Lakers Notes: Playoffs, Hill, World Peace
The Lakers came back from down 18 points to beat the Thunder in double overtime by the score of 114-106 on Sunday afternoon. Led by the mental toughness of Kobe Bryant and the strong play of Pau Gasol, who provided 20 points and 14 rebounds, the Lakers proved they could compete with the top teams in the league with the thrilling victory. Let's head to Los Angeles to check in on the latest news and headlines at the Staples Center.
- The Lakers solidified their standing as the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs with their victory over the Thunder, writes Kevin Ding of The Orange County Register. The team will officially be able to claim the Pacific Division title with a victory over the Kings on Thursday or a Clippers loss. If the Lakers finish third, they will most likely play the Mavericks or the Nuggets in the first round with a matchup against the Thunder seemingly to follow.
- Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times says Jordan Hill was a pleasant surprise for the Lakers on Sunday as he provided a spark off the bench for the squad along with an impressive stat line. Prior to Sunday, Hill had only received garbage minutes with the Lakers before scoring 14 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in an effort that will lead to more playing time for the former Arizona star. Acquired from the Rockets at the trade deadline in the deal that temporarily sent Derek Fisher to Houston, Hill was originally a lottery pick by the Knicks in the 2009 NBA Draft.
- Metta World Peace issued an apology to James Harden and the Thunder during a short statement to the media after the game, writes Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com. While World Peace seemed genuinely contrite for what he described as an accident in which he was caught up in the moment, the Lakers forward wil likely be suspended for his actions. We asked earlier this evening if the Lakers will face an early exit from the playoffs if World Peace faces a lengthy suspension.
Prospect Profile: Austin Rivers
After losing to Lehigh in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA tournament, Duke freshman Austin Rivers took some time to consider his future as a college basketball player. While his team's postseason performance had been disappointing, there was no denying Rivers had enjoyed a successful first year in Durham. Rivers put up gaudy numbers against some of the best teams in the country during the regular season as he finished with averages of 15.5 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game.
The son of Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is a lock to be a mid-first round draft pick and could even sneak into the lottery by some estimates. ESPN.com's Chad Ford ranks Rivers as the 14th overall prospect among this year's talent pool, while DraftExpress.com has him going 16th in their latest mock draft. What will make Rivers, 20 in August, a valuable commodity going forward is his strong shooting ability mixed with a rare confidence that cannot be taught in the NBA.
For Ford, Rivers' strengths include his ball-handling skills, a devastating crossover and a deep-range jump shot that help fuel what Ford describes as a "killer instinct" on the court. During his time at Duke, this intangible could best be seen when the Blue Devils beat the fifth-ranked Tar Heels in Chapel Hill thanks to a three-pointer at the buzzer by Rivers. The victory ended UNC's 31-game home winning streak, which marked a school record.
There are many reasons why Rivers isn't projected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft and for Ford, it starts with the fact that he isn't a world-class athlete. Seemingly modeling his game after a much more athletically-gifted Kobe Bryant, Rivers attempts to do things on the court that his 6-foot-4, 203 pound body simply cannot achieve on a consistent basis. While his frame filled out over the course of the season at Duke, Rivers would stand to benefit from adding lean mass to make him more of a physical presence on the court.
Defensively, Ford says Rivers takes too many risks and may have let his attitude affect his effort at times, a sentiment shared by Matt Kamalsky of DraftExpress.com, who describes Rivers' energy level as inconsistent. While some of Rivers' defensive shortcomings may stem from the heavy workload he was given on the offensive side of things, he will have to find a balance between being passive and overaggressive while covering opposing players in the NBA.
It's difficult to gauge how Rivers' career will unfold given his youth and lack of extensive collegiate seasoning. He will be selected anywhere from 10th to 20th in the upcoming draft with teams such as the Cavs, Rockets and Blazers most likely to give him a look. Rivers has expressed his desire to play for his father in Boston, but some critics wonder if that would be an unnecessary recipe for disaster for the Celtics with the team's roster facing a potential overhaul this offseason.
Poll: How Would A Suspension Impact Lakers?
Metta World Peace attacked Thunder guard James Harden on Sunday afternoon with a vicious elbow to the side of the head after World Peace scored on a dunk near the end of the second quarter. The blow caused Harden to collapse on the ground, writhing in pain. World Peace unsuccessfully attempted to convince officials that he was merely celebrating his thunderous two-handed slam with the raucous Lakers crowd.
As a result of his actions, World Peace was ejected from the game for a Flagrant 2 while Harden was treated for concussion-like symptoms and did not return in second half. Given World Peace's notorious history involving violence, many talking heads including Magic Johnson and Jon Barry concluded it would be appropriate for the former St. John's star to receive a suspension for his actions. With the Lakers set to conclude their regular season on Thursday against the Kings, it would not be unlikely for a potential suspension of World Peace to extend into the playoffs.
Kyle Lowry Out For Season
Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry has decided to end his season due to a sports hernia and groin injury, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen. The 26-year-old has had a difficult time assimilating himself with the team since returning from a bacterial infection that kept him out a month after the All-Star break. He will have surgery once the regular season has ended.
Lowry was considered an All-Star snub by many for his stellar all around play early in the season, but he hasn't been the same player since the infection sent him to the hospital in early March. With his backup Goran Dragic, who played unbelievably well after being thrust into the starting lineup, set to hit free agency this offseason, it will be interesting to see which point guard the Rockets front office prefers heading into next year. Lowry ends his sixth season averaging a career best 14.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.6 SPG.
Week In Review: 4/16/12 – 4/22/12
A recap of all the NBA's news from the past week.
- After undergoing back surgery, Dwight Howard will miss the rest of the season.
- Bobcats head coach Paul Silas was involved in a physical altercation with forward Tyrus Thomas.
- Sixers guard Lou Williams will exercise his early termination option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
- Given the recent issues he's had with his ankles, Stephen Curry's next contract could come with an injury clause.
- The Cavaliers signed D.J. Kennedy.
- Unrestricted free agent center Marcus Camby says he'd like to stay with the Rockets next season.
- The Celtics signed Sean Williams and waived Jermaine O'Neal.
- The Knicks signed Dan Gadzuric and waived Bill Walker.
- Reported earlier this week, the NBAPA wants Derek Fisher out as president.
- The Jazz re-signed guard Blake Ahearn.
- The Nets re-signed Armon Johnson.
- The Grizzlies signed Lester Hudson.
- Knicks guard J.R. Smith is expected to decline his player option for next season.
- The Hornets signed Darryl Watkins and waived Chris Johnson.
- Gerald Green says he will give the Nets a hometown discount this offseason.
- The Celtics nearly traded Ray Allen to the Grizzlies O.J. Mayo and a first round draft pick.
- The Suns will pursue Jamal Crawford this offseason.
- The Raptors re-signed Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson.
- The Wizards signed Morris Almond, and waived Roger Mason.
- The Warriors signed Mikki Moore.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/16/12 – 4/22/12
Here's a look at all the original content produced by our writers over the past week.
- A recap of our Prospect Profile series.
- Here's a list of current free agents with playoff experience.
- Chuck Myron takes a look at Bradley Beal.
- A recap of our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- Luke Adams asks if the Nets will have a first round pick in the upcoming draft.
- A helpful overview of "Bird Rights" — what they mean and why they're important.
- Sean Highkin asks which player coming out of the University of Kentucky will have the most successful NBA career.
- Ryan Raroque covers Nate Robinson in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- An overview of Early Bird Rights.
- The transcript of our very first Hoops Rumors Live Chat.
- An overview of Non-Bird Rights.
- Zach Links gave us his weekly installment of Hoops Links—great NBA writing from around the internet.
Thunder Will Try To Sign Both Harden, Ibaka
To nobody's surprise, Thunder general manager Sam Presti told Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears that the team would try to sign both James Harden and Serge Ibaka as soon as they're eligibile for extensions, which will be July 1st when free agency officially begins. After Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the two are regarded as Oklahoma City's best players.
Both Harden and Ibaka will become restricted free agents at the end of next season, and given the team's stature as a small market team that's already signed two players to max deals, it's believed they'll be able to keep only one of them. If Harden chooses not to accept an extension offer and hit free agency in the following offseason, it's expected he'll command as much as $10MM per year, which would seriously limit the Thunder's cap flexibility moving forward.
Serge Ibaka is one of the favorites to win Defensive Player of the Year, and James Harden is the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year. Both players are only 22-years-old.
Odds & Ends: Heat, Benson, Pacers, Williams
The Knicks and Hawks are underway in Atlanta with Tyson Chandler receiving the afternoon off in hopes of getting himself healthier for the playoffs. In making his decision to give his center an opportunity to take a breathier, Knicks head coach Mike Woodson decided that there was little chance of catching the Magic for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. With a full slate of Sunday NBA action ahead, let's first take a look around the league to catch up on the latest news and headlines.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says the Heat should consider signing a point guard for the playoffs and cut Eddy Curry to make room on the roster. Winderman suggests Anthony Carter or Antonio Daniels as viable options to solidify the Heat's backcourt. Carter, 36, was waived by the Raptors on March 15 after posting 2.0 PPG and 1.4 APG in limited action.
- Tom Benson's decision to purchase the Hornets is nothing short of a blessing for the city of New Orleans, writes Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post. The Saints owner will ensure the franchise remains in New Orleans, is given a nickname more reflective of the culture of the Crescent City and will foster a commitment to winning thanks to his deep pockets and love for his hometown. Hochman does concede, however, that the team must improve the New Orleans Arena and sign a more favorable television deal in order to reach profitability in what is still a small-market NBA city.
- Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star wonders if the Pacers can win an NBA championship without having a superstar on their roster. While the Pistons were able to win it all with a star-less starting lineup in 2004, Kravitz mentions that the 1979 SuperSonics were the most recent team prior to Detroit that didn't feature at least one truly dominant player like a Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant. The Pacers should be able to knock off a Magic squad riddled with injuries, but will be tested if they face the Heat in the second round of the playoffs.
- Calling this season the toughest of his career, Deron Williams chats with Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record about free agency and his future with the Nets.
Knicks Notes: Playoff Race, Chandler, Stoudemire
The Knicks look to rebound from a disappointing eight-point road loss to the Cavs on Friday as they take on the Hawks Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. The Hawks are looking to secure home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs by finishing the season with a better record than the Celtics. Here's the latest from Mike Woodson's squad as the team heads into the final week of the regular season.
- Entering Sunday's matchup against the Hawks, the Knicks are tied record-wise with the Sixers but currently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker against Philadelphia, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. A loss to the Hawks would drop the Knicks to the eighth seed and allow for the Sixers to move up a spot before taking on the Nets in Newark on Monday night. Based on current standings, the eighth seed would face the Bulls in the first round while the seventh seed would head to Miami to play the Heat.
- Marc Berman of the New York Post reports Tyson Chandler may be in need of some much deserved rest but could potentially find himself on the court this week to keep the Knicks starters in sync for the playoffs. Chandler, 29, has missed only two games all season as he's built a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year thanks to his intimidating presence in the paint. Unfortunately for Chandler, Woodson said on Friday that he wants to have all of his starters continue to play so that the team can build momentum heading into the playoffs.
- The Knicks need to find a way for Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire to effectively coexist on the court if they hope to make a run in the playoffs, contends Berman. With $65MM remaining on the oft-injured Stoudemire's contract, the Knicks have little recourse but to make the tandem work with three games remaining in the regular season. However, Woodson would consider removing Stoudemire from the starting lineup if Knicks co-captains Anthony and Stoudemire agree sending the former Suns star to the bench serves for the greater good of the team.
Finnan On Samuels, Varejao, Jamison
The Cavs take on the Spurs as they head to San Antonio today in a battle between youth and experience. Winners of their last six games, the Western Conference-leading Spurs have won by an average of 19.1 points over the course of the streak. Let's check in with Bob Finnan of The News-Herald to get the latest scoop on what's happening with the Cavs.
- In a lengthy conversation with Samardo Samuels, Finnan and the former Louisville star discuss Samuels' expectations heading into the current season, how he fell short of his goals and how the forward plans on getting into the best shape of his life this summer. For Samuels, the key is starting off the season at the right weight as he entered camp at a hefty 265 pounds and became much more comfortable on the court once he got down to 253. "It's tricky," he said. "Being a guy that's undrafted, there's much you have to deal with. I've been trying to deal with it and grow from it.
- Blame six weeks of inactivity for why Anderson Varejao is experiencing soreness in his wrist during workouts after breaking a now-healed bone earlier this season, writes Finnan. The Cavs don't mind that Varejao plans to play for Brazil during the Olympics this summer, but Finnan says that the team doesn't have the power to keep him from heading to London if they were opposed to his decision. Cavs head coach Byron Scott supports Varejao's desire to help bolster his country's chances of winning a medal but wants to ensure that his starting center's wrist is given the opportunity to properly heal.
- Expect Antawn Jamison to have a bevy of suitors this offseason says Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, a fan of the former UNC star's style of play. Van Gundy expects contending teams to come calling this summer with hopes of Jamison being the missing piece to completing a championship puzzle. "…He never complains. You never read a quote. He just comes and plays. As a coach, someone from the outside, you have to have great appreciation for that."