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Pacific Notes: Booker, Wiggins, Kerr, Green, Plumlee

November 12th, 2023 at 4:21pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

All-Star Suns guard Devin Booker continues to progress from his right calf strain injury, which has sidelined him for the past four games, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. He could return at some point this week.

“[Booker is] increasing his work on the floor with his shooting, the intensity, speed and intensity of it, but still not ready yet,” Phoenix head coach Frank Vogel said.

Phoenix has struggled without Booker in general, but has really had difficulty during the minutes All-Star forward Kevin Durant has sat. As Rankin notes, the Lakers went on a 19-2 run against the Suns on Friday with Durant on the bench, en route to an eventual 122-119 comeback victory.

Although Phoenix is just three weeks into the 2023/24 season, the team’s issues are already at least somewhat concerning, writes Doug Haller of The Athletic. Phoenix has blown three fourth quarter leads already this year, and fissures seem to be appearing with regards to the team’s chemistry among its new players, plus its lackluster defense. Booker remains doubtful for Sunday’s matchup against the Thunder, Rankin writes in a separate piece.

There’s more out of the Pacific Division:

Despite forward Andrew Wiggins‘ early-season struggles, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will not consider removing the swingman from his starting five, reports Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link). Through 10 games, the 6’7″ swingman is averaging just 11.0 PPG on .411/.167/.529 shooting.
The Warriors were frustrated by a retroactively called technical foul that caused the ejection of power forward Draymond Green in a 118-110 loss to the Cavaliers, writes Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Referees assessed Green his second technical foul minutes after a confrontation with Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell. “I am the same person that got suspended from the [2016] NBA Finals for flagrant fouls that were all called from after the game,” Green told Andrews. “Nothing surprises me.”
Clippers reserve center Mason Plumlee will be reassessed in four weeks as he continues to recover from an MCL sprain, per Mark Medina of The Sporting Tribune (Twitter link). The 6’11” big man is reportedly expected to miss “multiple months” with the ailment.

Knicks Notes: Quickley, Thibodeau, DiVincenzo, Second Unit

November 12th, 2023 at 2:50pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Despite seeing his minutes take a dip thus far in 2023/24, Knicks reserve shooting guard Immanuel Quickley is still hoping for a hyper-efficient shooting season with New York, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post.

Quickley played 28.9 minutes per contest in 2022/23, en route to finishing second in the league’s Sixth Man of the Year voting. This season, he’s averaging 24.1 MPG.

“I want to try to get over 40 [percent] from 3, for sure,” Quickley said. “Overall [from the field], I want to be over 50 [percent]… If you set a goal for yourself, you’re going to try to get it. So I’m going to try to get it.”

Through his first six contests this year, the 6’3″ wing is averaging a career-high 15.1 PPG on .473/.326/.864 shooting.

There’s more out of New York:

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau believes that three of his key reserves have starter potential, and has applauded their willingness to play off the bench for New York, Braziller adds. “The one thing we ask everybody is to sacrifice,” Thibodeau said. “You could make a case that Quick is a starter, Donte [DiVincenzo] is a starter, Josh [Hart] is a starter. They’re sacrificing that for the team.” Fewer minutes means fewer touches, and thus lower stats, and a reserve role also can reflect negatively on a player angling for his next deal. It’s a testament to the team’s buy-in that these wings are open to the gig.
New Knicks guard DiVincenzo is adjusting splendidly to his new role on the team’s bench, opines Braziller in a separate piece. “I think that’s pretty special,” teammate Quickley said of DiVincenzo’s fit on the New York bench. “When you can have guys connect and gel right off the bat without much time together is always a sign of something that can be special.” The 6’4″ wing is averaging 7.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1.0 SPG in 19.4 MPG.
The Knicks have benefited from terrific production from their second unit, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. New York has been playing starter RJ Barrett alongside Quickley, DiVincenzo, Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein. That lineup has compiled a +24.0 net rating across 20 minutes together. “I feel like no matter who’s in there… we have a system as far as what we do,” Quickley said. “And whoever’s in there, we all understand how we want to play. And that’s fast, get stops and run. That’s when we are at our best.”

Jamaree Bouyea Signs Two-Way Contract With Trail Blazers

November 12th, 2023 at 2:14pm CST by Rory Maher

NOVEMBER 12: Bouyea’s two-way contract and Mays’ promotion to the standard roster are now official, Portland has confirmed in a pair of press releases.

NOVEMBER 11: The Trail Blazers plan to sign free agent guard Jamaree Bouyea to a two-way contract, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (Twitter link). Portland is creating a two-way opening for Bouyea by converting Skylar Mays to a standard deal.

A 6’2″ point guard who went undrafted in 2022 out of San Francisco, Bouyea signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Miami last summer and was waived before the 2022/23 season started. Although he spent most of his rookie season in the G League, he did play five NBA games for the Heat and Wizards while on 10-day contracts, averaging 3.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG and 0.8 SPG in 14.2 MPG.

The 24-year-old had a major role for the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami’s affiliate) last season, averaging 17.2 PPG, 6.2 APG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG and 0.9 BPG on .527/.321/.709 shooting across 38 Showcase Cup and regular season contests (35.0 MPG). Bouyea signed a two-way deal with the Heat this summer, but was waived a couple months later, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Portland’s 18-man roster will be full once Mays is promoted and Bouyea is signed.

NBA Fines Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins $25K

November 12th, 2023 at 12:43pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The NBA has fined Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins $25K for criticizing referees following Memphis’ 127-121 home defeat to the Jazz on Friday, the league has announced (Twitter link).

“One of the most poorly officiated games I’ve ever seen,” Jenkins told reporters after the loss, per The Associated Press. “Record it. I’m fine with it. F—ing atrocious.”

The loss dropped the Grizzlies to an NBA-worst 1-8 record on the year. The club will be without the services of suspended All-Star point guard Ja Morant for the next 16 contests, while two of its best three frontcourt players will remain out much longer.

Starting center Steven Adams has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023/24 season, after undergoing surgery on his right posterior cruciate ligament. Reserve power forward Brandon Clarke, meanwhile, continues to recover from a torn left Achilles tendon he suffered in March. Another key big man, Xavier Tillman Sr., has already missed time this season with an ongoing knee injury.

Down its starting point guard and its third-string point guard in Derrick Rose, the club currently boasts the No. 29-rated offense in the league.

Celtics Notes: Hauser, Pritchard, Porzingis, Mazzulla

November 12th, 2023 at 11:56am CST by Arthur Hill

After a slow start to the season, Celtics reserve forward Sam Hauser has found his three-point stroke since the calendar flipped to November, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. Hauser shot 3-of-15 from long distance in three October games, but he has been sizzling over his last six contests, connecting on 21-of-38 three-point attempts, including 4-of-6 in Saturday’s win over Toronto.

“It’s kind of my job,” he said. “It’s nothing crazy. Obviously it’s nice to see more go through than miss, so I’m really happy with that. But yeah, it’s my job, so I always have to be ready to make some shots.”

Hauser’s hot streak is providing a reliable weapon for a team that may have the best top six in the league, but entered the season with uncertainty about its bench. Hauser appears to have solidified his role in Boston’s rotation, as he’s playing a career-high 19.3 minutes through the first nine games.

“You can kind of dig your feet in a little bit you could say,” Hauser said. “And just knowing that your number’s going to get called more often this year than it was last year is pretty cool and you just want to make the most of it and kind of have gratitude with where you’re at.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

Backup guard Payton Pritchard decided to stay away from social media during an early-season shooting slump, Terada adds in another story. Pritchard said he’s not bothered by the critics, even if he opts not to engage them online. “Keep hating,” he said. “This is just making me better. This is part of the journey. These slumps, I think end of the day will pay dividends and will make me a better player overall. Like I’m not hitting shots, so these last couple of games, I had to find other ways to impact it. So it’s making me an all-around player and not just a shooter.”
Kristaps Porzingis felt fine after playing in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. There had been questions about how often Porzingis would be used in those situations given his injury history, but he believes he can handle it. “I think last year I added a few things to my routine that I’ve been doing,” Porzingis said. “Honestly, I didn’t start the season in perfect shape. I think now I’m starting to feel the way I need to feel, and I’m still going to improve. Rhythm, feel, shot, everything is still going to get much better.”
The Raptors were upset that Joe Mazzulla used a coach’s challenge with a 27-point lead and 3:39 left in the game, Himmelsbach adds. Mazzulla defended his decision, saying he owes it to his players to keep coaching. “It was a clear opportunity for me to empower the players, let them know that I’m coaching you, and those minutes to me are just as important as the start of the game,” he said. “That’s what I told my players. I’ll always put them first.”

Kelly Oubre Released From Hospital After Being Hit By Car

November 12th, 2023 at 11:08am CST by Arthur Hill

NOVEMBER 12, 11:08AM: A statement from the Sixers confirms Oubre’s rib injury and says his condition will be reevaluated in a week, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.

NOVEMBER 12, 9:17am: Oubre suffered broken ribs in the accident, along with numerous bruises and cuts, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

NOVEMBER 11, 10:21pm: Oubre has been released from the hospital and will work with the team’s medical staff to recover from his injuries. Wojnarowski tweets.

NOVEMBER 11, 9:15pm: Sixers wing Kelly Oubre is receiving treatment at a Philadelphia-area hospital after being struck by a vehicle tonight while walking near his residence in the Center City area, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Oubre is listed in stable condition.

Oubre is expected to miss “significant time” because of his injuries, but they aren’t believed to be season-ending, sources tell Wojnarowski (Twitter link). President of basketball operations Daryl Morey and other team officials are at the hospital with Oubre, he adds.

The 27-year-old signed with Philadelphia in late September after exploring his options in free agency all summer. It’s a one-year-deal worth $2.89MM, so he’ll become a free agent again in July.

Oubre has been a huge bargain so far, averaging 16.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range.

He moved into the starting lineup after James Harden and P.J. Tucker were traded and has been a starter for the past five games.

Heat Notes: Jovic, Love, Jaquez, Swider

November 12th, 2023 at 11:01am CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat still believe in Nikola Jovic, a first-round pick in 2022, but his playing time hasn’t increased so far in his second NBA season, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Even with a rash of early-season injuries, Jovic has barely gotten off Miami’s bench, logging 28 total minutes in two games.

“There’s always someone – I hope nobody gets injured – but some players rest and stuff,” Jovic said. “So there will be certain times where I’ll probably be able to play. But the fact is that in the normal rotation, I’m not in it. It’s just on me to continue to work. These guys do a great job of developing players, and I think I’ve developed a lot since last year and I think I’ll be even better this year. My chances will come and I hope I’m going to be play good when it comes.”

With Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin both injured and Jimmy Butler sitting out for personal reasons, Saturday’s game in Atlanta could have been an opportunity for coach Erik Spoelstra to turn to Jovic. Instead, his bench rotation consisted of Josh Richardson, Kevin Love, Dru Smith and Jamal Cain.

Spoelstra noted that Jovic was unavailable over the past week due to illness and indicated that he will eventually get a chance to play.

“He’s had a really productive five months this offseason and the preseason and training camp,” Spoelstra said. “You can see that he’s grown. He’s a much different player than last year and that’s a credit to the work that he’s put in. Starting last year during the playoff run when nobody was paying attention. He was really working on preparing his body and conditioning and everything for the summer ahead.”

There’s more on the Heat:

Love was back on the court Saturday, playing for the first time since being removed from the starting lineup three games ago, Chiang adds in a separate story. Love entered the game when Bam Adebayo came out, replacing Thomas Bryant as the primary backup center for at least one night. Chiang notes that Miami has been outscored by 14.6 points per 100 possessions with Bryant on the court, and Spoelstra suggested that rotations could change from game to game with Herro and Butler sidelined.
Rookie guard Jaime Jaquez made his second straight start and served as the team’s primary ball-handler for stretches of the game, Chiang adds. He finished with career highs of 20 points and 39 minutes played. “I keep saying he’s not a normal rookie,” Adebayo said. “At some point, somebody is going to believe me because he keeps on putting performances like this.”
In another piece for the Herald, Cole Swider tells Chiang that he was prepared for a call-up from the G League after hearing about Herro’s injury. The two-way small forward was assigned to Miami’s affiliate in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, but was back with the NBA team for Saturday’s game.

Nets Notes: Simmons, Claxton, Giles, Johnson

November 12th, 2023 at 10:00am CST by Arthur Hill

The Nets have the best fast break in the league, but only when Ben Simmons is part of it, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons is expected to miss his third straight game today with a hip contusion, which slows down the Brooklyn attack considerably.

“There’s no secret: Ben gives us an energy, a pace,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “Like it, love it. We miss it, we need it, it’s a part of who we are, it’s the way our team is built. We’ll try to have to figure out who can aid in pushing the pace for us. But the realization for us is that’s how we need to play.”

In the six games that Simmons has played this season, the Nets are averaging 22.8 fast break points, the top figure in the league by a wide margin. That number falls to 11.3 in the three games he’s missed, which only ranks 27th. Even with the hip issue, Simmons is enjoying his most productive season in three years and he gives the team a chance to score a lot of easy baskets.

“Ben does such a terrific job at when he’s in transition, two, three guys are coming in and he’s such a great passer it makes the game a lot easier,” Lonnie Walker said. “But when he’s out, we’ve got to understand with a great player out we’ve got to step it up and take part in that role.”

There’s more from Brooklyn:

The Nets expect Nic Claxton to return today after being sidelined since the season opener, Lewis states in another Post story. Claxton suffered a high ankle sprain on opening night and has missed the past eight games. Vaughn has been using an undersized lineup in Claxton’s absence, with 6’7″ Dorian Finney-Smith starting at center.
Harry Giles played his first NBA game since the 2020/21 season Friday night, scoring seven points in five minutes of action, Lewis adds. “It felt great, man. It felt great,” said Giles, who earned a roster spot after joining the Nets on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract. “Just got to be ready anytime. You never know. It felt good to get up and down and get my first run in a Brooklyn Nets jersey and my first run of the season. It felt good and I’m thankful.”
Cameron Johnson was happy to be back on the court Friday after missing seven games with a strained left calf, Lewis notes in a separate piece. Johnson also sat out the preseason, so he has to get back into the habit of playing regularly. “It’s a process. But I feel real good about it,” he said. “One thing you always have to do is respect the game, respect basketball, respect the NBA level. Rhythm is a big thing in this league, and my goal is to come back and establish that as quickly as possible.”

Central Notes: Giannis, Lillard, Bulls, Theis

November 12th, 2023 at 9:00am CST by Arthur Hill

The Bucks have relied on defense to become one of the NBA’s best teams, but that part of their game has been lacking so far this season, writes Jim Owczarski of The Journal Sentinel. Facing an Orlando team that has been struggling to score, Milwaukee gave up 65 points in the first half Saturday on the way to a 15-point loss. The Magic came into the game 22nd in the league in scoring at 109.9 PPG.

The Bucks lost a major part of their defensive identity when Jrue Holiday was sent to Portland in the Damian Lillard trade. Although Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez remain formidable obstacles around the basket, the rest of the team’s defense has been disorganized.

“This is not who we are. This is not the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo said. “We gotta guard people. Sixty-five points is too much. And it starts with me. It starts with the leader of the team. I gotta be better. But again, it’s not one person can do it alone. Defensively, we gotta show more. Make our paint look more crowded. Make the lanes look more crowded. Don’t allow guys to get comfortable and guys to be able to get downhill.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

Lillard missed his second straight game Saturday with soreness in his right calf, and Owczarski notes that the team will have to provide more clarity on the injury if he remains sidelined. An offseason rule change prevents players from being held out for more than two consecutive games due to “soreness.” The Bucks will be required to offer a more specific diagnosis if Lillard doesn’t return for Wednesday’s contest at Toronto.
The Bulls have a chance to turn their season around after a rough start, and it’s an opportunity they need to take advantage of, observes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. The team is in the midst of a stretch with seven of eight games at home over two weeks, and there are already rumblings that changes could be coming if things don’t improve. “Every game is tough, regardless of who you’re playing,” Zach LaVine said. “It can be the No. 1 seed in the East or the bottom seed. Every team can win. It’s us worrying about what we can do instead of worrying about the future.”
Daniel Theis could become a buyout candidate if the Pacers can’t find a trade they like for the veteran big man, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files states in his latest mailbag column (subscriber only). The Clippers had interest in Theis over the summer, and that rumor reemerged after an injury to Mason Plumlee. Theis has only appeared in one game this season.

Lakers Notes: Reaves, Reddish, LeBron, Davis

November 11th, 2023 at 10:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

Darvin Ham’s decision to change his starting lineup paid off Friday as the Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.

Ham replaced Austin Reaves with Cam Reddish in a move designed to create a better situation for both players, Woike explains. Reddish doesn’t need the ball as much, which frees up LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell to handle the majority of the offense. Reaves has a greater license to create with the second unit, which he did Friday, making all four of his shots in the second half and dishing out five assists in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t think, in my mind, it’s a demotion. Because in my mind, I believe in what I do. And I believe that I will finish games and play the right way,” Reaves said. “… But I think if I come out and was playing fine or shooting the ball fine, I don’t think any of this would’ve happened.”

A string of dreadful early-game performances led to Ham’s move. Before Friday, L.A. had been outscored by 74 points throughout first quarters so far this season. Ham said the idea for a change came to him following Wednesday’s blowout loss in Houston and he told Reaves the next day, promising a plan similar to what Manu Ginobili used to do in San Antonio.

“He said all the right things. And I totally believe him. But he’s a prideful dude,” Ham said. “He’s been our starting two guard. It’s an adjustment. But I told him, one, it’s going to balance us out. And when you come in, you’re going to have your own crew. Ball’s going to be in your hands and you’re not going to have to take turns with Bron, D-Lo and AD. Number two, your minutes are not going to go down. … And number three, you’re going to finish the games for us. You’ll be in at the end.”

There’s more on the Lakers:

Ham didn’t say how long the new starting lineup will last, but noted that he’ll have more rotation decisions whenever Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent return from injuries, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic. In Buha’s view, the team needs to stagger the minutes for Reaves and Russell, who are similar players and weren’t effective together in the starting five.
James is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Portland after suffering a left calf contusion late in Friday’s contest, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The injury occurred when his shin collided with Kevin Durant‘s knee on a drive to the basket. “It never loosened up,” James told reporters after the game. “(It) pretty much locked up right then and there. So I tried to keep my composure, make sure I was OK and try to keep it stretched out and as loose as possible and play the game and be effective. Pretty sore right now. Obviously because the adrenaline is calming down and iced it, now it’s pretty sore.”
Davis said he felt good in his return to the court Friday after sitting out Wednesday’s game with left hip spasms (Twitter link from Spectrum SportsNet). “It took some time to kind of get into the game just with the shots and stuff, kind of just trying not to aggravate it,” Davis said. “But as the game kind of got going, I just stopped thinking about it and started playing. Felt it a couple times throughout the course of the game, but for the most part, it felt good.”