With the 2012-13 NBA regular season concluding on Wednesday, 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams participated in the sixth month of action (16 total days), many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA is checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 season.

* Players names highlighted in orange have advanced to the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C DAVID LEE, Golden State Warriors: GP/GS (8/8), MIN (37.9), PPG (18.1), RPG (11.9), APG (2.1), SPG (1.0), BPG (0.5), TPG (2.0), FPG (2.5), A/TO (1.1)
» Shooting: FG% (.560), 3P% (.000), FT% (.742)
» Highlights: Seven double-doubles (four-straight); 23 points, 16 rebounds, four assists vs. New Orleans on April 3; 22 points, 14 rebounds, two assists at Phoenix on April 5
» Top 10 ranks (season): Double-doubles (No. 1); defensive rebounds per game (No. 2); defensive rebounds (No. 3); rebounds per game and total efficiency points (No. 4); total rebounds and efficiency ranking (No. 5); field goals made and efficiency ranking per 48 mins. (No. 9); triple-doubles and defensive rebounds per 48 mins. (No. 10)
» Playoffs: The Warriors are the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and will take on the No. 3 Denver Nuggets beginning on Saturday.

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…
Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: April 2013

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, NBA, Playoffs, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Washington Wizards

Now five months into the 2012-13 NBA regular season, there are 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams.

A total of 10 players participated in the fifth month of action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA will be checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C AL HORFORD, Atlanta Hawks: GP/GS (16/16), MIN (38.4), PPG (19.0), RPG (10.9), APG (3.2), SPG (1.6), BPG (0.9), TPG (2.1), FPG (1.9), A/TO (1.6)
» Shooting: FG% (.519), 3P% (.667), FT% (.732)
» Highlights: 11 double-doubles (10 in an 11-game stretch, five 20-10 games); career-high two threes at Phoenix on March 1; 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists vs. Philadelphia on March 6; 22 points, 13 rebounds, five assists at Boston on March 8; 26 points, 15 rebounds vs. Milwaukee on March 20
» Top 10 ranks (season): Double-doubles (No. 4), total efficiency points (No. 7), efficiency ranking (No. 8), defensive rebounds and defensive rebounds per game (No. 8), field goals made (No. 9), total rebounds (No. 9), rebounds per game (No. 10)

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…
Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: March 2013

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, NBA, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Washington Wizards

Now four months into the 2012-13 NBA regular season, there are 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams.

A total of 10 players participated in the fourth month of action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA will be checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C AL HORFORD, Atlanta Hawks: GP/GS (11/11), MIN (36.5), PPG (21.5), RPG (11.3), APG (3.0), SPG (1.3), BPG (1.8), TPG (2.0), FPG (2.7), A/TO (1.5)
» Shooting: FG% (.621), 3P% (.500), FT% (.658)
» Highlights: Seven double-doubles (three-straight, 30-10 game, 20-20 game, three 20-10 games); career-high 34 points [career-high 14 field goals made], 15 rebounds, three assists, five blocks at Utah on Feb. 27; 23 points, career-high 22 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, two steals at Detroit on Feb. 25
» Top 10 ranks (season): Double-doubles (No. 5), defensive rebounds per game (No. 6), efficiency ranking (No. 6), rebounds per game (No. 9), field-goal percentage (No. 9), defensive rebounds (No. 10)

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…
Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: Feb. 2013

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, NBA, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Washington Wizards

Now three months into the 2012-13 NBA regular season, there are 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams.

A total of 10 players participated in the third month of action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA will be checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C DAVID LEE, Golden State Warriors: GP/GS (14/14), MIN (38.4), PPG (28.1), RPG (11.2), APG (4.6), SPG (0.8), BPG (0.1), TPG (2.7), FPG (3.0), A/TO (1.7)
» Shooting: FG% (.472), 3P% (.000), FT% (.774)
» Highlights: 11 double-doubles (four-straight [2x], six 20-10 games); 15 points, season-high 20 rebounds, nine assists vs. Dallas on Jan. 31; 20 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists at Cleveland on Jan. 29
» Awards: Selected as NBA All-Star reserve (Western Conference), finalist for Western Conference Player of the Month

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…

Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: Jan. 2013

Tags: Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Mike Miller, NBA, Udonis Haslem

1 » The Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday traded reserve center Marreese Speights to the Cleveland Cavaliers after signing him to a two-year, $8 million contract in the offseason. Speights, who was originally acquired via trade by Memphis one year ago, played a big role for the Grizzlies last season as a fill-in for injured starter Zach Randolph. With Randolph healthy and Speights seeing limited minutes, including him in a package made sense for Memphis. He is averaging 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game this season.

2 » Former Florida Gators defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd published a second “thank you” letter to fans, following up the first placement in The Independent Florida Alligator with a second in The Gainesville Sun. Below is the text of Floyd’s second letter:

Dear Gator Fans:

When I came down here from Philadelphia three years ago, you rolled out the red carpet for me and welcomed me warmly. My three years in Gainesville have been the best years of my life. As much as I would like to remain here for another year and win and SEC Championship, the opportunity for me to enter the NFL draft now was one I could not turn down. I am very excited about the opportunity to represent the University of Florida in the National Football League with my Gator brethren. I promise to come back from time to time to visit old friends and root the Gators on to another National Championship. Thanks to all of the Gator fans who have supported me and the team the last few years. You are the best!

Sincerely,

Sharrif Floyd
Gator for Life

Check out two VIDEO BITS…after the break!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Speights, Floyd, Zunino, Fason

Tags: baseball, Ciatrick Fason, Cleveland Cavaliers, Marreese Speights, McKethan Stadium, Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Zunino, MLB, NBA, Seattle Mariners, Sharrif Floyd

Now two months into the 2012-13 NBA regular season, there are 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams.

A total of 10 players participated in the second month action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA will be checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C DAVID LEE, Golden State Warriors: GP/GS (16/16), MIN (37.9), PPG (22.6), RPG (11.3), APG (3.4), SPG (0.8), BPG (0.3), TPG (2.6), FPG (3.0), A/TO (1.3)
» Shooting: FG% (.575), 3P% (.000), FT% (.859)
» Highlights: Third career triple-double (23 points, 11 rebounds, [career-high] 11 assists) vs. Charlotte on Dec. 21; 11 double-doubles (seven-straight, ten 20-10 games); 30 points, 15 rebounds vs. Brooklyn on Dec. 7
» Awards: Western Conference Player of the Week (Dec. 10-16); nominee for Western Conference Player of the Month

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…
Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: Dec. 2012

Tags: Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Mike Miller, NBA, Udonis Haslem

Now one month into the 2012-13 NBA regular season, there are 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams.

A total of 10 players participated in the first month action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA will be checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C DAVID LEE, Golden State Warriors: GP/GS (14/14), MIN (37.2), PPG (18.2), RPG (10.9), APG (3.9), SPG (1.1), BPG (0.1), TPG (2.7), FPG (3.5), A/TO (1.1)
» Shooting: FG% (.522), 3P% (.000), FT% (.750)
» Highlights: Eight double-doubles (three 20-10) in 14 games; 31 points, nine rebounds, six assists vs. Denver on Nov. 29; 17 points, 19 rebounds at Dallas on Nov. 19

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…
Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: Nov. 2012

Tags: Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Mike Miller, NBA, Udonis Haslem

Late Thursday night the Memphis Grizzlies and restricted free agent center Marreese Speights agreed in principle on a two-year deal that can be signed when NBA restrictions are lifted on July 11, according to multiple reports.

The two-year contract is said to be worth approximately $8 million with the second year of the deal being a player option that Speights can exercise following the upcoming season.

He began his career by spending three full seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers – the team that selected him with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft – but both sides were looking for a split following the 2010-11 season.

Coming off a serious MCL injury just one year earlier, Speights and then-new head coach Doug Collins clashed constantly two seasons ago as the player saw a career-low 11.5 minutes per contest on average and would often be a healthy scratch for games even after posting solid numbers just one night earlier.

“It was so inconsistent that I never knew how to prepare for the game because I never knew if I was going to get in or not,” he told OGGOA in May 2011. “It was hard for me to prepare myself…I might have a good game one game and then come back and play three minutes and then after that [I would not play] for three games and then come back and play 15 minutes. It was the whole year – inconsistent. I feel like if I can get in there, I’ll produce. That’s how I’ve been my whole career.”

Speights did exactly that last season after being traded by Philadelphia to Memphis as part of a three-way deal four games into the season. He started 54 of 60 games last year (he had only started four combined the three prior years), averaged 22.4 minutes per contest and notched a career-high 6.2 rebounds most of the time playing in place of injured C Zach Randolph.

Speights scored double-digit points 25 times in the regular season, posted a career-high 25 points in a career-high 49 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 13, and registered seven double-doubles including a career-best 18 boards on February 15.

He saw fewer minutes once Randolph returned but was still an effective player for the Grizzlies, which is why the team saw value in agreeing to re-sign him this season.

Yessir I am going back to #grizznation!! This year yessir!!!!!

— Marreese Speights(@Mospeights16) July 6, 2012

I had many places to go!!! but why would I want to leave #grizznation!!!!!

— Marreese Speights(@Mospeights16) July 6, 2012

Photo Credit: Unknown

Tags: Draft, Marreese Speights, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, Philadelphia 76ers