Tag: JJ Redick

Nets can’t afford to sleep on Pelicans

A matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans has the makings of a big game for Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen.

The last time the Brooklyn Nets faced the New Orleans Pelicans, Zion Williamson was on the sideline, having just undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair his torn right lateral meniscus. The Nets also had Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert, who dropped 39 and 23 points, respectively, in Brooklyn’s 135-125 win at Barclays Center on November 4.

Williamson will be at Tuesday’s tilt down on the bayou, so will LeVert, but neither of them will be suiting up. (Irving won’t even be in attendance. He and Kevin Durant are not traveling with the team on their two-game road trip.)

As much as the Pelicans have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA through the first eight weeks of the season, Brooklyn isn’t guaranteed to have an easy time at Smoothie King Center (as much as that sounds like the name of a theme park, not a professional sports stadium).

Now, JJ Redick (left groin soreness) is also out, per the Pelicans. That helps. But if you’ve caught a glimpse of Jrue Holiday you know he’s got as much fight in him as anyone.

By no means does that mean Holiday has the edge over Spencer Dinwiddie. He’s just not going to back down. Talent plus determination is always a scary combination.

Then there’s New Orleans’ leading scorer, Brandon Ingram. A solid test for Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler. Maybe Garrett Temple, as well. But he won’t beat the Nets on his own. Ingram needs Holiday.

The forward also needs either Lonzo Ball or Josh Hart, the latter of which can be a pest at times. (Hart is also good for a solid gif everyone so often. So DeAndre Jordan needs to be prepared.)

Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

If anyone is going to have a big night for Brooklyn, besides Dinwiddie, it should be Jarrett Allen. He failed to get into double figures against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday and did so again in Brooklyn’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday

So, Allen is due. Additionally, he should eat Jaxon Hayes’ lunch every time they share the floor (same goes for Jordan). That’s not to say Allen won’t do well against Derrick Favors — he absolutely should — but going up against Hayes is the type of matchup Allen should dominate every time (two reasons being he nearly has a 40-pound advantage and Hayes is a rookie).

RELATED: Zion Williamson will return after initial 6-8 week timetable

RELATED: Ben Simmons on Spencer Dinwiddie: ‘I love the way he plays’

5 trades the New Orleans Pelicans could make with Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball’s move to the bench could be a signal that the Pelicans may not be convinced he is part of the future. Could a trade be in store?

Coming into the season, the New Orleans Pelicans were seen as a darkhorse candidate for the playoffs in the Western Conference. Despite the bottom dropping out of the conference, the Pelicans have fallen even further this season. Now, instead of playoff seeds, New Orleans is once again looking at lottery odds.

Among those who have suffered most during the first half of the season is Lonzo Ball. A recent move to the bench was a long time coming. While some expected Ball and Jrue Holiday to excel in the backcourt, their massive struggles have been a microcosm of the season as a whole.

From the moment he was dealt to the Pelicans, there were questions about Ball’s fit with the team. The gluttony of young guards on the Pelicans’ roster paired with Holiday as the team leader means someone is likely expendable. As the season worsens, David Griffin will likely listen to trades for any player not named Zion Williamson.

Is Ball the odd man out? Logic would suggest it is more likely the team deals the older Holiday first. But every player will have a price. Here are five trades where the price might be right for Ball.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Joel Embiid on seeing JJ Redick again: ‘It was good. I miss him.’

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid was happy to see New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick on Friday.

The Philadelphia 76ers knocked off the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night 116-109 and in the process they honored a former shooting guard. They welcomed back JJ Redick with a video tribute in the first quarter during a timeout and it brought the Philadelphia fans to their feet in respect.

Joel Embiid, who had 24 points and 11 rebounds to go along with five assists, was happy that he got to see Redick again as the two had a close relationship during his two seasons in Philadelphia.

“It was good. I miss him,” said Embiid. “We kept him in check, kind of, so that was good too. It was good to see him.”

The Sixers have missed Redick’s shooting to a certain extent, but they have been able to figure it out as they have become one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the league despite not having a serious sharpshooter. Who wouldn’t want to have Redick’s deadeye 44.8% shooting from deep?

Nonetheless, the Sixers have been able to figure it out in the form of Tobias Harris who is building an All-Star case for 2020.

“He’s been great,” Embiid added on Harris. “He’s been scoring the ball efficiently. Defensively is where I’ve seen a lot of improvement, so he’s been great for us and I hope he keeps it going.”

The Sixers will now head back out on the road to take on the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at the Barclays Center. [lawrence-related id=21313,21304,21261]

Sixers honor JJ Redick with video tribute, receives standing ovation

The Philadelphia 76ers give New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick a tribute video in his return to Philly.

Despite only being in Philadelphia for two seasons, JJ Redick made a positive impact on the 76ers during those seasons. His impact on both the floor and in the locker room really helped the organization set a culture and establish a lot of success.

As he returned with the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, Redick received a lot of love and admiration from both the Sixers organization and the Philadelphia faithful. It is well deserved after two seasons of him averaging 17.6 points and deadeye shooting from deep at 40.7% from deep.

All of that earned him a tribute video in the first quarter during a timeout and a lot of love from the fanbase.

Redick’s shooting can never be fully replaced, but the team has found somebody suitable to fill the job. His replacement, Josh Richardson, has done a lot of good things for the team and even though he is not quite the shooter that he is, he brings a lot of other things to the floor.

Philadelphia currently leads New Orleans 31-22 in the first quarter. [lawrence-related id=21261,21254,21239]

JJ Redick on watching his former team: ‘I’m enjoying their success’

The former Sixer has kept up with the exploits of his old team and is enjoying the success they are having.

Things are going well for the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers. The team is coming off a solid win over the division rival Boston Celtics, their fourth straight victory in a stretch that also includes wins over the Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets. As a result, Philadelphia has risen to the top of the Atlantic Division standings and into the third spot in the Eastern Conference.

On Friday, the Sixers will look to continue their solid play when they host the New Orleans Pelicans and old friend JJ Redick. Redick played two seasons in Philadelphia during which he averaged 17.6 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 40.7% from beyond the arc. He played a pivotal role in the Sixers offense and helped the team to two trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

At shootaround on Friday morning, he was asked if he had been keeping up with the exploits of his former team. He said he has, adding, “I’m enjoying their success. I really am.”

Redick continued, saying that he would always root for a Brett Brown coached team and that he loves Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and the other Sixers that he played with during his time in Philadelphia.

His response shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Redick is a fan of the game and seemed to genuinely enjoy his time in Philadelphia. He showed his team-first attitude when he uncomplainingly moved to the bench for a brief stint when the Sixers attempted to bring Markelle Fultz along by inserting him into the starting lineup.

It will be interesting to see what kind of welcome Redick receives from the Philadelphia faithful on Friday night. The things we mentioned above helped to endear him to the fan base, but he also opted to leave the franchise in what appeared to be a strictly financial move. No one can fault Redick for taking the best offer he could get, but those types of decisions, however rational, don’t always sit well with the spurned fans of the former team. The fact that the current Sixers could use a player with Redick’s particular skillset only adds a bit of salt to the wound.

We’ll find out what kind of reception Redick receives when the game tips off Friday night at 7:00, and for now we know that he is enjoying the success his old team is having. [lawrence-related id=21254,21229]

Sixers vs. Pelicans preview: JJ Redick returns to Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers welcome in the New Orleans Pelicans to the Wells Fargo Center on Friday.

The Philadelphia 76ers return home on Friday after a terrific win in Boston over the Celtics. It has been an impressive stretch for the Sixers as they have wins over the Toronto Raptors, the Denver Nuggets, and the Celtics in their previous three games. Now, they return home to see a familiar face.

The New Orleans Pelicans visit the Wells Fargo Center and they bring former Sixers guard JJ Redick with them. Redick spent the previous two seasons with the Sixers and he was a key reason for their playoff runs in those years. He averaged 17.6 points and shot 40.7% from deep in the two years in Philadelphia.

With that being said, it’s time for the game guide for Friday:

How to watch Sixers vs. Pelicans:

  • Date: Friday, December 13
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: NOT YET SUBMITTED
  • Pelicans: OUT: Zion Williamson(right knee scope), Darius Miller(right Achilles), QUESTIONABLE: Derrick Favors(personal reasons)

Storylines

Dominant Embiid

It has been a whirlwind couple of days for Joel Embiid and he took his frustrations out on the Boston Celtics on Thursday. He went for 38 points and 13 rebounds and he did a terrific job of imposing his will on the game. That earned him a lot of praise from his teammates as Tobias Harris said:

“From the beginning his energy levels on all different sides of the game,” Harris said. “On interactions, his energy offensively and defensively, he was very impressive all around…he’s he our best player, the best big in the game.”

Richardson the “dot connector”

Josh Richardson did not have the most impressive stat line on Thursday night, but he was huge in a lot of ways. His defense against Celtics star Kemba Walker and his overall hustle was a big part of the win on Thursday. Coach Brett Brown always calls Richardson their “dot connector” and their “glue guy” and Thursday was no different.

“He just is so different to anybody else we have, he is for all the reasons I have repeated,” said Brown. “He is a dot connector, a bridge-builder, he brings us all together, he was great tonight, and both sides of the ball. We would have struggled, I think, without him.”

Prediction

The Pelicans have been a mess to begin the 2019-20 season. With Zion Williamson still out, they’re still missing an essential piece of their team and a piece who is expected to lead them into the future. Redick playing on an emotional high should give them a boost and Jrue Holiday is a terrific player in his own right, but it won’t be enough to stop a Sixers team finding their groove a little bit lately.

Pick: Sixers by double-digits

Sixers vs. Pelicans season series

Game 1 December 13:

Game 2 April 11:

[lawrence-related id=21221,21208,21201]

Brett Brown wants Matisse Thybulle to take his shots, not be JJ Redick

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown would like Matisse Thybulle to focus on his shots and not be JJ Redick.

The Philadelphia 76ers were able to work their way to 103-94 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night led by Tobias Harris and Al Horford, but the rookie made a big impact as well.

Matisse Thybulle scored nine points and he all three of his 3-point attempts and he has made seven of his past nine from deep over the previous four games as he continues to find his niche in the offense. An improvement for him has been shot selection as he is beginning to take more catch-and-shoot threes rather than trying to do too much when he doesn’t have to.

“He’s coming into a team that’s pretty good and taken some shots like he’s been in the league for 10 years,” said coach Brett Brown. “He’s rising up behind dribble handoffs, JJ(Redick) like shots and I love him for his boldness, but you have to remind him ‘You’re on a good team and you’re getting minutes’ that in itself is rare for a rookie. Now the shots you need to take are ‘X’.”

Thybulle admitted post-game that he has learned to take smarter shots rather than trying to be the next JJ Redick. He doesn’t have to be that on his team and he is beginning to understand that. This all comes with his NBA schooling as he grows as a player.

“I use discretion now,” the rookie added. “Every DHO someone goes under, I’m not going to pull. I don’t know how many DHOs they go under — I think I had one against the Knicks. Just knowing what they want from me and then looking at the numbers show me what I’m better at, and then just sticking to it.”

The big question mark surrounding Thybulle when he was drafted was whether he could actually shoot the ball and become the 3-and-D player that the team envisioned when they selected him. The team believes he can really shoot the ball and he’s been proving that lately.

“When he gets his waist over his feet and his shoulders follow and everything’s aligned, his balance makes him a really good shooter,” Brown added. “He’s improving on being able to stop on a dime, almost and find that, but it’s step shots. It’s side-stepping into a corner, that’s his shot right now, not rising up behind dribble handoffs. I think he understands that and I think the shots that he’s taking are in his wheelhouse.”

Thybulle will look to continue his hot shooting on Thursday against the Washington Wizards. [lawrence-related id=20499,20491,20486]

LeBron James brings tears by making kid’s day after win in New Orleans

LeBron James can bring oohs and aahs on the court but there are times when we see the unreal emotions his presence brings out from others.

LeBron James, perhaps more than any NBA star before him, understands the meaning of the moment. So when he left the court after an impressive comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans late Wednesday night, James looked to do something more than putting a cherry on top of a big win for his running mate Anthony Davis against his former team.

As James left the floor on Wednesday, not unlike what his buddy Carmelo Anthony did on Monday in Chicago for a father and son, James gave his game worn sneakers to a child accompanied by his father to cap off the ninth straight win for the Lakers.

Understandably, the child was overcome by emotion after meeting his hero and getting a gift of the magnitude of game-worn sneakers. For most of the night, James put the focus on his squad and Anthony Davis. And while Davis carried a big load, were it not for James, a story like LeBron making this kid’s day may have otherwise gone another way.

 

Anthony Davis drops 41 and LeBron is clutch in the 4th for Lakers 9th straight W

Davis had going all night long and LeBron James came through for closing time for the Los Angeles Lakers winning their ninth in a row.

Anthony Davis had game-high 41 points and nine rebounds in his first game against his former New Orleans Pelicans squad in a win for the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-110. For the Lakers, the win is their ninth straight, tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the longest active win-streak in the NBA.

But Davis needed plenty of help to close. LeBron James had 16 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter while Kyle Kuzma had nine points in the final frame, including a pair of huge 3-pointers as the Lakers rallied from a double-digit deficit in the win.

The Lakers began the game by force feeding Davis. He scored 14 points for the Lakers in the first quarter but they found themselves down by double-digits early on, 38-25. It was almost as if in a trip back to New Orleans, the Lakers made Davis feel as though he were back on the Pelicans.

The theme of Davis scoring prolifically while the Lakers struggled to keep pace with the Pelicans continued well into the second half. Davis had 36 points when he was forced to leave the game momentarily after having Josh Hart ran into his right arm.

Luckily for the Lakers Davis returned with 7:41 left, but with a big job done for him as the Lakers rallied from double-digits to take the lead in the fourth quarter. A jumper by James gave the Lakers a 97-95 lead with six minutes left. A 3-pointer pushed the lead to five but the Pelicans would hang in for the final stretch.

Now the Lakers leave to go back home to Los Angeles still holding the best record in the league and with the emotions of Wednesday’s return for Davis behind them.

 

 

 

Pelicans vs. Warriors Recap: The Good, the Bad and the Ball

Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick led the New Orleans Pelicans to their fourth win of the NBA regular season.

Despite having more than half of their roster unavailable due to injuries, the New Orleans Pelicans earned their fourth win of the regular season after beating the Golden State Warriors 108-100 Sunday at the Smoothie King Center. Here was the good, the bad and the Ball from the game.

The Good: The New Starting Backcourt

In the six games that Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday have started together this season, they posted an offensive rating of 106.8 and a defensive rating of 116.5 for an overall net rating of -9.6. With Ball sidelined, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry has started Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick in the backcourt, and the two veteran guard have looked great together.

On Sunday against the Warriors, Holiday and Redick combined for 48 points on 43.5% shooting from the field. In the previous game they started together, they combined for 45 points 61.5% shooting from the field in a win against the LA Clippers. The Pelicans are 3-1 in the games Redick and Holiday have started together.

The Bad: The Warriors

The team that made the last five NBA Finals has the worst record in the league with two wins and 12 losses and much like the Pelicans, injuries are at the center of all of their problems. The bright side is that once they’re healthy, they’ll have four All-Star players on their roster in Stephen Curry, D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, plus — in all likelihood — a high lottery pick.

The Ball

Lonzo Ball sat out of his fifth consecutive game with an adductor strain. Ball has been sidelined since Nov. 9.

He will re-evaluated on Monday.