Pacers forward Obi Toppin has scored double-digit points in seven of his last nine contests. He missed most of the season while recovering from foot surgery and has gotten more comfortable with each game, he told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.
“When I’m out there on the floor, I really try not to think about my foot,” Toppin said. “Adrenaline is pumping. We’re just super fast running up and down the court. Those lobs or putbacks I got are just reactive things. I don’t think about my foot in those situations. It’s just, get the ball in the rim.”
Toppin has been on a minutes restriction since his return and has yet to play more than 23 minutes in a game. He agrees with that plan.
“It’s not frustrating,” said Toppin, who has two years and $31MM left on his contract after this season. “Obviously, we’re doing it for a reason. I trust coach’s judgment always. He’s been doing this for a long time and we have the best trainers in the world. Whatever they say, I’m going to do. I feel good out there. I know I had like 20 minutes (against the Lakers). I felt really good, but I’m still getting back. I don’t feel like I’m 100 percent back yet. I’m still getting back, getting my feet under me and still getting that feel.”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Josh Giddey has three full seasons remaining on his four-year, $100MM contract. The Bulls point guard would like to know just what the front office plans to do to make the club a contender, according to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “Everyone wants to know what’s going on,” Giddey said. “We want to know what the strategy is going forward. If you look at the way this team’s put together now, I don’t know if we’re put together to win a championship this year or whether we’re going into a rebuild or a younger phase.” Over its last 30 games, Chicago is 6-24.
- It’s logical to assume that Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s brother knows whether the superstar will remain with the Bucks or ask for a trade this offseason. That’s not the case, Eurohoops.net relays. Speaking to Toni Canyameras of Mundo Deportivo, Alex Antetokounmpo said he’s not sure, either. “I don’t know. I hope (he stays). We all love him here in Milwaukee, we all want him to stay here in Milwaukee,” said Alex , who is on a two-way deal. “So whatever he decides. I’m his family, but when I mean his family, his kids and wife decide, it’s going to be what’s best for them.”
- Tyrese Haliburton‘s recovery from an Achilles tear was enough for the Pacers guard to endure, but he had another health issue this season. Haliburton endured a bout with shingles, which he discussed on NBA on Prime (Twitter video link). “It has been so awful,” he said.
- Pacers forwards Aaron Nesmith (cervical strain) and Jarace Walker (low back bruise) will sit out Wednesday’s game against the Bulls, coach Rick Carlisle told Dopirak. Andrew Nembhard (low back) and T.J. McConnell (right hamstring) have also been ruled out due to nagging injuries, according to the injury report released Tuesday evening.
Bulls are almost as a big a joke as the White Sox now. Giddey sounds ready to move on after 1 season.
Giddey is a big reason the Bulls are garbage. If Bulls were smart they’d dump Giddey. Does that answer your question Josh?
You’re only fooling yourself if you believe that Giddey is the biggest problem for the bulls. That’s a joke, and a bad one. Giddey isn’t the problem, it’s management and ownership..Recent events have shed light upon all of that. Do your research next time @aircastle
Remember when OKC traded this guy for Caruso and then won a championship. Like that kind of research?
Read my post again. I didn’t say biggest did I. Obviously Bulls front office, who resigned this guy is laughable. But Giddey isn’t the person to voice concerns.
Why not? They obviously tune out the fans. Maybe it takes somebody who can just walk up to them and call them stupid to their faces. Nothing else seems to work. Maybe if the players start wanting out in droves might move the needle. But I have a feeling they’d be fine trading them all just the same.
I watch basketball often and I do my research before leaving baseless comments on a basketball forum. You seem to believe that you are the smartest person on here, which you clearly are not. Giddey has flaws, true but he is a good player and actually the trade worked out for both teams, so let’s start there. 2nd, you did use the word “big”. So in short, your logic is laughable and idiotic. Yes the bulls are a bad organization right now but it’s because of ownership and management, like I said. Billy and Josh’s comments are a good indicator that big changes are coming. Now, whether that’s a regime change or just player overhaul..remains to be seen, but I think this summer will be very interesting for the bulls. I’ll leave it at that
Giddey is in the building and now is just as confused as the rest of Chicago has been for years as to what the people who are actually supposed to be running this freak show are thinking and doing at any particular time. Hey, Josh News Flash- They have no clue what they’re doing but still have jobs. The kin folk said Josh move away from there!
Maybe Josh is using his comments to force management and ownership out of hiding behind their bs and actually make a decision in order to help make the organization better.
Bulls have a plan. Going into next season, the Bulls will have the most amount of open cap space of all thirty teams. Under the circumstances, AK did the next right thing which was to clear the roster. Just hope that AK makes intelligent decisions going forward. The one obvious mistake that AK made is the Patrick Williams five year guaranteed contract.
What exactly has AK done to make you think he’s even capable of doing that? I’ll tell you. Nothing. And if the Bulls let him use that Cap space it will in all probability end badly just like the last time when he gave LaVine bad money, Ball what turned out to be worse money and DDR who was decent money for what they got. Nothing in his past makes me think he’s capable of making those decisions. Nothing.