The Grizzlies dismiss the notion of tanking to improve their chances of moving up the lottery, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff told Tillery the team still believes it can make the playoffs, despite its 10-23 record. “In our mind, there is no tanking,” he said. “We’re competitive. We just need to find a way to get over that hump. We’ve continued to take steps.” Center Marc Gasol has no interest in playing for a team that intentionally waves the white flag, Tillery adds. “My job is not allowing that to happen,” Gasol said. “My job is not allowing anyone to throw away the season. Because at 32, 33 next month, I don’t have a season to throw away.”
In other news around the Southwest Division:
- The Pelicans are hovering around the .500 mark and need to take advantage of a soft spot in their upcoming schedule, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders examines. They face the Nets, Mavericks and Knicks before the New Year, which could help them make a move in the standings. If New Orleans continues to wallow in mediocrity, trade chatter will increase with DeMarcus Cousins heading to free agency this summer, Kyler notes. The lack of a bona fide leader, plus a penchant for turnovers, are two of the major issues confronting a team that should be better than its current record, Kyler adds.
- Mavericks combo guard Yogi Ferrell has boosted his 3-point shooting average to 40.2% during a recent seven-game hot streak, which doesn’t come as a surprise to head coach Rick Carlisle. One of the reasons Dallas signed Ferrell last season was his superior shooting mechanics, as Carlisle told Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. “I feel good anytime any of our shooters have a good look at a three,” he said. “But when Yogi has the space and the pass is on time and on target, he does a great job of stepping into it.”
- Rockets GM Daryl Morey recently said in a radio interview that the club is obsessed with beating the Warriors and Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines that it’s not wise to take that approach. Hamilton explains that the Rockets can’t afford to look past or show a lack of respect to the Spurs, who are always dangerous during the postseason.
Tanking wouldn’t do the Grizz a lot of good anyways… They’re notoriously awful in the draft.
Houston better worry about OKC now too. OKC has beaten the Warriors and Rockets and has won 13 of last 17 games.
The Rockets are at the top of the conference and were without CP3 and Luc M. Give me a break. OKC needs to worry about making the playoffs first while they hover around .500.
OKC has won 15 of 18. They are still getting better. Westbrook, Carmelo (learning to play off the ball), and George have been shooting 40% from field. They can do better.
Chris Broussard says he thinks a package including Gordon, Ariza, Anderson, LMMM is a possibility in January.
Don’t see it if they’re winning. OKC played their best game of the year against the Warriors.
Golden State is at top of conference with Rockets 3 game losing streak.
OKC is no longer a .500 club. If they got a relacement for Roberson who can shoot, they would be dangerous.
Lol so would every team. A “replacement for Roberson who can shoot” is unlikely to be attainable for the Thunder. Roberson is one of the better perimeter defenders in the game, so a replacement who can shoot (while presumably giving similar or better defense) would be a valuable 3-and-D option to any team.
Roberson allows teams to double team Melo, Westbrook, and George. They have to take Roberson out of the end of most games because he can’t shoot free throws. Ferguson isn’t ready to play. OKC is coming around.
I read OKC is saying they don’t want George as a rental so they realize they need to do something about Roberson and better the bench. Messi finds ways nobody else can.
Part about not acquiring George as a rental, see OKC: Hoops Hype 5 days ago. Thunder may look to acquire another shooter and maybe another defender.
Got the Roberson stuff from the OKC-Rockets telecast.
I wouldn’t put the Knicks as a soft team. Maybe for some of the better eastern teams but not for a snowflake team like the pelicans.
Porzingas is to the Knicks what Embiid is to the Sixers. When they are healthy, they can compete.