NBA | Chris Paul struggles in Gm 1, HOU still wins

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Chris Paul struggles in Gm 1, HOU still wins

Chris Paul struggled during the Rockets' Game 1 victory on Sunday, finishing 5-of-14 from the field for 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

CP3 committed six turnovers including a critical miscue with 8.7 seconds left in a three-point game. Only once during the regular season did he have more turnovers than assists, and this is also the second time all season that he's made one or fewer triples on at least six attempts. He sat out six of Houston's final 11 games to rest and allow a sore left hip to fully heal, so maybe he was just scraping off some rust. We're anticipating a more typical performance during Game 2 on Wednesday.

Apr 15 - 11:59 PM

Lonzo Ball (left knee) building up to 5-on-5

Lonzo Ball (left meniscus) has been "100 percent cleared" by the Lakers medical staff, but GM Rob Pelinka couldn't guarantee he'll play on opening night.

Lakers coach Luke Walton said recently that Ball wouldn't participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages at the start of camp, which Pelinka basically confirmed. "Because [Ball] hasn’t played NBA 5-on-5 for four or five months, there is a progression to come back," he said. Magic Johnson praised Ball's dedication to studying film this offseason, but his fantasy value is clouded by the health of his knee and the arrival of ball-dominant veterans LeBron James and Rajon Rondo.

Source: Mike Trudell on Twitter

Sep 20 - 6:35 PM

John Collins, Spellman could earn C minutes

Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce won't rule out the possibility of giving John Collins and Omari Spellman minutes at center this season.

Pierce added that center isn't either player's "natural position," and the center spot is already somewhat busy with Dewayne Dedmon, Miles Plumlee and Alex Len in the mix. Collins shouldn't need run at the five to earn 32+ minutes, but this is one more reason to love him as a breakout fantasy player.

Source: KL Chouinard on Twitter

Sep 20 - 4:26 PM

Dewayne Dedmon (ankle) out for training camp

Dewayne Dedmon (left ankle fracture) will not be cleared for training camp and will be re-evaluated in late September.

Dedmon suffered an avulsion fracture in late August -- it's "not considered serious" but the rebuilding Hawks have no incentive to rush back their veteran big man. With Miles Plumlee and Alex Len in the frontcourt, and coach Lloyd Pierce open to giving John Collins and Omari Spellman minutes at center, Dedmon is an unlikely fantasy target unless he's traded.

Source: Chris Vivlamore on Twitter

Sep 20 - 4:23 PM

Presti: Thunder won't rush Westbrook back

Thunder GM Sam Presti said the team won't rush Russell Westbrook back from knee surgery.

He added that the Thunder have never pushed a player to hit a specific date in recovering from injury, and that he won’t start now by rushing Westbrook to be ready for game one. The Thunder announced that Westbrook would be re-evaluated in four weeks on Sept. 12, so it's not a surprise that he'll likely miss some time to start the season. Paul George's fantasy arrow is pointing up and it makes sense for Westbrook's owners to handcuff him with Dennis Schroder.

Source: Royce Young on Twitter

Sep 20 - 12:25 PM

Kristaps Porzingis (knee) without a timetable

Knicks President Steve Mills said on Thursday that there is still no timeline for Kristaps Porzingis (knee) to play this season.

To be clear, Porzingis will be re-evaluated by the medical staff this week, so we'll get another update soon. Mills wouldn't rule out Porzingis missing the entire season when asked earlier this week, saying that he's not going jeopardize his long-term future. As for a contract extension, Knicks GM Scott Perry declined to talk about it but was adamant that Porzingis is a "very important part" of New York's future.

Source: Chris Mannix on Twitter

Sep 20 - 11:23 AM

Brandon Knight (knee) undergoes surgery

Brandon Knight underwent surgery on his left knee according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

Charania adds that this was just a "cleanup," but this is the third surgery he's had on his left knee since his ACL tear -- he had another "cleanup" two months ago. The Rockets brought in Knight to reduce Chris Paul's workload, but they may not have that luxury early in the season because there's no word of a timetable. He can't be trusted in fantasy leagues.

Source: Shams Charania on Twitter

Sep 20 - 10:27 AM

Markelle Fultz shows off new jumper in video

In a video for the Players' Tribune, Markelle Fultz finally revealed his new jumper.

The video (linked below) opens with Fultz draining 3-pointers. It's a different release than the one he had at Washington which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as his trainer Drew Hanlen rebuilt his jumper from the ground up. If anything, the release looks smooth and quick, so Philly fans have every reason to be excited. Anybody can hit open shots in a gym, so we'll see if this new jumper has some success in the preseason.

Source: Players' Tribune

Sep 20 - 10:08 AM

Reggie Jackson had a 'minor' procedure

Reggie Jackson had a "minor procedure" on his right ankle over the offseason.

His ankle cost him 37 games last season and now we're learning that he's been sidelined for most of the offseason because of this. Jackson did say he's day-to-day, but it doesn't sound like he's a lock for camp by any means. "It actually feels good. I feel like I can cut again," Jackson said. "Once I get going fully, just see how it feels. But it feels night and day compared to last year." We'll take him at his word, but if he's not right for the season opener Ish Smith will get an opportunity to run the point for the first unit.

Source: NBA.com

Sep 20 - 9:56 AM

Kyrie, Hayward not slated for B2B rest days?

The Celtics currently have no plans to rest Kyrie Irving (left knee) or Gordon Hayward (left leg surgery) in back-to-back situations this season.

"I’m not sure I anticipate [resting in back-to-backs] with either of those guys from everything I’ve been told thus far," Stevens said on Wednesday. "I think they’ve really made great strides, they’ve been working out, playing in small groups and playing 5-on-5 for over a few weeks now." It was recently reported that Kyrie won't have a minute-limit to begin the season, either, giving prospective owners another reason for optimism.

Source: The Athletic

Sep 19 - 9:45 PM

Woj: Jimmy Butler 'determined' to join Clips

Jimmy Butler is "most determined" to end up with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com.

Woj reported earlier today that the Clippers, Knicks, and Nets are among Butler's preferred destinations. Shams Charania of The Athletic also mentioned the Heat as a potential landing spot. Butler is eyeing a team that can accommodate him and another star player. He would like to be traded now so that he can lock in a five-year max contract worth $190 million next summer, instead of a four-year, $140 million contract if he were to leave Minnesota in free agency.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

Sep 19 - 8:56 PM

Isaiah Thomas (hip) questionable for camp

Isaiah Thomas' (right hip) availability for training camp remains in question according to Nuggets President Tim Connelly.

"We want to be especially sensitive to Isaiah," Connelly said. "I think he probably has rushed back (in the past). We want Isaiah to be right, so he's working his butt off a couple times a day with our guys." Thomas said back in July that he would "for sure" be ready for camp after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery in March, but there's no word of a setback and it sounds like the Nuggets will bring him along very slowly by design.

Source: Chris Dempsey on Twitter

Sep 18 - 8:08 PM