HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

In this edition of the NBA PM: Jason Fleming is subbing for Yannis Koutroupis, who is travelling…David Lee has another surgery…Wesley Matthews needs to step up now…In and out of the walking boot…Iverson’s Turkey debut…and NBA chats!

David Lee Update: Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee had another minor surgery on his left elbow last night, similar to the one he underwent on Friday, to clean out an infection from a puncture wound suffered against the New York Knicks last Wednesday. The injury happened when Lee’s elbow caught the Knicks’ Wilson Chandler in the mouth, necessitating stitches for Lee and knocking out two of Chandler’s teeth.

Lee had been re-admitted to Stanford Hospital on Sunday night to be monitored. The Warriors haven’t given a timeline on Lee’s return.

Since that 122-117 win over the Knicks the Warriors have gone 1-2 after last night’s home win over the Detroit Pistons. They are off until Friday, when they host the Knicks.

Replacing Lee’s 14.3 points and 11.3 rebounds isn’t easy for the Warriors, who have exactly two other players (Dorrell Wright, 5.4, and Andris Biedrins, 9.2) averaging more than five rebounds a game. For a team that already gets outrebounded every night – albeit currently by only 0.3 boards a game – it leaves a gaping hole.

Brandan Wright, Dan Gadzuric, and Vladimir Radmanovic have each earned a start in Lee’s absence – and none of them have played more than 23 minutes or grabbed more than three rebounds. However, combined in the three games the three players are averaging 11.3 rebounds (still a net loss, since they grabbed some while Lee was playing too) and 12.7 points. The scoring the Warriors can make up in other sources.

Perhaps the reserves are doing the best they can in Lee’s absence, but it’s not the same as replacing the Warriors’ $80 million dollar man.

Time For Matthews To Earn His Money: Many people scratched their heads when the Portland Trail Blazers threw their entire Mid-Level Exception at Utah restricted free agent swingman Wesley Matthews this past summer. With Brandon Roy and Nic Batum seemingly locked in as the starters at the swing positions, plus some depth there with Rudy Fernandez and rookies Luke Babbitt and Elliot Williams, it didn’t seem to make a ton of sense to sign another young guy for that much money. Why not a veteran point guard, some asked, or another veteran big man?

But Matthews has fit in well. Coach Nate McMillan likes his defense and despite the fact his shooting percentages have been significantly less than stellar – 42% from the field, 19% from three-point range – having him on the roster instead of a veteran minute filler suddenly seems like a stroke of genius.

Williams is out for the season after knee surgery. Roy is significantly banged up and pain in his knee will keep him out of tonight’s game. McMillan is giving Matthews the start over Fernandez specifically because of his defense and his hustle. And if Roy – who will be re-evaluated after tweaking the knee the other night when the team returns to Portland to determine his availability for Thursday’s game with Denver and beyond – has to miss an extended amount of time, a lot will be placed on Matthews’ shoulders.

This is where the Trail Blazers need Matthews to really step up. It’s one thing to come off the bench, make hustle plays, defend a bit, and grab a couple boards. It’s another thing when the star is out and you are asked to replace – at least in part – 18 points along with some points, assists, and steals. And those are bad numbers (this season’s averages) for Roy. For this team to truly have any success, they need more out of the shooting guard spot.

Is Matthews ready? Tonight Portland finds out, but after the success he had starting for the Utah Jazz last season, he’ll probably do just fine.

A Few Boots: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jeff Green is in a walking boot with his sprained left ankle. He missed Monday night’s game with the Utah Jazz and believes the injury is getting better, but it’s not quite there yet.

"I can’t pinpoint an exact (percentage) for you," Green told Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman. "But it’s there. It’s something that I don’t want to continue to mess with or put more pressure on."

{AUTHOR_BOX}Serge Ibaka started in his placed and posted 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois was allowed out of his boot finally after breaking his foot in August. However, he is still a few weeks away from being cleared to practice and a specific timeline has not been set for his return.

Dallas doctors will evaluate his foot’s progress every 10 days, but right now progress is just walking with no discomfort. He’ll be back Dallas fans, just be patient.

And in the biggest boot news of the day, rookie stud John Wall of the Washington Wizards has been placed in a boot with his sprained left foot. The point guard is just listed as day-to-day, but will miss tonight’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

With Wall out former All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who posted his best game of the season (and his first that topped 50% shooting from the field) on Saturday when he scored 30, will start in his place.

One other non-boot-related injury note is Utah Jazz big man Memo Okur, recovering from an Achilles injury suffered last April, will gradually increase his workload. Okur has been participating in team drills – not actual scrimmages – and has reported no discomfort. It will be interesting to see how the Jazz e-integrate Okur to the rotation with Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap now the clear starters, and Kyrylo Fesenko enjoying a larger role. The guess is Fesenko’s minutes will get cut when Okur is 100%.

Iverson’s Debut: Allen Iverson is back on the basketball court. Playing in his debut for the Turkish team Besiktas Cola Turka, Iverson scored 15 points in a 94-91 loss. If you would like to follow Iverson’s games, you can go here. Of course, it’s in Turkish – have to find your own translations.

Iverson signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Besiktas earlier, and had delayed his debut by a game because he didn’t feel ready.

Game Re-scheduled: The Orlando Magic at New York Knicks game that was postponed November 2, has been rescheduled for Monday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden, the National Basketball Association announced today.

Chats: Publisher Steve Kyler is next up on the chat list, answering all your NBA rumor questions at 11am tomorrow. He’ll be followed at 3pm by salary cap guru Larry Coon, and then Tommy Beer, our Fantasy expert who also covers the New York Knicks, will finish up at 8pm – all times Eastern. To check out all the chat wraps, go here – or check out the upcoming schedule here.