Patrick Mills - NBA game 1

Much like Nathan Jawai's NBA debut, nothing too exciting about Patrick Mills' first time on-court. But with so many Portland injuries the prospects of more game time in the near future are looking good. And frankly ... after the last 6 months and what he's been through, it was just great to finally see him get in the game.

Portland
Starters		Min	FG	3Pt	FT	+/-	Off	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	BS	BA	PF	Pts
B. Roy	G	40:25	3-12	0-3	0-0	-10	0	4	6	3	0	1	1	2	6
A. Miller	G	40:06	9-20	0-2	4-7	-10	2	3	16	2	3	0	0	1	22
J. Howard	C	35:37	8-11	0-0	0-0	-13	0	4	0	2	1	0	0	5	16
M. Webster	F	39:49	9-15	5-9	2-3	-7	1	6	0	1	1	0	0	0	25
J. Pendergraph	F	29:42	4-4	0-0	0-0	+2	3	7	0	1	0	1	0	3	8
Bench		Min	FG	3Pt	FT	+/-	Off	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	BS	BA	PF	Pts
D. Cunningham		23:50	3-5	0-0	1-2	-9	2	3	0	1	3	0	1	3	7
J. Bayless		22:52	2-6	1-2	2-2	-14	0	1	2	3	0	0	1	1	7
P. Mills		4:55	0-3	0-0	0-0	+5	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0
S. Randolph		2:44	1-1	0-0	2-2	+6	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	4
L. Aldridge		DNP - Coach's Decision
N. Batum		DNP - Coach's Decision
S. Blake		DNP - Coach's Decision
R. Fernandez		DNP - Coach's Decision
G. Oden		DNP - Coach's Decision
T. Outlaw		DNP - Coach's Decision
J. Przybilla		DNP - Coach's Decision
Totals			39-77	6-16	11-16		8	29	27	14	8	2	3	16	95
Percentages:			.506	.375	.688		Team Rebounds: 5

David Andersen delivers

Its been a fairly unexciting last few weeks in the NBA if you're following the hopes and dreams of David Andersen and Nathan Jawai. If you've checked out a Portland Trailblazers game lately you've no doubt seen Patty Mills in plain clothes sitting behind the bench watching the action.

Thankfully tho there is some good news ... Andrew Bogut has returned from his most recent injury and is putting up good numbers for the Milwaukee Bucks. The team itself is doing well considering they've been without star Michael Redd and they've surprised all but DJ Rod (who said they would have a good season) and are sitting just under 500, good enough for 6th spot in the Eastern Conference.

A week or two back when Kevin Love returned from injury for the Minnesota Timberwolves it looked like it might be the end for Nathan Jawai's minutes. He's had a number of DNP-CD's since then but the good news for Nathan is that his team is the worst in the league which means they get beaten regularly and by quite a margin. This means there is plenty of garbage minutes and today Nathan got to enjoy a few of them. In just 18 minutes of court-time, Jawai notched up 9 points, 7 boards, 1 block and a steal. Don't expect these numbers out of him regularly, but every now and again he'll get time when the result of the games have been decided. At this stage of his development, the more time the youngster can spend on the court during the game can only be beneficial.

Its been a similar story for David Andersen in Houston who had only seen 15 minutes of game time once this month before tonight. David finds himself backing up an under-rated Rockets front-court including Luis Scola and Carl Landry who are both having career years. Andersen saw just over 20 minutes today and scored 17 points, 9 boards on a very tidy 6 of 8 from the field. The 17 points was just 2 short of his NBA career high that he had mid-November against the Lakers.

David Andersen isn't usually the focus of the photographers, unfortunately for him they didn't miss this awkward incident.

Welcome to the NBA - Nathan Jawai

Since being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, big Aussie Nathan Jawai had seen limited minutes to say the least. The three games he had seen action, the longest had been 4:59 against the Clippers ... that was until yesterday.

Verses Portland, Nathan came out all guns blazing (pun fully intended), getting up 3 shots in less than 3 minutes ... probably just in case he didn't get back on court. Thankfully for Nathan two of them went down and he did indeed see more time.

By the end of the night, Nathan top-scored for the T'Wolves with 16 points (7 of 11 from the field, 2 of 3 from the line) and 6 boards in 22 minutes of playing time. Well done big fella, welcome to the NBA!!

NBL'ers in the NBA continued

Its been a very busy couple of days in the office so I'm just catching up on the blog now. Its already late tonight so this will be a quick one and I'll catch up more on the weekend.

After my last post about past NBL players doing there thing in the NBA, there's been some big news for two of them over the last few days. One good one bad.

First the good news. Most Australians have heard the news that Nathan Jawai has been traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Here's the Australian's take on it and how he'll be following in the footsteps of Luc Longley and Shane Heal.

This should be a good move for Jawai as he wasn't exactly welcomed in Dallas and seemed like an afterthought that they didn't know what to do with and likely would've been sent back to the D League or waived. In Minnesota, he has the opportunity to make the roster and hopefully see some substantial court-time. The T'Wolves have suffered some injuries to a few of their star bigmen and are talking about developing Nathan which is what he needs.

Secondly is the bad news today that Carlos Powell has been cut by the Phoenix Suns. Powell got so close to making the squad but has just missed out. Look for him to again star in the D League or maybe head to Europe and get paid.

Another Aussie will be suiting up for the T'Wolves

NBL'ers in the NBA

Still no good news regarding Patty Mills and his attempt to play in the NBA but there are Aussies or NBL-related players seeing some action in the NBA pre-season.

Firstly, David Andersen has been putting in work with the Houston Rockets. He knows he can't replace Yao Ming but in his last 3 games has average 25 minutes per game and has started 2 of them. He had 8 points 4 boards, 17 points 4 boards and 12 points 7 boards. Respective production, let's hope it continues in the regular season.

Secondly, former New Zealand Breakers import Carlos Powell is getting a run for the Phoenix Suns. Carlos was a scoring machine for the Breakers and had high hopes of stepping from the NBL to the NBA. He's spent some time in the D League but with Shaq in Cleveland and Robin Lopez injured, the Suns could using another scoring bigman. He came off the bench in his first game for 6 points 3 boards but started yesterday and had 12 points 3 boards.

Finally, Nathan Jawai has FINALLY stepped on court for the Dallas Mavericks. This article would tend to suggest he's unlikely to make their roster but it was nice all the same to see him get 2 points and 2 assists in 7 minutes of court-time (not surprisingly, a blowout Dallas win).

Thanks to the guys at NBA Mate for pointing out an article from NBA.com about our two main Aussies in the NBA.

Mate vs mate, Anderson shooting over Bogut in a pre-season game

Nathan Jawai - A Dallas perspective

Its funny ... the US and Australia seem to get along so well in many different forms but its funny and sad how quickly we can fall out of favour and become yesterday's news. The same applies in basketball and its really growing tired. First Patty Mills goes from stud to the forgotten man and now young bigman Nathan Jawai seems to be getting the same treatment.

News earlier in the week reported that Jawai hadn't even spoken to the Dallas Mavericks, the team he was traded to a few months ago. Now people are contemplating whether he'll be signed to a contract or not.

I always thought he tried to jump to the big show (the NBA) a little too early in his career but surely he deserves more of a shot than he's had so far. Click on the title below to read a Dallas perspective on Jawai.

Dallas Basketball - 10 Interesting Things About Nathan Jawai

Nathan Jawai has registered nothing more than a bite-of-Vegemite-sandwich worth of playing time in the NBA. He’s 22, with 19 career minutes in six career games. So anybody who right now is insisting that the Mavs newcomer can play sounds almost as ridiculous as anybody who is insisting the Australian native can’t play.

What we do know: His fans think he’s the second coming of Shaq, his detractors wonder about his enlarged heart and … well, he’s Australian. All in all, Nathan Jawai is somebody I kind of give a didgeridoo about.

So he gets the “10 Interesting Things About Nathan Jawai’’ treatment:

10. In recent work for the Australian National Team, Jawai is often arguably the best player on the floor. When the Aussies beat Argentina, Nathan pitched in with 22 points and seven rebounds while limiting NBA stalwart Luis Scola to 2-of-8 shooting. In a loss to China, Jawai scored 28 points (on 11-of-12 shooting) and he grabbed 11 boards.

Nathan Jawai and Patty Mills news

News about the Aussies in the NBA ... do you want the good news or the bad news first?

Ok, we'll star with the good news, firstly Nathan Jawai has been part of a trade that's just gone down that will send him to the Dallas Mavericks. The main part of the deal for the Mavs was Shawn Marion but this should be a good opportunity for Jawai. Yes, the incumbent centre is Erick Dampier and it looks like Marcin Gortat will also be in Dallas, but Dampier is getting old and if Nathan works hard there should be minutes there for him.

Click on the title below to read all about the 4 team deal that went down to make it happen.

Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz in complex deal - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

The Mavericks, Raptors, Grizzlies and Magic combined in a massive swap Thursday that included eight players, a draft pick and stacks of cash. The deal sent Shawn Marion to Dallas, Stackhouse to Memphis and helped seal the transaction that moved Hedo Turkoglu from Orlando to Toronto.

Among the other pieces: Forward Kris Humphries, center Nathan Jawai and cash went from Toronto to Dallas; guard Greg Buckner moves from Memphis to Dallas; and swingmen Antoine Wright and Devean George go from Dallas to Toronto.

Memphis also received a second-round pick and cash from Toronto and cash from Dallas. The Mavericks and Raptors both also sent cash to Orlando.


Now to the bad news ... and its unfortunately about future superstar Patty Mills. Its been an awful 2009 for the kid, first breaking his hand, then free-falling in the draft and now he fractured his foot in the first day of practice. Its going to be a long, hard slog for Mills to now make it in to the NBA this season. Once he recovers, expect to see him either in the NBDL or even maybe the NBL.

Blazers draft pick Mills breaks foot - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Portland Trail Blazers draft pick Patty Mills broke his right foot during practice and won’t play in the NBA’s summer league.

The Blazers said Friday that Mills fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during practice Thursday night. He will have surgery on his foot on Monday, the team announced.

A timetable for the point guard’s return has not been determined.

“You never want to see a player get injured, but it is especially heart wrenching to see a young man go down on his first day of camp,” Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “We’ll do everything we can to help Patty get back on track to realize his NBA future.”

Back on this day, Patty Mills looked like he would be a lottery pick and a lock for starting point guard in the NBA ... oh how things have changed ...

The future is bright ...

The future is bright ... at least for the Aussie Boomers, if not the game as a whole in this country.

Nathan Jawai has been called back up to the Toronto Raptors after doing well in the NBDL. With only a couple of weeks left in the regular season and Toronto out of the playoff race, Nathan might see some court-time as the organisation looks to the future and rests its star players.

Patrick Mills continues to shine and although his school didn't make it in to the Big Dance, he's still getting attention in the NIT. The crew at Dime have a post about his match-up with young-gun Stephen Curry. Click here to read the full story and see some highlights from the game.

And finally, when John Rillie can drag himself away from 24 hours of basketball coverage in the US, he's given a recap of prospects for young Aussie bigman, Luke Nevill.

Despite the NBL being in limbo at the moment as everyone waits to hear what is happening next, the future of our national team looks strong with plenty of great young talent developing.

Nathan Jawai update

After some garbage minutes for the Toronto Raptors last month, I hadn't noticed former NBL player Nathan Jawai's name on the boxscore lately. I then saw this article below on the NBL's website saying that Nathan is now playing down a level in the NBDL, probably to get him court-time and get him back in game shape.

While looking for a picture of Nathan, I came across a quick interview (second article) with him that was done a few weeks ago. Click on the titles below to read the full stories.

NBL > News

Australian Nathan Jawai scored a game-high 21 points as his NBDL team, the Idaho Stampede, defeated the Utah Flash 99-92 on Monday at the McKay Events Center.

Jawai, who is on assignment to the Stampede from his NBA team the Toronto Raptors, paced Idaho, going 6-of-11 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 at the free-throw line.

In 34 minutes of court time, the former Cairns Taipans player and NBL Rookie of the Year also added five rebounds, three assist, two blocked shots and one steal.

It was Jawai's highest score in seven games since joining the Stampede. He is currently averaging 11.0 points and 6.8 rebounds.

One-On-One With Nathan Jawai | Hoops Addict

Published by Ryan McNeill on February 22, 2009

When I first met Nathan Jawai during media day back in October the rookie forward had a grin that stretched from ear-to-ear. And why not, he was living out the dream of going from playing basketball in Australia to the biggest stage in the world in the NBA.

That smile didn’t last long because back in November he was ordered to stay off the court until doctors could determine if his enlarged heart would force him to retire from playing basketball. He has since been given the green light to return but the time away from basketball has affected his conditioning and his confidence. Being a rookie in the NBA is tough, having to endure something like this just makes the burdens of being a rookie while getting used to a new country that much harder.

Hoops Addict recently sat down with Jawai to chat about his rookie season, how his conditioning is improving, what it feels like to have the Australian media following his career so closely and whether he has any plans to play for the national team this summer.

Nathan Jawai debuts in the NBA

Young Australian bigman Nathan Jawai (pictured right) made his debut in the NBA today for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors lost badly to the Detroit Pistons but this is a good thing for Jawai as he'll likely only see minutes at the moment in garbage time. As you can see, it wasn't the most productive of minutes for Nathan, but you have to start somewhere!

Toronto
Starters			Min	FG	3Pt	FT	+/-	Off	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	BS	BA	PF	Pts
A. Parker	G		36:13	4-11	0-2	2-2	-13	1	2	8	3	1	0	0	2	10
J. Graham	G		22:16	0-3	0-0	0-0	-2	0	3	2	2	0	0	2	3	0
A. Bargnani	C		40:31	6-16	2-5	2-4	-11	1	6	3	1	0	0	1	0	16
C. Bosh	F		36:59	9-17	0-1	1-3	-10	3	5	2	0	0	0	0	1	19
J. Moon	F		36:03	4-5	1-1	0-0	-10	1	7	1	2	1	0	0	2	9
Bench			Min	FG	3Pt	FT	+/-	Off	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	BS	BA	PF	Pts
J. Kapono			20:33	3-6	1-1	0-0	-14	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7
J. O'Neal			19:52	3-7	0-0	5-8	-15	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	11
R. Ukic			13:04	0-4	0-0	0-0	-6	1	3	2	1	0	0	1	3	0
W. Solomon			11:22	2-4	0-2	0-0	-12	0	0	4	0	1	0	0	1	4
N. Jawai			3:05	0-0	0-0	0-0	-2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
J. Calderon			DNP - Coach's Decision
J. Voskuhl			DNP - Coach's Decision