- The injuries are really starting to pile up for the Memphis Grizzlies. Quincy Pondexter is the latest casualty, from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: “Memphis forward Quincy Pondexter is expected to miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Grizzlies confirmed Monday that an MRI revealed that he had suffered the stress fracture in Saturday night’s game, and the franchise declared him out “indefinitely.” Nevertheless, the Grizzlies and Pondexter are resigned to the fact that he is likely lost for the season, league sources said.”
- Is it the uniforms? The Knicks are 0-6 when wearing those bright orange uniforms. According to the league, they’re no longer required to wear them, from Marc Berman of New York Post: “Knicks owner James Dolan may have a decision to make — and not only on Mike Woodson’s coaching future. If he wishes, the eccentric Dolan can forever shelve those new alternate orange jerseys after the Knicks fell to 0-6 in the uniforms with Sunday’s 114-73 disgrace to Boston at the Garden. According to an NBA official, the Knicks have now fulfilled the minimum requirement for the number of times they have to wear the brand new, all-orange jerseys that appear as haunted as Halloween. The NBA official told The Post the Knicks can wear the uniforms a maximum of 18 times this season and no fewer than six times under league rules.”
- The Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors are not done moving parts after their deal involving Rudy Gay. Stein of ESPN has details: “Next up? League sources told ESPN.com that the Kings will be trying to find a new home for forward Jason Thompson, who presumably wouldn’t quibble with a fresh start after the arrivals of Gay and Williams to play alongside Cousins. …The Raptors, meanwhile, have been expected to be active in the trade market since the season began, with ESPN.com reporting since Nov. 1 that everyone on the roster apart from prized center Jonas Valanciunas had been made available. New Raptors front-office boss Masai Ujiri has managed to trade away Andrea Bargnani and now Gay over the past six months to create financial flexibility going forward and — with Toronto apparently determined to avoid any accidental success in the Atlantic Division — is said to be happy to surrender veteran point guard Kyle Lowry next.”
- Mike Woodson takes the blame for the Knicks’ woes, but the players aren’t buying it, from Ian Begley of ESPN NY: “Some Knicks fans may be calling for Mike Woodson’s job after the Knicks’ 41-point loss to Boston on Sunday. But the players refused to blame Woodson for their awful performance against the Celtics. “No, it’s definitely on us,” J.R. Smith said. “One thing you love about coach is he’ll always take the blame for us, take the heat. But if people weren’t ready to play that’s just on us.”… “He can’t teach effort. I know coach, I know what type of guy he is, so he’s always going to put it on him. But you can’t teach effort,” Anthony said. “We’re the guys that are going out there as a team and not giving him the effort and not giving ourself the effort, not giving ourself a chance to win the basketball game. So as much as he want to put it on himself, it’s no need for that.”
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
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Everyone in the media seemed to buy into the Kobe Hype, so there is noone to blame but themselves. Its not even clear that Kobe will regain his explosiveness this season and in the worst case, he could re-injure himself by trying too hard to be the old Kobe.
Regarding getting rid of Divisions, its not going to happen. There ARE too many good rivalries, besides the savings of travel time. By the end of the season there should be “justice” in the Atlantic Division, conditional with Nets ruling the East (conditional on Kirilenko being able to play), and Knicks around 500. Even Boston could be around 500 if Rondo returns.
Regarding Nets, if Paul Pierce is allow to return 11 days after a non-displaced shooting hand fracture, then head trainer Tim Walsh must be getting soft or Pierce has more clout than other players. Nets may be the most conservative team when it comes to players being allowed to return from injuries. Its also nice to read that Pierce is willing to come off the bench, upon his return, to sure up the offense with the reserves.
Regarding Jason Kidd, there should be fault on all three sides: Kidd (for needing so much coaching help at beginning of season), 2: Nets front office for not doing more to set down the rules, from the time that Lawrence Frank was recruited, and 3: Frank for not realizing that just because Kidd is mild mannered, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t treat him as his boss. Frank was supposed to be teaching Kidd how to be a better coach, not belittling him and spreading bad rumors behind his back. I read that Frank was especially upset after not being allowed to coach the team during Kidd’s 2 game suspension. Kidd showed insecurity in not letting Frank coach those games.