Tag: Josh Hart

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’

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.

 

 

 

LeBron James collides with Josh Hart but checks back into game

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James appeared to hit his knees with the thigh of Josh Hart during the first half of Wednesday’s game.

During Wednesday night’s nationally televised game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans in Anthony Davis’ return to the Big Easy, fans had a brief scare when it comes to LeBron James. But a scare is all it was.

During a drive in the second quarter of Wednesday’s game, LeBron collided with his former Lakers teammate Josh Hart and he appeared to bang his left knee into Hart’s thigh. James was on the ground in pain for a few seconds and was subbed out of the game before getting checked out by his trainer Mike Mancias for a few minutes.

It wouldn’t be long for James, however, as he checked back into the action to finish the first half after the brief scare.

As for the game itself, Anthony Davis is having a monstrous offensive performance with 27 first half points but it isn’t resulting the way the Lakers would hope as they trail 64-54 at halftime. LeBron had 12 points and four assists while Jrue Holiday had 25 points for New Orleans.

 

LeBron James proud of former Lakers trio for flourishing with Pelicans

The Lakers may have ended LeBron James’ playoff streak last season, but he still has love for his former teammates.

On Wednesday, when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers for their first matchup of the season, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart will see a few familiar faces — the most notable being LeBron James.

The trio of former Lakers only spent one disappointing season with James in Los Angeles, but they formed a good relationship during their short stint together in spite of the 10-year age gap between them. In fact, ahead of the Lakers’ matchup with the Pelicans on Wednesday, James took some time to show respect to his former teammates, telling Kyle Goon of the OC Register that he’s happy Ball, Hart and Ingram are enjoying success in New Orleans:

James didn’t acknowledge any awkwardness between him and his former teammates, saying it would be “great” to play against them.

“All three of them have been put into a much better situation and they’ve taken advantage of it,” he said. “So it sucks to see some of your teammates go, then when you see them flourish and be able to get a new beginning, you’re super excited for them and proud of what they’re doing.”

As nice as that is of James to say, it’s unclear if they feel the same way about James, who had a hand in orchestrating Davis’ move to Los Angeles and, coincidentally, Ball, Ingram and Hart’s move to New Orleans. Regardless of whether or not they’re all still on good terms, James and the Lakers are going to some inspired play from Ball, Ingram and Hart because of the trade.

Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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LeBron James makes the day of a couple of kids in New Orleans with photo

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was feeling the holiday spirit on Wednesday night ahead of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Even though LeBron James could take the approach of Lakers Against The World as Anthony Davis makes his return to New Orleans for the first time as a visiting player, the spirit of the holiday season was too much for LeBron to ignore when he was approached by a couple of young fans outside of the Lakers team hotel in the Big Easy.

A father with his sons asked LeBron for a photo outside of the hotel and told him after he granted their wish that they’d waited five years to get a photo with The King. After James obliged for the photo, he wished the kids and father a Happy Thanksgiving.

Perhaps LeBron’s own kids and family were on his mind when he made the day of the family on Wednesday. But the good news for LeBron is that he doesn’t have to miss them too much longer as the Lakers will finally fly back westward to Los Angeles following the conclusion of tonight’s game against the Pelicans.

Davis’ return to New Orleans will be carried nationally on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.

Lonzo Ball questionable, Derrick Favors out for Pelicans vs. Lakers

One of the most well-known former Los Angeles Lakers on the Pelicans may not be able to play due to a stomach virus.

Tonight is all about Anthony Davis and his return to New Orleans as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but Davis knows better than anyone that there’s another side to the coin in tonight’s Pelicans-Lakers matchup. However, circumstances may keep a few of the most well-known former Lakers involved in the Davis trade from playing against their former team.

The Pelicans are expected to have Brandon Ingram, who has been their leading scorer through the first month of the season, but they could be without both Lonzo Ball (illness) and Josh Hart (ankle). In addition to the ailing former Lakers, the Pelicans will also be without skilled defensive big man Derrick Favors, according to The Athletic’s Will Guillory.

Ingram had been with the Lakers for three years while Hart and Ball were both drafted in 2017 by the Lakers. Ingram in particular has made huge improvements this season, nearly doubling his scoring average while shooting almost 46% on 3-pointers so far this season.

As for the Lakers side of things, Avery Bradley and DeMarcus Cousins are the only names listed on the injury report.

Anthony Davis expects former Lakers to ‘take heads off’ Wednesday

Anthony Davis knows the spotlight is on him but knows the former Los Angeles Lakers on the Pelicans will have a point to prove too.

Anthony Davis making his first visit to New Orleans as a visiting player in the NBA is expected to take all of the headlines surrounding tomorrow’s game between the Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers. But Davis is also conscious that there’s another side to the story about the trade that landed him with the Lakers: the young former Lakers who are now members of the Pelicans.

Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart were all valued and beloved members of last year’s Lakers group who ended up in New Orleans. Davis believes that those spurned Lakers, if available to play, will look to “take off heads” against their former team, according to Bill Oram of The Athletic.

“It’s two-folded,” Davis said. “It’s going to be me (against the) Pelicans, and then the three guys (Ball, Ingram and Hart), if they play, against the Lakers. So it’s going to be a great battle. Those guys are going to try to take our heads off just to prove a point.”

Ball and Ingram should be ready to play while Hart missed the last game with an ankle injury.

 

Shelburne: Josh Hart made calls to Lakers after podcast remarks

The former Los Angeles Lakers guard apparently called the team after statements on his podcast about the Lakers being ‘depressing.’

Anthony Davis and his first game in New Orleans as a visitor is already making plenty of headlines even though Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers don’t play the Pelicans until Wednesday night. But of course, there’s another side to the coin and that is that Wednesday will also be the first time for many of the former baby Lakers of last year to play against their former squad.

One Pelican who made headlines after leaving the Lakers was guard Josh Hart, who had some interesting things to say on an episode of his podcast with fellow teammate Lonzo Ball. Hart alleged that times within the Lakers organization were depressing but apparently, that was a part of the podcast that wasn’t meant for listeners, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

“When my sarcasm, that wasn’t supposed to be in that — it was supposed to be cut — was in there, I called some of the people in the [Lakers] front office, I called some of my teammates that I had and made sure they knew that none of this stuff was about you guys,” Hart told ESPN on Sunday night.

“I loved my time here. I loved my time here and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I love Laker Nation. They show so much love, so much support.”

Hart was one of the most beloved Lakers on last year’s team and Lakers fans understandably wish him well despite the comments that went public. But given the way things are going this year with Anthony Davis next to LeBron James and a 14-2 record with the possibility of going 15-2 in a couple of hours, I think they can forgive Hart considering they have little be jealous of in the NBA these days.

Lonzo Ball calls James Harden’s stepback ‘most unstoppable move’

Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball says the stepback jumper from Houston Rockets star James Harden could be the NBA’s “most unstoppable move.”

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In a new story via The Players Tribune, New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball says the renowned stepback jumper of Houston Rockets guard James Harden could be the NBA’s most unstoppable move.

Ball was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Pelicans this offseason as part of the blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis. Though he’s just 22 years old, the 6-foot-6 Ball already has a reputation as one of the league’s better and more versatile defensive guards.

In the one Pelicans-Rockets game this season in which Ball played (Oct. 26), Harden was limited by the likes of Ball and Josh Hart to 29 points on 8-of-29 shooting (27.6%) and just 2-of-18 (11.1%) from three-point range. That total is more than 10 points below Harden’s average of 39.2 points per game in the 2019-20 season to date.

However, Ball clearly has an appreciation for how difficult that job is to do on a regular basis. In his self-authored piece published Tuesday titled “The 5 Toughest Players I’ve Ever Guarded,” Ball writes:

James’s stepback might be the most unstoppable move in the league.

With James, it’s either gonna be a shot, or a foul. He kind of teases you by hanging the ball out there, like he’s daring you to take it. And as soon as you reach, he either hits you with the stepback while you’re leaning, or he’ll let you get into him and draw the foul. He’s savvy like that.

The only way to really stop him is to put your chest on him, because if you give him even a little bit of space and let him get into a rhythm with his dribble, he’ll set up that stepback, and it’s over.

The difficulty for defenders, according to Ball, is that they must simultaneously prevent Harden from getting space while also not committing a foul by reaching in.

During Lakers-Rockets games last season, Ball and his teammates became so frustrated by this dynamic that they tried defending Harden while holding their own hands behind their backs!

Ball, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, elaborates on the conundrum in his story:

But you gotta keep your hands back. That’s the toughest part because when the ball is right there in front of you, your instinct is to go get it. That’s what you’d do with most guys. With James, though, you have to change your whole mindset and be really patient. You can’t get greedy.

It’s the same thing when he drives to the rim and hits you with that Euro step. He hangs the ball out there, and he’s so good at drawing that foul. It’ll drive you crazy.

I don’t know how anybody can stop him. All you can do with James is try to stay up in him, keep your hand out of there, force him to his right … and then basically just pray that he misses.

Harden has largely had the upper hand against Ball’s teams, with the Rockets a combined 4-0 versus the Pelicans and Lakers over the last two seasons in games where Ball was an active player.

The next meeting between Harden’s Rockets (11-3) and Ball’s Pelicans (4-9) comes in New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 29.

Other players on Ball’s “top five” toughest-to-guard list are Portland’s Damian Lillard; San Antonio’s Demar DeRozan; and Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Ball also named Durant to his all-time list of toughest one-on-one players, with the other four being Tracy McGrady, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson.

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