19 former Duke men’s basketball players played during the NBA’s regular season. Ten of those players advanced to the NBA Playoffs. However, just two remain as I am typing this.

That means that eight were eliminated, so let’s take a look at them.

The LA Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs (who advanced to the Western Conference Finals last night) in the first round. Guard Chris Duhon played in two games. In the final game, he played 43 minutes and scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. He also dished out seven assists. On the season, Duhon averaged 2.9 points and 2.9 assists over 17.8 minutes.

The Boston Celtics were eliminated by the NY Knicks in the first round. Shavlick Randolph played just three minutes in the April 23rd loss. He did haul in three rebounds.

The Milwaukee Bucks were swept by the Miami Heat in the first round (the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals). Two former Blue Devils were a part of the Bucks season. Mike Dunleavy averaged 12.3 points, four rebounds, and two assists over their four playoff games. During the regular season, he averaged 10.5 points in 25.9 minutes.

JJ Redick averaged 7.3 points in the four playoff games. After playing in 50 games to start the season with Orlando, he was traded to Milwaukee and played in 28 games. During the regular season, Redick averaged 12.3 points.

» Continue reading “8 Former Blue Devils Eliminated from NBA Playoffs”

The NBA season is in full swing, as All-Star starters were recently announced. This is a great time to take a look at how the former Duke men’s basketball players are doing in the NBA.

Three players are rookies in the NBA, two of which were members of last season’s Duke team that was upset in the NCAA Tournament by Lehigh.

Kyle Singler is not one of them. After spending last season in Europe, he has returned to the Detroit Pistons, who drafted him in 2011. He has started 31 of the Pistons 39 games in his first season. The Pistons are just 14-25 (fourth in the Eastern Division’s Central Division). Singler is averaging 8.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds a game in 27.6 minutes. In his last game, he scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (3-of-6 from beyond the arc). He also had four assists.

Austin Rivers has been hampered by injuries in his rookie season with the New Orleans Hornets. Overall, he has started 22 of the 38 games for the 13-26 Hornets (last place in the Western Conference’s Southwest Division). His shooting percentages are low (33% overall and just 56% from the free throw line), as he is averaging just 6.2 PPG. In his last game, against his father’s Boston Celtics, he scored eight points.

Miles Plumlee

Miles Plumlee has been shuttled back and forth between the Indiana Pacers and the D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He is averaging 12.6 PPG and 11.1 RPG in ten D-League games (eight starts). Plumlee is coming off a ten point, 12 rebound performance on Friday night. He last played with the Pacers on December 21st (six total games).

Lance Thomas is in his second season in the NBA and has stuck with the Hornets. He has started nine of the 32 games he has played. He is averaging 2.8 PPG and 2.5 RPG, while shooting 45.8% from the field.

Kyrie Irving is having a great second season in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the Cavs are in last place in the Central Division (10-31). Irving has started all 30 games he has played and is averaging 23.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 5.6 assists per game over 35.7 minutes. His is shooting 46.3% overall, 40.5% from three point land, and 83.2% from the free throw line. In his last game, he scored 31 points on 13-of-24 shooting.

Nolan Smith has played in 19 of the Portland Trailblazers 39 games. The Trailblazers are 20-19, fourth place in the Western Conference’s Northwest Division. Smith is averaging 2.5 PPG over 8.4 minutes. In his last game (January 16th after not playing for two weeks), he scored three points and hauled in four rebounds.

Now to the former Blue Devils who have been in the league for awhile.

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The NBA Playoffs have begun the conference semifinals, as just eight teams remain. There are still quite a few former Duke men’s basketball players still competing.

The eight-seed Philadelphia Sixers upset the top-seed Chicago Bulls in six games to send two former Blue Devils home, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng.

Boozer averaged 13.5 points and 9.8 rebounds. However he scored just three points (1-for-11 shooting) in the Game 6 loss. Deng averaged 14 points and 8.3 rebounds in the series loss. In wins, he averaged 20.5 PGG, but just eight points in losses.

However, there is still a former Blue Devil moving on from that series, Sixers starter Elton Brand. It was pretty cool watching Boozer and Brand guard each other. In the first round, Brand averaged eight points and 5.5 rebounds over 32.5 minutes.

The Sixers again lost their first game, a road game, this time to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They only lost by one point. Just like they did against the Bulls, the Sixers returned home with the series tied at 1-1. However they were blown out last night in Philly. Brand has struggled (just 4.7 PPG) while not playing as many minutes (16).

» Continue reading “Blue Devils in the NBA Playoffs”

Duke has 16 former players in the NBA. Eight of those former players are members of playoff teams.

The Miami Heat have blown out the New York Knicks to take a 2-0 series lead heading into tonight’s game at Madison Square Garden.

Shane Battier comes off the bench for the Heat. In their Game 1 win, he went 2-of-8 (2-of-5 from three) for eight points. He hauled in six rebounds. In Game 2, Battier scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting (3-of-5 from beyond the arc). He also hauled in three rebounds.

Three former Blue Devils have faced off in the Chicago-Philadelphia series, which is tied at 1-1. Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng start for the Bulls, who will need them to step up with the loss of All-Star Derrick Rose. In the Game 1 win, Boozer scored nine points on 4-of-8 shooting. He hauled in seven rebounds and dished out four assists. Deng scored 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He hauled in six rebounds. In the loss, Elton Brand was the Sixers leading scorer: 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. He hauled in seven rebounds and blocked four shots.

In the Game 2 loss, Boozer scored nine points, but made just 4-of-10 shots. Deng scored eight points on just 3-of-12 shooting. In the win for the Sixers, Brand scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

Game 3 gets underway Friday night in Philly.

» Continue reading “Former Blue Devils in the NBA Playoffs”

The NBA All-Star Game is Sunday night with the festivities set to begin Friday night. I figured now was a good time to put together another former Duke players in the NBA update.

Dunleavy & Battier via Duke Blue Planet

Mike Dunleavy returned to the Milwaukee Bucks on January 20th and has played in 19 games since. He has played off the bench for the 13-19 Bucks. Dunleavy is averaging 10.6 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. He is shooting 45.8% from the field.

The worst team in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats had two former Blue Devils in their starting lineup. Their head coach believes that once they can get their entire lineup healthy and playing together, they will be a better team.

Corey Maggette returned to the Bobcats on February 10th and has played in six games since. His best game since returning came in a loss to the Philadelphia Sixers on February 13th. He scored 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, hauled in two rebounds, and had three steals. Overall, Maggette is averaging 12.9 points and 4.8 rebounds for the 4-27 Bobcats.

Now that Maggette is back, Gerald Henderson has been out since February 1st due to a hamstring strain. He hopes to be back after the All-Star break. He was averaging 15 points and 4.4 rebounds a game.

» Continue reading “Blue Devils in the NBA Update”

Via Duke Blue Planet

As I mentioned in my preview of the NBA, Duke has the most players in the league at 16. Well, that total dropped to 15 on December 31st, when forward Lance Thomas was waived by the New Orleans Hornets.

Thomas played in two games prior to being waived and averaged 0.5 points. He has since re-joined the Developmental League and the Austin Toros. He has started ten games and is averaging 15 points and 8.6 rebounds a game. In his last game (yesterday), he scored 16 points and hauled in ten rebounds (eight on the offensive end).

There are two former Blue Devils who are injured and expected to miss 2-4 weeks.

Mike Dunleavy of the Milwaukee Bucks is out with a groin injury. Prior to the injury, he started the Bucks first three games. He was averaging 10.3 points per game, along with four assists and 4.3 rebounds.

Corey Maggette is out with a strained left hamstring after getting hurt last Wednesday. Prior to the injury, he started the Charlotte Bobcats’ first six games. He had two 20-point games, one in a blowout loss to Orlando on December 30th and a 21-point effort in a loss to Cleveland on January 3rd. Maggette was averaging 12.2 points per game and 6.2 rebounds.

Maggette’s teammate on the Bobcats, Gerald Henderson, has started all twelve of their games. However the Bobcats are just 2-10. He is averaging 13.4 points per game and 4.8 rebounds. His best game so far was a 24 point performance in their win over the NY Knicks on January 4th. He was 10-for-13 from the field with four steals.

flickr/Keith Allison

The Orlando Magic are 8-3, tied atop the Southeast Division with the Miami Heat. JJ Redick has played in all 11 games, averaging 12.2 points per game. He has scored in double-figures in all but four games, with his best game coming December 26th versus Houston. In the win, he went 8-for-12 from the floor (3-of-4 from three-point land) for 20 points.

Redick’s teammate, guard Chris Duhon, has started one of the Magic’s first 11 games (he has played in all of their games). He is averaging 3.3 points per game and 2.8 assists. His best game so far came December 29th versus New Jersey. He scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting (3-of-4 from three-point land). Duhon also had four assists in the win.

» Continue reading “Blue Devils in the NBA Update”

With the NBA lockout dragging into the start of the season (but finally over), teams played just two preseason games before Opening Day on Christmas. There are former Duke Blue Devils speckled all over the league.

Carlos Boozer against the Wizards (Flickr/Keith Allison)

The Chicago Bulls have two former Dukies on their roster, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng. Both started the two preseason games for the 2-0 Bulls. Boozer averaged 15.5 points over an average of 28 minutes. He averaged 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 51.9%. Deng averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds over 33 mpg. He shot 47.6%. In the Bulls first game, Deng had five turnovers but none in the second game.

The Orlando Magic were 1-1 in the preseason with former Blue Devils JJ Redick and Chris Duhon getting playing time. Redick averaged 15 points in 26 mpg. He shot 44% from the field and 57% from three point land. Duhon averaged 17 minutes and just two points.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 1-1 this preseason with Gerald Henderson starting at guard. He averaged five points over an average of 25.5 minutes. He also shot 50%. Corey Maggette sat out the preseason with back spasms.

The Philadelphia Sixers are 2-0 this preseason with Elton Brand in the starting lineup. He averaged 9.5 points and five rebounds in 22.5 mpg. He also shot 53.8% from the field.

After not getting a whole lot from Lebron James and Dwayne Wade for most of the game, the two Miami Heat stars’ combined for 20+ points in the fourth quarter to take the lead late. The Heat went on a 18-3 run to end the game.

Down two with 28 seconds left, Derrick Rose drove to the basket and was fouled. He missed the second free throw and Miami had the ball up one. It became a free throw game, after the Bulls almost stole the inbounds pass.

The Heat are headed to the NBA Finals as Rose’s desperation three was blocked in the final seconds.

In the 83-80 loss, former Dukie Carlos Boozer scored just 5 points on 1-of-6 shooting over 26 minutes. He had six rebounds. Former Blue Devil Luol Deng scored 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting over 35 minutes. He had seven rebounds and five assists. The Bulls shot just 35% as a team (Rose was just 9-of-29 from the field).

The Bulls head off to the offseason while the Heat head to face the Dallas Mavericks.

Heat rally, end Bulls’ season win 83-80 in Game 5 Chicago Sun-Times

Amazing rally sends Heat past Bulls, into finals NBC Sports

Heat vs Bulls: Game 5 Live Game Discussion Kissing the Rim

Tenacious D powers Bulls to lead at half Chicago Bulls Report

The Miami Heat took Game 4 and took a commanding 3-1 Eastern Conference Finals lead over the Chicago Bulls. The series now heads back to Chicago for Game 5.

In OT, the Heat took the game 101, 93.

Former Blue Devils Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng each contributed 20 points. Boozer was 7-of-14 from the floor, while Deng was 8-of-16. Boozer hauled in 11 boards while Deng contributed with eight. The two combined for five assists and four steals.

Unfortunately for the Bulls, Joakim Noah scored just six points (though he had 14 rebounds) and Derrick Rose’s shooting woes continue. Rose scored 23 points but shot just 8-of-27 from the floor. Three-point shooting also continues to plague the Bulls as they shot just 25% (6-of-24) from behind the arc.

Check out more of the series coverage:

Heat take 3-1 series lead: Game 4 recap Kissing the Rim
Miami takes Game 4 in OT, 101-93 NBA.com

NBA Playoffs AM Links Cleveland.com

Frustration got to Bull’s Luol Deng in Game 4, too Chicago Sun-Times

Boozer, Noah on being pushed to brink CBSSports.com (video)

Joakim Noah faces heat for gay slur: Fan reaction Yahoo Sports

Despite a much-needed big game from former Dukie Carlos Boozer, the Chicago Bulls lost Game 3 to the Miami Heat, 96-85. Problem was, the Bulls defense had no answer for Heat big man Chris Bosh. Bosh scored 34 points on 13-of-18 shooting.

Boozer had 26 points on 8-of-19 shooting over 39 minutes. 10 of his points came from the free throw line (10-of-12). He also hauled in 17 rebounds. Problem was, no one else really stepped up for the Bulls. Derrick Rose scored 20 points, but had just five assists.

Former Blue Devil Luol Deng scored 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting over 42 minutes. He also had eight rebounds. Big man Joakim Noah had just one point and five rebounds, but he did have six assists. Noah also was involved in a bit of a controversy similar to the one LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant received a $100,000 fine for.

Check out all the latest news:

Miami takes Game 3, 96-85 NBA.com

Bulls vs Heat Game 3 Live Discussion Kissing the Rim

Bulls in precarious position Chicago Sun-Times

Noah acknowledges saying ‘something’ to fan NBA.com

Chris Bosh Winning Battle Against Carlos Boozer in Heat vs. Bulls Series SB Nation

Behind the Box Score, where Miami is made of mettle Ball Don’t Lie