NBA LOCALS
A weekly look at locals players in the NBA:
Jordan Adams, Grizzlies, Central Gwinnett High
Has been battling a sore left ankle
Al-Farouq Aminu, Mavericks, Norcross High
Averaging 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 1.8 blocks and 26.2 minutes since Jan. 28
Chris Bosh, Heat, Georgia Tech
Scored season-high 34 points against Pistons on Feb. 3
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Pistons, Georgia
Scoreda season-high 28 points and a career-high three blocks versus Houston on Jan. 31
Jae Crowder, Celtics, Villa Rica High
Averaging 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds
Derrick Favors, Jazz, Georgia Tech
Averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds
J.J. Hickson, Nuggets, Wheeler High
Scored in double figures in nine of the past 15 games
Dwight Howard, Rockets, Southwest Atlanta Christian
Out indefinitely after having procedure on right knee
Jarrett Jack, Nets, Georgia Tech
Hit game winning shot against Clippers with 1.3 second left
Jeremy Lamb, Thunder, Norcross High
Averaging 7.4 points and 2.7 rebounbs
Jodie Meeks, Pistons, Norcross High
Dished out a season-high five assists at Pacers on Feb. 4
Anthony Morrow, Thunder, Georgia Tech
Averaging 9.6 points and 2.6 rebounds
Iman Shumpert, Cavaliers, Georgia Tech
Scored Cavalier-high 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting versus 76eres Feb. 2
Josh Smith, Rockets, McEachern High
Recorded first double-double as a Rocket, with 15 points and 10 rebounds versus Celtics on Jan. 30
Thaddeus Young, Timberwolves, Georgia Tech
Averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds
Lou Williams, Raptors, South Gwinnett High
Averaging 15.2 points, 1.8 asissts and 1.7 rebounds
Note: Stats through Thursday
Clippers point guard Chris Paul has come under fire for his postgame comments regarding female referee Lauren Holtkamp follow a loss to the Cavaliers on Thursday. Paul was assessed a technical foul by Holtkamp, one of five overall on the Clippers.
“I think we have to show better composure, but at the same time some of (the technical fouls) were ridiculous,” Paul said. “The tech that I got right there was ridiculous. I don’t care what nobody says. I don’t care what she says. That’s terrible. There’s no way that can be a tech.
“We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that she said, ‘Uh-uh.’ I said, ‘Why, uh-uh?’ And she gave me a tech. … That’s ridiculous. If that’s the case, this might not be for her.”
A day later, the National Basketball Referees Association, the union for NBA officials, issued a statement. It read: “After review, the calls made by Ms. Holtkamp are fully justified. We deplore the unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul.”
Holtkamp is a rookie referee who has worked several years in the NBA Development League. She has worked several Hawks games, both exhibition and regular season, including Wednesday’s game against the Wizards in Atlanta.
Paul faces a fine from the NBA for being critical of an official. The league will review the incident, as they do with all technical fouls.
Teague back for more
Jeff Teague is getting a second chance.
The Hawks point guard committed to participate in the Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Saturday night in New York. Teague, who will also play in the All-Star game after being a first-time selection, did the contest in 2013 in Houston. He didn’t fare too well. Hence, another go at it.
“I have to redeem myself,” Teague said. “I missed a layup last time I was in there. That’s the only reason.”
The Skills Challenge has changed to a bracket format competition. Teague will go head-to-head with Michael Carter-Williams of the 76ers in the first round.
76ers accept challenge
Several opposing coaches have used games against the 76ers to rest players. Last month, the Hawks rested three starters in Philadelphia and still came away with a victory.
When the 76ers came to Atlanta recently, Brown was asked whether he was bothered that the opposition chose his team to give players a rest.
“I don’t care at all,” coach Brett Brown said. “I really don’t. We are such at a different stage. I’ve got a bunch of 20-year-olds who are just so excited to go play on an NBA court. We are trying to grow something and build something. Tonight is an opportunity to play against one of the elite teams in the league and to go play against a team that is on fire at the moment. It’s a great measuring stick for us. So to take it personally or be insulted that they do that … I don’t give it any thought.”
Quotable
“Welcome to the Finals.”
— Warriors coach Steve Kerr before being literally surrounded by media before a game against the Hawks on Friday
“They are a fun team to watch. I always catch them on league pass.”
— Hawks guard Jeff Teague on the Warriors
“I would fine guys who left him wide open if I coached a team.”
— TNT analyst Charles Barkley on Hawks guard Kyle Korver
By the numbers
51: Season-high points scored by Stephen Curry of the Warriors on Wednesday, one week after teammate Klay Thompson scored 52.
5: Hawks players — starters Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, DeMarre Carroll, Paul Millsap and Al Horford — named the NBA's Player of the Month for January after the team went 17-0
2: NBA coaches fired this season after the Magic parted ways with Jacque Vaughn on Thursday
Carroll’s Corner
Words of wisdom from DeMarre Carroll, the man who brought you this quote from last season: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, you better help that bear.”
On his expanded role with Hawks: “Guys like myself, guys like Draymond Green (of the Warriors) over there, we get to have a bigger role. We love playing basketball just like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. A lot of the things we do might not get recognized. In the same sense, we have to go out and play our role to the fullest.”
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