Austin Rivers wants to prove himself. (USATSI)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Austin Rivers has had a rough couple of seasons. Drafted 10th overall in 2012, he's averaged 7.0 points, 2.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game since then, shooting just 39 percent from the field and drawing criticism for his defense. He's watched his role diminish, been labeled a bust and been mentioned in trade rumors. Rivers did make some real improvements last year, though, and he said things are going to be different next season, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune's John Reid:
''I was constantly working the entire summer,'' Rivers said. ''I gained 10 pounds and I've got stronger in my upper body. This is my year.
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''The growing pains are over and I went through everything, so I'm ready to ball,'' Rivers said. ''Our job is to be in the best shape we can be. We're just preparing to work and not worrying about what anybody says.''
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''I've strictly worked on mid-range and getting my body stronger this summer,'' Rivers said earlier this week. ''I've got both of those things and I'm ready to prove and show people that this year.''
Being a mid-range threat would help, but Rivers really needs to work on finishing at the rim and taking contact. If he can do that with his added strength, and his 3-point percentage (.364 last season) stays respectable, he could earn some more playing time.
Those minutes won't just be handed out, though. It was always going to be tough for him when New Orleans added the ball-dominant Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans last summer to play alongside Eric Gordon. This offseason, the Pelicans added Russ Smith and Jimmer Fredette, as well as veteran swingman John Salmons. They don't necessarily need to be in the rotation, but they're guys Rivers will have to outplay. A strong training camp and preseason would help his cause.
Basketball Hot News
Pacers’ Ian Mahinmi says shoulder injury ‘not as bad as everybody thought’
Ian Mahinmi was forced out of FIBA World Cup action for France with a shoulder injury that was expected to sideline him for at least 2-3 months.
A week later, however, Mahinmi seems to believe that it wasn’t as serious as was first diagnosed, and that he’ll be back on the court in a matter of weeks.
From Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports:
“No surgery, no injections,” Mahinmi told VigilantSports.com Thursday. “So it’s not as bad as everybody thought it would be.
“Obviously there’s a healing process and then treatment, and then I have to get strength back in my shoulder. Then, I’m good to go.”
While Mahinmi did not provide a timetable, he hopes it will only keep him away from basketball activities for a few weeks.
The Pacers have enough problems, obviously, after losing Lance Stephenson in free agency, and Paul George to an injury that will force him to miss all of next season.
Mahinmi’s role on the team isn’t nearly as substantial, but he is a capable backup big man who can spell Roy Hibbert at times, and averaged 16.2 minutes per game last season.
The Pacers will take any good news at this point, and this is certainly that where Mahinmi’s status is concerned for next season.
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