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.
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."
Pacific Notes: MVP, Clippers, Evans
With a busy Sunday on tap for all of the Pacific Division teams minus a Suns squad who blew an opportunity to shore up their muddled playoff picture, we'll head out west to check in on the latest news and headlines.
- Mike Monroe of Spurs Nation says that while LeBron James and Kevin Durant have had excellent seasons, the real MVP is Clippers point guard Chris Paul. Monroe points to Paul's ability to take the Clippers from a perennial doormat to one of the top four teams in the conference as the main reason why the former Wake Forest star deserves the nod as most valuable player. In his first season in Los Angeles, Paul is averaging 19.3 PPG, 9.0 APG and a league-leading 2.45 SPG.
- The Clippers have received the better end of the deal that saw the Hornets send Paul to Los Angeles in exchange for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and the Timberwolves' unprotected first-round pick, writes John Reid of The Times Picayune. Paul's MVP-level play aside, the Hornets spent most of the season without Gordon, the centerpiece of the trade, who has only played in eight games this season. As a result, the Clippers and Hornets have nearly swapped roles from a season ago as Los Angeles is playoff-bound with New Orleans looking to continue to rebuild through the draft.
- Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee suggests Kings guard-turned-small forward Tyreke Evans is at a crossroads in his young career. Sacramento will consider trading the former Memphis star, not because of his lack of production, but because the team has struggled mightily over the past six seasons. Regardless of where he ends up this offseason, Evans has to figure out if he is willing to do whatever it takes to elevate his play to the next level given his boundless talent.
Eastern Notes: Knicks, Nets, Magic
With the Bulls' win over a listless Mavericks squad putting Chicago in position to secure the Eastern Conference's top seed with one more victory or a Heat loss, we'll check in with the rest of the conference to catch up on the latest stories and headlines.
- Howard Beck of The New York Times says Knicks interim general manager Glen Grunwald deserves some recognition for the way he has rebuilt the roster, perhaps even the NBA Executive of the Year award. Grunwald made the Knicks more defensively viable with the addition of Tyson Chandler, created buzz and excitement through the stellar play of Jeremy Lin and took a risk in J.R. Smith, who has become a solid contributor off the bench as the team's sixth man, among other key moves. Unfortunately for Grunwald, the award typically goes to an executive on a team near the top of their respective conference, not one struggling just to sneak into the playoffs in the season's final weeks.
- The Nets have many decisions to consider in terms of free agency, the draft and their coaching staff as they head across the Hudson River to Brooklyn, writes HoopsWorld's Alex Raskin. After unsuccessful attempts to acquire talent like LeBron James and Nene, the Nets may look to keep their current roster together and hope to get incredibly lucky during the draft by landing a top-3 pick (otherwise it goes to the Blazers). With regard to Nets head coach Avery Johnson's future, Raskin believes it would be incredibly unfair to judge his performance thus far solely on his record as he should be afforded at least one more opportunity to prove his mettle.
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic are rallying around each other in the wake of Dwight Howard's season-ending injury. Glen Davis has emerged as one of the team's emotional leaders and has brought the locker room closer together as the team has adopted the grammatically-flawed phrase "We all we got." "We can't worry about the media. We can't worry about what's going on. We've got to understand 'all for one, one for all.' That motto and just that saying just puts us in a mind frame of just brotherhood."
Rookie Notes: Knight, Walker, Leonard
With Kyrie Irving's name all but officially engraved on the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, let's take a look at some of the other rookies around the league who are making headlines as their first season winds down.
- Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News says Pistons point guard Brandon Knight is ready to put in the necessary work this summer to make big strides as he enters his second season in the NBA. Knight has struggled against some of the more athletic teams in the league but has put up respectable numbers during what would have been his sophomore year at Kentucky. Through 63 games with the Pistons, Knight is averaging 12.8 PPG, 3.8 APG and 3.2 RPG.
- While Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker has enjoyed some degree of success as a rookie, the franchise can't help but wonder how much further along the former UConn star would have been if the lockout hadn't impeded his development, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. The three areas where the Bobcats would like to see Walker improve include pick-and-rolls, a higher shooting percentage and defense. With starting point guard D.J. Augustin set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, the Bobcats would promote Walker to floor general if Augustin does not return.
- USA Today's J. Michael Falgoust reports the Spurs are pleased with their draft-day decision to trade for Kawhi Leonard, who was selected 15th by the Pacers in the 2011 NBA draft. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich went as far as to say that Leonard is a more talented version of former defensive stopper Bruce Bowen. "Kawhi guards the toughest perimeter player on the other team. He's got great length. A great body. Has an inclination to do it. He enjoys the role. He's more gifted than Bruce, skillwise."
Timberwolves Notes: Williams, Adelman, Tolliver
With their highest win total since the 2006/2007 season, the Timberwolves can look forward to next season with a sense of optimism thanks to an improving core of young players featuring Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams. Starting center Nikola Pekovic has also emerged as a solid contributor to a team that looks a few pieces away from being a legitimate playoff contender in the coming seasons. Let's head to Minnesota to check up on the latest news from the Timberwolves.
- Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press says Williams wants to use the offseason to get into outstanding shape like Love did last year. Williams, a power forward by trade, would like to get down to 225-230 pounds so that he could potentially play either of the forward positions. Love is currently the starting power forward for the Timberwolves while Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson have split time at small forward.
- Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman has been tracking the Jazz's chances for making the playoffs given how Utah's fate will determine if the T-Wolves will have a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. If the Jazz make the playoffs, the Timberwolves will receive Utah's first-round draft pick (expected to be in the mid- to late teens), but the team would be left without a selection in the first round if the Jazz fail to make the playoffs. "We're certainly following it," Adelman said. "That'll add more excitement to the draft for us."
- Zgoda spoke with backup center Anthony Tolliver, who said that his agent has had informal talks with the Timberwoles about a contract extension this offseason. Tolliver, an unrestricted free agent who has expressed interest in staying in Minneapolis, cannot receive a formal contract offer from the team until July 1. "There have been talks, but you never know on something like that," Tolliver said. "I'd love to stay, but so much can happen between now and then."