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Heat Notes: Adebayo, Butler, Herro, Spoelstra

November 16th, 2024 at 5:05pm CST by Arthur Hill

Heat center Bam Adebayo hopes Friday’s performance at Indiana marks the end of his season-long shooting slump, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Adebayo has been a model of consistency, shooting better than 50% from the field in each of his first seven NBA seasons. However, he was at just 40.7% through the first 10 games of this season, along with 21.7% from three-point range, while carrying the worst true shooting percentage among the 68 NBA players with at least 140 field-goal attempts.

Adebayo rediscovered his shooting stroke Friday night, going 10-of-17 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 8-of-9 on free throws. He finished with 30 points, along with 11 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

“It’s a long season,” he said. ”But just staying with the preparation, staying with the work behind the scenes, not getting down on myself. Like I said before, it’s one of those things where it’s unnatural to see me shoot under 50% every night. So I just keep my same mentality. My teammates are behind me, my coaches are behind me, they know I’m going to make plays and tonight I did that.”

Despite Adebayo’s early offensive struggles, Chiang points out that he remains of the league’s top interior defenders, ranking eighth in defensive estimated plus/minus at +2.2. He’s also averaging three offensive rebounds, two steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

“This is a lesson to all young guys,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You want to change the energy of the ball going in, you focus on all the other things and he was tremendous just in terms of winning basketball, imposing his will the last two games. It resulted in one win. But wow, was he a force of nature in both the Detroit game and the Minnesota game, just really focusing on defending, rebounding, creating triggers for us, rolling hard, offensive rebounding.”

There’s more on the Heat:

After missing the past three games with a sprained right ankle, Jimmy Butler has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s rematch at Indiana, Chiang adds. Butler has been traveling with the team on its current road trip and has been getting treatment on the ankle.
Adebayo, Butler and Tyler Herro need more time together to allow the Heat to determine if they can be the core of a successful team, contends Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Adebayo’s slow start and Butler’s injury have prevented the front office from getting a clear picture of their effectiveness together.
Heat players were supportive of Spoelstra after he cost them a game this week in Detroit by calling a timeout that he didn’t have, sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Butler, who has occasionally clashed with Spoelstra during their six years together, was among the veteran coach’s most vocal supporters.

Southwest Notes: Pippen, Smart, V. Williams, Mavericks, Popovich, Wembanyama

November 13th, 2024 at 11:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

There’s extra motivation for Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. any time he faces the Lakers, writes Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. Pippen signed a two-way contract with L.A. in 2022 after going undrafted out of Vanderbilt. He only appeared in six NBA games that season, but starred with the team’s South Bay affiliate in the G League. He returned to South Bay the following season before Memphis signed him in January of this year.

“It’s been full circle,” Pippen said. “When I was over there (in L.A.), not really much opportunity.”

The Grizzlies are 2-0 since Ja Morant was sidelined with a hip injury and Pippen took his place in the starting lineup. He’s making the most of the opportunity, posting a triple-double in his first start with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists last Friday and following that with 17 points and four rebounds on Sunday.

In an interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Pippen expanded on his time with the Lakers, saying he didn’t get much feedback from the people in charge.

“I was kind of in the dark with that,” he said. “I didn’t really know what they wanted from me and what they expected from me. Once I left there, I felt like it was a feeling that they didn’t want me there and that I didn’t have a future there. I didn’t really get too much dialogue on why I wasn’t there.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

The Grizzlies welcomed Marcus Smart back tonight after he missed two weeks with a sprained right ankle, per Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com (Twitter link). Vince Williams, who hasn’t played yet this season due to a stress reaction in the upper portion of his left tibia, has “looked fantastic” in workouts this week and may be ready to return Friday, Wallace adds (Twitter link).
The Mavericks need to solve their problems with late-game execution, observes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. The Mavs have dropped three straight games by three points or less, leaving them in 12th place in the West when they could be near the top. “In the last two minutes, we have to get better,” coach Jason Kidd said. “The last three games, the last two minutes, we’ve turned the ball over. We haven’t been rebounding the ball. We can’t maintain offensive rebounds.”
In a session with reporters before Wednesday’s game, Spurs general manager Brian Wright said coach Gregg Popovich is “doing well” in his recovery from a mild stroke, relays Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Wright also talked about the emotional toll on players and staff members from watching their leader deal with a medical emergency. “Coach Pop has been the leader of this organization for the last three decades, right?” Wright said. “And we all have come across or know people that just have a different aura, different presence about them, and clearly he’s one of those people. When we walk into the building each and every day, we feel that leadership, we feel that presence. And so not having him, there’s clearly a void and we miss him.”
In Wednesday’s win over Washington, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored 50 points for the first time in his NBA career. He’s the fourth-youngest player in league history to reach that mark, as well as the tallest, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.

L.A. Notes: Davis, LeBron, Koloko, George, Dunn

November 13th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Arthur Hill

One of J.J. Redick’s most significant changes since taking over as head coach of the Lakers has been making Anthony Davis the “hub” of the offense, write Dave McMenamin and Matt Williams of ESPN. Davis is seeing more touches than ever, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in his production. He’s averaging 30 points and 10 rebounds through nine games while shooting 55% from the field, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only Laker to reach those marks.

“He’s done a good job of putting me in spots to be successful,” Davis said of Redick. “My teammates have done a good job of giving me the ball where I’m most comfortable. Obviously they’re encouraging me to try to go get it, but I’m still continuously trying to play the right way.”

Davis’ increased involvement has taken opportunities away from LeBron James, the authors add. Redick is stationing James off the ball more frequently, and his 24.8% usage rate would be the lowest of his career. He’s screening more often and getting the ball off screens as Redick tries to preserve James’ energy as he nears his 40th birthday.

“We’re not going to rely on LeBron James iso fourth-quarter ball,” Redick said. “Like, that’s not who our identity is going to be. So, I think it starts with the thing that was presented to the team on the first day: Here’s our identity offensively; here’s our identity defensively; and then your system should help emphasize those things. And so that’s where we’ve been particularly deliberate.”

There’s more from Los Angeles:

Christian Koloko will become the Lakers‘ backup center while Jaxson Hayes is sidelined with an ankle injury, tweets Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Koloko has only appeared in two games since being medically cleared to return to the NBA, but he’ll have a larger role until Hayes is reevaluated in another week or two. “Disappointed. Feel for Jaxson, especially after the last two games he had for us,” Redick said.
On his Podcast P show, Paul George clarified comments he made about Clippers fans during a recent visit to Los Angeles (Twitter video link). “I did not call Clippers ‘the B team,’” he stated. “I said it felt like the B team because everywhere you go in L.A., people say, ‘You should be a Laker.’ That wasn’t minimizing. … I was a Clipper. That’s who I chose to play for. I wasn’t comparing them or saying they were underneath the Lakers. It’s just how L.A. interprets that or how L.A. treats players that are in L.A.”
The Clippers made a change to their starting lineup tonight in Houston, replacing Terance Mann with Kris Dunn, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Coach Tyronn Lue said after the game that he plans to continue using the new lineup (Twitter link).

Team USA Roster Announced For AmeriCup Qualifying Tournament

November 13th, 2024 at 8:38pm CST by Arthur Hill

Twelve players have been selected to represent Team USA in the next phase of the AmeriCup Qualifying Tournament, USA Basketball announced in a press release. All 12 have at least some NBA experience, and seven have represented the U.S. in the past.

One of the most notable names is Robert Covington, an 11-year veteran who remains a free agent after spending last season with the Clippers and Sixers. This is the first USA Basketball experience for the 33-year-old forward.

Also on the team is big man Frank Kaminsky, who was with the Suns during training camp but was waived before the start of the season. Kaminsky was hoping to return to the NBA after playing for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia last season.

Veteran forward Keita Bates-Diop, who was waived by the Timberwolves before the season began, is another prominent name on the roster. Bates-Diop divided last season between the Suns and Nets.

Rounding out the team are Henry Ellenson, Dusty Hannahs, Nate Hinton, Jahmi’us Ramsey, Chasson Randle, Javonte Smart, David Stockton, Paul Watson and Malik Williams.

Team USA will play two games in Washington, D.C., hosting Puerto Rico on November 22 and the Bahamas on November 25. Training camp will begin Friday and will run through November 21.

Former Rockets head coach Stephen Silas will coach the team during competition windows in November and February. His assistants will include Patrick Ewing and Keith Smart.

The Americans went 1-1 in the first window, splitting their games with Cuba. They will travel to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas in February.

The qualifying rounds involve 16 teams that are divided into four groups of four teams each. Each team plays the other members of its group twice, with the top three from each group qualifying for the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup tournament, which will take place August 23-31 2025, in Managua, Nicaragua.

The qualifying games can be viewed for free by setting up an account on Courtside 1891.

Bucks Notes: Middleton, Rollins, Lillard, Giannis

November 13th, 2024 at 7:23pm CST by Arthur Hill

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Khris Middleton is still “progressing,” but there’s no indication of when he might make his season debut, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link). Speaking to reporters before Wednesday’s game, Rivers said there haven’t been any setbacks that are extending Middleton’s absence.

“He’s just progressing and going along,” Rivers said. “I mean, I don’t know what the return date was or that there was one set, so what we’re doing is getting him healthy so that when he’s ready to play, he’s ready to play.”

The 33-year-old swingman, who is recovering from offseason surgery on both ankles, was able to take part in a three-on-three scrimmage last week and the team is hoping to advance him to five-on-five. He would be a welcome addition to the lineup after Milwaukee’s 3-8 start, but Rivers said any decision on his availability will be made by team doctors.

“As I’ve jokingly said a million times, Doc’s a nickname. And I don’t really know,” he added. “I just check in with the medical team and they tell me the same stuff. He’s getting there. He’s getting closer. And basically, I relay the same stuff to you. I don’t get involved as I’ve told you many times. I just don’t think it’s a great place for a coach to be. … I check in with Khris and guys that are injured about how they’re feeling, more human stuff, because Khris wants to play. And he’s frustrated that he’s not … And that’s how it works for a coach, it’s more about the mental stuff, the mental health, than anything else.”

There’s more from Milwaukee:

Ryan Rollins, who signed a two-way contract over the summer, made his first career start Tuesday night, per Jim Owczarski of The Journal-Sentinel. Rollins posted 12 points and five steals, but had to leave the game after reinjuring his bruised left shoulder. “That’s like the story of my life,” he said. “It’s always something. I mean, I can’t complain about it. I’m going to just keep working, keep getting better. It’s not really a serious injury, so I’ll be back next game anyways. It is always something for me, but I’ll always work through it regardless.”
Damian Lillard will miss his second straight game tonight after being placed in concussion protocol, Owczarski adds in a separate story. Rivers said his star guard passed “most” of the return-to-play tests on Tuesday night, but woke up this morning with a headache.
Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic believes Giannis Antetokounmpo should stay in Milwaukee, but he notes that his situation will provide the first real test of how superstars navigate the new apron rules.

Celtics Notes: NBA Cup, Tatum, Paint Problems, Mazzulla

November 13th, 2024 at 6:10pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics‘ hopes of stacking an NBA Cup title on top of last season’s championship got off to a rocky start Tuesday night, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Jaylen Brown blamed a lack of focus as Boston squandered a 15-point second half lead while losing at home against Atlanta.

“I think mentally we were careless tonight,” he said. “We expected to win. Too careless and it showed. I think the No. 1 category it showed in is our turnovers. Uncharacteristic of us to have 20 turnovers in any circumstance. I think that just displayed that we weren’t in sync like we normally are, so we’ve got to be better at that, and I’ve got to be better at that.”

Following a 7-1 start, the Celtics have gone 2-2 in their last four games and are now three games behind Cleveland in the race for the top spot in the East. Their wins over the weekend against Brooklyn and Milwaukee came after slow starts in both games.

“It’s just a mentality,” Brown said. “This is a part of the journey. We’ve got some stuff to clean up. We’re not a perfect team. It’s a new season, a new journey, and we’re looking forward to embracing those moments. We’re going to watch it and we’re going to address what needs to be addressed.”

There’s more from Boston:

Jayson Tatum is no longer on the injury report after being listed as questionable with soreness in his left ankle prior to Tuesday’s game, Robb adds in a separate story. Tatum turned his ankle during Sunday’s contest, but was able to keep playing.
The Celtics continue to have matchup problems with big, physical teams, observes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, as the Hawks collected 20 offensive rebounds and scored 38 second-half points in the paint. Atlanta’s center tandem of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu shot a combined 15-of-22 from the field. “They got rebounds and layups on everybody, bigs, smalls, mediums,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They just outplayed us at both ends of the floor.”
Mazzulla told reporters that he would prefer to see the NBA Cup as a standalone event rather than having the games count in the regular season standings, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. He compared it with tournaments held in European soccer. “They don’t count toward your domestic league,” Mazzulla said. “It’s its own league entirely. That, to me, is my only negative toward it. I like it. I think having something like it in the middle of the season is good, especially in a long year. Just, that’s the difference between what you do here and what you do around the world. But it’s an opportunity for us to win something, an opportunity for us to go after something. So we’re going to go after it from that perspective.”

Warriors Notes: Thompson’s Return, Curry, Kuminga

November 13th, 2024 at 5:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

Klay Thompson didn’t want a spectacle to surround his return to San Francisco Tuesday night, but the Warriors felt a need to do something special to honor their longtime star, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. That included having about 400 team employees lined up to cheer for him when the Mavericks‘ bus arrived at the arena and passing out captain’s hats to all fans in attendance in honor of Thompson’s love of sailing. There was also a video tribute, but a planned Stephen Curry pre-game speech was discarded by mutual agreement of the Splash Brothers.

“It was a really cool experience,” Thompson told reporters after the game. “I appreciate the fans very much. The captain’s hat ended up being a great touch, since I’m such a passionate boater. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. That was a warm-hearted feeling. So it was really cool to see fans with gratitude towards myself, and it’s something I won’t take for granted. It’s very, very awesome. It was a cool moment to feel the energy from the fans, and especially, you know, all the chatter that I heard — it was all positive. (That) just means a lot to myself, because I really enjoyed my time here and … left it all out on the floor.”

League sources told Amick that Thompson was requesting a more subdued tribute, which is an acknowledgement that his 13 years with the Warriors didn’t end on the best of terms. The organization was reluctant to commit another large, long-term contract to Thompson, who will turn 35 later this season, forcing him to consider his options in free agency. Amick reports that some people close to Thompson were hoping the team employees wouldn’t greet him when he arrived, but he was thankful after it happened.

“That was really cool,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the employees to give me that kind of love. Totally unexpected, and definitely put a smile on my face. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

Thompson had been Curry’s teammate since entering the league, so he had never been the victim of one of the two-time MVP’s late-game scoring sprees, notes Kendra Andrews of ESPN. It happened Tuesday as Curry scored 12 of his game-high 37 points in the final four minutes to help Golden State pull out a victory. “It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries,” Thompson said. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I know I’ve been on the other end, and it sucks.”
Amid all the emotion of Thompson’s return, Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle believes the Warriors made a responsible decision by letting him go. Kroichick contends that the team needed to get younger, quicker and better on defense after falling in the play-in tournament last season. Instead of increasing their offer to Thompson, they were able to pursue trades for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen before ultimately adding De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, who have both been productive.
Golden State has survived losing Thompson by leaning more on younger players such as Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis, per Spencer Davies of Responsible Gambler. “Now it’s just the coaches trust in us a little bit more to go out there, to be you and be free,” Kuminga said. “I think that’s what it is. At this point, they’re leaning on us, and they’re really believing in us and letting us go out there and play.”

Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 11/12/2024

November 12th, 2024 at 11:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included whether Houston is the best spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Pistons' options in speeding up their rebuild, a potential coaching change in New Orleans, the Bucks' early-season dilemma, a possible dark horse winner for the in-season tournament and more!

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Pacific Notes: Thompson, Melton, Leonard, Bamba, Monk

November 11th, 2024 at 11:58am CST by Arthur Hill

Before Klay Thompson decided to join the Mavericks in free agency, he met Warriors coach Steve Kerr for breakfast in late June, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Although Thompson had seen a reduced role in his final season with the team, Kerr assured him that the organization still valued him and wanted him to stay. However, Kerr was also honest about Thompson’s likely future if he re-signed with Golden State, which might include a full-time bench role.

“At the end of the breakfast, he said, ‘You know, I think it’s time. I think I’m going to go to Dallas,’” Kerr said. “I understood. I completely understood. Sometimes a fresh start can be healthy. I think it was the right decision for him.”

Thompson will return Tuesday night to the Chase Center, where he’s expected to receive a hero’s welcome. He’s still a beloved figure in the Bay Area for his role in helping the Warriors win four titles during his 13 years with the team. And even though there’s an acknowledgement that Thompson wasn’t fully happy last season, there’s also a strong bond with the city and his former teammates.

“This will be as emotional as anything we’ve ever experienced, I think, in my time here,” Kerr said. “I think it’ll be even more emotional than his return (from injuries) to play. Obviously now there’s a finality to it and appreciation for everything he did hanging the banners, helping get the arena built, just being so beloved by everybody.”

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton made his first start of the season in Sunday’s win at Oklahoma City alongside Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Kerr plans to keep that unit together, Slater tweets. “I think it gives us a really good two-way lineup,” Kerr said. “You saw what (Melton) can do at both ends.”
The Clippers are developing an identity without Kawhi Leonard and should be able to ease him back into the rotation once he’s fully recovered from inflammation in his right knee, Law Murray of The Athletic states in an overview of the team’s surprising start. Murray adds that there haven’t been any concerns about Leonard’s progress, but the medical staff is being cautious so he won’t be in and out of the lineup when he does return.
Free agent addition Mohamed Bamba, who hasn’t played yet this season due to a knee injury, has progressed to three-on-three and five-on-five scrimmages, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Coach Tyronn Lue indicated there’s a chance Bamba could be active during the Clippers‘ upcoming road trip.
Kings guard Malik Monk will miss tonight’s game with an ankle injury that’s still being evaluated, sources tell NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link). He had to leave Sunday’s contest in the first half after hurting the ankle.

Sixers Notes: Yabusele, George, Dowtin, McCain

November 11th, 2024 at 10:51am CST by Arthur Hill

The offseason signing of Guerschon Yabusele after his stellar performance at the Summer Olympics has been one of the few positives so far for the Sixers, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Yabusele has been a steady presence amid a frustrating 2-7 start marked by the absence of star players. He posted career highs with 20 points and eight rebounds as Philadelphia snapped a five-game losing streak on Sunday night.

“He’s played pretty good almost in every game, right?” coach Nick Nurse said. “He’s finding enough perimeter shots and making enough. He doesn’t make a ton of mistakes, which is huge for us right now. Again, he’s going to get the ball to somebody if he’s in the offense to keep the offense moving. He’ll play really hard, but he’s been good.”

Yabusele became a star in Europe after leaving the NBA in 2019 following two seasons with Boston. He got offers to return in August after helping France reach the Olympic gold medal game and decided to accept a one-year, minimum-salary deal with Philadelphia. Now he’s determined to prove he belongs in the league.

“You know, I am just trying to do my best over here,” he said. “I’m trying to help the team as much as I can. As far as right now, I’m trying not to really focus on myself and try to get a win.”

There’s more on the Sixers:

Paul George was upset that his minutes restriction prevented him from being on the court for overtime in Sunday’s game, Pompey states in a separate story. It was just the fourth game for George since returning from a bone bruise in his left knee, and the medical staff is limiting his playing time to reduce the risk of further injury. “I was completely frustrated, you know, just the way this game was going,” he said. “You know I wanted to be out there for the guys with that commitment to try to win the game, especially when you are home. You get on the good side. Luckily, my guys had me.”
Jeff Dowtin is trying to prove he’s worthy of a larger role while Tyrese Maxey is sidelined, Pompey adds in another piece. The two-way guard had 11 points, two rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes off the bench on Sunday.
Yabusele, Dowtin and rookie Jared McCain helped seal the victory, and Nurse indicated that they’re likely to get more opportunities as the season wears on, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. They combined for 58 points as Nurse shook up his normal rotation. “You start the season, and you’re going to give those veteran guys the first cracks at stuff,” he said. “That’s the way I’m going to do it, until you think that maybe it’s, OK, you’ve given them a couple shots here and there, and you’re not exactly where it wants to be. So then you’re going with some younger guys. I think that was part of the decision.”

Author: Arthur Hill

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