Tag: Boston

Could Spurs be a destination for bought-out Diaw?

The pieces could be coming together quickly for another roster addition for the Spurs.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Boris Diaw.

Charlotte vice president of basketball operations Rod Higgins told the Observer the buyout should be completed sometime today.  It would open one of 15 roster spots for the team and save some of  Diaw’s $9 million salary.

Diaw will be able to sign with another team on Friday after he’s placed on waivers today.

The Spurs obviously are interested for a couple of reasons. Diaw would provide some quality front-court depth as he could fill in at several positions. Also, he is one of Tony Parker’s closest friends after their experiences together on the French national team. Parker is expected will lobby his team hard to add Diaw to the team.

Other teams that could be interested include Dallas and Boston.

Interestingly, Diaw didn’t earn a strong endorsement from current Charlotte coach Paul Silas. Diaw had played only twice in the last eight games for the reeling Bobcats.

Silas told the Observer of his frustration with Diaw on March 7 before a home loss to the Utah Jazz.

“I like a player who is really committed to not only the team but to himself and then doing the best he can as a player,’’ Silas told the Observer. “Some of the things that would go on, like not shooting the ball, passing all of the time’’ were unacceptable.

“I needed hoops and he could put the ball in the hoop. When that wouldn’t happen it was very disturbing. I think if he had played all out, the way he should have, it would have been a much, much better club.”

Whether a new team will help transform Diaw’s attitude remains debatable.

But the Spurs apparently are giving serious thought to giving him a shot in their run for a fifth championship.

Love’s big night spoils Mullin’s jersey retirement, leads S&Ds

Kevin Love prepared for his upcoming trip to San Antonio with another monster game to ruin Chris Mullin’s jersey retirement night.

Love muscled for  36 points and 17 rebounds to lead Minnesota to a 97-93 victory over Golden State as the Warriors honored one of their greatest players.

The All-Star Minnesota power forward had several late big plays, hitting a 16-foot jumper with 4 minutes left and then adding a critical tip-in late in the game to help the Timberwolves keep their  dimming postseason hopes alive.

“Down the stretch is where we won the game,” Love told the Associated Press. “We executed, got big stops and made plays.”

It enabled Minnesota to snap a three-game losing streak and pull within 1½ games of Houston for eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

Love and the Timberwolves have their chance to spoil another jersey retirement Wednesday night in San Antonio when the Spurs raise Bruce Bowen’s uniform to the rafters. They will be gunning for a  season sweep against the Spurs after beating them twice already this season.

His big game Monday night led Studs and Duds across the NBA.

STUDS

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Muscled for 36 points and 17 rebounds and was a team-best plus-6 in the Timberwolves’ victory at Golden State.

Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki: Erupted for 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in only 31 minutes and was a team-best plus-23 in the Mavericks’ victory at Denver.

Cleveland F Tristan Thompson: The rookie from Texas had 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds (eight offensive) in the Cavaliers’ victory at New Jersey.

Chicago F Carlos Boozer: Went for 24 points, 13 rebounds, four steals, two assists and was plus-19 in the Bulls’ victory at Orlando.

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Produced 10 points, 13 assists, six steals, three rebounds and was plus-3 in the Celtics’ victory at Atlanta.

DUDS

Chicago G C.J. Watson: Went 0 for 8 from the field with two turnovers in the Bulls’ victory at Orlando.

Orlando G Jason Richardson: Struggled through a 1-for-7 shooting effort with two turnovers and was minus-13 in the Magic’s loss to Chicago. 

Atlanta G Joe  Johnson: Went for 25 points in the Hawks’ loss to Boston, but had seven turnovers and was minus-1.

Orlando G Jameer Nelson: Struggled through a 4-for-11 shooting effort with five turnovers and was minus-2 in the Magic’s loss to Chicago.

Denver F Danilo Gallinari: Limited to four points on 1-for-7 shooting with three turnovers and was minus-10 in the Nuggets’ loss to Dallas.

Gasol’s big game, late block boosts him to top of Thursday’s S&Ds

Pau Gasol missed out on an All-Star Game selection Thursday for the first time in three seasons.

He didn’t let that momentary disappointment affect his playing later that evening.

Gasol provided 25 points and 14 rebounds and delivered a game-saving block at the overtime buzzer that sealed the Los Angeles Lakers’ 88-87 victory at Boston.

His block of Ray Allen’s shot at the buzzer enabled the Lakers to escape with a victory, only their second win in the last eight road games.  

“I’ve been in situations before in my career where you freeze … catch yourself looking at the ball and end up losing the game,” Gasol told  the Asssociated Press.

Allen said he was stunned that Gasol was in position for his late play.

“I was in the perfect position,” Allen told the AP, “and he came out of nowhere.”

Lakers coach Mike Brown was just happy that Gasol was in place when he needed him.

“That shot that Ray Allen took was good, in my opinion,” Brown told the AP. “But Pau did not stop playing until he heard the horn, and he came up with the big block.”

That clutch play enabled him to lead Thursday’s Studs and Duds of the top players across the association.

STUDS

Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol: Notched 25 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Lakers’ overtime victory at Boston. Gasol’s key block at the end of overtime preserved the triumph.

Golden State G Stephen Curry: Erupted for  36 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and was plus-15 in the Warriors’ victory at Denver.

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and was plus-2 in the Lakers’ victory at Boston.

Sacramento G Tyreke Evans: Filled the stat sheet with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and was plus-7 in the Kings’ triumph over Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Produced 33 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.

Houston’s bench: All five substitutes scored in double figures as they outscored Phoenix’s bench, 57-13, in the Rockets’ triumph over the Suns.

DUDS

Los Angeles Lakers G Derek Fisher: Missed all seven shots from the field with two turnovers and was minus-10 in the Lakers’ victory over Boston.

Phoenix G Sebastian Telfair: Missed all four shots with a turnover and was minus-19 in the Suns’ loss to Houston.

Denver G Rudy Fernandez: Went 4 for 13 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Nuggets’ loss to Golden State.

Oklahoma City C Kendrick Perkins: Was limited to five points on 1-for-4 shooting, had three turnovers and was minus-1 in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.

Boston F Kevin Garnett: Clanked through a 6-for-23 shooting effort with a turnover in the Celtics’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.