NBA Notebook: Closing Out January 2016

Ryan Fox

And thus the first month of the new year comes to a close. In the NBA, it means that the season is halfway over and the All-Star break is just around the corner. As both players, coaches, and fans get prepared for that, there are still many happenings and goings in the NBA including controversial injuries, some All-Star news, and much more.

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Blake Griffin

“I'm not satisfied. I'm not satisfied with anything. I'm talking about a non-basketball issue right now, so I'm not satisfied with anything.

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Punch Happy Clippers
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Well if your name rhymes with ‘Flake Kiffin’ and you play for a team in Los Angeles, it is not a good week to be you. This past Tuesday, news broke that Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin Clippers would miss 4 to 6 weeks due to a broken right hand he had suffered during the Clippers’ road game Toronto back on January 23. However, upon further investigation, it was revealed that Griffin broke his hand when he got into a physical altercation with a Clippers staff member, equipment manager Matias Testi.

According to sources, Griffin and Testi got into an argument during a dinner that escalated into a physical altercation. While Griffin ended up breaking his hand, Testi suffered multiple facial injuries. When asked about it before Tuesday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was quoted to saying, 

After the game (Clippers won 91-89), Blake Griffin took to Twitter to issue a public apologize.

"A situation among friends escalated and I regret the way I handled myself towards someone I care about. I want to apologize to the Clippers organization, my teammates and the fans for creating a distraction. I am working with the team on a resolution and getting back in the game as soon as possible."

The NBA, as well as the Clippers organization, has launched an investigation looking into the matter. No punishment has been issued just yet.

Remembering Your Roots

They say that no matter where you go or how powerful you become, you always remember your roots. For Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, it means trying to help your hometown. Gores has seen his hometown of Flint, Michigan, struggle mightily through these tough economic times. To make things worse, the town has been plunged into a state of emergency due to the drinking water has been contaminated by lead and other toxins.

Seeing the hard times fall on his hometown and its citizens barely getting by, Gores said in a statement this past Thursday that he will, “raise $10 million to address the short- and long-term goals” of Flint, Michigan. Gores also went on to say that he has appointed two associates, Pistons’ vice chairman Arn Tellem and Gores’ Platinum Equity business partner Mark Barnhill, to help raise money from other business leaders and to identify priorities in Flint.

All-Star Reserves Announced

The midway of the NBA season is almost upon us. Taking us to that point is the yearly tradition of NBA All-Star weekend. Last week, the starters for the Western and Eastern Conferences were announced for the NBA All-Star game. Then this past Thursday, the NBA announced who the reserves were going to be.
Just this past Thursday, the All-Star reserves for both teams were announced
For the 2015-16 NBA All-Star game, reserve players are as followed:
 
 
Eastern Conference
 
F Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), G Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls), G DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), C Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), F Paul Millsap (Atlanta Hawks), G Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics) and G John Wall (Washington Wizards).

Western Conference
F Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), G Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), F LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs), C DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), F Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans), G James Harden (Houston Rockets) and G Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers).

Some notes in regards about the Eastern Conference reserve players:

-In the East, Drummond and Thomas have been named All-Stars for the first time. Drummond, who leads the NBA in rebounding (15.2 rpg) and double-doubles (38), is Detroit's first All-Star selection since Allen Iverson in the 2008-09 season. Thomas, the 60th and final pick of NBA Draft 2011, is averaging career highs of 21.6 points (12th in the NBA) and 6.6 assists (ninth in the NBA).

-Bosh, who spent his first seven seasons in Toronto, earns his 11th consecutive All-Star selection. Among active players, only Kobe Bryant (18 selections in a row), LeBron James (12) and Miami teammate Dwyane Wade (12) have longer current streaks.

-Butler, who is averaging a career-high 22.3 points (11th in the NBA), makes his second straight All-Star appearance.

-DeRozan, who is averaging a career-high 23.0 points (ninth in the NBA) and leads the league in points on drives, is an All-Star for the second time. DeRozan and Toronto teammate Kyle Lowry, an East starter, are set to become the first starting backcourt to play in the All-Star Game in their home city since the Los Angeles Lakers' Jerry West and Gail Goodrich in 1972.

-Millsap is making his third consecutive trip to the All-Star Game since joining the Hawks in 2013. He is scoring a career-high 18.3 points per game in his 10th season.

-Wall, the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December, is an All-Star for the third year in a row.

Some notes in regards about the Western Conference reserve players:

-Green, Thompson, and fellow Warriors teammate and All-Star starter Stephen Curry, comprise the Warriors' first trio of All-Stars since Rick Barry, Phil Smith and Jamaal Wilkes 40 years ago. Green (14.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 7.2 apg) leads the NBA in triple-doubles with eight, while Thompson (20.9 ppg) ranks second in three-pointers made with 140. 

-Aldridge, in his first season with the Spurs (39-7), earns his fifth consecutive All-Star nod.
Cousins, the only NBA player ranked in the top five in scoring (27.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.3 rpg), is an All-Star for the second straight season.

-Davis is making his third All-Star team in a row. He is the only NBA player averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots.

-Harden, the NBA's second-leading scorer (27.5 ppg), is making his fourth consecutive trip to the All-Star Game since joining the Rockets in 2012.

-Paul has been chosen as an All-Star for the ninth straight year. He owns the highest assist average in All-Star Game history (12.9 apg).

The NBA All-Star game will be televised by TNT at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14 from Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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