Tag: Goga Bitadze

Goga Bitadze listed as potential Chicago Bulls free agency target

Goga Bitadze was suggested as a potential free agency target for the Chicago Bulls.

As the Chicago Bulls look to restructure their roster this summer, they’ll have a lot of different pathways to consider. Nailing their pick in the draft will be a top priority, as will hitting on any trades they make. However, the Bulls will also have to be smart with their money in free agency. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report sees Goga Bitadze as a potential target for them.

“For the past two seasons, the Bulls have had one of the Association’s best backup bigs in Andre Drummond,” Buckley wrote. “He may have been too productive for them to keep, though, as he enters unrestricted free agency having posted per-36-minutes averages of 18.9 rebounds, 17.4 points and 3.1 combined steals and blocks, per Basketball-Reference. If Drummond heads elsewhere, Chicago could tab Goga Bitadze as his replacement.

“The 24-year-old quietly engineered his best season to date. With his breakout somewhat masked by his limited role within Orlando’s crowded frontcourt, though, he might not see the kind of contract offers his play arguably warrants. And since he’s mostly confined to contributing on the interior, he probably isn’t the kind of big that really excites modern front offices. Still, he’s super reliable as a finisher (career-high 60.3 field-goal percentage) and as a rim protector (1.2 blocks in only 15.4 minutes), and he sees the game well enough to chip in as a passer, too.”

Adding a guy like Bitadze could help the Bulls upgrade their center depth.

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Trades that make a lot of sense: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers and more

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

Trades that make a lot of sense: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers and more

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

Pacers spoil elite Christian Wood game as Rockets fall apart late

Christian Wood and Jalen Green had very encouraging games, but neither touched the ball on Friday’s biggest possession as Houston fell apart in the fourth quarter versus Indiana.

The Rockets (17-53) blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter as the visiting Indiana Pacers (24-47) rallied to a 121-118 victory (box score) on Friday night at Toyota Center. For Houston, it was a fourth straight loss, and it maintains their spot with the NBA’s worst record.

Christian Wood led the way with a game-high 32 points on 11-of-14 shooting (78.6%), including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Houston’s big man also collected a team-high 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in his 34 minutes. Nonetheless, the Rockets were outscored in the fourth quarter, 38-23, as Indiana sent Houston to a dispiriting home loss.

Veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting (57.9%), while starting center Goga Bitadze had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals on perfect 9-of-9 shooting.

Rookie guard Jalen Green had 20 points and 6 assists for the Rockets, including several key plays late in the fourth quarter to give Houston a chance to win. But with the Rockets down two in the closing seconds, it was Kevin Porter Jr. (19 points, 4 assists) who took the final shot on an isolation play. Neither Wood nor Green, who led the Rockets in scoring and had the playmaking burden for much of Friday’s game, touched the basketball on the decisive possession at Toyota Center.

Rookie big man Alperen Sengun had 15 points and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes off Houston’s bench on Friday night.

Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.

The heated exchange between Goga Bitadze and a Pacers coach, explained

This isn’t a good look for the Pacers

Sports, overall, is just a competitive realm no matter what game you’re playing. It could be football. It could be basketball. Maybe even a game of rock, paper, scissors.

And, sometimes, when things get competitive tempers might flare up between competitors or even teammates. But you absolutely never want to see that happening between a player and a coach.

But that’s what happened during Wednesday night in the Pacers’ 104-93 loss to the Kings.

Things got extremely heated between Pacers’ center Goga Bitadze and assistant coach Greg Foster. Now Foster is suspended and Bitadze is fined, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s just all chaos.

None of it was a good look. Here’s how it all went down.

Goga Bitadze explains how painful his knee injury was to deal with

The Pacers rookie said on Friday that he has battled pain in his knee off and on throughout the season.

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Indiana Pacers rookie Goga Bitadze hasn’t played competitively since March but he recently made his first appearance during the season restart at the Wide World of Sports Complex.

Bitadze revealed on Friday that he has dealt with pain in his knee all season long but he was able to play through it. However, after returning to practice following a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the pain worsened and he was unable to run.

My knee has been filled with pain pretty much all season but after this break, as soon as I started practicing with the team, it hurt me a lot more. I basically couldn’t run so I wasn’t doing a whole lot. I was just making sure my quads were strong enough. I haven’t practiced a whole lot so it’s kinda hard for me to get back ready to play but I gotta be ready, I gotta be professional and, hopefully, my knees will be good.

Bitadze logged 10 minutes on Thursday during a 114-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns, recording three points and one rebound. He didn’t play in any of the Pacers’ three scrimmage games so the seeding games will be key to get back into game shape before the start of the playoffs.

It was really good to be out there. It’s really hard to watch your teammates playing out there and [Domantas Sabonis] is out and you can see the team needs you. It was pretty hard for me to watch the guys. I’m really happy to be back on the court. Obviously, I can play a lot better. Game by game, I think I gotta play better and be in better shape and the game will slow down again.

Bitadze has proven this season that, when healthy, he can be a key contributor off of the bench. In 50 games, Bitadze is averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds this season. He has the ability to shoot from 3-point range and defend the paint.

Bitadze will continue to get back into playing shape during the seeding games ahead of the postseason and could help play a vital role off of the bench.

The Pacers play next on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Pacers pranked Goga Bitadze by filling up his car with packing peanuts

The 18th overall pick discovered on Thursday that he was the latest rookie to be pranked by his veteran teammates.

As part of being a rookie, let’s just say certain things happen to you.

Many players over the years have been forced to carry around team luggage or pick up the check at an expensive restaurant. On occasion, your car might get filled to the brim with popcorn or something else related.

That’s what happened to Indiana Pacers rookie Goga Bitadze.

The 18th overall pick discovered on Thursday that he was the latest rookie to be pranked by his veteran teammates. Fortunately, Pacers center Myles Turner was there capture his reaction as he saw his car filled with packing peanuts.

While he may have been pranked by his teammates, Bitadze has had a solid season thus far.

In nine games, he is averaging 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 assists in 17 minutes. He has missed a few games due to injury but at one point was seventh in the NBA in blocks.

Bitadze has shown that he can contribute on both ends of the floor and figures to have an important role with the Pacers moving forward this season.

The Pacers play next on Saturday against the Orlando Magic.

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