Speaking to reporters for the first time since signing with the Nets, big man LaMarcus Aldridge discussed his willingness to fulfill whatever role Brooklyn has in mind for him, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. Aldridge started at center in his Nets debut tonight, a 111-89 victory over the Hornets. He scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field, pulled down nine rebounds, and dished out six dimes.
“I’m just trying to bring value, try to bring the things I’m good at, and trying to help this team win,” Aldridge said to reporters following a Nets practice Tuesday. “I’m not worried about being an All-Star anymore.
“If you could start, you’re always going to want to start,” Aldridge added of his potential role with the Nets. “As far as minutes, I think if you go out and you compete and you do everything you can, everything is going to be fine. And we’re all here to win, so it’s not about that.”
Aldridge did draw the start tonight. Nicolas Claxton earned the lion’s share of bench minutes at center, and DeAndre Jordan was a healthy scratch. The team rested oft-injured veteran power forward Blake Griffin given that the game took place on the second night of a back-to-back.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics did not acquire their top trade or buyout targets, and rival front office executives believe their days as a top East threat may be over for now, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report. Boston had to settle for the third-most coveted Orlando trade target in shooting guard Evan Fournier, and was unable to lure big men Andre Drummond or LaMarcus Aldridge on the buyout market. That doesn’t mean the team won’t continue trying to build around All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the months ahead, however. “I would be very surprised if [Celtics team president Danny Ainge] doesn’t make a big, bold move this summer,” an Eastern Conference executive opined.
- Steve Popper of Newsday discusses how Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau used his ill-fated tenure with the Timberwolves to improve his methodology, New York’s recent 102-101 loss to Minnesota notwithstanding. “For me, I loved having the opportunity to step away [after being let go in Minnesota],” Thibodeau had commented during his first press conference as Knicks head coach. “Part of it was just to recharge and get away and relax, and the other part was to learn. Whatever your circumstances are at that particular time, you try to make of those.”
- Several big Raptors contributors, including Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, are struggling with the aftereffects of COVID-19 as they try to work themselves back into NBA condition, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. “There’s spurts where we play high-level basketball and spurts where we suck, and it’s just fighting uphill,” VanVleet said after the Raptors’ 113-103 loss to the rebuilding Thunder Wednesday night. The club posted a 1-13 record in March, but are currently just two games behind the Bulls for the No. 10 seed and a play-in berth in the East.
There should be a major shake-up in Boston if the Celtics does not finish well above expectations. This team just hasn’t played elite basketball like the rest of top teams like Brooklyn, mailwaukee and Philadelphia. Something needs to be addressed.
The Rockets dominated the Nets early on the other night before allowing the opposition back in the game late. If Houston can play that well early on against Boston, who’s not nearly as good as Brooklyn, then they should get their 14th win of the year. Hopefully they will get Wall back fairly soon.
Brad Stevens went from being one of the only 3 coaches doing the right things in the playoffs to being total trash, and it’s really confusing to see
How can you blame Steven’s when all Danny had to do was keep the same team as last year. Danny got thirsty and overpaid for tristan thomopson because of his “championship pedigree”(thanks to lebron) and forgot that in this new NBA all you is need playmakers.
Both are to blame, but more so Ainge. Celtics need a new GM.
Thompson was coming off arguably his best year, where he had improved significantly from what he used to be, and he hasnt been used nearly the same way (as well as him just not playing as well, although they have a positive plus/minus with him on the floor), but that being said, he wasnt ever necessary,
and I would agree moving on from Heyward was dumb, and they were reliant on young pieces, but you only draft those guys b/c of their fit, and then they refuse to use them. Then also, Stevens incessantly stayed with multibig lineups that made no sense, even when other lineups actually proved better for them. Now recently, the pressure of the situation forced them to make try hard moves, but Stevens still has questionable rotations…so ya, I blame him more than anything for this season, as well as a couple of their injuries which were important, and then I would throw Ainge in there for certain decisions, mostly b/c I still think those could have been overcome with what they had, if everyone was used correctly…There are multiple very interesting, versatile lineups they could/should have been using that have been rarely seen, even though certain glimpses of them have looked promising enough, as expected
You can’t say he(thompson) isn’t being used the same. He was literally doing wtv he wanted on a tank team last year. You have to take into account also alot of the C’s rotation players have missed multiple games due to covid, so yes Brad definitely had to experiment alot this year. But once again how can you blame Brad. Danny trades away the most solid center they’ve had(In theis) for 2 soft & young centers and gets fournier who is literally a homeless man’s Hayward.
Ya I mentioned those moves were tryhard… besides Langford and the stretch where Marcus Smart was out, they’ve had guys relatively healthy enough to still question their rotations. My guess is lack of trust in the young players, but at that point, they should have added shooting help at the 2/3 before the season, in which case that is on Ainge.
Don’t know if Celtics could of gotten Aldridge after BO. But he would been a good fit. They could of traded Thompson for him. Think so anyway. Even traded Thompson for Horford. I like Fournier but it seems he won’t resign. Celtics have not taken care of their bigs since Al left. Even when he was here it was not a priority. Just seems they are regressing.
ZERO teams asked for thompsob during the deadline because of his guaranteed salary for next season.
That was a tough loss for Knicks. Seems like they had a letdown against worst team. Knicks are not that good that they can just show up. Their D was not consistent. I’m still waiting for them to pickup a center. Wonder why they are waiting. RJ got dissed by Edwards. Two young guys will go at it for a long time. AntMan had a good gm. Thibs Thibs waiting on Whiteside, I hope
Rofl
Thibs doesn’t need or want a Whiteside. He literally can only play 1 coverage. Plus come playoff time hes a liability.
Nobody is beating the Nets. The Celtics could have Drummond and it would not happen. To Blame Coach Stevens is a sham. The Celtics best players are 23 and 24. How many NBA champs has that. Kemba is getting better Thompson is out. The Celtics have not played with there whole roster yet. Hopefully they can get it going tonight to be a 4th seed and lose in 5 To the Nets. Who the hell cares.
(1) sign Bradley Beal
(2) trade Kemba Walker