Report: Amar’e Stoudemire possibly out 6-8 weeks

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When one door closes, another one opens. Now, Knicks big men, don’t everybody clutch their lower back and slowly lurch towards the door at the same time. This is an opportunity for a player to establish that he’s truly an offensive savant, and as much fun as a Rasheed Wallace revival would be, this is something that has long been in the cards. But before we dive into that, here’s the update on Amare Stoudemire and his troubling knee injury:

New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire will miss at least the first six weeks of the season after re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee, according to league sources.

It is not clear whether Stoudemire will use the extra time off to have a procedure or for rest and rehab.

Stoudemire may be out between 6-8 weeks, according to two of the sources.

Via Chris Broussard | ESPN.com

It’s a tough break for Stoudemire, who has dealt with knee issues his entire career. With Tyson Chandler already banged up with a bone bruise and the aforementioned advanced age of the Knicks backup big men, this is going to be a challenge. It’s going to require thinking outside of the box a little bit, and it’s going to require a star player making a sacrifice he hasn’t been open to in the past. Even though he says he is now. But maybe not THAT specific sacrifice — just a sacrifice in general. Like maybe he’ll let Marcus Camby use his parking spot, or something.

In case you haven’t caught on, yes, Carmelo Anthony, we’re talking about you here. Despite clutching to his identity as a small forward, Anthony played some of his best basketball at the power forward position last year. According to 82games.com, Anthony posted a ridiculous 29.5 PER at power forward compared to a 17.4 PER at small forward. It was a small sample size, but the lineup data supports the notion as well. New York’s most effective lineup in terms of plus/minus last year (over 50 minutes played) was sans Stoudermire with Anthony at the 4. Simply put, the Knicks were better a team last year when Carmelo Anthony played power forward.

And you know what? That all makes sense. Anthony is an incredibly strong player that can really bully his way to the rim and finish. He can score out of the post. He can draw fouls and create contact. When Anthony starts his attack from 17-feet, it’s all gravy. But when he catches on the perimeter in an isolation setting, the chances of a long, contested jumper increase to uncomfortable levels.

Considering the roster composition of the Knicks and the extended absence of Stoudemire, it’s time for Anthony to bang down low with the big boys. With no other post scorer on the roster, Anthony needs to get down on the block and get his team some easy buckets. It’s not always going to look good, and it’s not always going to feel good, but these are the types of sacrifices required when injuries hit. Magic Johnson started an NBA Finals game at center, for goodness sake — surely Melo can play power forward for a few weeks.

And don’t worry, Carmelo. I’m sure J.R. Smith will keep your “questionable shot selection” seat plenty warm in the meantime. For now though, it’s time to answer the call.

Watch Trae Young get ejected for launching ball at referee

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Trae Young screwed up and he knew it.

“It’s just a play he can’t make,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said via the Associated Press after the game. “I told him that. He knows it.”

With the score tied at 84 in the third quarter, Young had a 3-pointer disallowed and an offensive foul called on him for tripping the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith. A frustrated Young picked up a technical foul for something he said.

Then walking back to the bench, Young turned and launched the ball at the referee with two hands. It was an instant ejection.

 

“There wasn’t a single part of him that tried to rationalize what happened,” Snyder said.

Young can expect a fine for this. It also was his 15th technical of the season, one more and he will get an automatic one-game suspension.

The Hawks went on to win 143-130, improving Atlanta to .500 at 37-37 and keeping them solidly as the No. 8 seed in the East.

Report: ‘Strong optimism’ Anthony Edwards could return to Timberwolves Sunday

Houston Rockets v Minnesota Timberwolves
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What looked so bad when it happened may only cost Anthony Edwards three games.

Edwards rolled his ankle last week but could be back Sunday when the Timberwolves travel to Golden State, reports Chris Haynes at Yahoo Sports.

Edwards is averaging 24.7 points and 5.9 rebounds a game this season, and he has stepped up to become the team’s primary shot-creator with Karl-Anthony Towns out for much of the season. The Timberwolves have been outscored by 3.4 points per 100 possessions when Edwards is off the court this season.

Towns returned to action a couple of games ago, and with Edwards on Sunday it will be the first time since November the Timberwolves will have their entire core on the court — now with Mike Conley at the point. With the Timberwolves tied for the No.7 seed in an incredibly tight West (they are 1.5 games out of sixth but also one game out of missing the postseason entirely) it couldn’t come at a better time. It’s also not much time to develop of fit and chemistry the team will need in the play-in, and maybe the playoffs.

Nets announce Ben Simmons diagnosed with nerve impingement in back, out indefinitely

NBA: FEB 24 Nets at Bulls
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Ben Simmons — who has been in and out of the Nets’ lineup all season and often struggled when on the court — is out indefinitely due to a nerve impingement in his back, the team announced Friday.

A nerve impingement — sometimes called a pinched nerve — is when a bone or other tissue compresses a nerve. Simmons has a history of back issues going back to his time in Philadelphia, and he had a microdiscectomy about a year ago, after he was traded to Brooklyn.

With two weeks and nine games left in the season, logic would suggest Simmons is done for the season. Coach Jacque Vaughn said Thursday that Simmons has done some individual workouts but nothing with teammates, however, he would not say Simmons is shut down for the season or would not participate in the postseason with Brooklyn.

Simmons had not played since the All-Star break when he got PRP injections to help deal with ongoing knee soreness. When he has played this season offense has been a struggle, he has been hesitant to shoot outside a few feet from the basket and is averaging 6.9 points a game. Vaughn used him mainly as a backup center.

Simmons has two fully guaranteed years and $78 million remaining on his contract after this season. While Nets fans may want Simmons traded, his injury history and that contract will make it very difficult to do so this summer (Brooklyn would have to add so many sweeteners it wouldn’t be worth it).

The Nets have slid to the No.7 seed in the West — part of the play-in — and have a critical game with the Heat on Saturday night.

Frustration rising within Mavericks, ‘We got to fight hard, play harder’

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If the postseason started today, the Dallas Mavericks would miss out — not just the playoffs but also the play-in.

The Mavericks fell to the No.11 seed in the West (tied with the Thunder for 10th) after an ugly loss Friday night to a tanking Hornets team playing without LaMelo Ball and on the second night of a back-to-back. Dallas is 3-7 with both Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić playing, and with this latest loss fans booed the Mavericks. What was Jason Kidd’s reaction? Via Tim MacMahon of ESPN:

“We probably should have been booed in the first quarter,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said…. “The interest level [from players] wasn’t high,” Kidd said. “It was just disappointing.”

That was a little different than Kyrie Irving’s reaction to the boos.

Then there is franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić, who sounded worn down, by the season and the losing in Dallas.

“We got to fight hard, play harder. That’s about it. We got to show we care and it starts with me first. I’ve just got to lead this team, being better, playing harder. It’s on me….

“I think you can see it with me on the court. Sometimes I don’t feel it’s me. I’m just being out there. I used to have really fun, smiling on court, but it’s just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball.”

Dončić would not elaborate on what, outside basketball, has frustrated him.

Look at seeds 5-10 in the West and you see teams that have struggled but have the elite talent and experience to be a postseason threat: The Phoenix Suns (Devin Booker, plus Kevin Durant is expected back next week), the Golden State Warriors (Stephen Curry and the four-time champions), the Los Angeles Lakers (Anthony Davis and maybe before the season ends LeBron James).

Should the Mavericks be in that class? On paper yes, they have clutch playoff performers of the past in Dončić and Irving, but an energy-less loss to Charlotte showed a team lacking the chemistry and fire right now that teams like the Lakers (beating the Thunder) and Warriors (beating the 76ers) showed on the same night.

The Mavericks feel like less of a playoff threat, especially with their defensive concerns. They don’t have long to turn things around — and get into the postseason.