NBA LOCALS
A weekly look at locals players in the NBA:
Jordan Adams, Grizzlies, Central Gwinnett High
Re-assigned to Iowa of the D-League on Jan. 20
Al-Farouq Aminu, Mavericks, Norcross High
Averaging 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 38 games
Chris Bosh, Heat, Georgia Tech
Is 25 points short from recording 16,000th career point
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Pistons, Georgia
Averaging 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 43 games
Jae Crowder, Celtics, Villa Rica High
Averaging 5.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 40 games
Derrick Favors, Jazz, Georgia Tech
Avergaing 15.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in 39 games
J.J. Hickson, Nuggets, Wheeler High
Had 14 points and 10 rebounds versus T’Wolves Jan. 17, fourth double-double in his last six games
Dwight Howard, Rockets, Southwest Atlanta Christian
Of players who face 5-plus field goal attempts per game within 5 feet of rim, holds opponents to 44.9 percent shooting
Jarrett Jack, Nets, Georgia Tech
Averaging 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 43 games
Jeremy Lamb, Thunder, Norcross High
Averaging 7.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 30 games
Jodie Meeks, Pistons, Norcross High
Tied a career-high six steals versus 76ers on Jan. 17
Anthony Morrow, Thunder, Georgia Tech
Averaging 9.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 35 games
Iman Shumpert, Cavaliers, Georgia Tech
Nearing a return, and debut with Cavs, from dislocated left shoulder
Josh Smith, Rockets, McEachern High
Averaging 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in 44 games
Thaddeus Young, Timberwolves, Georgia Tech
Had 14 points and 11 rebounds and a season-high six assists versus Dallas Jan. 21, his 44th career double-double
Lou Williams, Raptors, South Gwinnett High
Finished ninth among Eastern Conference backcourt players in All-Star voting
Note: Stats through Thursday
This is the Hawks team.
DeMarre Carroll dove on the floor to secure a steal and quickly called timeout with 3:53 left in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Pacers. Oh, and the Hawks were up by 25 points at the time.
“I think it’s just the will, just my nature,” Carroll said after the game, won by the Hawks 110-91. “I know my role that I bring to this team and that is that grit and grime junkyard dog mentality.
“So guys on the bench like Adreian Payne and Mike Muscala see me diving when we are up 25, it’s lets them know when they are out there they play the same way. It’s setting an example by showing them rather than doing it verbally.”
Carroll continues to one of the defensive stalwarts on a team that leads the NBA in fewest points allowed at 96.3 per game. That Carroll would get yet another floor burn just to force the Pacers into a 14th turnover, in a game the Hawks led 78-53, speaks volumes of the defensive commitment.
“DeMarre Carroll and his play tonight, whether it was making 3s, making assists or diving on the ball with four minutes to go and a decent lead and he is still laying it out there, “ coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think DeMarre is a big part of us, a big part of our spirt, kind of symbolic of how competitive we want our group to be no matter what the score is. I just love his effort on both ends of the court. I think it fuels the group and everybody feeds off it.”
Carroll finished with 17 points against the Pacers on 7 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. He added two rebounds, four assists and four steals.
After the timeout was called, the entire Hawks team, including the bench and some coaches, came out near center court to help the forward up from the floor. It was a clear sign that Carroll’s teammates appreciated his sacrifice and commitment.
“First of all, it shows how hard DeMarre plays every time,” Al Horford said. “I think that he gets overshadowed a lot but what he does for us defensively is great. It just shows how hard he plays, how hard we want to play. That was a great play.”
Rookie-Sophomore format change
The Rising Stars Challenge at this year’s NBA All-Star Game weekend will feature a new format with first- and second-year players from the United States against first- and second-year players from around the world, the league announced Wednesday.
The game will be played Friday, Feb. 13 at Barclays Center at 9 p.m.
The league’s assistant coaches will select 10 U.S. players and 10 international players for the game with one ballot for each of the 30 teams. Both 10-man rosters will include four guards, four frontcourt players and two players regardless of position. Each team will also feature a minimum of three first-year players and three second-year players among the 10 spots.
Hawks center Pero Antic made the Rising Stars Challenge last season as a rookie but did not play due to injury. Dennis Schroder is also a candidate this year.
Gasol vs. Gasol
For the first time in history, brothers have been chosen to start the NBA All-Star game and Pau and Marc Gasol will oppose each other.
The Bulls’ Pau was chosen to start for the Eastern Conference. The Grizzlies’ Marc will open the game for the Western Conference. It’s interesting to note that the brothers were once traded for each other.
They are not the first brothers to play in the All-Star game. Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played in the 1970 and 1971 games.
“Knowing that I will be facing my brother Pau for the opening tip, it will be a true accomplishment for our family and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my career,” Marc Gasol said in a statement through the Grizzlies.
Quotable
“Atlanta Hawks deserve four All-Stars. I reward winning. The Hawks have the second-best record in the NBA.”
— TNT analyst Charles Barkley on All-Star reserves
“Not a whole lot, to be honest with you. I felt like they were playing at this level last year.”
— Pistons coach Frank Vogel on difference between Hawks this and last year
“I stopped caring about dunks a long time ago.”
— Kyle Korver after his second-quarter dunk versus the Pacers
By the numbers
21: Assists for Pistons' Brandon Jennings against the Magic Wednesday, an NBA season high
398,316: Number of All-Star votes for Raptors guard Kyle Lowry between last update and final results as he overtook Heat's Dwyane Wade for starting backcourt spot
6: Wire-to-wire victories for the Hawks this season after four in the past two seasons combined
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 diving for a steal with the Hawks up 25 points: “They don’t call me the Junkyard Dog for nothing.”
