NBA locals
A weekly look at locals players in the NBA:
Al-Farouq Aminu, Mavericks, Norcross High
* Averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.6 minutes in eight games
Chris Bosh, Heat, Georgia Tech
* Only player in NBA averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Pistons, Georgia
* Averaging 12.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in seven games, all starts
Jae Crowder, Mavericks, Villa Rica High
* Had 15 points, on 5-of-6 shooting, all in the fourth quarter agianst Miami on Nov. 9
Derrick Favors, Jazz, Georgia Tech
* Returned home and had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks vs. Atlanta on Nov. 12
JJ Hickson, Nuggets, Wheeler High
* Has appeared in one game and had 8 points and 10 rebounds versus Portland on Nov. 9
Dwight Howard, Rockets, Southwest Atlanta Christian
* Is fourth in the NBA in rebounds (11.4) and fifth in field-goal percentage (61.4)
Jarrett Jack, Nets, Georgia Tech
* Averaging 7.0 points and 2.7 assists in seven games
Jodie Meeks, Pistons, Norcross High
* Remains sidelined with a stress reaction in his lower back
Anthony Morrow, Thunder, Georgia Tech
* In second game back from MCL sprain in left knee had 28 points versus Boston on Nov. 12
Glen Rice Jr., Wizards, Georgia Tech
* Was the unanimous choice for MVP of 2014 Summer League
Iman Shumpert, Knicks, Georgia Tech
* Averaging 13.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in nine games, all starts
Josh Smith, Pistons, McEachern High
* Recorded season-highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (3) at Chicago on Nov. 10
Thaddeus Young, Timberwolves, Georgia Tech
* Averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds through seven games
Lou Williams, Raptors, South Gwinnett High
* Scored in double figures in five consecutive games (Nov. 4-11) and averaged 13.2 points in the stretch
Note: Stats through Wednesday
With the recent play of reserve point guard Dennis Schroder, Mike Budenholzer has another option on offense.
The Hawks coach has paired Schroder and starter Jeff Teague for extended periods of time in recent games. With Schroder responsible for bringing the ball up court, Teague can play off the ball.
“Maybe he can get the defense in rotation and get the ball to where he doesn’t always have to initiate things,” Budenholzer said of Teague. “He has been so good for us and there is a lot put on his shoulders. Often times, he’s the one that is generating and attacking. (Now we can) get him off the ball and allow him to attack a close out or attack a pick-and-roll.”
Teague played the shooting guard spot at Wake Forest opposite point guard Ish Smith.
Teague said he doesn’t think the pairing changes his game. He will continue to do what he does — with or without the ball.
Budenholzer said he will continue to look for opportunities to play both point guards.
“If there are opportunities to put those guys together, there are things that they can do that are positive and valuable for us,” he said.
Snyder continues to build
Jazz coach Quin Snyder was part of the new-look Hawks for a short time. He served as an assistant under first-year coach Mike Budenholzer as he installed a new philosophy and system last season.
Snyder is bringing similar tenets to Utah. However, the Hawks and Jazz are not at the same stage at this point.
“It’s basketball, and hopefully there are things that are going to stand out,” Snyder said. “Hopefully we are passing it and shooting it as well as Atlanta is. We are at a totally different stage development-wise with our team, with our young guys. The biggest thing that I love about the way we played last year in Atlanta and the way they play now that Bud trumpets in the unselfishness. Hopefully, we play the same way. …
“They have veteran guys. We have a couple veterans, but that presence there is a confidence and a self-assuredness that resonates throughout a team. Hopefully, we can begin to build that in our own experiences.”
Triangle woes in New York
The Knicks are attempting to install a “Triangle” offense with new coach Derek Fisher. The results have not been good early on in the season with Carmelo Anthony being the centerpiece.
“Finding the balance between being a shot-maker, being a guy who can take easy shots as well as difficult shots, but also, which I think he doesn’t get as much credit for, is buying into what we are saying about putting the team first and hitting the first open man,” Fisher said of Anthony.
“For guys who score as well as he does, it’s hard to go seven or eight possessions without getting a chance to score. The rhythm is not the same. The shot opportunities are not the same. He is struggling with that right now, but not because he can’t still play at that level. We are not worried about where he will be as the season goes on. It’s about our team. He is embracing what we are asking him to do. It may make him look different now, but as time goes on he is still confident in where we can go.”
Anthony is shooting 73-of-178 (.410, through Wednesday) on the season. That includes two performances against the Hawks, when he was a combined 13-of-40 (.325).
By the numbers
13,421 Career misses by Kobe Bryant following a loss to Memphis on Tuesday, setting the NBA record. He is now ahead of John Havlicek (13,417), Elvin Hayes (13,296), Karl Malone (12,682), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12,470) and Michael Jordan (12,345).
26,953 Career points by Dirk Nowitzki (through Wednesday) to move into ninth place all-time on the NBA scoring list, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946).
4 Number of games, through the first seven, that the Hawks have had two players score at least 20 points.
Quotable
“Charles your fat (expletive) can eat now.”
— Lakers’ Ed Davis posted on Twitter after the team won its first game. TNT analyst Charles Barkley said he would not eat until the Lakers won a game.
“If he did, it was on accident.”
— Hawks Paul Millsap when told that new Jazz coach and former Hawks assistant Quin Snyder said he learned from the power forward
Carroll’s corner
Weekly 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.”
When asked following the Hawks’ home win over the Knicks about the team approach to guarding Carmelo Anthony with several players, including Thabo Sefolosha, Millsap and Carroll, he said: “I told coach let me get a shot, everybody else had a shot.”
Climbing the charts
This week, Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver moved into 19th place on the NBA/ABA all-time 3-point field-goal list.
1. Ray Allen 2,973
2. Reggie Miller 2,560
3. Jason Kidd 1,988
4. Jason Terry 1,968
5. Paul Pierce 1,943
6. Chauncey Billups 1,830
7. Vince Carter 1,816
8. Rashard Lewis 1,787
9. Peja Stojakovic 1,760
10. Dale Ellis 1,719
11. Jamal Crawford 1,711
12. Steve Nash 1,685
13. Kobe Bryant 1,656
14. Joe Johnson 1,605
15. Jason Richardson 1,577
16. Glen Rice 1,559
17. Eddie Jones 1,546
18. Tim Hardaway 1,542
19. Kyle Korver 1,534
20. Mike Miller 1,533
Note: Stats through Wednesday
