Kevin Durant‘s relationship with Suns coach Mike Budenholzer has been an ongoing storyline for several weeks, and Durant offered some insight after this morning’s shootaround, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The topic arose again after Durant snapped at Budenholzer during a timeout in Sunday’s game at Los Angeles (Twitter video link). “I don’t say, ‘Coach, we’ve … [Read more...] about Suns Notes: Durant, Budenholzer, Plumlee, Booker
Central Notes: Fontecchio, Toppin, Buzelis, Williams
Simone Fontecchio was re-signed by the Pistons on a two-year, $16MM contract last summer. The forward’s shooting numbers are down this season but coach J.B. Bickerstaff has stuck with him on the second unit. Fontecchio delivered his best performance of the season in Detroit’s 46-point thumping of New Orleans on Monday, with 23 points and seven rebounds. “We trust these guys and … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Fontecchio, Toppin, Buzelis, Williams
Dunn, Ellis Among Impact Role Players Ineligible For All-Defense Consideration
In the wake of Tony Allen‘s jersey retirement ceremony in Memphis, John Hollinger of The Athletic revisits Allen’s six All-Defensive seasons for the Grizzlies and notes that the veteran guard wouldn’t have made All-Defense in five of those six years if the NBA’s current 65-game rule had been in place. The 65-game rule doesn’t simply require players to appear in at least 65 … [Read more...] about Dunn, Ellis Among Impact Role Players Ineligible For All-Defense Consideration
Sixers Notes: Hood-Schifino, Reed, Bona, George, Embiid
Considering their lottery situation, the Sixers really didn’t need a win Sunday afternoon in Dallas, but that didn’t matter to Jalen Hood-Schifino or the other players trying to prove themselves at the NBA level, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hood-Schifino, who signed a two-way contract on March 1, came off the bench to sink five three-pointers and score 19 … [Read more...] about Sixers Notes: Hood-Schifino, Reed, Bona, George, Embiid
Pistons’ Bickerstaff ‘Disgusted’ By Officiating In Loss To OKC
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff ripped into the officiating crew on Saturday in his post-game media session following a six-point loss to the Thunder, as Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press writes. Bickerstaff told reporters that he was “extremely proud” about how his team competed, but was “disgusted” by the way the game was officiated. “The level of disrespect was … [Read more...] about Pistons’ Bickerstaff ‘Disgusted’ By Officiating In Loss To OKC