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Derrick Rose knows what you did last winter.

You can see it in his eyes, in his demeanor and in his spectacular physical stature.


As he met the media to open camp, Rose had a look about him that suggests he intends to stick it to all those who doubted him, questioned him, criticized him and crucified him.

In an unprecedented wave of self-righteousness, even for the sanctimonious Chicago sports world, Rose came under attack from every area of the arena. He was told by the fans, media, current players, former players and even his own organization that he should have been playing last spring.

Everyone else knew better than Rose, who had tested his body over and over and arrived at the conclusion that he was not physically ready for what would come his way in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

"I never felt like I could take on a double-team," Rose said Friday. "I knew I could get past one person, but in the playoffs you really have to think the game.

"People are going to throw different strategies and defenses at you almost every game. I knew I wasn't ready to take on the double-team in the playoffs, so I had to make the decision that I'm not coming back."

The reality is Rose was tired of being hurt, and he had been hurt almost nonstop the last few years. His goal was to get himself in shape to the point where he wouldn't be nagged by injuries.

There was much more than just the blown-out knee. Rose was taking a beating and he and those closest to him believed that all the injuries added up and may have even contributed to the knee catastrophe.

But that didn't satisfy those who were certain they knew Rose better than Rose knew himself, and most of the criticism followed a report last spring in which the Bulls leaked word that Rose had been cleared to return.

They were trying to pressure Rose back onto the court and there's only a couple problems with that.

First of all, Bulls doctors had said the year before that once Rose was practicing, he was essentially cleared for action. So while not really news, the headline served to turn public sentiment against him.

This is not something Rose is likely to forget, and if he does his closest advisers will certainly remind him.

Besides, if Rose did not believe he was healthy, how dangerous would it have been for him on the floor, and how effective would he have been against teams challenging him physically every time he drove the lane?

"Today he attacked the basket," Tom Thibodeau said Saturday, "a lot more than he ever did last year."

Of all the Chicago athletes questioned for their toughness, it was baffling to hear Rose called "soft," "scared" and "selfish" after watching him become an MVP while playing fearlessly with multiple injuries and flying among the giants.

"The people that criticized him," Thibodeau said Friday, "don't know what the (heck) they're talking about."

It certainly doesn't seem like it.

"Everything happens for a reason and I'm just happy I'm past it," Rose said. "You hear a lot of criticism and my friends bring stuff to me, but there's nothing you can do about it.

"Everybody is free to voice their own opinion. All I can do is continue to work hard and continue to compete as a player."

But Rose banked every word of the bashing and the result was even more motivation as rebuilt his body.

"I worked the whole year, trained my body a whole year," Rose said. "Going out there and showing people that I'm the same player, a more efficient player, that's what I'm trying to prove."

It appears to be much more than that. Don't be shocked if Rose plays like a man possessed this season, and another MVP award would hardly be a surprise.

As for whether the Bulls can ever get past the Heat as long as LeBron James is in Miami, well, they'll have to prove that on the court next spring.

But if ever there were a year, this might be the wrong one to bet against Derrick Rose.

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Toronto has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2016, NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver announced today. The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Toronto Mayor Rob Ford; Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Larry Tanenbaum; Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Tim Leiweke; Toronto Raptors President & General Manager Masai Ujiri; and Grammy® Award-winning artist and Raptors Global Ambassador Drake joined Deputy Commissioner Silver for the announcement at the Air Canada Centre.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, NBA All-Star will be held outside the United States for the first time in the 65-year history of the event when squads representing the Eastern and Western Conferences tip off at the Air Canada Centre, home of the Raptors.

"We are thrilled that Toronto is hosting our first NBA All-Star Game outside the United States," said Silver. "As the site of the first game ever in the NBA, Toronto is an ideal location for this global basketball celebration."

"Twenty years ago to this day, the city of Toronto was awarded an NBA franchise. It is fitting that on this day we're able to celebrate a global achievement as the first international host of the NBA All-Star Game," said Tanenbaum. "We have the best fans in the NBA and the 2016 NBA All-Star Game will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, and continue to grow, basketball in this country."‎

In 2016, the All-Star competitions will get underway on Friday, Feb. 12, with the Sprint All-Star Celebrity Game and the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, a game featuring the league's top rookies and second-year players. Saturday's festivities will feature State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, an all-inclusive skills showcase comprised of the Sears Shooting Stars, a competition featuring NBA and WNBA players, and NBA legends; the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, a contest of top guards working against the clock to complete a series of passes, free throws, layups and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, a longstanding staple of the evening; and the high-flying Sprite Slam Dunk contest. Sunday's slate of activities will also feature the Sprint Pregame Concert before the 65th NBA All-Star Game. NBA All-Star 2016 will be broadcast to a worldwide audience in 215 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages.

"The 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend is an excellent opportunity for residents, visitors, fans and spectators alike to celebrate their love of the game together and cheer on their basketball heroes right here in Toronto," said Minister Chan. "Hosting internationally anticipated events like the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend strengthens tourism in Ontario, creates jobs and promotes our province as a premier destination for marquee sporting competitions."

"On behalf of the City of Toronto, we are thrilled about today's announcement and will be honoured to welcome the world to our City in 2016 for the NBA All-Star Game," said Mayor Ford. "We'd like to thank Commissioner Stern, Deputy Commissioner Silver and the NBA for their long-time support of Toronto, as well as Tim Leiweke and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for helping make this dream a reality. This is an exciting opportunity to drive economic development and create jobs while showcasing our vibrant city, and its people, on the world stage."

"The Toronto Raptors proudly play for 35 million fans right across Canada each season and hosting the NBA All-Star festivities in 2016 will be a perfect opportunity to thank our fans for their support while celebrating basketball's rich tradition in Canada," said Leiweke. "We would like to thank Commissioner David Stern and incoming Commissioner Adam Silver for their support and faith in Toronto, the Raptors and MLSE. Toronto is one of the premier cities in the world and we look forward to hosting a world-class NBA All-Star celebration that makes the NBA and basketball fans everywhere proud."

"The City of Toronto and the Raptors mean everything to me, and the chance to be able to play a role with this team is something I could have only dreamed of growing up," said Drake, a Toronto native. "I'm really excited about the direction of the Raptors, and today's announcement about Toronto hosting the NBA All-Star Game in 2016 is another reason why Canadian basketball fans have a lot to look forward to."

Canada is a nation with a great basketball history. The game was invented by Canadian Dr. James Naismith in 1891, and the country hosted the first-ever NBA game on Nov. 1, 1946, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. In that contest, the visiting New York Knickerbockers bested the hometown Huskies, 68-66, in front of a crowd of 7,090. The 2013-14 NBA season will commence with nine Canadian players on league rosters, including Cleveland's Anthony Bennett, who became the first Canadian drafted No. 1 overall at the 2013 NBA Draft presented by State Farm. This October, Montreal will host the second annual NBA Canada Series on Sunday, Oct. 20, when the Boston Celtics play a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Bell Centre.

The NBA will continue its commitment to social responsibility during NBA All-Star 2016 with a full schedule of NBA Cares events. NBA Cares will partner with schools, government, and local nonprofit organizations in Toronto and surrounding areas to highlight the league's grassroots and community initiatives that reach millions of young people and their parents while providing critical resources to community-based programs.

NBA All-Star Jam Session 2016, the NBA's premier fan event, will be held at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. This four-day experience will transform the Centre into the world's largest interactive basketball theme park. With nonstop NBA All-Star entertainment for kids and families, Jam Session is the place for fans of all ages to shoot, slam, dribble and drive all day. Jam Session gives fans the chance to experience the NBA

Jason Collins is not the first openly gay player in NBA history. Not yet. Every team in the league was back on the practice floor Tuesday, but Collins finds himself at home in Los Angeles, working out feverishly on his own and waiting for a call that realistically won't come until after the regular season starts.

If at all.


There are simply no guarantees when it comes to Collins' NBA future, no matter how many of us out there wanted to believe that the 34-year-old would be back in the league come fall after announcing to the world that he's gay on the pages of Sports Illustrated in late April. The unpleasant truth about Collins' job prospects is that several teams don't think he can make a telling on-court contribution any more ... and felt that way long before his announcement

Your follow-up questions are obvious and understandable: Is Collins really still a free agent because of his advancing age and declining skills? Or is it actually because NBA franchises aren't nearly as ready to employ an openly gay center as they say they are?

Even as a lifelong cynic and serial pessimist, I do believe it's the former. Like it or not, Collins hasn't been a legit rotation player in this league for a good six seasons. If Collins never plays another NBA minute, there will be loud and widespread cries that the league at large rejected him on the basis of his sexuality. But who can unreservedly make that declaration when Collins has been a 13th/14th/15th man for the last half-decade?

What we can try to do, at this early stage, is tell you why Collins isn't in anyone's training camp and pinpoint a few conceivable landing spots if his phone rings. In a month or two, maybe unforeseen injuries will create a market for Collins that doesn't currently exist. Perhaps the landscape will change by, say, January, when some end-of-the-roster players tend to be released before their contracts are fully guaranteed and 10-day contracts become available. And there are, for the record, still a few optimists in circulation: Two general managers, one from each conference, told ESPN.com this week that they expect Collins to land with a new team after the trade deadline in February at the latest when the playoff push begins in earnest.

Three reasons why Collins is not yet on an NBA roster as training camps open leaguewide:

1. Teams don't want to deal with the inevitable and intense media crush that comes with signing Collins during camp.

There will be "a lot of eyeballs" on Collins when he does finally "get the opportunity," to borrow his words from a recent interview with longtime NBA writer Shaun Powell, but any potential employer would undoubtedly prefer coping with that media sideshow after the regular season is underway, when there are plenty of other newsy team matters going on to keep press gnats occupied. Having Collins on the roster from Day 1 turns media day into Jason Collins day and creates an undeniable distraction in October at a time when obsessive coaches don't want to think about anything other than reinforcing the ins and outs of their offensive and defensive systems. (Or simply implementing those systems, in the case of the NBA's whopping 13 new coaches.)

2. Collins' skill set has never been in less demand.

This is a much, much bigger issue. Apart from the mentoring he can offer younger centers -- which is what led Detroit to consider signing Collins in August -- Collins is only a situational contributor at this point in his career. He's still a quality post defender, but the reality is that there are fewer post scorers in the game than we've ever seen. So it's likely going to take a team like Detroit that covets a mentor to young big men, or that feels it needs an extra defensive specialist in its frontcourt rotation for the postseason to give Collins an option. Los Angeles Galaxy winger Robbie Rogers, who in May became the first openly gay athlete in North American team sports, is 26 years old and only two years removed from scoring a goal against Mexico for the U.S. national team. In order to lure Rogers out of early retirement and acquire his Major League Soccer rights, the Galaxy traded league MVP candidate Mike Magee to the Chicago Fire. Collins has never had that sort of stature as an NBA player and hasn't averaged more than 15 minutes per game since the 2007-08 season.

3. Teams don't want to face the fallout of having to cut him before the season starts.

Another biggie. It would be naive in the extreme to suggest that Collins can expect 100 percent support from teammates if/when he does earn one more NBA shot, since there are bound to be players who aren't welcoming even if they never voice it publicly. It's likewise unrealistic to suggest that front offices aren't wary of the distraction factor, inside and outside the locker room, when it comes to potentially signing Collins. Yet you can be sure that teams want to avoid the prospect of bringing Collins to camp and then feeling the need to release him at month's end to get the roster down to the league maximum of 15 players for opening night. If you have Collins in camp, whether he makes the team or not, uncomfortable accusations about the decision being made on a political rather than basketball basis are bound to greet either outcome. If you sign him after the season starts to fill a clear opening on the roster, such chatter is at least somewhat muffled.

Three potential landing spots for Collins once the season is underway:

1. Washington Wizards

Collins was a member of the Wizards for only the final two months of last season, but he quickly became a revered figure in a locker room filled with young players. The assumption, then, is that Collins would thus be welcomed back instantly in that locker room if the Wiz -- who have already lost starting center Emeka Okafor indefinitely to a neck injury -- ring him up and ask him to return. The greater obstacle is the fact that Washington has 15 guaranteed

LeBron James has the world's best-selling NBA jersey.

The Miami Heat star and four-time league MVP tops the NBA's global list of jersey sales for this past season, according to numbers released Tuesday. James -- who also has the top-selling jersey in the United States -- outsold Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Heat teammate Dwyane Wade for the No. 1 spot.

James said having the world's top-selling jersey "means everything" to him.

"To know that so many people look up to me, so many kids, that's what means more than anything, that I continue to inspire the youth and they look at me as a role model," James said after learning the news at Heat training camp in the Bahamas. "I understand, when you wear someone's jersey, you actually like believe in them. You believe they can do supernatural things. It's like an extension of our family, and I really appreciate that."

The league unveiled the rankings -- based on adidas' global sales for the past season -- just days before the start of NBA Global Games 2013-14, which includes eight preseason games in seven countries, then regular-season games in Mexico City on Dec. 4 and London on Jan. 16.

Many of the top names on the global-sales list -- including Rose, Bryant and Durant -- are on teams taking part in this season's international matchups.

Carmelo Anthony is sixth on the global-sales list, followed by Dwight Howard (his now-former Lakers jersey), Deron Williams, Blake Griffin and Rajon Rondo to round out the top 10. In U.S. sales, James is followed by Rose, Bryant, Durant, Anthony, Wade, Howard, Williams, Griffin and Rondo.

Despite missing all of last season with a knee injury, Rose had the top-selling jersey in China, Latin America and Europe. James had the top seller in the Philippines.

To James, finishing atop these rankings further signified how things have changed since he made his decision to sign with Miami in 2010 after spending the first seven seasons of his career in Cleveland.

"I've come a long way," James said. "I've come a long way. I've grown as a basketball player and as a person off the floor in every aspect since 2010. I'm definitely humbled by it, appreciative. You always hear me say that I'm just a kid from Akron, and to be able to have this stature and that accomplishment, I think that's pretty cool."


He's No. 1: LeBron James tops the list of NBA global jersey sales; Derrick Rose second on list - ESPN

Ontario’s Liberal government came under fire Thursday for quietly giving $500,000 to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to help secure the 2016 NBA All-Star Game for Toronto.

“It’s amazing that they’d find $500,000 to give to the second wealthiest sports organization in the world,” said Progressive Conservative Doug Holyday.

“I don’t think NBA basketball needs that help, and I’m certain if the Liberals were proud of doing it they would have made an announcement about it, and they haven’t.”

Tourism and Sport Minister Michael Chan never mentioned the half-million-dollar grant Monday, even though he was on hand when MLSE, which owns the Toronto Raptors, announced the city would host the NBA all-star celebrations in 2016. The provincial government also failed to issue a news release to announce the $500,000 grant to MLSE from its “Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster” program.

“I’m as excited as anybody else to have the NBA All-Star Game coming to Toronto,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. “But Ontario is in some really tough times, and do we really need to be giving $500,000 to a multi-billion-dollar entertainment company that really doesn’t need that kind of help?”

Premier Kathleen Wynne defended the grant to MLSE, which also owns the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto FC soccer team, the Air Canada Centre, as well as Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and GolTV, which broadcasts MLS soccer.

“This is part of what we do as a government to enhance tourism and bring people to the province,” Wynne said at an unrelated event in Ajax, Ont. “There are other large events that we support, hockey events, soccer events, that bring tourism to the province, and the [NBA] All-Star Game is part of that.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment was recently valued at $2.25 billion, and doesn’t need corporate welfare.

Ontario is in some really tough times, and do we really need to be giving $500,000 to a multi-billion-dollar entertainment company that really doesn’t need that kind of help?

“The government can’t resist handing out money left, right and centre and I guess Maple Leaf Sports couldn’t resist taking the grant,” said CTF Ontario director Candice Malcolm. “It is a shame because Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment had been a model of not seeking or going after taxpayers’ subsidies.”

MLSE said Thursday that it asked for the money because it felt the NBA event qualified for funding under the province’s program to boost tourism.

“Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment submitted an application through the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster event program, which is designed to stimulate tourism and the kind of local economic impact that the NBA All-Star Game will bring to Toronto and Ontario,” MLSE spokesman Dave Haggith said in an interview.

MLSE had also announced Monday that it had hired Toronto rap star Drake as a new “global ambassador,” and predicted the NBA all-star event would generate around $100 million for Toronto. “This is the first time ever the NBA All-Star Game will be held in Ontario, and it’s going to provide an outstanding amount of enthusiasm, tourism and full hotels,” said Finance Minister Charles Sousa. “Do you know that in Orlando last year it netted $95 million in benefit to local communities? That’s what we’re talking about.”

But the Taxpayers Federation said there was no need to give money to MLSE to attract the NBA’s signature event.

“What on earth are we subsidizing,” asked Malcolm. “Ontario taxpayers are simply padding their bottom line.”



MLSE gets $500,000 from Ontario government to host 2016 NBA All-Star Game | National Post

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd has been suspended for two games by the NBA league office for pleading guilty to driving while impaired.

Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck reported the news and noted that the suspension was not surprising.

Kidd was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after smashing his vehicle into a telephone pole in Water Mill, New York, back in July of 2012.

The former point guard played the entirety of the 2012-13 season with the New York Knicks without incident, but went to trial and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge this past July.

On top of this league-mandated suspension, Kidd was placed on interim probation and had to speak to high school students in Long Island about the perils of drunken driving.

Despite the charges, the Brooklyn Nets brass had no qualms about making the future Hall of Famer their newest head coach immediately after his playing career ended.

In fact, Nets general manager Billy King said in a statement that they were expecting this suspension to come down, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today: "The decision is consistent with what the league has done in the past and we look forward to Jason leading our team versus Orlando and the rest of the year."

King had also commented after Kidd entered his guilty plea, saying, "Jason has taken responsibility for his actions, and fully realizes that he needs to grow from this experience. We are confident he will make these strides on a personal level and have a positive effect on others as well."

Kidd announced his retirement in June, and became a surprise hire to fill Brooklyn's head coaching vacancy just over a month later.

The Nets are scheduled to open the 2013-14 regular season on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 30. Kidd will miss that game and a Nov. 1 home-court matchup against the defending champion Miami Heat. If the suspension holds up, the head coach would make his return on Nov. 3 against the Orlando Magic.

After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in the offseason, Brooklyn is expected to compete for a top spot in the East this year. If Kidd can get his players to live up to expectations, the Nets could challenge the Heat for the right to represent the conference in the NBA Finals.

He’ll be getting a late start due to the suspension, but it shouldn’t hinder the team too much.



Jason Kidd Suspended 2 Games by NBA for DUI Arrest | Bleacher Report

Derrick Rose is back.

The 2011 NBA MVP, who sat out all of last season following an ACL injury in the 2011-12 playoffs, played 20 minutes and had a pretty slam, as part of an 82-76 preseason win by his Chicago Bulls over another Eastern Conference powerhouse, the Indiana Pacers, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Pacers were up 64-58 entering the fourth quarter, but their second unit went more than half the period without a field goal, conceding the lead to the Bulls.

Luis Scola broke the home team's drought with a jumper at the 5:52 mark, making it a 70-67 affair in favor of Chicago, but by then, the Bulls' reserves were rolling, tacking on a 10-4 run to go up 80-72 with three minutes left. Indiana then waved the white flag, sending in their third-string to close out the game.

Rose finished with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, along with two rebounds, three assists and two steals, though he turned the ball over four times. Taj Gibson led the team with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, plus three blocked shots, while Luol Deng put together 15 markers and eight boards.

Center Joakim Noah did not play due to a right groin strain.

The Bulls jumped out to a 23-19 first period lead, but a 10-0 blast by the Pacers spanning the initial two periods put them ahead 27-23, 8:16 before halftime. Rose however scored nine of his 13 markers in the second, giving his team the lead at the break, 44-41. Rose slammed one home after the intermission, off a Paul George turnover, to up his side's lead to 48-42, but the troika of George Hill, Paul George and Roy Hibbert gave the Bulls fits, as they stole the lead and went up by 10, 60-50, 4:52 remaining in the third.

Not to be outdone, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson scored their side's next eight points, to reduce their deficit to 64-58, with a quarter left to play, setting up Chicago's strong fourth quarter finish, where they doubled up on their foes 24-12.

Paul George and David West, who saw their contracts extended during the offseason, both scored 14 points to lead the Pacers. George added five boards and two assists, but got whistled for six fouls, while West had four boards, two assists and three steals.

Danny Granger, another player returning from a long injury layover, came off the Pacers' bench for six points on 2-of-10 shooting.

The Bulls out-rebounded the Pacers 56-38, 17-11 on the offensive glass. However, they turned the ball over 23 times, versus just 15 by the home team.



NBA: Rose's return inspires Bulls to fourth quarter comeback versus Pacers | Sports | GMA News Online

Michael Jordan has been in the news for recent comments made about which current NBA players he could outperform.

In all of these instances, Jordan pointed out who he could defeat in his prime. Now, according to a prediction from ESPN analyst Jalen Rose, Jordan could test his ability this season. Rose said Jordan will play one game this year, at age 50, for his Charlotte Bobcats, the team for which he is a majority owner.

There is absolutely no way this will happen, but there is precedence for Jordan making a move like this. Jordan did come out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards, and he averaged better than 20 points per game as he approached 40 years old.




Could Michael Jordan play in an NBA game at age 50? - NBA - Sporting News

The biggest basketball spectacle for this hoop-crazy nation has begun.

Two star-studded teams, along with an array of the sport’s living legends, arrived in Manila Monday as the National Basketball Association (NBA) stages a preseason game for the first time in Southeast Asia.

The Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers clash at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City, where an overflow crowd is expected, as over 16,000 tickets have already been sold.

NBA superstar center Dwight Howard flew in at 10 a.m. Monday via a chartered flight together with his Rockets teammates, led by Taiwanese-American sensation Jeremy Lin and James Harden.

Bannered by rising stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, the Pacers arrived at 6:55 a.m., also via a chartered flight.

The Pacers, the Eastern Conference finalists last season, came with one of basketball’s all-time greatest, Larry Bird, the Boston Celtics icon who’s now the president of the Pacer franchise.

Blockbuster show

Ron Harper, the five-time NBA champion who won titles with Michael Jordan in Chicago and Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, arrived last weekend as one of the NBA Global Games ambassadors.

“We’re just excited to come over to play the game and give Filipinos a great show,” Harden said.

Other greats drumming up the blockbuster event are hardcourt legends Robert Horry, Clyde Drexler and Jalen Rose. They also arrived on Monday with a big delegation of league personnel and officials, led by NBA vice president for basketball operations Ernest Maurice “Kiki” Vandeweghe.

The NBA has said many times over that the Philippines tops the list of countries outside the United States that follow the NBA on various platforms, including its website and social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Record sale of tickets

“It’s exciting to see the love that the Philippine people have for basketball,” Horry told a media conference at Sofitel Manila. Horry won seven NBA championships with three different teams.

“I’m really excited for the game,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a packed house and there’s going to be craziness. I’m just excited [about] how many people will come out for the game.”

Nicole Deato, marketing and sponsorship head of MOA Arena and SM Tickets, said a record P19 million worth of tickets were sold on the first day of release last June 16.

Tickets ranged from as low as P550 to as high as P32,300 for premium seats.

High-caliber match

“It’s a pleasure to have the NBA in Manila. When you put the two together, it spells a great time,” said Drexler, who starred for the Rockets and the Portland Trailblazers in the 1980s and ’90s.

The Global Games ambassadors said the Filipinos should brace for a high-caliber match.

“This is the first preseason game we’re having here and we have two good, young and exciting teams,” Harper said. “We expect a lot from them this year.”

“These are two great teams who can eventually be foes in the NBA Finals,” Drexler added. “That’s how good I think these teams are. They are on their way to become among the best NBA franchises.”

Global schedule

The game is part of the NBA’s comprehensive global schedule that will have eight teams play in eight cities in six countries this October. After Manila, the Rockets and Pacers will play in Taipei on Sunday.

In the Global Games series, there’ll be 12 teams playing outside the United States and Canada, the most ever, and the league will play regular season games in two countries beyond those for the first time.

There are stops in old standbys and first-time trips to cities in Brazil and Spain that will be hosting major international competitions in the next few years.

Worth the pricey tickets

The Philippines tops the list of countries following the NBA on Facebook and Twitter outside the United States, organizers said.

Additionally, the NBA conducts each year local events in the Philippines, including the Jr. NBA program, which has reached more than 60,000 students, parents and coaches over the past five years, and NBA 3X, the league’s global fan event.

NBA Asia country manager Carlo Singson said Filipino fans should expect a “real NBA experience” that’s worth the pricey tickets.

“The atmosphere in an NBA game is different from anything you’ve experienced before, if you haven’t been into one,” Singson said in an earlier interview. “It’s nonstop entertainment and action.”

Focus on Lin

Before Thursday’s historic showdown, the NBA players, legends and team officials will also grace various NBA Cares activities in schools and selected neighborhood basketball courts, and engage Filipino fans in mall events.

A throng of press photographers jostling against security officials for the NBA stars’ arrival bore testament to the intense interest the clash is generating in the Philippines, which this year hosted the FIBA Asia Championship, losing to Iran in the finals.

Much of the focus has been on Lin, the first American-born player of Asian descent in the league, whose breakthrough season in 2012 led to a global following dubbed “Linsanity.”

“Jeremy Lin welcome to the Philippines! Best Asian NBA player,” tweeted fan John Lester Delesmo.

Mark Anthony Marquez, a college student, said he was disappointed he missed out on cheap tickets in the bleachers, which had quickly sold out. “Maybe I will camp out at the arena,” he said.

Read more: NBA stars promise great show in Manila | Inquirer Sports
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A bust can only be measured relative to his draft spot and expectations. It wasn't Anthony Bennett's fault the Cleveland Cavaliers took him No. 1. They shocked everyone in the building, including Bennett, as well as the NBA fans and writers.

Bennett was a surprise pick for a reason. He's no sure thing, a label typically given to every top overall pick.

Outside of some questions regarding his game, Bennett has been forced to enter his first NBA offseason with restrictions. He underwent surgery prior to the combine, leaving him no choice but to sit out the summer league and any basketball-related activities.

Early reports out of Cavs camp have mentioned that Bennett looks out of shape. Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Sports Journal wrote he was "grabbing at his shorts and gasping after just a couple of trips down the floor."

It should also be noted that Bennett's weight is now up to 255 pounds, 15 pounds heavier than his playing weight at UNLV.

These are short-term concerns. Compound them with Cleveland's deep frontcourt, and chances are that Bennett has a quiet rookie season.

However, I'm just as concerned with Bennett's long-term outlook due to questions surrounding his game.

A bust? Probably not. But I wouldn't bet on Bennett reaching the bar set by previous No. 1 picks.



Defensive Limitations

While Bennett has big-time offensive upside, his defensive ceiling is limited. And that's actually sugarcoating it.

Bennett doesn't project as a strong defensive player at all. While he struggled at times in college, the defensive transition to the pros could be like walking into a tornado.

Measuring around 6'7'', he's going to be at a size disadvantage almost every trip down the floor. The Cavs plan on suiting up Bennett at the 4, a position that plays to his sweet spots on the floor offensively.

But defensively, Bennett could be a glowing target for opposing teams to attack.

For starters, he's not very fundamentally sound and lacks the aggression he demonstrates on offense.

Here's an example of Bennett's lack of defensive IQ, along with his adverse physical tools for defending power forwards. Knowing it has the size mismatch, North Carolina looks to post up Bennett in isolation. Without recognizing what type of help he has behind him, Bennett inexplicably tries to front the post. This makes life easy for the point guard, who's able to loft a simple entry pass over the top to his big man. After making the seamless catch, all Desmond Hubert has to do is turn and finish an uncontested layup. Defending the perimeter, which he'd do if he were assigned to opposing small forwards, Bennett lacks the lateral quickness to keep from getting burned off the bounce.

The extra weight he put on this summer won't help in this department, either.

Look where Bennett has to defend when covering a quicker, more elusive scorer away from the rim. With the fear of getting beaten to the rack, Bennett is forced to play two steps off his man, ultimately giving up the easy mid-range jumper. Bennett projects as a one-way player. And that's okay—but only if you're really, really good on that one side of the ball. In Bennett's case, that side is offense.



Offensive Questions

Bennett also comes with a few offensive question marks.

When the Cavs took him No. 1, they clearly chose to ignore the uncertainty surrounding his position. Bennett has the size of a 3 with the game of a 4.

Against bigger forwards, Bennett could struggle getting those easy buckets or clean looks he got at UNLV. For the most part, size wasn't an issue for him in college. But simply rising up for a jumper or finishing in the lane won't come without a strong contest at the next level, considering the inches he'll be giving to opposing 4's. Bennett also isn't much of a back-to-the-basket post player. He relies heavily on open-floor buckets and beating slower forwards off the dribble.

The question to ask is, how is Bennett going to get his points when the game is slowed down? He's a missile in transition and electric when attacking the rim. But working in traffic or on the perimeter is not where he excels.

Many have pointed out that Bennett can stretch the floor as a shooter. However, there's a difference between a player who's capable of making threes versus a three-point shooter. And Bennett projects as the former.

He can hit the open spot-up three from 21 feet away, though I wouldn't quite say he has NBA three-point range. And if he's forced to use a dribble before a jumper, chances are it's not going to fall. I'd stack the odds against Bennett meeting first-overall expectations. There's uncertainty surrounding his offensive transition and ominous clouds hovering over his defensive prospects.

I wouldn't peg Bennett as the next big draft bust, but I wouldn't bet on him emerging as the top player from his class.

Relative to where he was selected, I'm predicting Bennett ends up disappointing more people than he pleases.



Pictures: Will Anthony Bennett Be the Next Big NBA Draft Bust? | Bleacher Report

Forget about the Draconids and the Orionids. If you're looking for some real shooting stars—and not just collections of ice and dust flittering across the cosmos—then you'd best keep your eye trained not on the night sky, but rather on the NBA.

The league's roll of superstars is as long as it's been in some time, thanks to a tremendous influx of talent over the last decade. That parade of premier players has set up the 2013-14 season to be among the most exciting in recent memory, with no shortage of competitive clubs to keep things interesting.

But even the best of the best in the Association can't escape questions and concerns. The league's elite all expect to compete for (and win) championships, though only a select few can realistically count themselves among legitimate title contenders in any given year.

What's the difference, then, between the best-case and worst-case scenarios for basketball's biggest names? Read on to find out!


Best-Case, Worst-Case Scenarios for Top 10 NBA Stars Entering 2013-14 | Bleacher Report

Doris Burke informally carries the title of Ms. Basketball at ESPN because of her many NBA and college basketball assignments. Now, the well-respected sports broadcaster has landed another basketball gig and it might be her most high profile yet: She's joining NBA Countdown as a studio analyst.

SI-com has learned that Burke will appear on the ESPN NBA pregame show on Wednesdays during the regular season. That makes Burke the first woman to serve as a regularly-appearing analyst for a national NBA studio show. (Her ESPN colleague Hannah Storm hosted NBC's NBA pregame show from 1997-2002.)

Burke will make her NBA Countdown debut on Nov. 13. Her new assignment, which she said will likely total 11 Wednesdays, is timed with her signing a multiyear contract extension with ESPN.

"When I am a sideline reporter, I ask good questions," Burke said. "I hope that doesn't sound egotistical, but I think I can ask good questions to elicit good responses. That's something I'm interested in on this show, asking Magic [Johnson], Jalen [Rose] and Avery [Johnson] smart questions to facilitate good discussions. If I feel strongly about something, I think I can also act appropriately by responding to things they say or presenting a different opinion if I have one."

(Burke made these comments prior to Magic Johnson announcing on Thursday afternoon that he was leaving ESPN.)

Burke said Mark Gross, a senior vice president and executive producer of production at ESPN, suggested the idea of working as studio analyst during a meeting at his office in Bristol, Conn., in August. When Burke is on NBA Countdown, she will navigate most of the ins and outs from commercial breaks. Gross described Burke's role as a hybrid between analyst and host.

"Mark referenced [ESPN's] Chris Fowler and Rece Davis," Burke said. "Those guys handle traffic, but they also have achieved a level of credibility in whatever sport they are covering, and have earned enough equity with fans and coaches to offer opinion on occasion. I wouldn't say I'm the most intrepid soul, but this will make me stretch a little bit. I've done the two jobs I do at ESPN for a long time and fairly consistently. I think this will be good for me."

Burke is expected to be part of a NBA Countdown panel that includes in some combination: Doug Collins (ESPN announced earlier this week that it had reached a multiyear agreement with former Sixers coach to serve as a stuido analyst), Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons. Former Nets coach Avery Johnson and P.J. Carlesimo also remain NBA Countdown possibilities.

Burke, 48, has risen up the ESPN talent ranks since joining the company full time in the mid-1990s. (In 2002, Sports Illustrated suggested that ESPN use Burke as an analyst for its NBA coverage.) She will continue to serve as an NBA game and studio analyst and sideline reporter, as well as an NCAA men's and women's basketball analyst. Burke said she had no interest in giving up any of her other responsibilities and will approach her role on NBA Countdown on a one-year basis. She will continue to serve as a sideline reporter for ABC and ESPN during the NBA postseason.

With NBA Countdown filming in Los Angeles, Burke now has at least 11 dates where she will not have to square off with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who famously tortures NBA sideline reporters with his irascible manner during mandated interview sessions between quarters.

"I might be able to talk some smack about the Spurs because I will be in studio and not have to look him eye to eye," Burke said, laughing. "I will be nervous for Countdown because I have never done it before, but I know for a fact I will not be as nervous as when I am going to interview Popovich between quarters."

Read More: Doris Burke joining ESPN's NBA Countdown show - NBA - Richard Deitsch - SI-com

Bell Canada today announced a new multi-year strategic partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) that further enhances Bell's position as the official communications partner for basketball in Canada.

With the NBA, Raptors and Canada Basketball, Bell is committed to basketball's growth and development at the amateur and professional levels. Bell is set to become presenting partner of NBA Canada Series and NBA All-Star Balloting.

"Bell is excited to partner with the National Basketball Association as part of our broad commitment to basketball in Canada, which includes our recently announced partnership with the Raptors, Canada's NBA team, and Bell's support for Canada Basketball and our country's national teams," said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility and Residential Services, and Chief Brand Officer at Bell. "Bell is taking the lead in driving the growth of one of the most popular and fastest-growing youth participation team sports in Canada."

As an Official Partner of the NBA, Bell will leverage its mobile network and services leadership to deliver more for Canadian basketball fans:

- Bell will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA Canada Series pre-season game platform beginning with the upcoming match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics on October 20 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

- Bell customers will be able to watch new weekly NBA content on their smartphones and tablets during both the regular season and in the Playoffs, including player special profiles, rookie features and unique courtside content.

- Bell Mobile TV will feature new nightly NBA highlights from approximately 1,300 NBA games starting at the beginning of the regular season and continuing through the NBA Finals.

- Bell will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA All-Star Balloting platform in Canada, which gives fans the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players to become starters for the NBA All-Star Game, and will include a contest for two fans to attend 2014 NBA All-Star in New Orleans.

"With their strong commitment to basketball, Bell is an ideal partner to help continue the momentum and grow the game in Canada," said Dan Mackenzie, Vice President and General Manager, NBA Canada. "Through this partnership, we will be able to bring fans more exciting events and programming throughout the season."



Bell Canada announces new partnership with NBA

On Oct. 29, 2013, the NBA regular season will commence with three games welcoming in the new campaign. All eyes will be on the returns of superstar players such as Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose, but we shouldn't lose sight of the first-year players who will usher in a new era of basketball.

The question is, which first-year players have the best shot at winning postseason awards?

Everyone is looking for the instant rise of a young player, but even the best in the NBA have gone through grace periods. Only one can win Rookie of the Year and, more times than not, some of the most promising athletes go through a full first season without hardware.

Here are the players who have the best shot at walking away with an award.

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 20

Clinching Factor: Scoring

He may not be my pick to win Rookie of the Year, but if any player should be considered the front-runner, it's Ben McLemore of the Sacramento Kings. McLemore is easily the most NBA-ready scorer in this draft class and will have no shortage of opportunities to prove just that.

To make things easier, McLemore will play alongside Greivis Vasquez—the player who ranked No. 3 in assists per game in 2012-13.

If nothing else, McLemore will be a high-quality scorer who makes noise as a jump-shooter while taking passes from Vasquez. With DeMarcus Cousins working down low, opposing defenses will inevitably collapse and enable the former Kansas Jayhawks star to receive even more open looks.

All in all, Sacramento is the perfect team to provide McLemore with an opportunity to shine from the opening tip.

There are other options for Rookie of the Year, but McLemore projects to have the greatest scoring season among first-year players. Say what you will about that statistic being misleading, but there's one fact you can't deny:

Seven of the past eight Rookie of the Year award winners led first-year players in scoring. McLemore projects to be 2013's rookie leader in points per game, and that makes him the front-runner.


Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 20

Clinching Factor: Scoring and Defense

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum suffered a broken foot and is out indefinitely, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. As a result, the odds of a rookie becoming a Sixth Man of the Year award candidate took a hit.

If any other player could do it, it's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of the Detroit Pistons.

According to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press, Pistons head coach Maurice Cheeks has stated that KCP is unlikely to start in 2013-14. Things could change as the season progresses, but all signs point toward veteran Rodney Stuckey getting the nod. That makes Caldwell-Pope a genuine threat for Sixth Man of the Year.

Caldwell-Pope will make his money as a defender in the NBA, using his length and athleticism to disrupt players at all three perimeter positions. What could make the reigning SEC Player of the Year a star is the fact that he's a well-rounded offensive threat.

Such was evident during the 2012-13 college basketball season, as KCP averaged 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.0 steals on 37.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The latter number is what makes him such a valuable weapon for Detroit.

The Pistons ranked 21st in three-point field goals made per game in 2012-13, and thus, Caldwell-Pope's status as a contender exists.


Position: Power Forward

Age: 21

Clinching Factor: Offensive Versatility

If I told you that the most explosive big man of the year was eligible in the 2013 draft, you'd likely consider him a future star. If I told you that said player was also the most fundamentally sound offensive player at his position, you'd call him a top-five lock. So why are people so reluctant to believe the Cody Zeller hype?

Zeller has made significant strides from a physical perspective, bulking up to 7'0" and 240 pounds. Criticized by many as a reach at No. 4 overall, Zeller will now receive the opportunity to prove that he's worth the hype as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats.

For those that forget, Chad Ford of ESPN Insider reported that Zeller recorded the type of vertical that few have ever been able to rival at his position.


He's taller than projected, continues to put on weight, moves as smoothly as any big man around, has an abundance of offensive skills and boasts an unparalleled vertical. Go ahead, give me a reason why Zeller will fail.

I'll wait.

Zeller should have no trouble getting involved in a Bobcats offense that will need a jump-shooting big man to space the floor for Al Jefferson. With Jefferson off the floor, Zeller will also see a rise in touches due to the fact that Charlotte is without another viable interior scorer.

Zeller will be one of the top five rookie scorers in 2013, and if he can improve his work on the glass, he could win Rookie of the Year. He's my pick to do so.


NBA Rookies 2013: 1st-Year Players with Best Shot at Postseason Awards | Bleacher Report

A year ago on Tuesday, Brett Yormark, chief executive of the Brooklyn Nets NBA basketball team, was watching his team play its first game in its new home after a move from New Jersey to New York.

Twelve months on, and the 10-mile move to Brooklyn now looks inspired, with an expensively assembled "super-team" of stars, playing in front of bigger audiences in a new arena.

"In every respect the move has been transformational," Mr Yormark tells the BBC News website.

"We have moved a few miles but we could have moved to the other side of the country, such is the difference. We got more buy-in from New York people than we expected.

"The resources we have at our disposal are now so different."

Those resources include a much bigger potential fan base (if measured as a separate entity from New York, Brooklyn would be the fourth biggest city in the US), and the attractions of playing at the new, multi-purpose indoor arena, the Barclays Center.

In its first year of operation, the venue has staged 200 events and had 2.1 million people through the doors, moving it into the top tier of global indoor arenas.

And the move has paid off commercially for the Nets.

The team has gone from 31st position in terms of NBA merchandise sales to fourth place, while in the ticket sales table they have gone from 27th to fifth.

Mr Yormark believes merchandising sales should be even better this year, since the summer additions of star players Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

"When I was in China, lots of kids were wearing Brooklyn shirts and caps," he says.

"And I have seen our merchandise in sporting goods stores in the UK too. It is exciting to see our brand taking off globally."

Meanwhile, on Facebook the team has gone from 90,000 "likes" to 1.2 million.
'Sports performance brand'

"What we thought would happen has truly come to fruition, and then some," says Mr Yormark.

"But there is still room for more. We should all be happy but not satisfied."

As a sign of that success, the club has felt confident enough to increase its premium ticket prices by 35%. It comes on the back of the creation of a superstar line-up during the summer, for the 2013-14 NBA season.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

I expect we will continue to see Jay-Z at games”

Brett Yormark Brooklyn Nets chief executive

The team features players who have made a combined 35 appearances in the annual NBA All-Star game, and as well as Pierce and Garnett, also features Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez.

The team's payroll of $102m (£64m) is reportedly the highest in the league.

"The brand is now evolving as a sports performance brand," explains Mr Yormark.

"We launched last year as a lifestyle brand - one which attracted people at different touch-points... be it because we were a Brooklyn brand, because of our traditional black and white lettering and logo, or because of our connection with Jay-Z.

"We are now looking to change those casual, lifestyle, fans into avid Nets sports fans, as we have gone about building the team on the court."
'Street credibility'

Rapper and hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z was the public face of the club's move to Brooklyn, having input into the team logo, and also owning a stake in the franchise. He has since sold his share in the Nets, and the Barclays Center, for $1.5m according to Forbes magazine. The sale was necessary under NBA rules, after he set up his own sports agency. "He doesn't need to be an owner to still be involved," says Mr Yormark. "He is a Brooklyn person, and a season-ticket holder. I expect we will continue to see him at games.

"He initially gave us street credibility. He helped raise that awareness and interest during the move to Brooklyn."

In the 2012-13 season, the team made the NBA play-offs, picking up in the second half of the season after a slow start.

"Last year was good, but we want to improve on that," says Mr Yormark.

"People are now asking if we can win the championship. Pressure comes with that, but it is the sort of pressure I like."

Pressure also comes in the globe-trotting nature of his role, having recently paid visits to Russia and the UK to sell the Nets and the NBA.
UK 'important market'

With the Nets' owner being Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, the club has sporting ambitions to become a prime NBA brand in that country.

"It is a priority market both for ourselves and the NBA, but it is still at a developmental stage," Mr Yormark says. "Having said that, I was recently in Russia meeting with 65 companies there who wanted to know how they could get involved with the NBA."

The UK, along with China, is one of the more advanced markets outside the US, and the Nets has commercial ties with Barclays and other British sponsors such as Cushman & Wakefield, and National Grid.

The NBA also has UK offices in west London.

"It is the gateway to Europe - it is arguably the business centre of Europe and people here want to learn more about basketball," says Mr Yormark.

And, with the Nets coming to London to play a regular season game at the O2 arena on 16 January, 2014, he says the UK capital is also "a manageable flight for our team - comparable to a west coast flight in the US".

"The UK is a very important market as we continue to globalise - we want to be very active here," he says, adding that the Nets are looking at the possibility of cross-promotion with the English Premier League.

In a crowded global sporting marketplace, Mr Yormark believes the NBA can compete with other sports such as American Football, baseball and football.

"As a sport, we have to differentiate ourselves through our content - we have, in my mind, the greatest athletes in the world - gifted and with star power," he says. "The sport is fast, engaging and exciting."


BBC News - Brooklyn Nets flying high in new NBA home

Now around midway through the NBA preseason, the 2013-14 rookies have just gotten their first taste of live pro action.

And that's enough for us.

With some rookies getting in up to four games already, it's time to start dishing out grades and picking apart early performances.

The rookies who've been left out are either on the shelf with an injury (Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter, C.J. McCollum) or haven't been given a fair shot to earn a grade yet (Sergey Karasev, Solomon Hill, Mason Plumlee).

The grades are based on each rookie's performance relative to their opportunity. And in certain cases, summer league factored in.


Pictures: NBA Rookie Report Cards, Preseason Edition | Bleacher Report

CHICAGO – If I’m Jerry Reinsdorf or John Paxson, one of the men running the Chicago Bulls and thus responsible for Derrick Rose‘s well-being, I’m picking up the phone sometime in the next two weeks for an advance ruling from the suits at NBA HQ in Olympic Tower.

The question: Is “DNP-precautionary move” an acceptable explanation in the box score for a player’s absence? Which really means, can the Bulls hold out Rose in his return season from knee surgery as they see fit this season, without either the threat of hefty fines from the league or the need to frighten their fan base by stipulating to “soreness” concerns?

If NBA commissioner David Stern is OK with that, then Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau needs to channel his inner Gregg Popovich and start circling in red dates on the schedule when he thinks A) Rose would benefit most from a night off, and 😎 his team likely could muddle through without the All-Star point guard. Naturally, A is way more important than B if Chicago wants to position itself for a serious postseason run, regardless of W-L record, home-court advantage or playoff seed.

Then again, if Stern were to decree that only injuries, exhaustion or off-court personal matters are legitimate reasons to not have a player on the floor for a regular season game – Popovich’s four-players-short charter flight to Miami last November put everyone on notice, after all – the Bulls still would have an out. They could play word games, citing “flu-like symptoms,” “tendinitis” or various, vague “strains” for the official record, fooling no one and triggering repeated wink-a-thons from November through April.

What they don’t want to do, though, is use that “soreness” explanation the way they did Saturday in holding Rose out of the preseason game against Washington in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Not now, not ever again if they can help it.

Given what the Bulls and their fans have gone through waiting for Rose to return from ACL surgery on his left knee – 75 weeks from his injury on April 28, 2012 to his first game action at Indiana nine days ago – anything even faintly resembling a setback or (gasp!) a shutdown would be borderline cruel. They need to at least feign being pro-active in spotting Rose time off when he needs it, rather than reacting to aches or pains after the fact and lapsing into another endless cycle of injuries in 2013-14.

Rose pronounced himself fine after Monday’s practice and said, had it been up to him, he would have faced the Wizards Saturday in one of the NBA’s high-profile global games. Thibodeau said Rose looked fine and that he expects both the point guard and center Joakim Noah (who has yet to play in the preseason) to face Detroit Wednesday at United Center.

Thibodeau cited multiple factors that played into the decision by the coaches, the team’s medical staff, VP Paxson and GM Gar Forman to have Rose sit. And they did term it a “precautionary move.”

“You’re concerned about anything that would keep a player out,” the coach told reporters Monday. “If he needs rest, he’s going to get rest. If he needs to play, he’ll play. He’s responded well to the challenges that he’s faced thus far. I didn’t like the idea of flying all night [Chicago to Brazil], not well-rested, some soreness – I didn’t want to take the chance of him being out there.”

Still, given the limited coverage and means of communication with the Bulls out of country, the mere mention of “knee” and “soreness” in the same area code, never mind sentence or paragraph, sent tremors through Chicago’s fan base and media. Some were nervous. Others were angry that what might be an expected two-steps-forward, one-back process didn’t start back in March or April, by which time Rose was pronounced healthy by doctors.

Paxson brushed that aside Saturday, and Rose wasn’t looking back much Monday either.

“Nervous, I can understand,” he said of the fans’ reaction. “But at the same time, I have to worry about myself and worry about my health. So as long as I’m healthy … and this is the preseason, to get all the wrinkles out. Regular season, I should be all right.”

Most people are realistic enough to not expect the 2010-11 MVP version of Rose to be on display this season, start to finish. What they’re hoping, though, is that no one is forced to rev up Rose Watch II, the endless daily monitoring and hand-wringing that wore out pretty much everyone last season.

Remember, even before he shredded his left ACL in the 2012 playoff opener, Rose had missed 27 of 66 games in the post-lockout season with assorted ailments. The Bulls were 32-7 when he played compared to 18-9 when he didn’t, and then they went 45-37 last season while not having Rose around at all.

What Chicago wants from them and from Rose will come, if it comes at all, next spring. If they get to that point by spotting him some nights off along the way – Thibodeau says there’s no plan to throttle back on back-to-back games, though that’s a logical place to look – everyone will be happier and this comeback season will go down more smoothly.

Finally getting Rose back in front of a United Center crowd Wednesday night against Detroit will be exciting for them all. Not using him up or pushing too hard in occasional similar games over the next six months simply would be wise. Sixty games, give or take, would seem a reasonable target.

But if Rose’s availability is reactive rather than pro-active (within the realistic bounds of sports injuries, anyway), one tedious season is going to stretch into two.



Schedule Rose’s Nights Off Now « Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith | NBA-com

Back in September, Allen Iverson was rumored to be ready to officially retire from his NBA career. Even though he hasn't played a game since the 2009-10, Iverson has occasionally talked about comeback attempts to revive a once proud and storied career. Those attempts never materialized and it left Iverson on the outside looking in as he entered his late 30s.

According to David Aldridge of NBA-com, it looks like the end of this month will be when Iverson finally hangs up his Reeboks and officially heads off into the retirement sunset. The Philadelphia 76ers are also supposedly looking into a post-playing position within the organization for Iverson, keeping him linked to the team he was a part of for nearly 11 full seasons.

The long, illustrious, controversial career of Allen Iverson appears finally to be coming to an end. The 11-time All-Star is expected to finally and formally announce his retirement in Philadelphia at the end of the month, according to league sources.

Rumors that Iverson was ready to retire were rampant in September, but the 38-year-old guard never made a formal announcement. But sources say that the official announcement is scheduled for Oct. 30, the day after the NBA's regular season begins, when the 76ers play their home opener against Miami.

In addition, sources indicate that the organization may be discussing some kind of post-playing position for Iverson. Though he wouldn't be expected to have input with the current coaching staff, Iverson could travel with the team on occasional road trips.

The accomplishments from Iverson's career are plentiful. He won the league's Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and the MVP award back in 2001. He made three All-NBA First teams in his career, three All-NBA Second teams, and an All-NBA Third team. Iverson was an 11-time All-Star and made the team every season from 2000 to 2010.

He currently ranks 19th in all-time scoring at 24,368 points and has the sixth biggest scoring average in NBA history at 26.7 points. Iverson's 14-year career gave us some of the most memorable moments both on and off the court.



Report: Allen Iverson to officially announce retirement from NBA - CBSSports-com

Hall of Fame center Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage.

Russell was arrested Wednesday night as he attempted to go through security. Airport spokesman Perry Cooper confirmed Friday night that Russell was cited for having a weapon in a prohibited area. Russell's gun was confiscated and he was released.

Russell's gun was a .38-caliber pistol and was loaded with six rounds, according to a TSA spokesman. He was turned over to Port of Seattle police and there were no disruptions at the airport.

The 79-year-old Russell has lived in the Seattle area for decades. He was an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and coached the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973-77.



NBA legend Bill Russell arrested for carrying gun at airport, officials say | Fox News

Only a few months removed from the NBA Finals, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich returned to the scene of his greatest disappointment on Saturday and said nothing in his career could really compare to how San Antonio let the Finals slip away in June.

“I think about it every day,” Popovich said.

The Heat defeated the Spurs 121-96 on Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami’s fifth exhibition game of the preseason schedule. The mood between the teams during the game was light, carefree and worlds away from the gripping drama that transformed South Florida in the 2013 Finals.

Both the Heat and the Spurs have spent this preseason trying to move past what many in the sport have called one of greatest Finals in NBA history. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged this week that a residual effect of the dramatic series has lingered. For Popovich and the Spurs, shaking off the memories of Games 6 and 7 has been difficult as well.

For instance, Popovich has been dreaming about LeBron James.

“Those sorts of events do a little bit of everything to a person,” Popovich said. “But, as I said, it still goes through my head every day. The other night I dreamt about LeBron. The next day it might be Ray Allen hitting the shot in the corner. It might be us missing a free throw; not getting a rebound. All those things go through your head. It’s what we do for a living, so it’s a natural kind of thing. It’s not the most important thing in my life, but it goes through my head.”

Customary to how the Spurs prepare for every season, Popovich said he and his assistant coaches delved into their team’s final games of the previous season in September with two marathon film sessions and then reviewed the games with players. The yearly exercise, Popovich said, is to help his team put everything in the past and look forward, but the legendary coach admitted it’s tough this time.

Saturday’s outcome isn’t going to help. After struggling with its offense in road games against the Wizards and Nets, the Heat returned to form in front of its home crowd and scored more than 100 points before the fourth quarter. James Jones’ sixth three-pointer gave the Heat a 102-82 lead at the third-quarter buzzer. Jones finished with 18 points, going 6 of 8 from three-point range.

Dwyane Wade, playing in his third game of the preseason, had 25 points and seven assists. He was 10 of 14 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Udonis Haslem returned to the starting lineup after becoming sick on Tuesday. He lost several pounds, did not play on Thursday in Brooklyn and said he only started eating on Saturday. Haslem finished with seven points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes.

This and that

Allen sat out of his third game in a row. He last played on Oct. 11 against the Bobcats in Kansas City. … James did not play and said before the game that he plans to play Wednesday in New Orleans. … Most likely, James and Wade will watch from the bench in the Heat’s final preseason game Friday. … Instead of sitting on the bench, James sat in the front row of the baseline with fans during the game. … Rashard Lewis missed his third game in a row due to personal reasons.

• On Friday, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested the NBA is better when everyone hates the Heat. He also compared the Heat to the Oakland Raiders, implying the Heat is the villain of the league. Cuban’s Mavericks defeated the Heat in the 2011 Finals but has struggled since then.

“With the two titles, they’re still like the bad guys,” Cuban said. “There’s a confidence bordering on arrogance that is good for them as a team and good for us as a league because it also makes them the team that everybody wants to knock off. They’re kind of in some respects the Oakland Raiders, and I know that’s going to get picked up everywhere. They’re kind of like the Oakland Raiders when they were winning. I don’t want to compare Micky to Al Davis — that’s not fair — but you either love them or hate them. That’s always good for the NBA when you have a team that everybody looks forward to beating. Like when we beat them, I would go to places I’ve never been and people would give me a standing ovation. That’s good for the NBA.”

Read more here: NBA Finals hangover lingers for Spurs in preseason loss to Heat - Miami Heat - MiamiHerald-com