Rockets forward Tari Eason derisively stated this week that the difficulty in defending Deni Avdija has to do with “zebras,” referring to officials. The Trail Blazers forward leads the NBA in free throw attempts (386) and free throws made (309).
Avdija commented on Eason’s claim about getting favorable treatment.
“That made me laugh, for real,” Avdija told Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “Let’s address it. I drive the most in the league. I’m very physical. I’m not shying away from contact. I’m going downhill and I don’t care who’s in front of me. I’m going straight through them. And I’m not playing for those fouls, but I’m going to get fouled. This is part of the game. I can’t control it. I’m very aggressive. I initiate the contact and that’s my game … if it’s hard to stop, you’ve got to own it or do something else. But I’m very humble. I work hard and I think I make the right play every time.”
Here’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Veteran center Robert Williams departed the Trail Blazers‘ win over the Rockets early on Friday due to a right knee injury, the team’s PR department tweets. Williams, whose career has been marred by knee ailments, has seen his name has come up in trade rumors this season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
- With most of their starters sidelined, the Nuggets took the court with a starting five of Hunter Tyson, Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes, Christian Braun and Jalen Pickett. The results were predicable, as they got blown by the Hawks. “I saw a really, really tired group,” head coach David Adelman told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “That’s going to happen in the NBA, (coming back) from a seven-game road trip. They gave it everything they had in the third quarter to get back into it. But it does happen in the NBA. We know that. No excuses, ‘Blah, blah, blah,’ but it does happen.” Guard Jamal Murray, who racked up 33 assists in Denver’s two wins to end their East Coast road trip, was given the night off while dealing with illness and an ankle injury.
- The Timberwolves could be without their top scorers today. Anthony Edwards (right foot injury maintenance) and Julius Randle (left thumb soreness) are listed as questionable to play against Cleveland on Saturday, the team’s PR department tweets.
- The Jazz are trying to draw out Cody Williams‘ potential and that includes some “high school” style drills and a change in his approach, Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune writes. “We’re doing everything we can to try to help him,” coach Will Hardy said. The 10th pick of the 2024 draft is averaging just 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 23 appearances off the bench this season.