Earlier this month, Brooklyn Nets second-year guard Tyshawn Taylor heard from team management the letter-and-word combo no player in the NBA wants said to him: D-League.
As in, [that’s where Taylor was headed][1].
But his stay with the Springfield Armor only lasted a few days, and by Saturday night in Los Angeles, the KU product made the most of a rare opportunity to play. Going up against the Clippers when most of the Nets’ key pieces, including point guard Deron Williams, missed the game with injuries, Taylor logged 15 minutes in a 110-103 loss.
Compare that to four combined minutes in two other appearances this season. (Translation: Taylor usually falls victim to the dreaded DNP-CD.) Not on Saturday, though. Taylor hit a three-pointer, went 6-for-8 at the foul line and racked up 13 points, four assists and three steals in limited action.
There’s even video evidence:
Now, this probably doesn’t mean Taylor has earned a spot in the Nets’ rotation. But the more he makes of these chances, the more he’ll be called upon in the future.
—
Oops upside Dirk’s head
———————–
Mario Chalmers’ weekend wasn’t as promising or positive as Taylor’s. The Miami Heat guard took his left forearm to Dirk Nowitzki’s face on Friday night, and the league kind of frowns upon that kind of thing.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel breaks it down:
> In essence, the foul cost Chalmers
> part of Friday’s fourth quarter, all
> of Saturday’s game and now basically
> has him on flagrant-foul probation the
> balance of the season. Norris Cole
> started in his place Saturday.
Here’s Winderman’s full story on the ejection/flagrant foul: [Chalmers suspended for foul on Nowitzki][2]
In response to the ejection, Chalmers had this to tweet:
Never in my career been a dirty player. It’s clear that my arm was being held and that’s wat caused me to hit dirk. Enough is enough man
Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. The Bulls won 110-94. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) November 16, 2013
And at least one media member took Chalmers’ side:
Who leveled Dirk? Chalmers. Who helped Dirk up? Same guy. Don’t see that often when there’s intent to injure.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) November 16, 2013
You can judge for yourself here (quality isn’t great, but at least you get the idea):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRfGgMT_TpE
We’ll see how Chalmers responds to this situation in the days, weeks and months to come.
My teammates gonna hold it down for me tonight against the bobcats. Can’t wait till Tuesday night. It’s startin to get personal now
— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) November 16, 2013
Keep in mind, Chalmers is a free agent this coming offseason, and will be looking to get paid.
Here’s Winderman’s take: [Could Chalmers prove too costly for the Heat?][3]
—
More from the Morrii
——————–
Hey, it wouldn’t be a ‘Hawks in the NBA blog if we didn’t catch up with everybody’s favorite Wonder Twins. No, not [these two][4]. Why would you even make that reference?
We’re talking about Marcus and Markieff Morris, of course.
[The NBA Hang Time blog][5] provides some Morrii gems from Phoenix, including this quote from Markieff:
> “We’re like the Spurs, how they’ve
> been together for a long time, so used
> to each other and playing together.”
Not sure the Morrii will be racking up NBA titles like the Spurs, but you never know, I guess. (Spoiler alert: we do know. [This is what the Suns looked like the last time they made the NBA Finals][6]. In 1993.)
—
Hinrich meshes with D-Rose
————————–
Enough about all these young guys. What’s up with our favorite spectacle-wearing KU product?
Well, for one, Kirk Hinrich is healthy, which pleases Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, the [Chicago Tribune’s Brian Hamilton writes][7].
As you can read in the Tribune, the Bulls like playing Hinrich and superstar Derrick Rose together in their back court. In fact, Hinrich developed chemistry with the future NBA MVP on his first tour with Chicago.
Hinrich on playing with Rose:
> “We play a little faster, we play pick
> and roll on one side, pick and roll on
> the other side, make the defense move.
> It’s hard to get locked in to what
> we’re doing because we’re both in
> there. Pick and rolls on both sides of
> the floor are tough to defend.”
[1]: http://www.nba.com/nets/news/nets-assign-shengelia-and-taylor-springfield-armor-0
[2]: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-mario-chalmers-s111613,0,5230334.story
[3]: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/heat-blog/sfl-miami-heat-mario-chalmers-s111513,0,2086657.story
[4]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_Twins
[5]: http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/11/15/reunited-feels-so-good-for-morris-twins/
[6]: http://cdnl.complex.com/mp/620/400/80/0/bb/1/ffffff/bc6e3d7d43f9ddda92774ed90bf94379/images_/assets/CHANNEL_IMAGES/SPORTS/2013/06/the-best-nba-teams-to-never-win-an-nba-title/nhaxo_9293suns_600095.jpg
[7]: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-16/sports/ct-spt-1117-bits-bulls-pacers-chicago-20131117_1_derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-bulls
