NBA NOTEBOOK: Blatt axing irks coaches

The photo shows erstwhile Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt in action. AP FILE

LOS ANGELES, United States — AFP looks at trends and topics in the National Basketball Association this past week:

Cousins stepping up for Kings

DeMarcus Cousins capped a stellar week with a career-high 48 points for the Sacramento Kings in a win over Indiana on Saturday.

Cousins’ strong play has fueled the Kings’ five-game winning streak, and in three games last week his average of 36 points per game led the league while his 14.7 rebounds per game was second in the NBA.

While the Kings, also buoyed by improved defense, have put together their longest winning streak since November of 2014, Cousins thinks there’s better to come.

“To be honest,” he said, “I still don’t think we’ve scratched the surface.”

Paul George mulls Rio

Indiana Pacers star Paul George, who suffered a grisly broken leg in a Team USA training game in August of 2014, won’t decide whether he would play on the US Olympic team until the NBA campaign concludes.

George was named last week as one of the 30 finalists for the US squad for Rio. He said he welcomed the opportunity, but after missing virtually all of last season he wouldn’t want to push his body past its limits.

“It’s been a long year for me already, so we’ll see when it gets down to being there,” George said. “I’ll listen to my body and listen to the trainers to see what’s the best move.”

Blatt axe irks coaches

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to axe head coach David Blatt — who led them to the NBA Finals last season and had them atop the NBA Eastern Conference when he was dismissed, was widely criticized by his fellow coaches in the league.

“It’s embarrassing for the league, it really is,” said Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy. “So David Blatt had injuries this year and everything else — we all know nobody cares about that. You’re supposed to win. He did. He did and he’s still getting fired … It’s hard to figure out.”

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle called the move a “real shocker”.

Tyronn Lue, the associate coach promoted to the Cavs’ head coaching position was under no illusions as to the pressure he’ll be under to win.

“Or I’ll be next,” he said. “I know.”

READ: Blatt denies rumored rift with LeBron | NBA: ‘Surprised’ LeBron denies influence in Blatt firing

Ex-NBA player Tate George sentenced

Former NBA player Tate George was sentenced to a maximum nine years in prison on January 21 for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of $2.55 million.

The 19 victims in the long-running scheme included Dallas Mavericks player Charlie Villanueva, like George a former standout player at the University of Connecticut.

George’s prison term is twice as long as the four seasons he spent in the NBA in the 1990s with the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.

“By shamelessly cashing in on his celebrity, C. Tate George stole $2 million from investors who trusted him as a former NBA athlete,” Richard M. Frankel, the FBI supervisor in charge of the Newark, New Jersey, office said.

Hall of Famer Wanzer dies

Basketball Hall of Famer Bobby Wanzer, who led the Rochester Royals to the 1951 NBA crown, has died at the age of 94.

Wanzer died Saturday at his home in Pittsford, New York, a suburb of Rochester. His family announced his death.

Wanzer starred collegiately at Seton Hall before his NBA career. He was the 10th overall selection of the 1948 NBA Draft and played nine seasons before retiring.

He averaged 12.4 points and 3.6 assists in the 1951 NBA Finals as Rochester defeated the New York Knicks in seven games.

The point guard was a five-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Agence France-Presse