Новости за 13.04.2023

The 2022-23 New Orleans Pelicans season went from incredibly exciting to downright disappointing. It all started with the return of Zion Williamson, who missed all of last season, re-joining a Pelicans team that made a late push to the 2022 playoffs. The Pelicans started the season 23-14 led by Williamson who was playing like an All-NBA lock. They were on track to return to the playoffs and lock up homecourt advantage in the first round.

“It’s nothing, it’ll be normal for me,” Russell Westbrook said of facing Kevin Durant for the first time in a playoff series. “I think people still think there’s some beef or something. There’s no beef of any sort. I think that’s the narrative for media, for people to talk about. But there’s no beef that I got. Nothing but respect for him and things he’s done with his career. Happy to see him back from injury. There’s no beef at all. He knows I’m gonna compete, I know he’s gonna compete, and that’s all it is.”
Source... Читать дальше...

NBACentral: If no significant improvements are made, Damian Lillard believes he must make a decision about his future in Portland 👀
Source: Twitter @TheNBACentral

Toronto zagged pretty hard at the trade deadline when everyone else thought they would zig. Instead of moving some of their best players for future assets, they traded future assets for another good player. This suggests that the Raptors’ front office believes they are close to contending with this group and any sort of rebuild is not on the table. But after missing the playoffs for the second time in four seasons, time on this core could be running out.

New Orleans Pelicans PR: Larry Nance Jr. (left ankle soreness) is OUT for tonight’s game vs. Oklahoma City.
Source: Twitter @PelicansPR

CJ Holmes: Andrew Wiggins scrimmaged yesterday and today. Steve Kerr said he looked “really good” in them. Speaking on 95.7 The Game on Wednesday, Bob Myers said all indications point toward Wiggins being ready for Game 1 on Saturday.
Source: Twitter @CjHolmes22

The Spurs center underwent surgery last Saturday after a laceration on his left hand became infected. The surgery took place in San Antonio after the Spurs sent Collins home from Austin after his finger became swollen following the win over Portland on Thursday in which he posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks against his former team.
Source: Tom Orsborn @ San Antonio Express-News

Draymond Green breaks down the Lakers-Grizzlies series and predicts the Lakers to come out on top. “I think the Lakers will take this series. I think it will be an upset. It won’t be easy, but I think the Lakers may take this series.”
Source: YouTube

Ice Cube: “My man Boogie going overseas. Boogie, come play in the Big3 on CBS, man! Sometimes I feel a little conflicted about asking guys to come to the league when I know they still deserve to be in the NBA. And he’s a guy that deserves to be in the NBA, Isaiah Thomas is a guy that deserves to be in the NBA right, Lou Williams deserves to be in the NBA. So I’ll be a little conflicted about asking them, but if they don’t want you, we do got you! You know, get down for the fans in the league where... Читать дальше...