Despite Age, Duncan Continues to Impress

For the 21st time in his career, the guy wearing No. 21 for the Spurs is the Western Conference Player of the Week.
Tim Duncan took home his first such award in almost three years Monday after a week in which he posted three double-doubles and averaged 22 points, 12.8 rebounds, three assists and 1.25 blocks as the Spurs went 3-1.
Duncan opened last week with a string of three consecutive games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, his first such streak since Nov. 23-27, 2009, not coincidentally the last time he was named a conference player of the week.
“At 36, it’s tough to play like that,” said Parker, at 30 the youngest of the Spurs’ Big Three. “At the same time, he works hard and takes care of his body. He’s making sure he eats well and keeps his knees healthy. So far, it’s looking good.”

Kobe Bryant: I’ll Score More With Nash

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said his team won’t realize its potential until point guard Steve Nash returns from a hairline fibula fracture, perhaps as early as next week.
What will Nash’s return mean for Bryant?
“I’ll be scoring a lot more,” Bryant said. “I don’t have the facilitate as much. Everybody can kind of go to their natural positions. It enables me to do what I do best, which is to put the ball in the hole.”

NBA BEATS - I agree. In my opinion that is all the Lakers needed to do in the off season and they did it. But then they go and get Dwight Howard? Why? You already have Pau Gasol. I would rather have Pau Gasol. Sometimes less is more. All they needed was a Steve Nash and yes he will do wonders for Kobe. Kobe can play stress free now.  That was until you brought in Dwight Howard. Now Kobe has to worry about keeping this his team and scoring here and there. Great move bringing in Nash. Horrible move bringing in Howard.

Iman Shumpert Targetting January to Return

Shumpert told The Post recently his target date for return is January, not December. The former Georgia Tech guard will be a dynamo to aid the Knicks’ on-the-ball defense and take pressure off Brewer. Before suffering a torn ACL, Shumpert was among the best perimeter defenders in basketball in his rookie season.

Sixers To Look For Frontcourt Help?

The Sixers acquired Andrew Bynum from the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team trade this past offseason in which they also shipped All-Star forward Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets. DiLeo says Bynum’s knee problems have worsened since the mega deal.
“His knees now and the MRIs are not the same; it’s a different type (of) situation,” DiLeo added. “At the time of the trade, we had four doctors look at his MRI; we knew it was a calculated risk. We also knew we were getting the second-best center in the league, a franchise-type player. We took that risk.”
Bynum was expected to assume a major role in head coach Doug Collins’ lineup this season, with the belief he could continue developing into a franchise player.
With Bynum on the shelf indefinitely it is possible the Sixers look to add a veteran big man for additional depth. Two options are Eddy Curry, who played earlier this season with the Dallas Mavericks, and veteran forward Kenyon Martin who has been actively lobbying for another opportunity in the league.

Irving Out Four Weeks With Broken Finger

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving will miss the next four with a hairline/non-displaced fracture in his left index finger, the team announced on Monday afternoon. Irving will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Deron Williams Upset at Dwight Howard?

Dwight Howard lost a lot of friends and supporters during his curious ride out of Orlando. But if one of those severed relationships was with Deron Williams, Howard – the man who wanted to please everybody — doesn’t care.
“It’s my life so if he’s upset because I made a decision for me, so be it,” Howard said. “If he doesn’t want to be friends because I’m on another team, then so be it. There’s no need to smooth things over.”
The two All-Stars plotted to play together in Brooklyn, but Howard essentially killed that possibility by waiving his right to become a free agent last March. Howard has said the decision was based on his desire to keep everybody happy, even though it forfeited his opportunity to sign with the Nets in the summer.
“I’m here now in L.A. there’s no need to talk about what could have happened. I’m happy with being here in L.A.,” Howard said. “The fans have always been great here. Now that I’m on the team the fans, from Day 1, they’ve just been unbelievable to me and to this team.
Although Williams and Howard were close friends and met up for dinner whenever they were in the same town, Williams said recently he hasn’t spoken to his former Olympic teammate. He re-signed with the Nets in July after Howard’s 11th-hour waffling, but flirted with joining the Mavericks because, among other reasons, he wanted a star teammate.

Spurs Interested in Mickael Pietrus?

Hearing Spurs do have interest in Mickael Pietrus — natural w/2 other Frenchmen on roster — but Pietrus still seeks more than NBA minimum
Spurs currently $1,149,135 below NBA’s luxury-tax line, enough to offer pro-rated minimum deal and stay under. Pietrus holding out for more

Joe Johnson Feels ‘Rejuvenated’ with Nets

After spending the past seven seasons as the face of the Atlanta Hawks, Joe Johnson has had to adjust to being a piece of the puzzle in his first season with the Nets.
But after having the weight of a franchise on his shoulders in Atlanta, Johnson is excited to have a fresh start with the Nets, who begin a West Coast trip tonight here against the Kings.
“I definitely feel rejuvenated,” Johnson told The Post after a recent practice. “I feel like this is a new beginning, a new start for me, and I just want to make the most of it.”
Johnson came to be defined by something totally out of his control: his six-year contract for more than $120 million signed in July 2010. Suddenly, a player who was incredibly productive for the Hawks was only thought of in terms of the dollar value on his contract.

Suns’ Gentry May Adjust Starting Lineup

For weeks, Suns coach Alvin Gentry had been pushing aside the idea of mixing up his starting five to solve the most pressing early-season issue for his new-look squad — slow, lethargic starts.
“We have to do something and take a look at another situation,” Gentry said. “We keep trying to make adjustments and changes. We can’t keep battling from behind. It’s just too hard.”
“Something is not clicking for us, and we have to find some solution,” Goran Dragic said. “If he has to change some players in the starting lineup, then we have to do that.”

Rajon Rondo: ‘MVP is in the picture’

After missing Thursday’s game in Brooklyn with a sprained right ankle, Rajon Rondo returned to action Saturday and picked up right where he left off, handing out a whopping 20 assists in Boston’s 107-89 triumph over the Toronto Raptors.
“I’ve said that from Day 1 that he’s the best point guard in this league,” said (Jason) Terry. “This year he’s definitely going to be in the talks when they’re talking about MVP, if we can continue to win. The way he controls the game, his leadership, his ability to dominate the game on both ends of the floor is what makes him special.”
Rondo didn’t back away from the MVP chatter noting, “Well, JT’s on my side, so he’s a little biased, but the MVP is in the picture. I would like to be one day. But, we’ve just got to keep winning.”

NBA BEATS - I think he is the second best point guard. Can't believe I think that way because his shot is so ugly. But he is just so good at everything else. He is a stud. He is the best conventional point guard. I think he is the best point guard. I just don't think he is the best player that plays point guard. I would rather have Russell Westbrook.

Bynum’s Setback Caused by Bowling?

The Philadelphia 76ers fear All-Star center Andrew Bynum might have done additional damage to his knees while bowling, according to sources close to the situation.
Multiple sources told ESPN on Saturday that Bynum suffered an unspecified injury this month while bowling. On Friday, Bynum revealed that — on top of the issues with his right knee that could keep him sidelined until January — he also had suffered a “setback” with his left knee.
There are several activities that are prohibited in standard NBA player contracts, but bowling is not one of them. Bynum is known to enjoy bowling.

Al Jefferson: ‘I’d Love to Stay in Utah’

“I want to be in the NBA,” he said. “That’s the blessing. When no teams want me, that’s when I need to start worrying. But right now I want to be in the NBA. I want to be a Utah Jazz, to be honest with you. I’d love to stay in Utah. They do things the right way, kind of reminds me of Boston how it’s first class.
“But they’ve got to do what’s best for the team, and I’m going to do what’s best for my family. But right now this is all about winning and getting back to these playoffs.”

Magic Johnson Disagrees With Buss

“I love Dr. (Jerry) Buss. I don’t believe in Jim Buss,” Johnson said on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” on Wednesday night. “He’s made two critical mistakes already. To me, they made two critical mistakes.
“First, hiring Mike Brown — he wasn’t the right coach. He’s a great coach but not the right coach for the Lakers. And I don’t feel Mike D’Antoni is the right coach for the Lakers. Especially when you have Phil Jackson sitting out there, who wanted to be the Laker coach. Jim Buss decided he didn’t want Phil Jackson, he wanted Mike D’Antoni. And that’s OK, but why didn’t you just say that? But the fans were cheering for Phil Jackson two nights in a row.”

NBA BEATS - If I had to guess. I think Magic had gone to Jim Buss and expressed interest in having some ownership in the Lakers at some point and he was turned down.  Supposedly that is also what Phil Jackson was asking for for him to come back. Magic is still just holding a grudge. I don't know if that is the case. I just do not like Magic. I would way rather have Larry Bird. I thought Bird was way better!!! I wish Magic would just go away. I don't fault Jim Buss anything. He can do what he wants. Shut up Magic. What he want may be wrong for the team. I certainly think Phil is a way better option than Mike D'antoni. But he is making the decision and it has nothing to do with you Magic. You were just a player and have no right to speak out about it. You were paid now go away.

With McHale out; Rockets Search for Identity

Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale has taken a leave of absence to deal with a family matter. McHale has been away from the team since Saturday and there’s no timetable for his return. In the meantime, Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson is filling in as the team’s head coach and keeping McHale updated.
“I talked to him last night at length and talked with him again today,” Sampson said. “It’s a tough time for his family. He’s struggling with that, but we’re keeping him abreast with everything that is going on here and our thoughts and prayers are certainly with him.”
The Rockets are going through an adjustment period as they try to get the new acquisitions James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik acclimated. While the offense is still a work in progress, Sampson has been impressed with his team’s defense.
The Rockets are currently 3-4, but they should continue to get better as the season goes on. Sampson is doing his best to guide Houston’s young core until McHale can return to the sideline.

Knicks’ J.R. Smith Making Sixth Man Case?

Don’t expect J.R. Smith to start complaining about his Sixth-Man role any longer Remember when he learned Mike Woodson didn’t look at him as a starter this season. Smith responded by saying, “Disappointing is an understatement.’’
After a modest season opener after playing just once in preseason because of Achilles tendinitis, Smith is tearing it up the past three games, off the bench. Smith is averaging 17.5 points, second-highest on the club after Carmelo Anthony. Smith is also averaging 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the 4-0 Knicks, who play in Orlando tomorrow.
Smith should be a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, something he scoffed at after learning his non-starter role during training camp

Cavs’ Byron Scott Calls Out Second Unit

Byron Scott is hanging a “Help Wanted” sign after the Cavaliers’ 106-91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday evening at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The beleaguered coach is one step short of running an ad in the classifieds or holding open tryouts to find somebody, anybody, to join Daniel Gibson on the team’s unproductive second unit.
“The biggest thing is, I’m just looking for somebody besides Boobie Gibson to step up off the bench,” Scott said after the Cavs dropped their third straight to fall to 2-5 overall, 1-4 on this six-game trip that ends Tuesday at Brooklyn.

NBA BEATS - I like that Byron Scott is calling out his bench players. I like Byron Scott as a coach. I think he can turn things around in Cleveland. I watched them play the other night against the Phoenix Suns. I liked their squad. Especially Dion Waiters. That guy I think is a star in the making. With him and Kyrie Irving, that is a back court to be reckoned with. That could turn into one respectable backcourt. The just need some other players. Good luck with that Bryon.

Lakers Hire Mike D’Antoni as Coach

Mike D’Antoni, not Phil Jackson, will be the next coach of the Lakers.
“We signed Mike D’Antoni to a multi-year deal,” Lakers spokesman John Black said, mentioning the team’s owner and top two executives. “Dr. [Jerry] Buss, Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak were unanimous that Mike D’Antoni was the best coach for the team at this time.”
D’Antoni, 61, coached the New York Knicks last season and the Phoenix Suns before that. He will officially take over the Lakers within a week or two, depending how quickly he recovers from knee-replacement surgery.
The Lakers will introduce their new coach at a news conference as early as Tuesday but more likely later in the week. Bernie Bickerstaff will remain the team’s interim coach for now.
D’Antoni signed a three-year deal for $12 million. The team holds an option for a fourth year.
Jackson was the overwhelming favorite to return to the Lakers until they heard his informal demands, which included a stake in team ownership, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Pacers’ Rising Star Craves Pressure

With all the pressure on Paul George to succeed, it’s has proven challenging to just kick back and be easy about things. George knows that the best players in the league take on those expectations, and that’s exactly what he is trying to do.
“Of course I want that pressure,” he said. “A lot of guys my age, I don’t t think they would approach the game the way that I would. At the end of the day I do want to be an All-Star. I do want to be the best player I can be. But most of all, I just want to win. Whether that’s scoring 15 points and 10-12 rebounds or 20-plus points a night, at the end of the day, with the team that I am surrounded by, I just want to win.”

James, Faried Named Players of Week

The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried were today named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 11.  
James guided the Heat to a 3-1 week with averages of 21.0 points on .569 shooting from the field, a conference-best 11.0 rebounds (tied with the Brooklyn Nets’ Kris Humphries), and 6.0 assists. James grabbed his 5,000^th career rebound on Nov. 9 during Miami’s 95-89 win over Atlanta. James posted a point-rebound double-double in all four of Miami’s contests on the week and handed out six or more assists in three-of-four games.
Faried helped the Nuggets to a 4-0 week, posting three point-rebound double-doubles in the process. Faried averaged 16.8 points on .563 shooting from the field to go alongside 12.8 rebounds (second in the conference to Memphis’ Zach Randolph’s 14.3 rpg), 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steals. Faried tallied 18 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and two steals during a 107-101 victory at Golden State to close the week.

DeRozan the Key To Toronto’s Rise

One of the primary reasons why the Raptors are expected to be in the playoff mix once they get healthy is the anticipated emergence of DeMar DeRozan, who just inked a contract extension that will keep him in Toronto for the foreseeable future.
“Yeah, it is [nice to get the extension]; it definitely is,” DeRozan tells HOOPSWORLD. “It’s where I started and it’s where I want to end at the end of the day, so I’m just going to go out and lay everything on the line every time I’m on the floor.”
Not only is DeRozan committed to being the best player he can be on the court, he is also committed to making Toronto an attractive destination for free agents who are looking for a winning situation.
“That’s my whole goal is to change that around, show guys that it’s fine to play here and once everything gets rolling our way, it’ll be well worth it,” says DeRozan. “I’m very confident once we give the city what they’re expecting, it’ll be well worth it playing in Canada. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Aldridge Wants To Own The Block

Aldridge has always wanted to be more of a post player, but the Blazers haven’t always wanted that to be his role. He welcomes the comparison to Nowitzki, but sees some key differences, too.
“I’ve always wanted to be that guy, if the team let me be that guy, that was always a question,” says Aldridge. “But, I’ve grown into that role of being that guy who is trying to make shots for my teammates. We can’t do pick-n-rolls all game, we can’t take jump shots all game, so we’ve got to have that guy that can go down low and make teams double team.”

Lakers Meeting with Phil Jackson Today

The Lakers are moving quickly toward hiring Phil Jackson as their next coach, with one person in the organization calling it a “95%” chance he will return for a third tour with the team.
The Lakers plan on meeting with Jackson on Saturday morning to make sure he is interested in the job. The unknown 5% in their equation is the chance Jackson doesn’t want to fill the vacancy created by the Friday firing of Mike Brown, either because of health reasons or other unknown issues.
Ultimately, Lakers management wants Jackson too. It’s just a matter of where Jackson stands right now. People who have spoken with him in recent weeks say he enjoys his life away from the game but is also intrigued by the Lakers’ roster and the opportunity to return to the only franchise he has known since 1999.
Jackson left the Lakers after the 2010-11 season, and at least one prominent player said he wanted a chance at redemption on Jackson’s behalf.

Durant, Westbrook Have New Agreement?

Russell Westbrook on KD (Kevin Durant) playing an almost passive game: “I think Kevin’s just playing his game. He lets the game come to him. Everybody’s got different personalities. Kevin’s the laid-back type. Everybody knows me as the crazy type. So my job is to do that and his job is to be relaxed.”
Westbrook again said something tonight that he’s repeatedly said in the past. KD’s the go-to guy down the stretch.
Maybe that’s what’s in play here. Maybe Durant is letting Westbrook do his thing for three quarters and taking the reins in the fourth. Maybe that’s something the two stars have agreed to so there can be harmony.
How else can you explain Durant simply watching Westbrook throw up shot after shot throughout the first three quarters tonight, missing more than 70 percent of them? Durant literally did nothing. He didn’t demand the ball. He didn’t make a fuss. He didn’t even appear to try to corral Westbrook.

Was Mike Brown The Lakers’ Problem?

 NBA BEATS - I think Mike Brown was part of the problem. I think the mistake made though was by upper managment for bring in Dwight Howard. Horrible move. All the Lakers needed was a Steve Nash. In my opinion the lakers where the team to beat until they brought in Dwight Howard. I would way rather have Pau Gasol. And Nash would do wonders for Kobe. Kobe could play stress free. I have never been a fan of Howard. He is just a superior being in regards to his physical body. They guy does not have much talent though. Plus he is a diva and is just gona tear up the locker room. Horrible move bring him in. Have never been a big fan of Mike Brown either.

It was bound to happen. When the Los Angeles Lakers went winless in the preseason it raised a few eyebrows, but the preseason is not always a good indicator of regular season success. When the games started to count, though, the losing became more troublesome. Considering the number of changes to the Lakers’ roster, the new offense being implemented, the lack of depth and the injury to Steve Nash, firing the head coach is a bit like putting a band-aid on a cracked dam.
The turnover alone would be enough to derail any NBA team. Yes, the Lakers have four All-Stars in their starting lineup, but once you get past the starters there is a noticeable drop-off in talent. Dwight Howard has foul troubles from time to time, and Jordan Hill is hardly a suitable stand-in. Steve Nash’s age was a concern from day one, yet the best the Lakers have behind him is Steve Blake, who has struggled since he arrived in L.A. Kobe Bryant has been as dominant as ever, but should he need to miss games for any reason the Lakers would be leaning on Jodie Meeks, who is shooting 28 percent on the season. The only position where the Lakers have a strong back-up is at forward, but even Antawn Jamison has had a hard time sparking the team off the bench.
The starting lineup is another story. Bryant is the most demanding teammate in the NBA, a lesson that Pau Gasol learned immediately upon being acquired by the Lakers. Howard does not approach the game with anything like the same level of seriousness as Bryant, and Howard’s recent comments about people needing to “lighten up” are no doubt in reference to Bryant. No one takes losing as personally as Bryant, and it seems only a matter of time before he has to go off on Howard in an effort to get him to take losing more seriously. Until he does, the Lakers will continue to struggle, no matter who is doing the coaching.
Finally, there’s the new offense, which seems to have turned Nash and Howard into bystanders instead of dominant, game-changing players. The Princeton offense, in particular, is a brilliant offense when it’s run properly. Rick Adelman, for example, has had great success with it for many years, spanning a large number of All-Star players on five different NBA teams. It worked with Terry Porter and Kevin Duckworth in Portland, it worked with Vlade Divac and Mike Bibby in Sacramento, and it worked with Yao Ming and a variety of supporting players in Houston. There’s no reason why that offense couldn’t work with Howard and Nash as the primary catalysts, but it’s not something that happens overnight.
There are plenty of reasons for the Lakers’ struggles to date. Lack of depth and the correspondingly low bench production would top my list, and that has little or nothing to do with coaching. Brown was handed a team and told to go out and compete for a championship, but the composition of that team is not such that competing for a championship is necessarily a given. Sure, the starting lineup is impressive, and that lineup has struggled to get on the same page. That comes down to coaching, but the other factors at play are beyond what Brown, or any other coach, can control.

Suns climb back

Phoenix suns were down by 26 tonight hosting Cleveland. They climbed all the way back and won. Great win for the Suns. I was quite impressed by Cleveland though. They are a decent squad. Especially with Dion Waiters. That guy looked impressive!!!

Brandon Roy Admits Legs Aren’t Back

Brandon Roy is off to a sluggish start. But the three-time NBA all-star wants to clarify two things: his knees are fine, and he’s not about to panic.
Roy has not contributed significantly to the Timberwolves’ 3-1 start. He is shooting 26.6 percent and averaging 5.7 points, both career lows. Though he has started all four games, he has not played in the fourth quarter the past three games, and he’s been passive with his shooting.
“My thing was to not come out and make a splash right away but to be ready in the later months,” Roy said Thursday, Nov. 8, after a Wolves practice. “I just need to get my legs back. My legs are still a little heavy. My shot’s been off. Once I get my legs back, the game will get easier.”

Blazers’ Lillard Not Content With Hot Start

Blazers head coach Terry Stotts couldn’t be more pleased with what he’s seen from his young floor general, especially Lillard’s hunger to improve.
“Damian is like everybody has been saying: he’s an excellent, young guy, who’s played well, but he’s not content with how he’s played,” Stotts said. “He’s had three good games that people have been putting into historical context, but at the same time he looks at it as how he can improve, and where the areas are that he can do better, so I think that’s going to help him down the line.”
Lillard has also impressed his team captain early, though LaMarcus Aldridge had seem him in summer league before training camp and preaseason and had an idea what to expect.
“If I didn’t go through training camp with him, I think I’d be surprised,” Aldridge said. “I’ve seen him all through training camp and he’s done this day in and day out, so I’m not overly surprised. He’s that good, he’s talented, he’s smart, he knows the game very well. He has that pace to his game that next-level guys have, he doesn’t get sped up, he kind of dictates the offense, so that’s good for him.”

Mavs’ Focus: Wearing Down Opponents

Featuring two 25-year-old starters that are both at least a decade younger than their predecessors in Dallas, the onus is on wearing down opponents by playing aggressive basketball on both ends of the floor.
“We understand how important it is to come out and be good every night,” Mayo said. “Start the game well every night and guard our positions then, in the third quarter, come out with a strong stance. We’re still learning and we’re still young so we’re going to make some mistakes but, without a doubt, we’re going to go out there and play incredibly hard, lot of effort, lot of energy and just try to give ourselves a chance to win.”
A key factor in the almost instant on-court cohesion between Mayo and Collison is that the pair already had an excellent rapport both on and off the basketball court.  The duo has frequently played pickup games in previous offseasons together and had developed a good relationship off the floor before joining forces in Dallas this past summer.
“Yeah, I like playing with O.J.,” Collison said. “I’ve been playing with OJ for the last two to three summers. He’s a guy that I respect off the court, and vice versa. O.J.’s a guy that continues to work on and off the court, and anytime you see that, it just brings your game up to a whole other level too. He’s excited to play with me, and I’m excited to play with him and it’s only going to be good things hopefully for the near future.”

Harden’s Contract Situation Affecting OKC?

Russell Westbrook needed only to catch a fraction of the conversation, after spotting Kevin Durant in the hallway cornered by one of those nosy media pests, to know he wanted no part of it.
“Same questions for 30 days,” Westbrook said with an unmistakable tone of annoyance, shaking his head as he left poor Durant behind.
Eventually, though, James Harden’s uncertain future becomes the focus again, as it’s basically been in Loud City from the moment big man Serge Ibaka agreed to a four-year deal worth nearly $50 million in mid-August.
Thunder players, by all accounts, have blocked the chatter out pretty well leading up to the 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 31 deadline for OKC and Harden to reach terms on a contract extension that would prevent the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man Award winner from becoming a restricted free agent on July 1.
“The ‘James Situation,’ we really try to let that take care of itself,” Durant said. “All we focus on is getting better as a team every single day. He’s not bringing it into the locker room.

Jason Terry Knows His Role For Celtics

Perception has strayed a good distance from reality in this case, but from the moment he signed with the Celtics last summer, he became the guy who replaced Ray Allen.
“We’re two different players, and hopefully I’ll bring something that Ray didn’t,” said Terry. “Obviously Ray was a great player for this franchise over the years, and brought them the championship in ’08, but our games are totally different.
He’s a prideful bench player, and though Terry had no part in the offensive drain that plagued the Celtics bench much of last season, he still took it personally.
“It starts with me, and the stars are going to do what they have to do. It’s such a long season, you have to count on your bench,” Terry added. “I want us to pride ourselves in saying that we have the best bench in basketball. If I look at us on paper, we’re right there. You can match us up with whoever, and I think we’re pretty darned good. We’ll set the standard very high, and we’re looking to make some noise early.”
“My job doesn’t change,” he said. “I’ll be thrust into the sixth man role. Hey, I’m one of the best, and it is what it is. I take pride in it. What every team needs is that spark, that energy off the bench, and I’m here to do it. Anything other than that, and I won’t be doing my job.”

Denver Nuggets Optimistic About 2012-13

Optimism is permeating the Pepsi Center. Numerous Nuggets have been working out this month while Karl and his staff prepare for training camp. No, the Nuggets don’t have any LeBrons (in fact, there’s probably some debate about who Denver’s best player is), but they are frighteningly deep, to the point Karl describes his roster as “a big bucket of talent.” In fact, you could argue that Wilson Chandler, who would start for many NBA teams, is Denver’s “eighth man.”
And so, 2012-13 is here. Are the Nuggets still young and growing? Or have they gained enough experience to be a factor in the West?
Let’s ask George.
Q: Can you describe your anticipation for this season?
A: We just had a summer of constant positive momentum. The Olympics were great. And then you get (JaVale) McGee signed and Andre (Miller) signed, both really important to our team. All our young guys had good summers — Gallinari had a good summer with the Italian national team, Timo (Mozgov) was kind of a superstar for Russia (at the Olympics). And of course, the (Andre) Iguodala trade was the (big) piece that makes us a better basketball team, though to get a good player you’ve got to give up good players. We’ll miss Arron Afflalo. There will be some games in which we’ll say, “I wish we had Arron out there.” But in the end, we think we made a step forward, and hopefully a step to get into the top-eight teams in basketball, maybe a little bit further. Our goal in the next three to four years is to build this thing and make steps toward a championship.

Concerns About Dwyane Wade in Miami?

The knee has taken longer to heal than Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat or anyone else would have expected.
“I understand that it’s a process and I’m going to take that process and be … I’ve been here before, guys, so I know what to do. I’ll be all right,” Wade said to reporters Friday. “I went all the way around the block just to go next door.”
In other words, he put off surgery on his knee for far too long.
The Heat will not admit it publicly, but there are concerns among those in the organization about the second half of Wade’s Hall of Fame career. Reckless abandon on the court made him famous and made him rich and made him loved in his adopted city of Miami, but now it’s making him and the Heat refocus their expectations. Wade is only 30 years old, but it’s an old 30.
Wade expects himself — as does the Heat — to play well into his 30s and at a very high level. It might seem early in his career for such things, but the team has started an aggressive plan to preserve Wade’s body for the long term. Reduced minutes, scheduled off days and a repurposed skill set are all being considered.

Health A Huge Factor For Pierce, Celtics

Paul Pierce admitted Friday that the sprained MCL in his left knee he suffered in the first round of the playoffs last season was beyond immediate treatment, but affirmed he’s entering the 2012-13 season at 100 percent after an offseason of conditioning and strengthening.
With a new season about to begin and Pierce not getting any younger, the conversation quickly turned to minutes. Pierce said he doesn’t have a number in mind that he would like to play each night, opting instead for allowing coach Doc Rivers to monitor that part of the equation.
“I’m going to listen to my body,” the soon-to-be 35-year-old Pierce said. “(Doc is) going to kind of watch how the game is going, how I’m playing. If I can still play at a high level, who knows what that number may be. Doc has always found a good balance at finding that number.”
“I think the key for us, if we’re going to win another championship, is going to be our health,” Pierce said. “You have to be good, you have to be lucky, sometimes over things you can’t control, as you saw. Since our first year we won it, we haven’t been lucky enough to be healthy, so hopefully we’re healthy this year and we can make another run at it.”

League Adopting Remedy for Flopping? Retarded!

The NBA is finalizing a new procedure to deal with flopping this coming season, with an off-court remedy expected to be in place before the start of the regular season.
After meeting with their newly revamped competition committee two weeks ago in New York, the league anticipates that incidents of flopping will be adjudicated on a postgame basis with fines assessed for the offenses, a league spokesman said Thursday.
“The procedures will likely involve a postgame review as opposed to calling it as an in-game infraction,” the league spokesman said in a statement to CBSSports.com and other outlets.

NBA BEATS - This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard of. This is retarded. If a player can get away with flopping then more props to him. All it means is that they are competitive and want to win. The league is going to fine players for flopping? That is stupid. They should be fining the referee for calling the flop. Horrible move by the NBA. 

Gilbert Arenas to Play in China?

L.A. native Gilbert Arenas was playing pickup ball in the Lakers’ practice facility as recently as Thursday, but Arenas has yet to secure a training camp invite for the coming season.
Not from the Lakers or the Clippers, his two preferred destinations, or anyone else.
So …
Sources with knowledge of Arenas’ thinking told ESPN.com that the former All-Star is giving strong consideration to starting the season in China.
Arenas has spent the bulk of the offseason working out under the care of the trusted Joe Abunassar while dropping in on the occasional open gym at the Lakers’ or Clippers’ practice facilities and, by all accounts, looking good in those pickup games.

Celtics Sign Darko Milicic

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent forward/center Darko Milicic. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Milicic, a 7’0 center/forward, appeared in 29 games last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves and averaged 4.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 16.3 minutes per game. Milicic tied his career-high with seven blocks against the Dallas Mavericks on January 25. Beginning his 10th season, Milicic recorded a career-high of 8.8 points per game during the 2010-11 season with the Timberwolves and finished 5th in the NBA in blocked shots per game (2.03). The second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft was a member of the 2004 NBA Championship Detroit Pistons during his rookie season. He has posted career averages of 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.31 blocks in 467 career games.

John Wall Out With Knee Injury

The Washington Wizards just announced that John Wall will miss 8 weeks with a stress injury in his left knee.

Knicks to Sign Rasheed Wallace

Source close to Knicks: All the players expect a Rasheed Wallace signing to become official. He took his physical w/ the team yesterday september 27th.

Channing Frye Optimistic About Returning

News of Channing Frye’s medical condition has a lot of Suns fans worried he won’t play again. But he’s hoping it won’t be too long before he’s back in the game.
“It’s not a good situation but at the same time I do have hope,” said the Suns forward.
Frye has just been diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and it likely means he’ll be sitting out the entire season.
“I look at it as a rare opportunity to spend time with my family that I may not get again, especially with my kids so young, and see how everything goes behind the scenes especially during the season,” said Frye.
The Suns cardiologist Dr. Tim Byrne said the heart condition was discovered during a routine physical required by the NBA, and Frye is lucky the sometimes fatal condition was caught so early.
“The most likely cause is a virus and many times those do improve and get better so yes there is a very real chance he could return to normal function and a normal lifestyle,” said Dr. Tim Byrne.
But as far as ever playing professional basketball again, doctors said it is possible and Frye is confident he will.
“You know I’m not done yet I still have a lot to prove,” said Frye. “I feel great. Coming in I was ready to drain some threes and post up a little bit you know.”

Where Will Derek Fisher End Up?

Was there any hope of keeping the free-agent guard?
“There still is,” Brooks said. “Everything is still fluid.”

Nonetheless, Fisher remains unsigned. I’ve been told the Los Angeles resident routinely practiced at both the Lakers and Clippers practice facilities this offseason. Meanwhile, the Oklahoman’s John Rohde reported the Thunder would only re-sign Fisher at the veteran’s minimum. Sports illustrated’s Sam Amick quoted an unnamed source saying FIsher’s chances of joining the Thunder are “remote” since the team already features three point guards in Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson.  Brooks also mentioned in general terms that he leaves personnel decisions to Thunder General Manager Sam Presti.

Still, Brooks gushed plenty about Fisher’s four-month stint with the Thunder. Even though Fisher averaged a career-low 4.9 points on 34.3% shooting through 20 regular-season games with the Thunder, Brooks marveled at how the 38-year-old’s playoff experience and leadership boosted an otherwise youthful team. Laker fans have always remained split on a similar role he provided when he helped the Purple & Gold to five NBA titles.
“He knows how to play. He was terrific for us,” Brooks said. “I tell him all the time, ‘Derek, don’t get into coaching. Don’t get into sports.’ This guy is bigger than that. I always tease him, ‘Run Apple.’ You’re smart. You can lead. That guy is a leader. One day he could probably be the commissioner.”

Gordon Hayward Expects Jazz to Improve

Hayward has high hopes for the Jazz. He believes his personal progression mirrors the Jazz’s improvement trajectory — in part because of how many solid players are loaded into each position.
“I expect us to do better than we did last year,” he said, reflecting back on a better-than-expected 36-30 record and first-round playoff appearance in the lockout-shortened campaign.
“I think as a player you kind of want to improve both as a team and individually from year to year,” Hayward added. “I’ve done that from my rookie to sophomore year. Hopefully I’ll do that again this year. Same goes for the team. We missed playoffs first year (39-43 in 2010-11), made it barely the second year, so this year needs to be better than that.”

NBA Returning to Seattle?

The Seattle City Council is expected to approve a deal Monday that would help build an arena to bring NBA and NHL teams to the city.
Members of the council have indicated they’re ready to sign off on investor Chris Hansen’s plan to build a $490 million arena near the Seahawks and Mariners stadiums in the SoDo area, south of downtown. The plan calls for $200 million in public investment.
Changes in the plan still must be approved by the King County Council, and it must pass an environmental review. But, Hansen says city approval will allow him to start looking for a team that would replace the Sonics. After four decades in Seattle, the Sonics were moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder.

Trail Blazers’ Invite Adam Morrison to Camp

Six years after “Draft the Stache,”Adam Morrison finally will be given the chance to play for the Trail Blazers.

Morrison will attend the Blazers’ training camp as a nonroster invite, according to an NBA source, and will be given the chance to fight for a regular season roster spot with the team. The one-time college star and No. 3 overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft will highlight an unannounced list of nonroster invites when camp opens Oct. 2.

Morrison, 28, has not played in an NBA game since appearing in the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers on April 27, 2010. He was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats with much fanfare out of Gonzaga, but his collegiate success never transferred to the NBA, in part because he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee.

The Blazers’ roster features 15 players — the maximum allowed by the NBA — but not all 15 have guaranteed contracts. If Morrison shows new GM Neil Olshey and new coach Terry Stotts he still has some NBA game left, it’s possible Morrison could make the Blazers’ regular season roster.

Brooklyn Nets sign Josh Childress

The Nets, for the second straight day, announced an addition to their frontcourt. General manager Billy King, through a statement released by the club, said Josh Childress, a 6-8 forward, has signed. Terms of the contract were not released.
Childress played 34 games last season for the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.

NBA BEATS -  Can not believe this guy still has a job in the NBA. I live in the Phoenix area. So I saw him a  play for the Suns whenever he got on the court. Which was not often. Was not impressed at all. Happy to see him go.

McGrady Works Out For Spurs, Knicks

Still searching for an NBA franchise willing to guarantee a contract for next season, seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady worked out for the San Antonio Spurs this week at the team’s practice facility, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Next up for McGrady on Thursday is a workout for the New York Knicks, league sources said.
Time is running out for the 33-year-old McGrady to secure a guaranteed contract for the season. Sources say he will likely have to choose between accepting a “make-good” training-camp invite or going overseas – perhaps to China.
The Spurs have brought several players to San Antonio to evaluate over recent weeks, and have yet to make a decision on whether McGrady could possibly fit into the team’s plans this season. The Knicks have discussed the possibility of adding another perimeter scoring threat, and want to evaluate McGrady for a possible return. McGrady played 24 games in 2010 with the Knicks

Derrick Rose Begins Shooting, Jumping

Roughly four months after doctors repaired the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Derrick Rose said he started jumping “a couple of days ago” and remains encouraged by his rehabilitation process.
“Recovery has been good,” Rose said Thursday at a promotional event for Adidas. “I’m rehabbing five times a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we do lower and upper body and bike workouts. I’m starting to shoot now. I’m starting to jump a little. I’m seeing improvement every week.”

Knicks Add Shurna, Three Others to Camp

The Knicks signed four players Tuesday – guard Oscar Bellfield, forwards John Shurna and Mychel Thompson and center Henry Sims – to help round out their training camp roster.
The biggest name among the four is Shurna, who starred for four years at Northwestern, finishing with a school record 2,038 points and averaging 20.0 points per game as a senior. The Post reported in Tuesday’s paper that Shurna’s deal is partially guaranteed.

Tyreke Evans Aims to Silence Critics

Tyreke Evans showed up at the Sacramento Kings’ practice gym at 4 a.m. one day last month to work on his shooting. Kings officials weren’t surprised. Evans has spent much of the offseason in the gym – part of his plan to regain the form he showed his first season in the NBA when he was named Rookie of the Year.
“I’ve been receiving a lot of criticism about not being healthy and not playing like I did my rookie year,” Evans said. “I just want to come back this year and show people I’m still here and that I haven’t lost a step.”
Evans knows he faces an uncertain future, and has devoted himself this summer to improving his game.

Roy Expects Return to ‘My Old Game’

After several weeks of workouts, Timberwolves guard Brandon Roy wants to ease concerns about his knees.
Roy, who announced his retirement in December because of a degenerative condition in his knees, says he is satisfied with his progress and is “not holding back” in preparation for the 2012-13 season.
“I’ve had no setbacks,” the three-time NBA all-star told reporters Thursday, Sept. 13, after an informal practice with teammates and several former college players. “There’s nothing stopping me from getting back to my old game. It just takes work and getting my rhythm back.”

Clippers sought Griffin's approval on Barnes

Chris Paul recruited Matt Barnes. Blake Griffin forgave him.
Barnes said the All-Star point guard pitched signing Barnes to Clippers management, though there was one potential hang-up: Barnes had shoved Griffin to the floor during a preseason game last December, earning a flagrant foul.
So before agreeing to acquire the nine-year veteran, Barnes said, the Clippers checked with Griffin to receive his blessing. Barnes said he also spoke with Griffin on Thursday.
“I just kind of explained to him that it was no disrespect to him or his game,” Barnes said. “I think he’s one of the best players in the league and arguably the most athletic player. I play basketball hard-nosed and if you’re not on my team, during that 48 minutes we’re enemies. He appreciated it and understood where I was coming from.”

Could an NBA Team Land in Louisville?

A group of community leaders convened by restaurant franchisee and former professional basketball player Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman met with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Friday to discuss the possibility of a National Basketball Association team coming to Louisville, Fischer’s office said.
In a statement, Fischer said the meeting gauged the “level of interest” and the “conditions necessary to attract a team.”
“There was a lot of excitement in the room about what an NBA team could mean for Louisville’s global recognition and as a job attractor and economic engine. There are many elements involved in a journey such as this,” the mayor said. “This must be a win for the University of Louisville, as well as other stakeholders. I’m excited to be part of the dialogue and I continue to believe we should be ready if an opportunity presents itself.”

Funniewst Sportcenter Commercial Ever!

HAHAHA

Miller to Join Basketball Hall of Fame

Reggie Miller knows exactly what he will be most proud of when he is inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.
Not his 25,279 NBA points, 14th all-time. Not his 2,560 three-pointers made, No. 2 all-time. Not his 18-year career with one team, the Indiana Pacers.
It will be that he and his sister, Cheryl Miller, will become the only siblings in the Basketball Hall of Fame entering as players.
“I think it’s more cool for the Miller family to have a brother-sister act in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “That’s what I’m most excited about because no one else can say that.”
Miller and 10 others will be inducted Friday: Lidia Alexeeva, Don Barksdale, Mel Daniels, Phil Knight, Katrina McClain, Hank Nichols, Don Nelson, Ralph Sampson, Chet Walker and Jamaal Wilkes. The All-American Redheads, pioneers in women’s basketball, will be inducted in the team category.

NBA BEATS - That is pretty cool that Reggie and his sister will both be in the Hall of Fame. That has never happened and I do not think that will ever happen again. That is remarkable.

Taj Gibson’s Ready for a Breakout Year

Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson said Monday he’s confident the Bulls can still compete without Derrick Rose and foresees his role expanding this season.
The Bulls went 18-9 during the regular season and 1-4 in the playoffs without Rose last season.
“We still did good even when we didn’t have Derrick (last season),” said Gibson, who threw out a ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago White Sox’s game on Monday. “We beat the Heat without Derrick.
Entering his fourth season, Gibson said he and Thibodeau expect more of him this season. Gibson averaged 7.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 20.4 minutes last season.
Gibson is in the final year of his rookie contract. He said there have been talks about an extension, but either way he’s not going to let it affect him.
“They’re talking about that stuff now,” Gibson said. “I’m not even thinking about that. A lot of people always talk about that all year long, all season long. I don’t really worry about it. I won’t really be thinking about it. I’m just going out there and playing my game.”

Thunder Hope to Keep James Harden

So the Thunder now have to decide whether Harden is worthy of an extension. When it was apparent that Westbrook would flourish into an All-Star-caliber guard, Presti decided that Jeff Green, the third wheel on the Thunder’s machine in 2010-11, was expendable, and dealt him to the Celtics.
“We’ll be open in saying that there are a lot of inherent challenges this organization faces as a result of the new CBA,” Presti said. “With that said, we also maintained that we’re going to figure out a way to build a team that’s competitive within the new system and capable of [competing for championships]. Nothing changes in that respect.
“We’ll have some tough decisions in terms of being a good team and a team that’s enjoyed some level of flexibility. We need to work with James in hopes of keeping him with the team.
“I don’t want to speak for James or any of our players, but he knows how much we think of him. With any situation like this, it’s a matter of finding balance that works for both of us.”

NBA BEATS - I for one hope he does not stay. I live in Arizona and have heard he still has many ties to the valley of the sun since he played hi college ball at Arizona State University. So I would hope he could end up with the Suns. Although I do not see him as a number one option. He is just a perfect third wheel.

Pietrus Won’t Play For Minimum Contract

Among the free agents remaining on the market is former Celtic Mickael Pietrus, who does not want to play for the league minimum. The Bucks had expressed interest in Pietrus but he remains without a team. The Celtics still have their $1.95 million biannual exception remaining but are expected to wait until close to the regular season to use that, perhaps on a player waived by another team

It all makes sense now!

Should Ads Appear on NBA Uniforms?

Back in July, when NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver made it known that advertisements were likely due to appear on team uniforms starting in the 2013-14 season, a lot was made about what a patch on the lapel of a jersey would do to the purity of the game. There was also a lot made of the fact that a whole lot of cash could be generated by selling that little two-by-two inch swath of prime real estate.
So, which side is right? The side that wants to earn the extra cash, or the side that wants to keep the jerseys free of corporate logos?
Both have fair points, but from a simple aesthetic perspective, these patches are going to make NBA uniforms very, very hard to look at. Of the four major U.S. sports, basketball has the least amount of open uniform space with which to work, so plugging up that little bit of leftover negative space can look clunky, especially when it’s not a patch thematically tied to the team’s logos or color scheme.

NBA BEATS - I don't like the idea of advertisements on jerseys. If you add one, then more are likely to follow. Where are you going to draw the line?I heard somebody on the radio say that in the future teams will no longer be tied to a city but instead a company. So instead of the Chicago Bulls you would have like the Microsoft Bulls. (for example) I don't want it to go there. 

Washington Wizards Sign Martell Webster

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Martell Webster. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
“Martell brings a combination of versatility and shooting in addition to his experience,” said Grunfeld. “Adding him to the roster provides us with another solid veteran presence and gives us flexibility with our lineups at both the shooting guard and small forward positions.”
Webster (6-7, 230) holds career averages of 8.4 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting .374 from three-point range in 394 games (191 starts) over seven seasons with Portland and Minnesota. He was originally selected by the Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft as an early-entry candidate out of Seattle Prep High School. Webster averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and a career-high .417 three-point percentage for the Timberwolves in 2010-11 and averaged career highs of 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Trail Blazers in 2007-08. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 47 games (26 starts) for Minnesota last season.
The Wizards’ roster now stands at 14 players.

Amar’e to Benefit from Jason Kidd

New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd may be in his 40′s, but he’s planning on having a big season in the Big Apple. However, he’s just not planning on making it a big individual season for himself, but instead has his eyes on Amar’e Stoudemire as well.
Both Stoudemire and Kidd are coming off of 2012 seasons that weren’t the greatest by their standards. But Kidd sees a rebound season from STAT and also sees himself playing a Steve Nash-type of role for Stoudemire.
Stoudemire pushed very hard for the Knicks to bring Nash aboard and it looked like they might before the Lakers snuck in and stole him away. But by the sounds of Kidd, everything will work out just fine. Kidd addressed his situation to KnicksNow.com.
“With Amar’e, I hope I can be like a Nash to be able to get him the ball where he likes it to be successful. Make it where he doesn’t have to work as hard, easy layups, catch and shoot where he likes it,” Kidd explained.
If Kidd did indeed have that type of effect on Amar’e, it would be huge for the Knicks as Stoudemire must play a huge role in 2013 if the Knicks are going to contend for a championship.

NBA BEATS - The only people that benefit from Jason Kidd is the other team. Never been a kidd fan. I think he is one of the most overrated players in the history of the league.  I don't get why people have always been high on him. He can not shoot. His shot is ugly and unorthodox. He is good. He is just so overrated! Amare has Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd. That is a career stopper. Amare would be way better off with even a Goran Drojac or a Luke Ridinour.

Will Thunder Match Max Offer to Harden?

There’s also pressure on guard James Harden.
Harden is on the verge of making $50 million to $60 million over a four-year span. Yeah, I know. We should all endure such “pressure.”
The closer his deal is to $50 million, the more likely he remains in a Thunder uniform.
The closer his deal gets to $60 million, the more likely he’s headed back to the Phoenix area, where he played collegiately at Arizona State for two years before becoming the No. 3 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
The deadline to sign rookie contract extensions is Oct. 31. If Harden doesn’t sign with the Thunder by then, he’ll become a restricted free agent next summer and free to receive offers from all suitors.

Bosh: Lakers Best Team in NBA on Paper

It’s been two weeks since the Lakers acquired Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic, which at least has given Chris Bosh time to collect his thoughts.
“As soon as the deal happened, my brain went 100 miles an hour to another place, far away from here,” the Miami Heat forward said Friday during a radio appearance on WQAM.
And now that he has collected his thoughts, where does he view the Lakers in terms of his own championship team? His candid answer caught hosts Steve Goldstein and Adam Kuperstein a bit off guard.
“The Lakers, I think, right now, I mean on paper, they probably have the best team in the West and probably the league right now,” he said. “On paper. I’m saying on paper. But it’s a lot, a lot, it’s a long season. And the best team always isn’t the one who starts out the season as the best team.
“We know we’re the champs, but we have to start off from scratch. We have a lot of chemistry building to do. And we have to come out there and we have to start over. We know favorites and all that stuff really doesn’t matter.”

Brown to Give Nash Offensive Freedom

(Lakers coach Mike) Brown understands the pressure facing him this year, one of the many things we covered in our phone interview. Below is a transcript of highlights from our conversation.
LO’L: How does the Princeton work with having someone like (Steve) Nash? As is my understanding, it’s not as much a heavy pick-and-roll offense, but more motion and ball movement.
MB: “The way that we’ll put it together, Steve’s going to have an opportunity — he’s going to quarterback the team — and so he’s going to have an opportunity to come down the floor every possession and in early offense play pick-and-roll if he wants to. It’s up to him, based on where he decides to take the ball or a call that he makes or an action that he does, it’s up to him to get us into some of the looks of the Princeton offense.

NBA BEATS - In my opinion Nash was the biggest acquisition LA made in the off season. He will make a big difference. Nash will make everybody better. He will take a lot of stress away from Kobe.

Wade Unsure if LeBron Can Surpass Jordan

Dwyane Wade isn’t ready to put Miami Heat teammate LeBron James in Michael Jordan’s category.
Not yet anyway.
“I don’t know if (James) has the ability to surpass (Jordan) or not,” Wade told ESPNChicago.com on Thursday during a promotional event for his Wade’s World Foundation. “That’s yet to be seen. My version as LeBron being on par with Michael is this: They’re both on the golf course. Michael’s on the 18th hole. LeBron is somewhere on like the fourth hole. He’s got a long way to go, but he’s on par to get to the 18th hole.”

NBA BEATS - Dwayne Wade is right on. Kinda odd that he is making these comments though. I think he kinda resents Lebron coming in and taking his thunder. Taking his team. Who knows? But the comparision is to MJ and anybody who follows this blog knows how I feel about the Lebron and MJ comparision. Lebron is a heck of a player but is nowhere near MJ. MJ would dunk over people. Lebron just dunks when the lane is open. MJ could shoot. Lebron misses free throws all the time. He is not a shooter. The comparision is not fair. They are different players. Kobe Bryant is more of a Jordan, but still nowhere near him. Although alot closer than James. Lebron is more of a with a lot more speed and muscle.

Corey Maggette May Retire After Season

Corey Maggette, acquired this summer in a salary-shedding deal that brought in his expiring contract in exchange for the considerably more expensive Ben Gordon, appears to be a member of Column A. That doesn’t mean he’s heading into this season with designs of cheering from the bench in street clothes, however. Maggette still thinks he has some juice left in the tank.
Either way, he’s grateful for a fresh start, even this late in his career.
But how much longer will that career continue? Maggette doesn’t know, and he probably won’t have much of an idea until he’s able to test his degenerating body over the course of a full season. Retirement, he admits, is an option.
“I work hard, but we’ll see how long I want to go on after this year,” he said. “We’ll go from there.”

Where Will Sixers’ Doug Collins Put Focus?

When the Sixers welcomed center Andrew Bynum into the fold a little over a week ago, (coach Doug) Collins wasted no time saying that (Evan) Turner, Jrue Holiday, and Bynum were surefire starters. It is yet to be determined whether Turner will start at shooting guard or in Andre Iguodala’s old small forward spot.
However, while Turner’s development is still paramount to the Sixers, heightened expectations for the upcoming season will put the focus elsewhere.
There are those who look at the Sixers’ current roster and suggest the team could rise as high as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. And for this to happen, Collins has to quickly mesh his pieces. He must take a big-picture approach and move away from the micromanagement of Turner.
Marked improvement by Turner, especially if it were to occur this season, Turner’s third, would prove to be incalculably beneficial to the Sixers.But don’t expect him to get the teacher’s pet attention he has seen in the past. The Sixers’ goals moving forward are a little bit too big for that.

$315 shoe. You have a problem with it?

 NBA BEATS - This shoe sure is getting alot of attention. Some people are saying the company(NIKE) should be responsible for people buying the shoe who can not afford it. They say because a kid gets killed or jumped because of his shoes it is on the company that made the shoe. Some even say Lebron is at fault. He should know kids look up to him. Please that is hogwash. Those are the people that blame Remington for their gun being used in a murder. You can not blame a company for what individuals do. They do not have to buy the shoe. The accusation is right on though. Don't get me wrong in a perfect world shoes should not be 300 bucks, at least not yet. All companies try to make the most money they can. That should be what they are trying to do. It is the game of life. Try to succeed. I hope that is part of what drives people. Notice I said part. I sure hope that is not the only thing driving people. But it should be one of the things. Nike is trying to do the best they can. That is a not a bad thing. I would hate people to critize me for try to do the best I can. It is just to bad that the people that will buy it are the people who can't afford it. I don't want it. I don't want it because I am not a Lebron guy. I like players who can shoot.


No shoe is worth $315,unless you are Carrie from Sex In The City.
But back to reality, there’s been a lot of immediate yada-yada over the $315 LeBron James basketball shoe that will be released by Nike Inc. in the fall.
It would be the most expensive sneaker ever.
Reaction has been swift and punitive: The president of the National Urban League says “To release such an outrageously overpriced product while the nation is struggling to overcome an unemployment crisis is insensitive at best.”
Please.
The $315 price tag is insane, for sure, but is it much different than an adidas Chicago Bulls Revolution 30 Custom Authentic Alternate Jersey that sells for as much as $289.99? Or a Peyton Manning jersey that sells for $99.99? Or an Alex Rodriguez authentic road jersey that sells for $184.99?

Del Negro Expects Paul Back During Camp

Any fears Clippers fans might have about All-Star point guard Chris Paul having surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb should be put to rest, according to Coach Vinny Del Negro.
He wanted to reassure fans that Paul “will be all right” and will “resume all basketball activities” after being sidelined for about eight weeks.
It’s possible that Paul could be back sometime during training camp, which starts Oct. 1.
“I don’t want to put an exact date on it,” Del Negro said. “When he’s ready to play, he’ll play. But I expect him back sometime during training camp. I don’t know when, but the most important thing is to get ready for the start of the season.”

NBA BEATS - After watching the clippers in the playoffs I came to realize that they are not that great. Mostly because of Blake Griffin. He just is not that good. He is to passive. He should not be a superstar.The man can dunk. We know that. But that is why he is so well known. I would rather have Al Jefferson. Don't get me wrong. Griffin is good. There is not many players I would want over him. I am just a Jefferson fan. I would rather have Jefferson. I would be surprised if the clippers make it to the finals. But I am wrong quite a bit. Just my to cents.

Report: Boston Celtics Sign Jeff Green

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent forward Jeff Green. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to be able to have Jeff back with the Celtics,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Jeff’s versatility on offense and ability to guard players out on the perimeter is something that we are looking forward to having on the court this season.”

Can Thunder Afford to Extend Eric Maynor?

Eric Maynor. Remember him?
Maynor is seeking an extension to his rookie contract with the Thunder, just like Serge Ibaka and James Harden. However, Maynor’s name often gets dropped when trying to decipher the Thunder’s trilogy of contracts.
Retaining Maynor ranks third among the trio, but he is not a throwaway player. He unquestionably has worth.
What about Maynor? In what future financial neighborhood will he reside? Will it be $14 million for four years? $16 million? $18 million? Higher? Lower?
Extending Maynor’s contract might not be financially feasible given Ibaka’s deal and what Harden’s potential deal could be.

NBA BEATS - Eric Maynor defineltly has some value. He is a nice player. I just don't see how OKC can afford to keep all these guys. He seems like one that may have to go. I would like my hometown team to pick him up.

Ibaka Deal Opens Door to Suns for Harden?

News that Serge Ibaka reached agreement on a four-year contract with Oklahoma City should catch the attention of Suns fans.
The amount of the deal, $48 million, will make it trickier for the Thunder to secure James Harden, who could command a maximum contract as a restricted free agent after the 2012-13 season. That could open the door for the Suns, who have maintained $15 million in cap space for next summer’s free-agency period and who have expressed interest in Harden behind the scenes.
Much will hinge on what becomes important to Harden. No one could fault him for chasing the money if a max deal (roughly $60 million over four years) is offered. But would the appeal of sticking it out with his Thunder teammates make him willing to stay for say, $52 million?
Harden’s mom lives in the Valley and the player has said he still has great affection for the area.

NBA BEATS - I sure hope so. I live in Mesa, AZ. So I would love to see Harden in the valley of the sun. He did attend college here. I don't think he can be a number one option on a team. But he is the perfect role player. And he definetly should be starting. He is to good to come off the bench.

Hornets the Next Up-and-Coming Team?

With New Orleans Hornets rookie forward Anthony Davis set to make his debut this upcoming season and the average age of their core players only 24 years old, the team appears to have taken the appropriate steps this summer to achieve long-term sustainability. Several former NBA players, who were in New Orleans this past weekend for the National Basketball Retired Players Association’s conference, said they believe the Hornets could become the next emerging team in the Western Conference because of their young talent.
“The direction the Hornets are in right now is really positive,” former Utah Jazz forward Stephen Howard said. “I think General Manager Dell Demps has done a tremendous job trying to build them into a team that will contend day in and day out.”
When the Hornets open training camp in October, their roster will include eight new players. Davis was the No. 1 draft pick in NBA draft in June after winning a national championship as a freshman with Kentucky in April.

NBA BEATS - I agree, Hornets could be a up and coming team. But I wouldn't say the General Manager or the organization did a good job. It is called getting the number one pick. That is why this is being said about them.

Thunder Has Interest in Jimmer Fredette?

Speaking of Kings, Jimmer Fredette would love to go someplace where someone other than just DeMarcus Cousins will pass him the ball. Thunder would love to pry Fredette away from Kings as replacement for Derek Fisher.

NBA BEATS - I think Jimmer whould thrive in a different enviroment. It is just the players the Kings have. Sacramento is a selfish team. A guy that can shoot that good is always a threat. Just needs to be in the right situation. But then again just look at how Adam Morrison turned out. Maybe Jimmer is a dud. But I think he has some real value in the right enviroment. Hope he does go to OKC.

Iguodala Thinking Long-Term with Nuggets

Andre Iguodala says he doesn’t want Denver to be just a stopover. The Nuggets wholeheartedly agree.
The Nuggets acquired the All-Star swingman from Philadelphia in the blockbuster trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Iguodala is under contract for this season with a player option for 2013-14. At his introductory news conference at the Pepsi Center on Thursday, he said he told Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri he wants to be here a while.
“We weren’t coming into this thinking this will be a one-year deal,” Iguodala said. “… This is definitely a place that I can see myself for more than just a year or two.”

Ujiri said he’ll work on an extension this upcoming season for the defensive-minded star who helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the London Olympics.

Wade Guarantees Return by Season Opener

Six weeks after left knee surgery and two weeks away from court work, he (Dwyane Wade) is much closer to healthy now than he was during the 2012 playoffs. He guaranteed that he would be ready for the season opener Oct. 30 against the Celtics: “No question.”

Ibaka, Thunder Reach Terms On Extension

Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka has reached agreement on a four-year, $40-million plus contract extension, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Ibaka, 22, could’ve been a restricted free agent next summer, and his deal now locks into place three of the Thunder’s core young stars — Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Ibaka.
This deal leaves the future uncertain for guard James Harden, who could command a maximum contract on the league market as a restricted free agent next summer. Along with the remainder of Kendrick Perkins three years and $27 million, the small-market Thunder will be hard-pressed to invest so much money into his payroll.
In his third NBA season in 2011-’12, Ibaka averaged 9.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. He’s one of the league’s best rim protectors, and been rapidly developing his offensive game. Ibaka was a key player on Spain’s silver medal winning Olympic team this month in London.

James Joins Jordan on History List

LeBron (James) signed off with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists and exchanged long, tight hugs with both (Mike) Krzyzewski and (Kevin) Durant before the final horn had even blown. Shortly thereafter, Coach K made an even bigger scene by jumping up and down on the medal stand.

“It’s been a great ride for me,” James said upon joining Michael Jordan on the short list of players to win a gold medal, an NBA championship and the MVP trophy in the same season.

“I could have never scripted it this way. A lot of people doubted us. They said we were too small. Like Chris (Paul) said, it’s not about size, it’s about heart. And I’m happy we have so much heart on our team.”

NBA BEATS - Just wanted to let it be known. As much as I respect Lebrons game he is nowhere near Michael Jordan. Jordan could shoot. Jordan could dunk. Lebron just dunks when the lane is open. Jordan went over people. Jordan was alot more fun to watch. I don't like watchin players that can't shoot. 

Stoudemire ‘Can’t Wait’ to Use New Moves

Six-time NBA All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire “can’t wait” to explore the moves he has learned from former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon when he returns to play with the N.Y. Knicks.

Stoudemire has been in Houston for about a week working with the Hall of Fame center.

“It’s always room to improve as a player,” Stoudemire said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. “To want to be the best is always a common denominator for most players.

“So working with Hakeem, one of the best players to ever play the game, is a great opportunity for me. We are both very quick and athletic for our positions. So to learn from him will be a great advantage for me.”

Wade Rehab on Schedule; Ready by Camp?

Dwyane Wade’s recovery from knee surgery is right on schedule, and the All-Star guard expects to be ready to go when the Miami Heat open the defense of their NBA championship.

The way he was walking around London on Wednesday, it would have been tough to guess he had surgery a month ago.

“I feel good. Rehab is going very well,” Wade told The Associated Press. “I’m happy with it. I’m more encouraged than I was, obviously, when I knew I had to get surgery. So I’m happy.”

The Heat will open training camp in late September, and Wade said he expects to be fully ready to go when Miami opens the defense of its title against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 30. He even hopes to be ready for the start of camp.

Jermaine O’Neal Agrees to Join Suns

In the shadow cast by Superman’s arrival in Los Angeles, the timing of Jermaine O’Neal’s choice to commit to the Suns on Friday was unfortunate as an unrelated move.

Given the caliber of remaining NBA free-agent centers, O’Neal’s commitment to sign a one-year, $1.35 million contract with Phoenix could be fortuitous if — and it’s a huge if — O’Neal can be healthier than he has been for the later half of his 16-year career.

The Suns had only a backup center role and a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract to offer with a franchise that is in transition. The Suns came away with a six-time All-Star who is still only 33 years old because he entered the NBA out of high school.

The caveat is that the years’ wear and tear has cost O’Neal, who appeared in only 61 percent of his teams’ games over the past eight seasons. O’Neal’s past two seasons in Boston were limited to 49 games combined because of knee and wrist surgeries. O’Neal, who is 6 feet 11 and 255 pounds, was averaging 5.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game before his season-ending left wrist injury last season. O’Neal went to Germany this summer to receive the Orthokine treatment on both of his knees. Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez and Grant Hill also have gone to Germany for Orthokine, which takes a patient’s blood and spins it in a centrifuge to make serum that is injected to combat inflammation.

Howard to Lakers Deal Complete - My Opinion

NBA BEATS - I like when big trades go down and relevant player move to a new team. I was starting to like the Lakers though and after this not so much. I wanted to see what Gasol and Kobe could do with Nash. I thought that was all they needed was a good point guard. Never really been a Howard fan. Like I said in earlier post I am not a Shaq and Howard type. I am more of a Olajuwon and Duncan type. I like skillfull bigs. Plus Howard and all that indecision. Nash is still the key acquisition the Lakers made this off season. I think the Lakers can get by Miami now. Just don't know about the Thunder. Because I think the Thunder still have the best player. If you read some of my earlier post you would know I am referring to Westbrook. Westbrook and his sidekick Durant I think can still get LA. But I would say LA is the favorite. I thought they were before Howard acquisition. Not that Howard will hurt them. I just think Gasol should have more space down low to do his thing. I would rather have Gasol than Howard. That is me though and I know the majority would not agree. And not that I think Andrew Bynum was that great. I am actually excited to see what he can do on a different team. Jason Richardson to. The trade was good for Bynum. I just think the Lakers would of been better with Bynum. When you have Kobe, Nash, and Gasol I think they needed  a guy that was willing to bow down and be the lazy big.  But throw in Howard who wants touches and the spotlight. I just think they took a small step backwords. Yeah they got better production from the 5 spot but I think you lost a little production from the 1,2,3, and especially 4 spots. 

A four-team trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers is complete, multiple sources told ESPN on Thursday night.

A source with direct knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein the Lakers will receive Howard, the Denver Nuggets will acquire Andre Iguodala, the 76ers will receive Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, and the Magic will get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one protected future first-round pick from each of the three teams.

In addition, the Magic will be getting other pieces, including 76ers No. 1 draft pick Moe Harkless, a source told Stein.

Sources close to the process told Stein and ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne that a trade call with the league office has been scheduled for Friday to secure the necessary NBA approval to make the deal official.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol had been in and out of talks, sources told Shelburne, before ultimately being excluded.