Odds & Ends: Blazers, Pacers, Heat, Harangody
With six more games yet to be played this Saturday evening, let's take a look at the latest news and happenings from around the league before tonight's action gets underway.
- Comcast SportsNet NW's Chris Haynes tweets the Blazers have not yet interviewed the team's acting general manager Chad Buchanan for an opportunity to secure the position for next season and beyond.
- While the Pacers are on track to secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the team hasn't enjoyed the same kind of success with selling tickets to home games this season, writes Benjamin Hoffman of The New York Times. Hoffman points to the fact that the Pacers lack a superstar talent like a LeBron James or a Kobe Bryant that helps drive ticket sales. The team's lack of popularity also exists on the road where fans are more likely to be wearing a Reggie Miller jersey than one featuring Danny Granger's name on the back.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, writing in his mailbag column, believes this offseason will be critical to the Heat's development of Dexter Pittman, Norris Cole and Terrel Harris. The trio will be able to play in the Las Vegas summer league unlike last summer in which the lockout kept basketball from being played in Sin City. Only Cole, as a first-round pick from last year, has a guaranteed contract for next season.
- The Cavs will send Luke Harangody back to the D-League after tonight's game against the Wizards, reports Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer via Twitter.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Bucks, Knicks, Hudson
- With Lamar Odom set to be listed as inactive for the remainder of the season, the question becomes where the former Rhode Island star will end up next year, ponders Chuck Schilken of the Los Angeles Times. Schilken checks in with a series of different sports writers from around the Tribune Co. family of newspapers and finds two teams (both hailing from Los Angeles) that may prove to be a good fit for the beleaguered forward. Even though Odom had a rough stretch with the Mavs, he is still only one season removed from being the most productive sixth man in the league.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes Wednesday night's matchup against the Knicks is the most important game of the Bucks' entire season. A victory by the Bucks over the Knicks would give Milwaukee a head-to-head playoff tiebreaker in the case both teams finish with the same record. While the Bucks are currently on the outside of the playoff picture looking up at the Sixers and Knicks, the team does have the least difficult schedule remaining out of the three teams.
- Forget Phil Jackson and John Calipari for the Knicks head coaching job, says ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard, especially if the Knicks can make a run in the playoffs. Broussard thinks Mike Woodson can remain the coach in New York if he can get his team to challenge the Bulls or the Heat and make the first round of the playoffs competitive. Woodson has done an excellent job of inspiring his team to play strong defense, maximizing the offensive output of Carmelo Anthony and fostering the growth of rookie guard Iman Shumpert.
- The signing of Lester Hudson from the NBA D-League marks one of the best moves the Cavaliers have made this season, writes FOXSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico. After scoring 49 total points in his last two games, Hudson added another 25 points Tuesday night against the Bobcats. What impresses Amico most is how Hudson has provided a boost off of the bench late in the game as the former Celtics second-round draft pick has scored 32 total points in the fourth quarter of the past two games.
Atlantic Notes: Shumpert, NBA Draft, Allen
The Knicks will look to make it two in a row against the Bulls tonight with Derrick Rose on the shelf due to injury. Philadelphia made life more difficult for New York as the Sixers knocked off the Nets to pull ahead of Knicks in the race for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Here's the latest news and updates from around the Atlantic Division for your perusal.
- Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert was told he was going to go undrafted when he decided to leave Georgia Tech early and declare for the draft one season ago, writes Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com. Shumpert, who grew up in Chicago, was a surprise pick by the Knicks, who took the guard 17th in the 2011 NBA draft. The selection has proved to be a pleasant surprise for New York as Shumpert has averaged 9.8 PPG and 3.2 SPG, making him one of the most prolific thieves in the entire NBA.
- While the Raptors may have an unlikely chance of winning the lottery in the upcoming NBA draft, the depth of talent already making themselves draft eligible improves the odds that the team will be able to acquire a player ready to contribute. Look for Bradley Beal, Harrison Barnes or Jeremy Lamb to land in Toronto if the Raptors end up with the sixth pick in the draft. All three players recently forfeited their remaining collegiate eligibility and declared for the draft.
- HoopsWorld's Derek Page lists Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen among his top six NBA postseason assassins. Page points to the fact that only Reggie Miller has made more than Allen's 285 three-pointers in the playoffs as a major reason for the former UConn star making the list. Allen, 36, has averaged 19.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 3.4 APG in 110 playoff appearances with the Bucks, Sonics and Celtics.
Western Notes: Cuban, Griffin, Clippers
With the playoff picture out west very much unsettled with 10 games to go, let's check in on the Western Conference to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hopes making Lamar Odom inactive for the remainder of the season is addition by subtraction in his latest comments on the issue, reports Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. While Cuban admitted he knew Odom was a fragile entity given how upset the player became in the wake of almost being sent to the Hornets in the Chris Paul trade that never materialized, the Mavs owner was confident he could get the most out of the former Rhode Island star. "Do I feel let down? No. But am I disappointed? Yeah," Cuban said. "I wanted it to work. We worked hard to make it work, but I failed. I couldn't make it work so we moved on. I failed; my business, my company, my team. When we (mess) up, I'll take responsibility."
- Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman defends Blake Griffin against the growing notion that the former Oklahoma star has developed into a "villain" in the NBA. After being the toast of the league just a year ago, Griffin's reputation has taken a hit for reasons that truly shock new teammate Chris Paul, who has nothing but good things to say about the second-year star. Carlson suggests some of the criticism stems from the highlight-reel dunks Griffin has thrown down this season and how Griffin responds in the wake of them.
- The Clippers are heading toward unfamiliar territory as they are on track to secure the fourth seed in the Western Conference thanks to completely overhauled roster, writes John Rohde of The Oklahoman. Upon clinching their birth, the Clippers would be adding some substance to their not-so-illustrious playoff history. Making the playoffs this season would mark the team's third appearance since 1998 and fifth since 1977 when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves.
Deveney On Knicks, Sixers, Bucks
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Sixers, Knicks and Bucks remain in the hunt for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, the Knicks would take the seventh seed, the Sixers sneaking into the playoffs as the eighth seed and the Bucks would be vacationing earlier than desired as they would miss the cut as one of the top eight teams in the conference. Sean Deveney of Sporting News looks at the three teams on the playoff bubble and examines what's at stake for each respective franchise.
- Missing the playoffs would be damaging for the Knicks' reputation as a franchise and further dismay a fan base hungry for a team ready to challenge for a championship. Expectations have continued to increase in New York ever since the arrivals of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, even though the trio may not be the perfect match for each other. Unfortunately for New York fans, the Knicks have only made the playoffs twice since 2001 and both times were swept in the first round including last season against the Celtics.
- If the Sixers complete their collapse and end up on the outside of the playoff picture, head coach Doug Collins may find himself reexamining his position with the club. After getting off to a strong start thanks to the league's top defense based on points allowed per game, the Sixers have continued to struggle offensively and lack consistency from their starting lineup. While Collins still has two years remaining on his contract and the backing of the Sixers ownership, the head coach may walk away from the job if the players cannot respond to his style of tutelage.
- John Hammond's future as the Bucks' general manager would become less likely to continue if the team fails to make the playoffs this season. Over the course of his tenure with the Bucks, Hammond has exhibited quality decision-making in his drafting of Brandon Jennings, but has made questionable choices including the decision to take Joe Alexander in the 2008 draft. Deveney says simply making the playoffs for the second time during his stint in Milwaukee should be good enough to keep Hammond employed with the Bucks.
Central Notes: Paxson, Cavs, Gordon
The Bulls look to rebound tonight against the Knicks after nearly completing a comeback at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Cavs play host to the Bobcats, a team winless in their past 12 contests in a season where the squad may not even reach double digits in victories. Let's take a look around the rest of the Central Division to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- Bulls executive vice president John Paxson says his relationship with head coach Tom Thibodeau is "very good," despite reports stating otherwise, writes Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. In a conversation on "The Waddle & Silvy Show," Paxson denied allegations Thibodeau was unhappy with his current contract situation in which the Bulls hold a team option for the upcoming season. After a successful run as Doc Rivers' associate head coach in Boston, Thibodeau joined the Bulls as head coach prior to the 2010/2011 season after which he was named NBA Coach of the Year.
- Brendan Bowers of The Plain Dealer says not only are the Cavs in a position to set up their 2012 NBA draft in a fashion similar to how the Thunder built a championship-caliber squad, but can do so in a way that fast-tracks the process. Armed with two first-round draft picks, Cavs general manager Chris Grant has the opportunity to reshape the current roster to the point that the team could seemingly contend for a playoff spot next season. Bowers suggests Bradley Beal and Andre Drummond as potential fits for the Cavs if they end up with the fourth pick in the draft.
- Ben Gordon didn't sign with the Pistons just for the cushy contract but rather saw the organization as a place where he could consistently contend for titles, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Unfortunately for Gordon, the Pistons have not reached the playoffs since his arrival while the Bulls have made the playoffs each season since Gordon left Chicago in 2009. The Pistons, 21-36 on the season, currently hold the 10th-best record in the Eastern Conference, leaving them on the outside of the playoff bubble once again.
Prospect Profile: Thomas Robinson
There will always be focus on the tragedy Thomas Robinson endured thrice times in the winter of 2011. Faced to deal with the deaths of his grandfather, grandmother and mother in just under a month's time, Robinson, once a reserve forward for the Kansas Jayhawks, has let his play do the talking for him when the right words simply could not be uttered. The evolution of Robinson from role player into a sure-fire top 5 pick in the upcoming draft speaks volumes of the young man's resiliency.
Robinson hit the gym and court hard during the summer of 2011. Showing up to workout even before Kansas head coach Bill Self arrived at his office many mornings, Robinson's work ethic told the story of a man with a reignited fervor to recreate himself as a basketball player in every facet of the term. The stakes were higher now and anything besides pure unadulterated dedication to what had once been merely a pastime for Robinson meant more than just letting himself down.
A look at the numbers from Robinson's first two seasons at Kansas does little to help predict the success he came to enjoy as a junior. As a freshman, Robinson saw limited minutes due to the raw nature of his play along with the plethora of talent on the Jayhawks roster. A year later and Robinson's minutes increased as well as his production, which solidified a future where he was assured he would able to earn a paycheck for his basketball ability.
Fast forward the clock to November 11, 2011 and Robinson is about to embark on a journey in which he will rewrite the script for his basketball life and shock a nation with a dominant style of play that belies his limitations exhibited during the previous two seasons. Towson's basketball team became the first to bear witness to what a man can achieve in the face of tragedy when redirecting pain and heartache for the greater good of self. In merely 25 minutes of play, Robinson scored 18 points, grabbed 11 boards and had four assists to set the tone for a season that would go down in the annals of Jayhawk lore.
Robinson's tour-de-force campaign across college campuses saw a Kansas team go from a top-13 team in the country to the national title game by the season's end. The forward from Washington D.C. didn't merely make a name for himself feasting on the likes of the game's lesser programs, but rather showed up when the spotlight was greatest. Having developed a workman-like mentality toward the game rather than merely something to pass the time, Robinson's performances in victories against top teams like Ohio State, Baylor and Missouri could only be described as nothing short of dominant.
Scour the box scores and you'll come to find stat lines riddled with double-doubles. Try 30 points and 21 rebounds in a resounding victory over North Dakota or 20 points and 17 rebounds in a rout of Oklahoma. It would be foolish to gauge Robinson as a player sans tragedy but there is no doubt that in the face of so much heartbreak came so much joy.
As a runner-up for the Wooden Award for the nation's most outstanding player and a member of a Jayhawks squad that danced all the way to basketball's final evening, Robinson's name will be called early in late June at the Prudential Center. The 6-foot-10 forward boasts a lean body sculpted with Lebron-like muscle mixed with an energetic style of play that allows him to thrive on both ends of the court. Blessed with the rare combination of outstanding size (a 7-foot-1 wingspan) without sacrificing speed, Robinson's rebounding ability should seamlessly translate to success on the next level where he projects to be a top-5 pick by most top draft experts.
Merely 21 years of age, Robinson should be defined as more than just a basketball player. He's a brother, a role model and an inspiration. Truly a rare breed, Thomas Robinson has channeled the pain and suffering of personal loss on the deepest of levels to become the best version of himself, both as a basketball player and even more so as a human being.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Knicks, Griffin
ESPNChicago.com's Nick Friedell tweets that the Bulls are 19-0 when scoring 100 points or more on the season. Tom Thibodeau's squad will take their talents to Madison Square Garden this afternoon where they'll face a defensive-minded Knicks team fighting for their playoff lives. As the Knicks embark upon one of their toughest stretches as they close out the season, we look around the league to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- The Mavs' ability to rely on anyone and everyone to contribute in a victory has taken a hit this season thanks to the disappointing play of offseason acquisition Lamar Odom. Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com wonders if Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle and the rest of his team have given up on Odom, who has been afforded myriad opportunities to prove himself as a legitimate contributor to the squad's success. The former Rhode Island star, 32, is currently averaging 6.6. PPG and 4.2 RPG, both career lows, through 50 games with the Mavericks.
- While the Knicks could probably use more depth at the point guard or power forward addition, the team did bring back a famous big man to help assist with player and community relations, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Larry Johnson, or more affectionately dubbed "Grandmama," was an integral part of the talented Knicks teams from the mid-to-late 90s after arriving from the Hornets in the summer of 1996. The addition of the former four-time Knicks captain follows New York's recent trend of adding former players to the team's staff.
- Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld wonders if Lob City superstar Blake Griffin can continue to improve like fellow Western Conference power forward Kevin Love. While Griffin's points per game and rebounds per game are down as compared to his rookie season, Brigham points out that Griffin's PER has improved from 21.9 to 22.9, perhaps as a result of key offseason acquisition Chris Paul's ability to maximize the production of his fellow teammates. Brigham suggests the addition of a reliable jump shot and improved defense as two areas where the already-dominant Griffin could work on to take his game to the next level.
Finnan On Walton, Free Agency, Draft
The Cavs take on the Nets as they head to Newark today in a battle between two non-playoff contenders. Tristan Thompson should be looking forward to the matchup as the rookie out of Texas went off for a career-high 27 points along with 12 rebounds on March 19 against the Nets. Let's check in with Bob Finnan of The News-Herald to get the latest scoop on what's happening with the Cavs.
- Finnan suggests Luke Walton's future with the Cavs remains a bit unclear given the fact that he is being used out of position as a power forward (he's more of a small forward) and that his playing ability has rapidly deteriorated from his heyday with the Lakers. The former Arizona star, 32, hasn't averaged more than 2.4 PPG since the 2008/2009 season where he scored 5.0 PPG.
- Expect the Cavs to explore adding quality free agents given their financial flexibility heading into the offseason, writes Finnan. The team will be over $20MM under the cap this summer allowing for Cavs general manager Chris Grant to explore the free-agent market. Names such as Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon and Pacers center Roy Hibbert have been tossed around, but the team's general philosophy toward rebuilding the roster stems from maximizing their return from the draft.
- Finnan believes the Cavs will focus their attention on adding a scoring wing, center, backup point guard and general depth when the team heads to Secaucus, NJ in June for the draft. Regardless of who the team selects, the ultimate focus will be on building a roster with the most talented athletes available.
Eastern Notes: Cavs, Brooks, Heat
Beyond the Knicks playing host to the Bulls this afternoon, the Heat will take on the Pistons while the Celtics defend their homecourt against a struggling Sixers squad. The Heat have played exceptionally well at home as they hold the best record in the NBA at 23-3 when they get to play their games in Miami. Let's take a look around the Eastern Conference to see what headlines are being made on this Easter Sunday.
- No longer in playoff contention, the Cavs will be tinkering with their lineup as the season winds down with hopes of figuring out which players will have a long-term future with the team, writes Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer. Equipped with four picks in the upcoming draft, the remainder of the season will be used to give players an opportunity show what role they may be best suited for heading into next season. This may ultimately spell decreased minutes for a veteran like Antawn Jamison, who's future with the club remains uncertain.
- Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger reports Nets guard MarShon Brooks would have been a part of a potential deal for Dwight Howard that was on the table at the trade deadline. While Brooks says that he didn't let any rumors affect his play, knowing that he will remain with the Nets at least for the rest of the season is a comforting feeling. The 23-year-old former Providence star has had an up-and-down rookie campaign in which he is currently averaging 12.3 PPG.
- The lack of a quality backup point guard has hurt the Heat especially when dealing with more athletic guards who can get to the basket quickly, says Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.