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Yesterday we showed you Los Angeles Lakers’ Nick Young getting ejected, after he elbowed Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams. Well, this isn’t the last we heard of Young – not by a long shot.
YOUNG CALLS ADAMS ‘DIRTY’ AND ‘SNEAKY’
Nick Young has called Steven Adams ‘dirty’ and ‘sneaky’ when in honesty it looked like it was Swaggy P who overreacted. Maybe words were exchanged … who knows?
Via ESPN.com:
The two players got tangled up early in the fourth quarter, and Young threw a forearm into Adams’ throat, which led to a flagrant foul 2 and an ejection with 11:03 left.
“I lost my mind a little bit, checked into the crazy house, got back out,” said Young, who finished with 10 points in 13 minutes off the bench.
Said Adams, “I just set a screen. They called it an illegal screen, which I didn’t think it was. But you know, he just got heated because it was going back and forth and he just got frustrated; that’s all that happened.”
Lakers coach Byron Scott wasn’t happy Young put himself in a position that led to his ejection.
“Adams, that how he is,” Scott said. “He’s going to grab and hold and do things to irritate you, and Nick definitely overreacted. He’s too valuable for us to overreact and get kicked out of the game like that.”
Asked whether he’s getting used to these situations, Adams laughed.
It’s not the first time the notoriously physical Adams has gotten beneath an opposing player’s skin. Five players were ejected, suspended or both last season after scuffling with him: Nate Robinson (preseason), Vince Carter, Jordan Hamilton, Larry Sanders and Zach Randolph(postseason).
“It’s one of the easier ones,” he said, referring to Young.
Young said he should have known better.
“It’s not my first rodeo with him,” he said.
Young expanded on Adams’ tactics.
“Just little hits here and there, when they’re coming off screens, he’ll stick his knee out and stuff like that,” Young said. “I’m not here to tell on him or anything like that. He’s doing his job. He did his job today to get me out of the game. That’s what they put him in the game to do.”
The NBA will review the play and determine whether to add an additional fine and/or a suspension.
“I’m expecting the worst,” Young said.
STEPHENSON CLASHES WITH HORNETS TEAM-MATES
Maybe this is why he is on the trading block? Rumour had it that Lance Stephenson was staying with the Charlotte Hornets but things are not looking rosy at present.
Via Boston Globe:
While the Hornets are looking to make changes after a poor start for a team expected to make the playoffs, there is no certainty they will move recently signed Lance Stephenson, whose time in Charlotte has been disappointing at best. According to league sources, Stephenson has clashed with teammates, and coach Steve Clifford has placed the onus of Stephenson’s adjustment on the team’s veteran players, hoping they could police themselves and convince Stephenson to become more of a team player. Stephenson may become a more attractive piece near the Feb. 19 trade deadline, but the Hornets would want value in return.
RONDO MAKES MAVS DEBUT
Check out Dallas Mavericks’ new acquisition Rajon Rondo as he makes his debut in the Mavs’ 99-93 win over the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
He dished out nine assists to go with six points, seven rebounds and two steals. He shot just 3-11 from the field though.
KINGS, NETS DISCUSSING WILLIAMS TRADE
A few weeks ago, the Brooklyn Nets made it known that Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez were available on the trading block. So far, there hasn’t been much talk about any of those players being moved, but it sounds like the Sacramento Kings are at least interested in seeing what it would take to acquire Williams. Nothing is imminent, but would the Kings benefit from picking up D-Will?
Via ESPN New York:
The Nets and Sacramento Kings have engaged in trade talks involving Brooklyn point guard Deron Williams, league sources confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com, but no deal is imminent.
Sources confirmed Saturday that the Kings have inquired about Williams.
Yahoo! Sports reported that the teams have discussed a multiplayer swap that would send guard Darren Collison and forwards Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson to Brooklyn in exchange for Williams.
But sources close to the situation insisted that no deal is close. With Williams owed $63.1 million over the next three seasons, Sacramento must be sure about Williams to take on such a substantial amount of money, even though the Kings recently pursued Rajon Rondo and clearly are on the hunt for a point guard.
