measurements at their combine..
It just goes to show, if you have skills, whether it be dribbling, creating space, finishing at the rim, passing, etc. you dont have to be the most athletic, tallest, strongest, or fastest guy on the court to be successful..Also, you can be extremely athletic, and jump out of the gym, or run faster than everyone, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to have a long or successful career..
Reynaldo Balkan would agree