Morning Hoop Heads! Right here’s the newest information from across the NBA:
NBA Information: The San Antonio Spurs are in a freefall.
As losers of 16 out of their final 17 video games, together with an lively 11-game dropping streak, the San Antonio Spurs are actually going by way of it proper now. That is after they began the season 5-2 however are actually 6-18 and have the NBA’s third-worst file. Simply yesterday, they have been hammered by a shorthanded Phoenix Suns workforce, dropping by 35 factors.
A part of their points are a myriad of accidents to key rotation gamers, notably shooters Josh Richardson and Doug McDermott, and their greatest participant, Keldon Johnson, is taking part in notably poorly. He’s solely averaging 15.3 factors on 29.6% taking pictures (sure, you learn that appropriately), and his high-arcing rainbow shot simply isn’t falling.
Because the losses proceed to pile up, the Spurs might look to move some of their veterans in hopes of including extra property whereas additionally sustaining their place within the backside three. Doing so would assure them a 14% likelihood on the first decide within the NBA draft, which might be tied for the best odds. If the Spurs land the primary or second decide, then all of this can have been value it for them.
NBA Information: The Trae Younger-McMillian feud.
There was hypothesis that Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan is on the recent seat. Nonetheless, that was simply hypothesis till Shams Charnia and Sam Amick broke the information that there was an incident between him and star level guard Trae Younger.
Younger was receiving therapy on his proper shoulder, sources say McMillan requested him whether or not he would take part in shootaround, obtain therapy throughout walk-through and play within the recreation in opposition to the Nuggets. However Younger made it clear that he needed to focus solely on his therapy whereas lacking shootaround and deciding later within the day whether or not he would play.
In response to Charnia and Amick, McMillian gave him an ultimatum: come off the bench or not present up. Younger selected to not attend his workforce’s recreation. Younger selecting that route isn’t precisely an amazing look, and folks inside the Hawks apparently are questioning Younger’s management skills consequently.
As for McMillan, the Hawks are solely hovering round 500 after making a transfer to accumulate star guard Dejounte Murray within the offseason. Having a strained relationship along with his greatest participant in all probability doesn’t assist his job safety. In fact, Younger has a component to play within the state of affairs too, and maybe his and Murray’s lackluster on-court conduct was a part of the explanation he and McMillian had a disagreement within the first place.
