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Assembling multiple NBA All-Stars on a roster is tantalizing.
Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez — with their 35 All-Star appearances combined — and a bench with Andrei Kirilenko (another former All-Star), Andray Blatche and Jason Terry on one team equals title contender.
You want to jump into the playoffs and see the Brooklyn Nets against the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers in a seven-game series. If only it were that easy. The Nets are 2-4. They have lost the past two games and haven't won on the road in three tries.
Garnett might have put it best recently: "It's not as simple as hitting a button," he said. Patience is the operative word right now.
"We can't get frustrated," Pierce said. "We've got to stay together and we'll figure this thing out. ... We have to be patient. We're a veteran team that's going to show a lot of patience. We're going to stay positive until this turns around."
The Nets — and not that they didn't know this coming in — are learning what other star-laden teams have discovered: Playing as a cohesive team is not easy. At the least it doesn't happen overnight.
Look no further than the Miami Heat in 2010-11. They had just assembled a roster that featured Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. They started 9-8, and experts said it wouldn't work.
But they won their next 12 games and 21 of the next 22. Then they went 30-9 in early January. It began a run of three consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two championships.
Brooklyn isn't the only place where this is an issue this season. The Houston Rockets have paired stars James Harden and Dwight Howard, and they are 4-3 and struggling defensively. Rockets forward Chandler Parsons and guard Jeremy Lin were bothered by the team's communication after Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
"We have to talk better," Parsons said. "We can't keep having these mental lapses. We were doing it all game. In this game, it was obviously exposed more on the last play, but it was happening all night long." That same frustration has not yet enveloped the Nets. At least, they're not saying it publicly if it has. While the roster looks good on paper, they have accepted that growing pains are inevitable, even with a talented, veteran team. Players have used the word "process" over and over.
If one player isn't on the same page, the offense or defense falls apart. Where does Pierce like the ball? Where does Garnett like to set screens? When does Terry drift into the corner for a three? When does Garnett help defensively on Lopez's man?
"Obviously you have to have some type of patience with that process," Garnett said. "But all in all, losing is losing and it sucks."
The disjointed start goes beyond chemistry, too. Jason Kidd is a first-time coach and learning on the go. He also has a roster that can go 12 deep, adding Alan Anderson, Shaun Livingston, Reggie Evans and Mason Plumlee to the mix. Kidd has not settled on a rotation.
"Once we get down to a lineup where we feel that closes games out, the chemistry will come," Pierce said. "It's a long season. We don't want to pile up the losses right now, but I definitely know we'll figure out something." Williams, the man who has to run the show, missed most of the preseason rehabbing an injured right ankle. He hasn't had extensive time to work with his new teammates. After Friday's loss to the Washington Wizards, Williams said, "I've been playing for two weeks. (My game) will get there."
Incidentally, Garnett and Pierce, along with Ray Allen, formed a new trio with the Boston Celtics in 2007-08. Boston started hot (20-2) and finished hot (beating the Los Angeles Lakers for the title). That team might be the exception.
It has helped that no team other the 7-0 Pacers are off to a strong start in the Eastern Conference. Entering Monday's games, just 1½ games separated second place and 15th.
"It is different for all teams," Pierce said. "I've been on teams where it's happened fast. Sometimes, it takes a while. You just never know. But when it happens, it's all good."
Brooklyn Nets show problem with NBA super-teams
Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez — with their 35 All-Star appearances combined — and a bench with Andrei Kirilenko (another former All-Star), Andray Blatche and Jason Terry on one team equals title contender.
You want to jump into the playoffs and see the Brooklyn Nets against the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers in a seven-game series. If only it were that easy. The Nets are 2-4. They have lost the past two games and haven't won on the road in three tries.
Garnett might have put it best recently: "It's not as simple as hitting a button," he said. Patience is the operative word right now.
"We can't get frustrated," Pierce said. "We've got to stay together and we'll figure this thing out. ... We have to be patient. We're a veteran team that's going to show a lot of patience. We're going to stay positive until this turns around."
The Nets — and not that they didn't know this coming in — are learning what other star-laden teams have discovered: Playing as a cohesive team is not easy. At the least it doesn't happen overnight.
Look no further than the Miami Heat in 2010-11. They had just assembled a roster that featured Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. They started 9-8, and experts said it wouldn't work.
But they won their next 12 games and 21 of the next 22. Then they went 30-9 in early January. It began a run of three consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two championships.
Brooklyn isn't the only place where this is an issue this season. The Houston Rockets have paired stars James Harden and Dwight Howard, and they are 4-3 and struggling defensively. Rockets forward Chandler Parsons and guard Jeremy Lin were bothered by the team's communication after Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
"We have to talk better," Parsons said. "We can't keep having these mental lapses. We were doing it all game. In this game, it was obviously exposed more on the last play, but it was happening all night long." That same frustration has not yet enveloped the Nets. At least, they're not saying it publicly if it has. While the roster looks good on paper, they have accepted that growing pains are inevitable, even with a talented, veteran team. Players have used the word "process" over and over.
If one player isn't on the same page, the offense or defense falls apart. Where does Pierce like the ball? Where does Garnett like to set screens? When does Terry drift into the corner for a three? When does Garnett help defensively on Lopez's man?
"Obviously you have to have some type of patience with that process," Garnett said. "But all in all, losing is losing and it sucks."
The disjointed start goes beyond chemistry, too. Jason Kidd is a first-time coach and learning on the go. He also has a roster that can go 12 deep, adding Alan Anderson, Shaun Livingston, Reggie Evans and Mason Plumlee to the mix. Kidd has not settled on a rotation.
"Once we get down to a lineup where we feel that closes games out, the chemistry will come," Pierce said. "It's a long season. We don't want to pile up the losses right now, but I definitely know we'll figure out something." Williams, the man who has to run the show, missed most of the preseason rehabbing an injured right ankle. He hasn't had extensive time to work with his new teammates. After Friday's loss to the Washington Wizards, Williams said, "I've been playing for two weeks. (My game) will get there."
Incidentally, Garnett and Pierce, along with Ray Allen, formed a new trio with the Boston Celtics in 2007-08. Boston started hot (20-2) and finished hot (beating the Los Angeles Lakers for the title). That team might be the exception.
It has helped that no team other the 7-0 Pacers are off to a strong start in the Eastern Conference. Entering Monday's games, just 1½ games separated second place and 15th.
"It is different for all teams," Pierce said. "I've been on teams where it's happened fast. Sometimes, it takes a while. You just never know. But when it happens, it's all good."
Brooklyn Nets show problem with NBA super-teams
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The 2014 NBA Draft is slated to be one of the best in recent memory. Whether the best player ends up as good as Kevin Durant, or Chris Paul, or Derrick Rose, or dare we speak the name of a King, it won't change the value of this draft either way. It's not about the No. 1 pick. It's about the entire class. It's talented, it's deep, it's exciting.
Meanwhile, the NBA season has just begun. There's no way to tell who's going to be where in terms of the draft order.
But here's the thing. Drafts are not pure big boards. Those are great for debating who's better than who, but the draft is influenced by patterns, by decision makers, by rosters (to a degree), and by shifting dynamics. They don't exist in a vacuum. I'd prefer a flawed environment to trying to look at how this class shapes up in a vacuum. Because what we'll end up with is a flawed environment, just not one as flawed as this one.
So we took the SRS metric from Basketball-Reference-com on end of games Sunday night, November 10th, and established a draft order. SRS factors point differential and strength of schedule. It doesn't give us a true projection, nothing will after just a handful of games in. But it gives us a model. And from there, we're able to simulate the possibility of a draft. This is less about who will be where and take what as it is about why Team X would take Player B or why Player M drops Y spots. The draft pick debt was established via the invaluable HoopsWorld page.
This isn't a perfect mock draft. It's not a perfect draft process. That's what makes it fun. Now let's crank up the Wiggins and get to Randling.
Read More: 2014 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Wild projections and ridiculous upside - CBSSports-com
Meanwhile, the NBA season has just begun. There's no way to tell who's going to be where in terms of the draft order.
But here's the thing. Drafts are not pure big boards. Those are great for debating who's better than who, but the draft is influenced by patterns, by decision makers, by rosters (to a degree), and by shifting dynamics. They don't exist in a vacuum. I'd prefer a flawed environment to trying to look at how this class shapes up in a vacuum. Because what we'll end up with is a flawed environment, just not one as flawed as this one.
So we took the SRS metric from Basketball-Reference-com on end of games Sunday night, November 10th, and established a draft order. SRS factors point differential and strength of schedule. It doesn't give us a true projection, nothing will after just a handful of games in. But it gives us a model. And from there, we're able to simulate the possibility of a draft. This is less about who will be where and take what as it is about why Team X would take Player B or why Player M drops Y spots. The draft pick debt was established via the invaluable HoopsWorld page.
This isn't a perfect mock draft. It's not a perfect draft process. That's what makes it fun. Now let's crank up the Wiggins and get to Randling.
Read More: 2014 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Wild projections and ridiculous upside - CBSSports-com
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2006/12/07
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Ohhh, Steve Nash, don’t feel too bad, many of the history’s greatest sportspeople played one season too many.
Everyone else can see it, hopefully Nash does as well soon and calls it quits before further tarnishing what will be a Hall of Fame legacy.
But for Los Angeles Lakers fans, the fact that Nash is playing woefully this season is not the end of it.
He is signed for next season as well. For $10 million. Guaranteed money. It’s in his contract.
Remarkably, Nash is one of only two Lakers on the roster signed beyond this season. The other is back-up centre Robert Sacre, coincidentally another Canadian.
He’s been playing with a chronic back injury, he’s turning 40 in February and his statistics are below his career benchmarks across the board. In direct contrast to the rest of his career, he's on-court performance is worse than his hairstyle. Maybe he needs to bring back the mop top.
Although Nash kept his starting position before being forced out for a couple of weeks to rest his aching back, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni has only been giving him 22 minutes per game.
His numbers make for cringe-worthy reading for anyone who remembers Nash in his prime at Phoenix or Dallas. He’s tracking a field goal percentage of 26 per cent on 12/46 shooting. Only five three-pointers at 38.5 per cent in his six matches before being placed on the inactive list for Tuesday’s win over New Orleans. He’s only had one worse season three-point shooting wise – in 1998-99 when he hit 37.4 per cent.
Nash has made only two steals for the season but the most damning statistic is his assists per game average of 4.8. He’s only had two worse seasons for assists averages – in his first two years in the league at Phoenix in 1996-97 and 97-98. In seven of his 17 previous seasons, he has averaged more than 10 assists. Without setting up his opponents with his trademark passing game, what value does Nash have?
It wasn’t supposed to end like this. When Nash signed with the Lakers before the start of the 2012-13 season, it was an opportunity to finally win a championship.
He was joining a team that had proven championship winners in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, star centre Dwight Howard was also getting on board.
It was an obvious case of a veteran player chasing a ring with a late-career switch. And who could blame him? The Suns certainly were not going to be having a run at the title for several years and Nash had little time to waste.
Making such a switch doesn’t always work out. Does anyone remember Karl Malone wearing a Lakers uniform at the end of his career trying to lift an NBA trophy after nearly two fruitless decades at Utah. The Jazz fans are still trying to forget it.
Jason Kidd, who had snared a ring at Dallas, tried to get one more in the Big Apple last season at 40 and he was playing so poorly at the end of the season he missed his last 18 shots over a 209-minute stretch in his final 10 games as a professional. Grant Hill also took a punt with the LA Clippers which didn’t go to plan. Both wisely decided to hang up their boots at season’s end.
But it’s all gone pear-shaped for Nash and the Lakers. Last year’s season was a disaster, Nash struggled, Howard got the sulks, Bryant got injured, Metta World Peace got amnestied and the roster got weaker and weaker.
With only Nash and Sacre on the payroll next season, the Lakers have a lot of dollars to splurge on talent.
There has been plenty of speculation linking every potential free agent under the NBA sun to the Lakers ... LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook.
First of all the Lakers must sort out the Kobe conundrum.
They will lose a lot of long-time fans if they don’t re-sign their ageing star but he won’t come cheap irrespective of how well he plays when he makes his comeback from his Achilles tendon injury.
If Nash decides to play on, Bryant is his only hope of finishing his career on a high. A fit Bryant, plus a blue-chip signing or two and the Lakers could be back in contention next season.
Even then, Nash might be sitting on the end of the bench barely seeing any minutes and chalking up the dreaded “DNP – Coach’s Decision” next to his name on the box scores.
Whichever way you look at it, the chances are growing slimmer of Nash making an exit from the game befitting a two-time MVP.
Read more: Double Dribble: Steve Nash heading for inglorious NBA exit at Los Angeles Lakers
Everyone else can see it, hopefully Nash does as well soon and calls it quits before further tarnishing what will be a Hall of Fame legacy.
But for Los Angeles Lakers fans, the fact that Nash is playing woefully this season is not the end of it.
He is signed for next season as well. For $10 million. Guaranteed money. It’s in his contract.
Remarkably, Nash is one of only two Lakers on the roster signed beyond this season. The other is back-up centre Robert Sacre, coincidentally another Canadian.
He’s been playing with a chronic back injury, he’s turning 40 in February and his statistics are below his career benchmarks across the board. In direct contrast to the rest of his career, he's on-court performance is worse than his hairstyle. Maybe he needs to bring back the mop top.
Although Nash kept his starting position before being forced out for a couple of weeks to rest his aching back, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni has only been giving him 22 minutes per game.
His numbers make for cringe-worthy reading for anyone who remembers Nash in his prime at Phoenix or Dallas. He’s tracking a field goal percentage of 26 per cent on 12/46 shooting. Only five three-pointers at 38.5 per cent in his six matches before being placed on the inactive list for Tuesday’s win over New Orleans. He’s only had one worse season three-point shooting wise – in 1998-99 when he hit 37.4 per cent.
Nash has made only two steals for the season but the most damning statistic is his assists per game average of 4.8. He’s only had two worse seasons for assists averages – in his first two years in the league at Phoenix in 1996-97 and 97-98. In seven of his 17 previous seasons, he has averaged more than 10 assists. Without setting up his opponents with his trademark passing game, what value does Nash have?
It wasn’t supposed to end like this. When Nash signed with the Lakers before the start of the 2012-13 season, it was an opportunity to finally win a championship.
He was joining a team that had proven championship winners in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, star centre Dwight Howard was also getting on board.
It was an obvious case of a veteran player chasing a ring with a late-career switch. And who could blame him? The Suns certainly were not going to be having a run at the title for several years and Nash had little time to waste.
Making such a switch doesn’t always work out. Does anyone remember Karl Malone wearing a Lakers uniform at the end of his career trying to lift an NBA trophy after nearly two fruitless decades at Utah. The Jazz fans are still trying to forget it.
Jason Kidd, who had snared a ring at Dallas, tried to get one more in the Big Apple last season at 40 and he was playing so poorly at the end of the season he missed his last 18 shots over a 209-minute stretch in his final 10 games as a professional. Grant Hill also took a punt with the LA Clippers which didn’t go to plan. Both wisely decided to hang up their boots at season’s end.
But it’s all gone pear-shaped for Nash and the Lakers. Last year’s season was a disaster, Nash struggled, Howard got the sulks, Bryant got injured, Metta World Peace got amnestied and the roster got weaker and weaker.
With only Nash and Sacre on the payroll next season, the Lakers have a lot of dollars to splurge on talent.
There has been plenty of speculation linking every potential free agent under the NBA sun to the Lakers ... LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook.
First of all the Lakers must sort out the Kobe conundrum.
They will lose a lot of long-time fans if they don’t re-sign their ageing star but he won’t come cheap irrespective of how well he plays when he makes his comeback from his Achilles tendon injury.
If Nash decides to play on, Bryant is his only hope of finishing his career on a high. A fit Bryant, plus a blue-chip signing or two and the Lakers could be back in contention next season.
Even then, Nash might be sitting on the end of the bench barely seeing any minutes and chalking up the dreaded “DNP – Coach’s Decision” next to his name on the box scores.
Whichever way you look at it, the chances are growing slimmer of Nash making an exit from the game befitting a two-time MVP.
Read more: Double Dribble: Steve Nash heading for inglorious NBA exit at Los Angeles Lakers
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2006/12/07
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The NBA is already in the holiday spirit.
The league debuted a festive commercial for its new short-sleeved, special-edition Christmas Day uniforms Thursday, with stars draining jumpers to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”
Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden and Steve Nash tickle the twine — which is adorned with bells — to make the music. LeBron James makes a cameo, delivering the exclamation point to the holiday classic.
Noticeably absent in the spot are any Knicks or Nets. Carmelo Anthony and Joe Johnson starred in a similar promo last year, where NBA stars dribbled basketballs in composing “Carol of the Bells.”
Read more: SEE IT: NBA stars play
The league debuted a festive commercial for its new short-sleeved, special-edition Christmas Day uniforms Thursday, with stars draining jumpers to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”
Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden and Steve Nash tickle the twine — which is adorned with bells — to make the music. LeBron James makes a cameo, delivering the exclamation point to the holiday classic.
Noticeably absent in the spot are any Knicks or Nets. Carmelo Anthony and Joe Johnson starred in a similar promo last year, where NBA stars dribbled basketballs in composing “Carol of the Bells.”
Read more: SEE IT: NBA stars play
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2006/12/07
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Lamar Odom, whose NBA career was derailed this summer amid allegations of drug use and personal turmoil, may be on his way back to the NBA.
Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the 14-year veteran met with Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers and other members of the team's management group at the team's practice facility on Friday. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the meeting.
The Clippers have an available roster spot and are believed to have serious interest in signing Odom, who played for them last season and had the worst season of his career (four points and 5.9 rebounds per game). His signing could happen in the coming days or perhaps even weeks, or – as one can imagine considering the context of his personal struggles – it may not come at all. The 33-year-old Odom, who was arrested on a DUI charge in August, has become a mainstay for all the wrong reasons in the tabloids. Once known as one of the most versatile, team-first players in the NBA, the two-time champion who was Sixth Man of the Year in 2011 was more known in recent years for his marriage to reality television star, Khloe Kardashian.
As stories go, his return to the NBA after such a challenging time would spark the rare sort of headline that he would welcome. Yahoo! Sports first reported the meeting.
Lamar Odom meets with Clippers for possible NBA return
Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the 14-year veteran met with Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers and other members of the team's management group at the team's practice facility on Friday. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the meeting.
The Clippers have an available roster spot and are believed to have serious interest in signing Odom, who played for them last season and had the worst season of his career (four points and 5.9 rebounds per game). His signing could happen in the coming days or perhaps even weeks, or – as one can imagine considering the context of his personal struggles – it may not come at all. The 33-year-old Odom, who was arrested on a DUI charge in August, has become a mainstay for all the wrong reasons in the tabloids. Once known as one of the most versatile, team-first players in the NBA, the two-time champion who was Sixth Man of the Year in 2011 was more known in recent years for his marriage to reality television star, Khloe Kardashian.
As stories go, his return to the NBA after such a challenging time would spark the rare sort of headline that he would welcome. Yahoo! Sports first reported the meeting.
Lamar Odom meets with Clippers for possible NBA return
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29893
By now you’re well aware of our longstanding love of lists in the dear, departed Weekend Dime.
It just wouldn’t be Friday around here if we couldn’t continue the tradition.
So ...
Here are the six teams on course to pay luxury tax at season’s end:
Brooklyn Nets ($87,199,294)
New York Knicks ($35,779,147)
Miami Heat ($20,700,358)
Los Angeles Lakers ($12,624,061)
Chicago Bulls ($11,945,749)
Los Angeles Clippers ($2,509,161)
That adds up to a total of $170,757,773 being paid into the league’s distribution pool for non-tax teams.
There are two teams, meanwhile, which currently sit just under the luxury-tax line:
Boston Celtics ($134,098)
Toronto Raptors ($635,187)
And there are still five teams with cap room left over from the summer that can be used this season:
Philadelphia 76ers ($10,913,155)
Phoenix Suns ($5,714,623)
Utah Jazz ($1,953,834)
Milwaukee Bucks ($1,855,332)
Atlanta Hawks ($1,413,034)
PS -- Orlando is currently $811,167 over the 2013-14 cap but can move to $5,188,833 under if the Magic ultimately waive Hedo Turkoglu as expected. Only $6 million of Turkoglu’s $12 million salary is guaranteed.
A look at luxury in the NBA this season - Marc Stein Blog - ESPN
It just wouldn’t be Friday around here if we couldn’t continue the tradition.
So ...
Here are the six teams on course to pay luxury tax at season’s end:
Brooklyn Nets ($87,199,294)
New York Knicks ($35,779,147)
Miami Heat ($20,700,358)
Los Angeles Lakers ($12,624,061)
Chicago Bulls ($11,945,749)
Los Angeles Clippers ($2,509,161)
That adds up to a total of $170,757,773 being paid into the league’s distribution pool for non-tax teams.
There are two teams, meanwhile, which currently sit just under the luxury-tax line:
Boston Celtics ($134,098)
Toronto Raptors ($635,187)
And there are still five teams with cap room left over from the summer that can be used this season:
Philadelphia 76ers ($10,913,155)
Phoenix Suns ($5,714,623)
Utah Jazz ($1,953,834)
Milwaukee Bucks ($1,855,332)
Atlanta Hawks ($1,413,034)
PS -- Orlando is currently $811,167 over the 2013-14 cap but can move to $5,188,833 under if the Magic ultimately waive Hedo Turkoglu as expected. Only $6 million of Turkoglu’s $12 million salary is guaranteed.
A look at luxury in the NBA this season - Marc Stein Blog - ESPN
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2006/12/07
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Widespread Panic arrived at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
OK, that's just the name of a band that was performing, not the feeling surrounding the basketball team that was busy losing again in another part of the arena.
The New York Knicks aren't panicking, at least not yet. But after dropping five straight games at home, they are frustrated and confused, and aware they need to get things turned around quickly.
"We keep digging ourselves deeper and deeper — I know it's early in the season, you've got to take it day by day — but at the rate this is going, we're going to be in too deep of a hole to dig out," All-Star Carmelo Anthony said. The Knicks lost 110-90 to the Atlanta Hawks, another alarming night in a season that's already produced plenty of concerns. The Knicks admitted they didn't play with defensive intensity or a fighting spirit, which is far worse than just playing poorly.
"It ain't got nothing to do with making shots or missing shots. We're just not doing it on the other end," Anthony said. "We're not defending, we're not giving no effort. We're not playing right now."
After a rare season of stability in 2012-13, the Knicks are a mess again. The Sixth Man of the Year who was promoted to the starting line-up might be shooting his way back to a reserve role. The $100 million former All-Star wants more minutes, even though he and the team look bad in the limited ones he is playing.
"I think everything that we're doing is correctable, but I think effort has got to come behind it a little bit more and we've got to be true to ourselves, because we're not playing well as a unit right now," coach Mike Woodson said. "We're just not."
The Knicks are 3-6 after winning 54 games last season and their first Atlantic Division title since 1994. They were blown out twice in a week on their home floor and things might be getting worse at home: The next team to visit is Indiana, which shares the NBA's best record and pushed the Knicks around while ousting them in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
New York loaded up on older players last season, and Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas broke down and Jason Kidd ran out of gas before the finish line. But first they helped provide the veteran leadership this team sorely lacks, especially while Tyson Chandler is sidelined with a broken leg.
Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) felt like a night straight out of the Isiah Thomas era, with bizarre story lines, bad basketball, and unrest coming from the stands. There were the continued trade rumors surrounding Iman Shumpert, louder and more frequent "Fire Woodson!" chants, and seemingly more attention paid to J.R. Smith's poor Twitter judgment than his poor shot selection.
He shot 3-for-18 and fell to 8-for-43 for the season at MSG, the worst start by a player on his home floor since DeShawn Stevenson started 6-for-43 for the Nets in 2011-12, according to STATS.
Woodson said he would re-evaluate Smith's position in the starting line-up, and he's still seeking the best use of Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire is being limited to about 10 minutes a game after three knee surgeries in the last year, robbing him of any chance to get in a rhythm. He had a few nice moments on offense Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), but defensively his presence on the floor remains an invitation for the opponent to run pick-and-rolls that exploit his lack of mobility.
Add it up and it's created what Anthony called a "nasty feeling" within the team.
"We've just got to stick together and stick with it as much as we can. This is probably going to be the lowest point of the season for us," Smith said.
Their division is so bad right now that the Knicks are only a game out of first place. That's about the only consolation for Woodson, a defensive-minded coach with a team that doesn't have a defensive mindset.
"Defensively, somehow we've got to figure out who we are and right now I don't know who we are," Woodson said. "That's on me, again, because I've got to get us back to competing defensively somehow. That's the only shot I think we're going to have in terms of getting back in the winner's circle consistently."
NBA: Knicks frustrated, confused with lack of effort | Sports | GMA News Online
OK, that's just the name of a band that was performing, not the feeling surrounding the basketball team that was busy losing again in another part of the arena.
The New York Knicks aren't panicking, at least not yet. But after dropping five straight games at home, they are frustrated and confused, and aware they need to get things turned around quickly.
"We keep digging ourselves deeper and deeper — I know it's early in the season, you've got to take it day by day — but at the rate this is going, we're going to be in too deep of a hole to dig out," All-Star Carmelo Anthony said. The Knicks lost 110-90 to the Atlanta Hawks, another alarming night in a season that's already produced plenty of concerns. The Knicks admitted they didn't play with defensive intensity or a fighting spirit, which is far worse than just playing poorly.
"It ain't got nothing to do with making shots or missing shots. We're just not doing it on the other end," Anthony said. "We're not defending, we're not giving no effort. We're not playing right now."
After a rare season of stability in 2012-13, the Knicks are a mess again. The Sixth Man of the Year who was promoted to the starting line-up might be shooting his way back to a reserve role. The $100 million former All-Star wants more minutes, even though he and the team look bad in the limited ones he is playing.
"I think everything that we're doing is correctable, but I think effort has got to come behind it a little bit more and we've got to be true to ourselves, because we're not playing well as a unit right now," coach Mike Woodson said. "We're just not."
The Knicks are 3-6 after winning 54 games last season and their first Atlantic Division title since 1994. They were blown out twice in a week on their home floor and things might be getting worse at home: The next team to visit is Indiana, which shares the NBA's best record and pushed the Knicks around while ousting them in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
New York loaded up on older players last season, and Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas broke down and Jason Kidd ran out of gas before the finish line. But first they helped provide the veteran leadership this team sorely lacks, especially while Tyson Chandler is sidelined with a broken leg.
Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) felt like a night straight out of the Isiah Thomas era, with bizarre story lines, bad basketball, and unrest coming from the stands. There were the continued trade rumors surrounding Iman Shumpert, louder and more frequent "Fire Woodson!" chants, and seemingly more attention paid to J.R. Smith's poor Twitter judgment than his poor shot selection.
He shot 3-for-18 and fell to 8-for-43 for the season at MSG, the worst start by a player on his home floor since DeShawn Stevenson started 6-for-43 for the Nets in 2011-12, according to STATS.
Woodson said he would re-evaluate Smith's position in the starting line-up, and he's still seeking the best use of Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire is being limited to about 10 minutes a game after three knee surgeries in the last year, robbing him of any chance to get in a rhythm. He had a few nice moments on offense Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), but defensively his presence on the floor remains an invitation for the opponent to run pick-and-rolls that exploit his lack of mobility.
Add it up and it's created what Anthony called a "nasty feeling" within the team.
"We've just got to stick together and stick with it as much as we can. This is probably going to be the lowest point of the season for us," Smith said.
Their division is so bad right now that the Knicks are only a game out of first place. That's about the only consolation for Woodson, a defensive-minded coach with a team that doesn't have a defensive mindset.
"Defensively, somehow we've got to figure out who we are and right now I don't know who we are," Woodson said. "That's on me, again, because I've got to get us back to competing defensively somehow. That's the only shot I think we're going to have in terms of getting back in the winner's circle consistently."
NBA: Knicks frustrated, confused with lack of effort | Sports | GMA News Online
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The NBA's two biggest payrolls are funding the most disappointing teams early this season.
The Nets ($102 million in salary) and Knicks ($88 million) would be on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today. Adding insult to injury, the league's two most frugal teams, the 76ers ($48 million) and Suns ($53 million), have both won more games despite paying roughly half as much.
The sluggish starts from the two New York teams are testing their stars' patience. Carmelo Anthony eviscerated the Knicks' effort after Saturday's loss to Atlanta, and Paul Pierce said the Nets weren't showing a sense of pride. With the losses mounting and the spotlight shining brighter, something has to give for the Knicks and Nets. Because if there's one thing we know, it's that New York owner James Dolan and Brooklyn owner Mikhail Prokhorov aren't exactly the understanding types. Knicks coach Mike Woodson is reportedly already on the hot seat, and the Jason Kidd Experiment is off to a disastrous start in Brooklyn.
The Knicks and Nets have plenty of time to turn things around, but right now it's hard to imagine either squad challenging Indiana, Miami or Chicago in the playoffs. Both sit in the bottom third of this week's Power Rankings, riddled with glaring holes and injured or limited stars.
With Indiana losing its first game, the ever-reliable Spurs take over No. 1 for the first time this season. The Nuggets make this week's biggest climb, jumping 13 spots to No. 15, while the Nets drop seven spots, to No. 23, in taking this week's biggest tumble.
Read More: Spurs claim No. 1, Nets tumble down NBA Power Rankings - NBA - Matt Dollinger - SI-com
The Nets ($102 million in salary) and Knicks ($88 million) would be on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today. Adding insult to injury, the league's two most frugal teams, the 76ers ($48 million) and Suns ($53 million), have both won more games despite paying roughly half as much.
The sluggish starts from the two New York teams are testing their stars' patience. Carmelo Anthony eviscerated the Knicks' effort after Saturday's loss to Atlanta, and Paul Pierce said the Nets weren't showing a sense of pride. With the losses mounting and the spotlight shining brighter, something has to give for the Knicks and Nets. Because if there's one thing we know, it's that New York owner James Dolan and Brooklyn owner Mikhail Prokhorov aren't exactly the understanding types. Knicks coach Mike Woodson is reportedly already on the hot seat, and the Jason Kidd Experiment is off to a disastrous start in Brooklyn.
The Knicks and Nets have plenty of time to turn things around, but right now it's hard to imagine either squad challenging Indiana, Miami or Chicago in the playoffs. Both sit in the bottom third of this week's Power Rankings, riddled with glaring holes and injured or limited stars.
With Indiana losing its first game, the ever-reliable Spurs take over No. 1 for the first time this season. The Nuggets make this week's biggest climb, jumping 13 spots to No. 15, while the Nets drop seven spots, to No. 23, in taking this week's biggest tumble.
Read More: Spurs claim No. 1, Nets tumble down NBA Power Rankings - NBA - Matt Dollinger - SI-com
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The NBA has suspended Grizzlies guard Tony Allen one game without pay for kicking Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul in the face.
Rod Thorn, the NBA's president of basketball operations, announced the penalty Tuesday.
Allen was given a flagrant 2 foul and ejected after his left leg caught Paul's face with 1:51 left in the first quarter of Memphis' 106-102 win over the Clippers on Monday night in Los Angeles.
He will sit out the Grizzlies' next game Wednesday night when Memphis visits Golden State.
NBA suspends Memphis Grizzlies Tony Allen one game for kicking Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul in face - NBA News | FOX Sports on MSN
Rod Thorn, the NBA's president of basketball operations, announced the penalty Tuesday.
Allen was given a flagrant 2 foul and ejected after his left leg caught Paul's face with 1:51 left in the first quarter of Memphis' 106-102 win over the Clippers on Monday night in Los Angeles.
He will sit out the Grizzlies' next game Wednesday night when Memphis visits Golden State.
NBA suspends Memphis Grizzlies Tony Allen one game for kicking Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul in face - NBA News | FOX Sports on MSN
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Every week, a selection of USA TODAY Sports NBA experts from various sites are asked a few questions about the NBA season. This week's topic is the battle — if you can call it that — for New York, where the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks are in disarray with 3-7 records.
Which team has been worse thus far in the season?
Ian Levy, Hickory High: The Knicks. Both teams have similar records and point differentials, but the Nets look like they are sliding off the end of an aging curve, while the Knicks seem to be on the verge of coming apart at the seams. New York always reflect a certain level of volatility but they've taken that to the extreme this season. Their rotations are a disaster and team morale is like sand slipping through Mike Woodson's fingers. They've played a very difficult schedule but things have looked exasperatingly chaotic at both ends. A healthy Tyson Chandler would certainly help but things may be too far gone by the time he returns.
Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports: The Nets. The Knicks at least have a few excuses. Their best defender, Chandler, is hurt. Mike Woodson is still figuring out how to work Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith into the starting lineup. The Knicks certainly haven't been good, but their flaws are predictable and explainable. The Nets, on the other hand, are just a mess. Even before Deron Williams got hurt, their star-studded offense was vastly underperforming expectations. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are showing their age, and the season is only going to get longer.
Steve Kyler, HoopsWorld: The Knicks, mainly because they returned roughly the same core group of players from last season and have another year in the same system, yet are yielding lower field goal and three-point shooting percentages. The Knicks are also not nearly as engaged defensively, allowing 4 points per game more than last year while scoring 5.7 fewer points. The injury to Chandler is a factor, but the Knicks should be progressing and they are not. Brooklyn's worries seem to be more about finding a balance and a rhythm with so many star-level players.
Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports: The Knicks. It's incredible how similar their résumés are right now, from record to point differential to recent play. But the Knicks are 1-5 at home, while the Nets are 2-2. Protecting Madison Square Garden is vital to keeping Spike Lee happy. Keeping Spike Lee happy is the only true measure of success for the Knicks. Also, the Nets have beaten the Miami Heat, while the Knicks have lost to every good team they've played.
NBA Caucus: Which team is worse, Knicks or Nets?
Which team has been worse thus far in the season?
Ian Levy, Hickory High: The Knicks. Both teams have similar records and point differentials, but the Nets look like they are sliding off the end of an aging curve, while the Knicks seem to be on the verge of coming apart at the seams. New York always reflect a certain level of volatility but they've taken that to the extreme this season. Their rotations are a disaster and team morale is like sand slipping through Mike Woodson's fingers. They've played a very difficult schedule but things have looked exasperatingly chaotic at both ends. A healthy Tyson Chandler would certainly help but things may be too far gone by the time he returns.
Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports: The Nets. The Knicks at least have a few excuses. Their best defender, Chandler, is hurt. Mike Woodson is still figuring out how to work Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith into the starting lineup. The Knicks certainly haven't been good, but their flaws are predictable and explainable. The Nets, on the other hand, are just a mess. Even before Deron Williams got hurt, their star-studded offense was vastly underperforming expectations. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are showing their age, and the season is only going to get longer.
Steve Kyler, HoopsWorld: The Knicks, mainly because they returned roughly the same core group of players from last season and have another year in the same system, yet are yielding lower field goal and three-point shooting percentages. The Knicks are also not nearly as engaged defensively, allowing 4 points per game more than last year while scoring 5.7 fewer points. The injury to Chandler is a factor, but the Knicks should be progressing and they are not. Brooklyn's worries seem to be more about finding a balance and a rhythm with so many star-level players.
Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports: The Knicks. It's incredible how similar their résumés are right now, from record to point differential to recent play. But the Knicks are 1-5 at home, while the Nets are 2-2. Protecting Madison Square Garden is vital to keeping Spike Lee happy. Keeping Spike Lee happy is the only true measure of success for the Knicks. Also, the Nets have beaten the Miami Heat, while the Knicks have lost to every good team they've played.
NBA Caucus: Which team is worse, Knicks or Nets?
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About halfway through the first 20 minutes of last night's game in Stillwater, Marcus Smart suddenly became the second-biggest name in the building.
Because that's when Kevin Durant strolled in and made his way to his seat. Durant took in a watch at Gallagher-Iba Arena, the same spot where he arguably had the best game of his brief college career. Smart put up what was probably the best performance of his career on the same court Tuesday, showing with a personal-best 39 points. Oklahoma State won 101-80 over Memphis and absolutely destroyed the Tigers.
It was a great Tuesday night in college hoops (we're now 2 for 2 in that regard, considering last week's Champions Classic), and it was punctuated by Smart reminding everyone just how good great he is at this level. Damn, that was fun, especially that first half. Smart wasn't entirely brilliant -- he took a hunk of shots he probably didn't need to -- but he was spot-on so often, and really, it's hard to argue against him being in the thick of the top-pick-of-the-draft talk as of now.
College basketball has a lot of star power this year, the most in many years. Perhaps since Durant's time at Texas, or even before.
USA Today's Eric Prisbell was on hand for the game and talked to Durant about Smart afterward. High praise from KD.
"That is a tough shot to make, and that is a gutsy shot to shoot," Durant told USA Today Sports after the game. "But he earned the right to take those shots. Marcus can play in the league right now. Definitely."
...
"When he scores like that," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said, "he could be the best player in college basketball."
...
"He was just unbelievable for them tonight," Durant said. "He was doing it all for them, rebounding, blocking shots, passing, scoring. He led them. I knew he could do everything pretty well. But I like his demeanor. I like how he handles his teammates. A player like him, he always can burst out and get 30 or 40 points."
Smart has long looked up to Durant not just because of his rare basketball talents but because, like Smart, Durant leads with his actions rather than his ego. They exude confidence rather than bravado. When Ford told the team before the game that Durant had asked to come to the game, Smart thought his coach was joking. When Smart was finally on the court, he glanced to the first row and saw a figure that looked a lot like the Oklahoma City Thunder star.
"I was like, 'Wait a minute, am I dreaming?' " Smart said.
Smart does indeed remind me of Durant in regard to his demeanor. There was a brief clip shown during the second half last night of Smart talking to Jay Bilas about coming back to school and the NBA and why he did it. I'm paraphrasing here, but Smart essentially said the NBA is about so much more than the glamour. There is a lot of grit and hard work and a lot of stress that comes with that opportunity. He said he's still young, wants to enjoy college and that kind of real-life responsibility can wait just a little longer. Very mature young kid.
And if Durant is giving you an endorsement, it's not a phony one. One of the best players in the NBA watched one of the best players in the college game last night, and you'd have to believe by this time next year, those two will be crossing paths on the pro circuit. It's always great to see real recognize real, especially in the early stages.
Kevin Durant on Marcus Smart: He can play in the NBA right now - CBSSports-com
Because that's when Kevin Durant strolled in and made his way to his seat. Durant took in a watch at Gallagher-Iba Arena, the same spot where he arguably had the best game of his brief college career. Smart put up what was probably the best performance of his career on the same court Tuesday, showing with a personal-best 39 points. Oklahoma State won 101-80 over Memphis and absolutely destroyed the Tigers.
It was a great Tuesday night in college hoops (we're now 2 for 2 in that regard, considering last week's Champions Classic), and it was punctuated by Smart reminding everyone just how good great he is at this level. Damn, that was fun, especially that first half. Smart wasn't entirely brilliant -- he took a hunk of shots he probably didn't need to -- but he was spot-on so often, and really, it's hard to argue against him being in the thick of the top-pick-of-the-draft talk as of now.
College basketball has a lot of star power this year, the most in many years. Perhaps since Durant's time at Texas, or even before.
USA Today's Eric Prisbell was on hand for the game and talked to Durant about Smart afterward. High praise from KD.
"That is a tough shot to make, and that is a gutsy shot to shoot," Durant told USA Today Sports after the game. "But he earned the right to take those shots. Marcus can play in the league right now. Definitely."
...
"When he scores like that," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said, "he could be the best player in college basketball."
...
"He was just unbelievable for them tonight," Durant said. "He was doing it all for them, rebounding, blocking shots, passing, scoring. He led them. I knew he could do everything pretty well. But I like his demeanor. I like how he handles his teammates. A player like him, he always can burst out and get 30 or 40 points."
Smart has long looked up to Durant not just because of his rare basketball talents but because, like Smart, Durant leads with his actions rather than his ego. They exude confidence rather than bravado. When Ford told the team before the game that Durant had asked to come to the game, Smart thought his coach was joking. When Smart was finally on the court, he glanced to the first row and saw a figure that looked a lot like the Oklahoma City Thunder star.
"I was like, 'Wait a minute, am I dreaming?' " Smart said.
Smart does indeed remind me of Durant in regard to his demeanor. There was a brief clip shown during the second half last night of Smart talking to Jay Bilas about coming back to school and the NBA and why he did it. I'm paraphrasing here, but Smart essentially said the NBA is about so much more than the glamour. There is a lot of grit and hard work and a lot of stress that comes with that opportunity. He said he's still young, wants to enjoy college and that kind of real-life responsibility can wait just a little longer. Very mature young kid.
And if Durant is giving you an endorsement, it's not a phony one. One of the best players in the NBA watched one of the best players in the college game last night, and you'd have to believe by this time next year, those two will be crossing paths on the pro circuit. It's always great to see real recognize real, especially in the early stages.
Kevin Durant on Marcus Smart: He can play in the NBA right now - CBSSports-com
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Josh Smith says the Detroit Pistons need a little more physicality.
Maurice Cheeks and Greg Monroe say the Pistons are physical enough.
But all three agree the Pistons must get better at guarding the pick-and-roll. That was theme yet again in the Pistons' latest loss — a 93-85 loss Wednesday to the Atlanta Hawks in Smith's return to his hometown. The Hawks shot 50.7% from the field, and the Pistons' defense is last in the NBA in allowing opponents to shoot 48.5%.
"We just all have to be on a string, be on a string," Smith said. "We got to get some bumps and close that paint up on the roll as far as giving up easy lay-ups.
"It needs to be a little bit better, a little bit better."
The Hawks' very first play featured a pick-and-roll from Hawks point guard Jeff Teague and power forward Paul Millsap. Millsap set the pick and rolled to the basket without any resistance where Teague found him for an easy lay-up. Andre Drummond was way late to provide help.
"It's multiple things," Monroe said. "I think we have to guard it with more than two people.
"In this league, there will be a lot of plays where they might beat those two people, but it's the second line of defense that we're having a little bit of trouble with."
Cheeks pointed out it's tough to provide another defender when you are concerned with spot-up three-point shooters such as the Hawks' Kyle Korver.
But maybe things should be simplified. The team can try to adjust to personnel, but maybe they should just have a couple coverages to eliminate confusion.
Detroit Pistons try to fix NBA's worst shooting defense
Maurice Cheeks and Greg Monroe say the Pistons are physical enough.
But all three agree the Pistons must get better at guarding the pick-and-roll. That was theme yet again in the Pistons' latest loss — a 93-85 loss Wednesday to the Atlanta Hawks in Smith's return to his hometown. The Hawks shot 50.7% from the field, and the Pistons' defense is last in the NBA in allowing opponents to shoot 48.5%.
"We just all have to be on a string, be on a string," Smith said. "We got to get some bumps and close that paint up on the roll as far as giving up easy lay-ups.
"It needs to be a little bit better, a little bit better."
The Hawks' very first play featured a pick-and-roll from Hawks point guard Jeff Teague and power forward Paul Millsap. Millsap set the pick and rolled to the basket without any resistance where Teague found him for an easy lay-up. Andre Drummond was way late to provide help.
"It's multiple things," Monroe said. "I think we have to guard it with more than two people.
"In this league, there will be a lot of plays where they might beat those two people, but it's the second line of defense that we're having a little bit of trouble with."
Cheeks pointed out it's tough to provide another defender when you are concerned with spot-up three-point shooters such as the Hawks' Kyle Korver.
But maybe things should be simplified. The team can try to adjust to personnel, but maybe they should just have a couple coverages to eliminate confusion.
Detroit Pistons try to fix NBA's worst shooting defense
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In the wake of the NBA's latest round of injuries to fallen stars, always-outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is proposing a possible solution: human growth hormone.
Cuban isn't advocating the use of the controversial drug but rather calling attention to what he sees as a dearth of research on the topic as it relates to athletes who are recovering from injury. His hope, which he shared in front of the league's owners and league officials at an Oct. 23 Board of Governors meeting in New York, is that a more-informed decision can be made as to whether it should remain on the league's banned-substance list or perhaps be utilized as a way of expediting an athlete's return to the court. If it were ever allowed — and it's safe to say that won't be happening anytime soon — Cuban sees a major benefit for teams and their fans like.
"The issue isn't whether I think it should be used," Cuban told USA TODAY Sports via e-mail. "The issue is that it has not been approved for such use. And one of the reasons it hasn't been approved is that there have not been studies done to prove the benefits of prescribing HGH for athletic rehabilitation or any injury rehabilitation that I'm aware of. The product has such a huge (public) stigma that no one wants to be associated with it."
Cuban, who unsuccessfully has tried to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers in recent years, hinted at his stance on HGH in an Aug. 8 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In the interview, he criticized Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig for his treatment of New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and said HGH is "banned for no good reason" in baseball and basketball.
From the NBA's perspective, the most obvious hurdle to such a cause is that the Food & Drug Administration only allows the prescription of HGH for a limited number of conditions. According to the FDA's web site, children with various medical reasons for stunted growth can be prescribed HGH, as can adults with a bowel syndrome, a hormone deficiency due to rare pituitary tumors or a muscle-wasting disease associating with HIV.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency's web site, HGH is illegal to use for anti-aging, improved athletic performance and bodybuilding. The World Anti-Doping Agency also has HGH on its list of prohibited substances.
The NBA also is sensitive to the ethical part of the discussion, as the idea that some players would return from injury sooner than others because they were willing to take a drug that may have adverse side effects raises serious concerns about maintaining a level playing field. The possible side effects, according to the FDA, include an increased risk of cancer, nerve pain and elevated cholesterol and glucose levels. If anything, the NBA is moving closer to cracking down on HGH use of any kind.
While NBA Commissioner David Stern had said that he was hopeful that a new HGH-testing policy would be in place at the start of the 2013-14 season, the discussions between the league and the National Basketball Players Association are in a holding pattern, in large part because of the continuing stalemate between the NFL and its players about the implementation of their program. The NFL is the trailblazer of sorts on that front, meaning the NBA policy isn't expected to be resolved first. The NBA declined a request for comment from USA TODAY Sports. The union's lack of an executive director after Billy Hunter's firing in February also has hindered the process.
As Cuban sees it, though, none of the obstacles should preclude the powers-that-be in the sports world from pursuing more definitive answers about the pros and cons of HGH.
"I believe that professional sports leagues should work together and fund studies to determine the efficacy of HGH for rehabbing an injury," Cuban told USA TODAY Sports. "Working together could lead us from the path of demonizing HGH and even testosterone towards a complete understanding. It could allow us to make a data based decision rather than the emotional decision we are currently making. And if it can help athletes recover more quickly, maybe we can extend careers and have healthier happier players and fans."
Mark Cuban: NBA should discuss allowing HGH use
Cuban isn't advocating the use of the controversial drug but rather calling attention to what he sees as a dearth of research on the topic as it relates to athletes who are recovering from injury. His hope, which he shared in front of the league's owners and league officials at an Oct. 23 Board of Governors meeting in New York, is that a more-informed decision can be made as to whether it should remain on the league's banned-substance list or perhaps be utilized as a way of expediting an athlete's return to the court. If it were ever allowed — and it's safe to say that won't be happening anytime soon — Cuban sees a major benefit for teams and their fans like.
"The issue isn't whether I think it should be used," Cuban told USA TODAY Sports via e-mail. "The issue is that it has not been approved for such use. And one of the reasons it hasn't been approved is that there have not been studies done to prove the benefits of prescribing HGH for athletic rehabilitation or any injury rehabilitation that I'm aware of. The product has such a huge (public) stigma that no one wants to be associated with it."
Cuban, who unsuccessfully has tried to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers in recent years, hinted at his stance on HGH in an Aug. 8 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In the interview, he criticized Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig for his treatment of New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and said HGH is "banned for no good reason" in baseball and basketball.
From the NBA's perspective, the most obvious hurdle to such a cause is that the Food & Drug Administration only allows the prescription of HGH for a limited number of conditions. According to the FDA's web site, children with various medical reasons for stunted growth can be prescribed HGH, as can adults with a bowel syndrome, a hormone deficiency due to rare pituitary tumors or a muscle-wasting disease associating with HIV.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency's web site, HGH is illegal to use for anti-aging, improved athletic performance and bodybuilding. The World Anti-Doping Agency also has HGH on its list of prohibited substances.
The NBA also is sensitive to the ethical part of the discussion, as the idea that some players would return from injury sooner than others because they were willing to take a drug that may have adverse side effects raises serious concerns about maintaining a level playing field. The possible side effects, according to the FDA, include an increased risk of cancer, nerve pain and elevated cholesterol and glucose levels. If anything, the NBA is moving closer to cracking down on HGH use of any kind.
While NBA Commissioner David Stern had said that he was hopeful that a new HGH-testing policy would be in place at the start of the 2013-14 season, the discussions between the league and the National Basketball Players Association are in a holding pattern, in large part because of the continuing stalemate between the NFL and its players about the implementation of their program. The NFL is the trailblazer of sorts on that front, meaning the NBA policy isn't expected to be resolved first. The NBA declined a request for comment from USA TODAY Sports. The union's lack of an executive director after Billy Hunter's firing in February also has hindered the process.
As Cuban sees it, though, none of the obstacles should preclude the powers-that-be in the sports world from pursuing more definitive answers about the pros and cons of HGH.
"I believe that professional sports leagues should work together and fund studies to determine the efficacy of HGH for rehabbing an injury," Cuban told USA TODAY Sports. "Working together could lead us from the path of demonizing HGH and even testosterone towards a complete understanding. It could allow us to make a data based decision rather than the emotional decision we are currently making. And if it can help athletes recover more quickly, maybe we can extend careers and have healthier happier players and fans."
Mark Cuban: NBA should discuss allowing HGH use
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CHICAGO playmaker Derrick Rose underwent successful right knee surgery Monday morning to repair a torn medial meniscus and will miss the remainder of the NBA season, the Bulls announced.
Rose, the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player who missed all of last season with a torn left knee ligament, injured his right knee Friday in the third quarter of Chicago's 98-95 loss at Portland.
The 25-year-old guard had hoped he might be able to return at some point this season even after learning the severity of the injury on Saturday.
But Rose was ruled out for the rest of the campaign after surgery was performed by team doctors Brian Cole and Chuck Bush Joseph at Rush University Medical Center.
Rose had averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds over 10 games this season for the Bulls, who are 6-6 but were routed 121-82 on Sunday by the Los Angeles Clippers in their first game without Rose.
In the 2010-2011 campaign when Rose took the league MVP award, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds.
No Cookies | Herald Sun
Rose, the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player who missed all of last season with a torn left knee ligament, injured his right knee Friday in the third quarter of Chicago's 98-95 loss at Portland.
The 25-year-old guard had hoped he might be able to return at some point this season even after learning the severity of the injury on Saturday.
But Rose was ruled out for the rest of the campaign after surgery was performed by team doctors Brian Cole and Chuck Bush Joseph at Rush University Medical Center.
Rose had averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds over 10 games this season for the Bulls, who are 6-6 but were routed 121-82 on Sunday by the Los Angeles Clippers in their first game without Rose.
In the 2010-2011 campaign when Rose took the league MVP award, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds.
No Cookies | Herald Sun
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Two factors that always have driven Kobe Bryant continue to do so in wake of signing what he said is "probably" his last NBA contract.
Winning titles and proving he is one of the best in the game.
Bryant is chasing that elusive sixth NBA championship, which would match Michael Jordan, and he is also trying to play at an elite level after tearing an Achilles tendon in April. "They go hand in hand," Bryant said. "You can't have one without the other, at least from my perspective."
The Achilles injury motivated Bryant to play at least two more seasons after this one.
"It added a little kick, you know what I mean?" he said. "It gave me some additional motivation to hear the chatter and the doubt. Also internally as well, to have those self-doubt conversations at the beginning of the injury. It's like well, 'Ive got to prove to myself if I can do this thing. And then prove to everybody else as well."
Bryant's extension will play him $23.5 million in 2014-15 and $25 million in 2015-16, and despite criticism that those amounts will hinder what the Lakers can do in free agency, Bryant said the Lakers will be just fine and can be a contender.
"The fans, God bless, they're fans and they have good intentions and a good spirit about it," Bryant said. "But I don't think they understand the cap or strategically what the Lakers are trying to do. I think we'll be all right. … We have the ability to do something special. We'll have to see what happens."
Bryant believes it's possible to re-sign center center-forward Pau Gasol and sign a free-agent starter to a max contract.
Bryant said he wasn't focused on an extension, but when the Lakers came to him with an offer, there wasn't much to negotiate.
"The Lakers came up with as structure, a system and a plan they thought was a win-win for everybody involved," Bryant said. "From our perspective, it was easy just to accept it. It was pretty quick. The only number I saw was the one I agreed to."
Bryant said he wasn't concerned about his potential free agency overshadowing the season and not a reason why he signed the deal now. He is clearly thrilled to be a "Laker for life," as he said.
"The amount of love and respect that I have for the Buss family, the Lakers organization, trumps anything else that I wanted," he said. "I just wanted to come out and play. If they wanted to wait and see how I played, that's fine. If they didn't, that's great. But I just wanted to come out and do what I do best and try to help this organization get back to where it belongs. It's really that simple for me."
While Bryant may have flirted with leaving the Lakers earlier in his career, exploring the free-agent market wasn't high on his list for the summer of 2014.
"You can't help but kind of look around, right, and kind of wonder what would happen if they plugged you into this rotation or that rotation, but this time around, it wasn't the case," he said. "In 2004, yeah. Now, no, because my focus was on my injury and coming back from this with this ballclub. All my attention was focused on that. It had to be. It has to be."
Bryant said he is weeks away from returning rather than days, ruling out an opportunity to play on the Lakers' road trip which continues Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets and ends Friday against the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers play at home Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers and then have three days without games. Bryant will use those practice days to test his Achilles and see how close he is.
"Those three days when we get back are going to be huge to see what I can do, what I can't do, day after day," he said.
Specifically, Bryant wants to see how explosive he is. He wants to ensure he can still drive by defenders and get to the basket. He acknowledged it's possible the explosiveness he seeks won't be there.
If it's not, he's prepared to alter his game.
"If it's not there, I'm ready to adapt. I'm ready to change that and slow the tempo down, change up the rhythm a little bit, go to more of a bump game," he said. "So I'm willing and ready to adapt to whatever my body is telling me.
"There's some players throughout the course of NBA history who have done just fine without that kind of athleticism, from Magic (Johnson) to (Larry) Bird to Oscar Robertson.
Still feisty as ever, he chided ESPN for ranking him the 25th best player in the NBA and when an ESPN reporter told Bryant how many points he needs to catch first-place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA's all-time scoring list, he said, "You're at ESPN, so you're probably wrong."
He praised the Lakers and tweaked the NBA, saying, "This smart decision that they've made business-wise can't be revoked by the NBA."
It was a direct jab at NBA Commissioner David Stern's decision not to trade Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers after the lockout ended in 2011.
There was plenty of the old Kobe Bryant during a 14-minute press conference before the Lakers played the Washington Wizards.
Question is, how much of the old Kobe Bryant will we see when he returns to the court in a couple of weeks?
"If I am one of the top players in the league still (and) if I still have some gas in the tank, that's a challenge that I willingly accept," he said.
Kobe Bryant is still driven by winning NBA titles
Winning titles and proving he is one of the best in the game.
Bryant is chasing that elusive sixth NBA championship, which would match Michael Jordan, and he is also trying to play at an elite level after tearing an Achilles tendon in April. "They go hand in hand," Bryant said. "You can't have one without the other, at least from my perspective."
The Achilles injury motivated Bryant to play at least two more seasons after this one.
"It added a little kick, you know what I mean?" he said. "It gave me some additional motivation to hear the chatter and the doubt. Also internally as well, to have those self-doubt conversations at the beginning of the injury. It's like well, 'Ive got to prove to myself if I can do this thing. And then prove to everybody else as well."
Bryant's extension will play him $23.5 million in 2014-15 and $25 million in 2015-16, and despite criticism that those amounts will hinder what the Lakers can do in free agency, Bryant said the Lakers will be just fine and can be a contender.
"The fans, God bless, they're fans and they have good intentions and a good spirit about it," Bryant said. "But I don't think they understand the cap or strategically what the Lakers are trying to do. I think we'll be all right. … We have the ability to do something special. We'll have to see what happens."
Bryant believes it's possible to re-sign center center-forward Pau Gasol and sign a free-agent starter to a max contract.
Bryant said he wasn't focused on an extension, but when the Lakers came to him with an offer, there wasn't much to negotiate.
"The Lakers came up with as structure, a system and a plan they thought was a win-win for everybody involved," Bryant said. "From our perspective, it was easy just to accept it. It was pretty quick. The only number I saw was the one I agreed to."
Bryant said he wasn't concerned about his potential free agency overshadowing the season and not a reason why he signed the deal now. He is clearly thrilled to be a "Laker for life," as he said.
"The amount of love and respect that I have for the Buss family, the Lakers organization, trumps anything else that I wanted," he said. "I just wanted to come out and play. If they wanted to wait and see how I played, that's fine. If they didn't, that's great. But I just wanted to come out and do what I do best and try to help this organization get back to where it belongs. It's really that simple for me."
While Bryant may have flirted with leaving the Lakers earlier in his career, exploring the free-agent market wasn't high on his list for the summer of 2014.
"You can't help but kind of look around, right, and kind of wonder what would happen if they plugged you into this rotation or that rotation, but this time around, it wasn't the case," he said. "In 2004, yeah. Now, no, because my focus was on my injury and coming back from this with this ballclub. All my attention was focused on that. It had to be. It has to be."
Bryant said he is weeks away from returning rather than days, ruling out an opportunity to play on the Lakers' road trip which continues Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets and ends Friday against the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers play at home Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers and then have three days without games. Bryant will use those practice days to test his Achilles and see how close he is.
"Those three days when we get back are going to be huge to see what I can do, what I can't do, day after day," he said.
Specifically, Bryant wants to see how explosive he is. He wants to ensure he can still drive by defenders and get to the basket. He acknowledged it's possible the explosiveness he seeks won't be there.
If it's not, he's prepared to alter his game.
"If it's not there, I'm ready to adapt. I'm ready to change that and slow the tempo down, change up the rhythm a little bit, go to more of a bump game," he said. "So I'm willing and ready to adapt to whatever my body is telling me.
"There's some players throughout the course of NBA history who have done just fine without that kind of athleticism, from Magic (Johnson) to (Larry) Bird to Oscar Robertson.
Still feisty as ever, he chided ESPN for ranking him the 25th best player in the NBA and when an ESPN reporter told Bryant how many points he needs to catch first-place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA's all-time scoring list, he said, "You're at ESPN, so you're probably wrong."
He praised the Lakers and tweaked the NBA, saying, "This smart decision that they've made business-wise can't be revoked by the NBA."
It was a direct jab at NBA Commissioner David Stern's decision not to trade Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers after the lockout ended in 2011.
There was plenty of the old Kobe Bryant during a 14-minute press conference before the Lakers played the Washington Wizards.
Question is, how much of the old Kobe Bryant will we see when he returns to the court in a couple of weeks?
"If I am one of the top players in the league still (and) if I still have some gas in the tank, that's a challenge that I willingly accept," he said.
Kobe Bryant is still driven by winning NBA titles
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2006/12/07
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In the first installment of his rookie diary for SI-com, Zeller dishes on his first impressions of the NBA.
I have a ton of free time. It surprises most people. It's both good and bad. On practice days, we practice in the morning, lift weights, practice for an hour or two, shoot around, and then I'll be home by 2 or 3 p.m. and be done for the day. It's a nice schedule.
The toughest part for me has been moving to a new city. I'm from a small town (Washington, Ind.) so I wasn't about living in a huge city, so Charlotte was just right. I've never lived in a city, so things are pretty different. I'm not around that much so it's hard to go out and meet new people. In college, I was surrounded by literally thousands of kids my age. But in my apartment building it's all businessmen and stuff, not exactly a bunch of guys I want to hang out with.
I miss Indiana. I miss being on campus and hanging with all my college buddies. I left after two years, so all my classmates are still back at school. It's not like being a normal student where you graduate with all of your friends.
When you're in the NBA, everyone wants to be your friend. Right now, it's pretty tough to figure out who has the right intentions. When you meet people through mutual friends or church, that's one thing, but this is different.
I've probably seen Michael Jordan 3-4 times since being drafted. He was at our training camp all week before the season. It's funny because when he's around us he acts like one of the players. He's talking about the game and whatever. It was fun at camp because he was staying in our hotel with us. It was crazy to watch all the stuff you have to do because you're Michael Jordan. He can't go to a restaurant and eat. He has to have someone go pick it up and bring it back to the hotel. He was locked in his room a lot of the time and couldn't go to dinner with the rest of us.
In the NBA you go against the best players in the world ... every night. Even in college you'd play some good players once week and some not-so-good players the next, but here you face the best 3-4 times a week. If you play bad one night, you have Kevin Garnett the next night.
I haven't faced too much trash talking on the floor. As a rookie, it comes with the territory. Everyone is going to try and test you out. A lot of opponents know I'm new to the game and know that I don't know all the tricks yet. I get a lot of isolations and clear outs.
I don't mind it too much. The veterans have been helping me out since training camp, and I'm prepared every night. I've had a few months of trying to get adjusted. Obviously, they've gotten me a few times, but I think I'm doing okay.
I haven't really had a "Welcome to the NBA" moment. The way it's setup, you kind of ease into the season. In summer league, you play teams that have 3-4 really good guys. In preseason, you get a taste of what it's like -- and then the regular season gets going, and you get it all. It's not like you go from playing nobody to the best of the best.
The coolest thing I've done so far is play at Madison Square Garden. The first time was pretty awesome. Playing against the Knicks and against Carmelo Anthony, it was probably the first time where I took a step back and said, 'Whoa, this is pretty cool.'
It's crazy playing against guys you watched growing up. I played LeBron James in my second game of the preseason. Played KG a couple of nights ago, played the Bulls before that. Going to all of these different arenas and facing all these players I've watched on TV has been pretty surreal.
Read More: Charlotte Bobcats' Cody Zeller: What it's like being an NBA rookie - NBA - SI-com
I have a ton of free time. It surprises most people. It's both good and bad. On practice days, we practice in the morning, lift weights, practice for an hour or two, shoot around, and then I'll be home by 2 or 3 p.m. and be done for the day. It's a nice schedule.
The toughest part for me has been moving to a new city. I'm from a small town (Washington, Ind.) so I wasn't about living in a huge city, so Charlotte was just right. I've never lived in a city, so things are pretty different. I'm not around that much so it's hard to go out and meet new people. In college, I was surrounded by literally thousands of kids my age. But in my apartment building it's all businessmen and stuff, not exactly a bunch of guys I want to hang out with.
I miss Indiana. I miss being on campus and hanging with all my college buddies. I left after two years, so all my classmates are still back at school. It's not like being a normal student where you graduate with all of your friends.
When you're in the NBA, everyone wants to be your friend. Right now, it's pretty tough to figure out who has the right intentions. When you meet people through mutual friends or church, that's one thing, but this is different.
I've probably seen Michael Jordan 3-4 times since being drafted. He was at our training camp all week before the season. It's funny because when he's around us he acts like one of the players. He's talking about the game and whatever. It was fun at camp because he was staying in our hotel with us. It was crazy to watch all the stuff you have to do because you're Michael Jordan. He can't go to a restaurant and eat. He has to have someone go pick it up and bring it back to the hotel. He was locked in his room a lot of the time and couldn't go to dinner with the rest of us.
In the NBA you go against the best players in the world ... every night. Even in college you'd play some good players once week and some not-so-good players the next, but here you face the best 3-4 times a week. If you play bad one night, you have Kevin Garnett the next night.
I haven't faced too much trash talking on the floor. As a rookie, it comes with the territory. Everyone is going to try and test you out. A lot of opponents know I'm new to the game and know that I don't know all the tricks yet. I get a lot of isolations and clear outs.
I don't mind it too much. The veterans have been helping me out since training camp, and I'm prepared every night. I've had a few months of trying to get adjusted. Obviously, they've gotten me a few times, but I think I'm doing okay.
I haven't really had a "Welcome to the NBA" moment. The way it's setup, you kind of ease into the season. In summer league, you play teams that have 3-4 really good guys. In preseason, you get a taste of what it's like -- and then the regular season gets going, and you get it all. It's not like you go from playing nobody to the best of the best.
The coolest thing I've done so far is play at Madison Square Garden. The first time was pretty awesome. Playing against the Knicks and against Carmelo Anthony, it was probably the first time where I took a step back and said, 'Whoa, this is pretty cool.'
It's crazy playing against guys you watched growing up. I played LeBron James in my second game of the preseason. Played KG a couple of nights ago, played the Bulls before that. Going to all of these different arenas and facing all these players I've watched on TV has been pretty surreal.
Read More: Charlotte Bobcats' Cody Zeller: What it's like being an NBA rookie - NBA - SI-com
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2006/12/07
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With all of the recent injuries (Derrick Rose, Marc Gasol, Andre Igoudala, Bradley Beal), still no return of Kobe Bryant (although there are signs) and the disappointment of whatever the hell is happening in New York and Brooklyn, there has to be something to be thankful for in the NBA.
Something besides the obvious. Something other than the play of the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs. Someone besides LeBron James (and the fact that Kevin Love might be the one to stop him from getting his fifth MVP).
Beneath the NBA's superstar, major-market, marketing-driven surface there are six storylines this Thanksgiving that are worth appreciating. Even if you aren't fans of the teams, players or organizations that are somehow below the radar yet making things happen.
And if you haven't recognized them, this holiday break might be the perfect time to do so.
1. Bradley Beal and John Wall emerging as the future best guard tandem in the NBA: Disregard the injury that is going to keep the Wizards' Beal off the floor for at least two weeks. In the first 15 games of the season, he's making a strong argument that he, not Klay Thompson, is the best shooting guard in the game.
Don't just look at Thompson's shooting accuracy and scoring average when comparing. Consider Beal's minutes logged (40.2 mpg), assists (3.5 apg) and three-year age difference before you disagree.
And while Steph Curry, the "Can't Miss Kid," gets magazine covers, all Wall has done since he returned from his injury last season is play himself into the discussion of "best point guard alive." There's enough plausible evidence to support this case that this Beal/Wall collab is worth giving thanks. And oh yeah, Wall was just named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
2. Portland Trail Blazers living up to their potential Eleven wins in a row before their streak was snapped. Wins against the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors help make that streak more impressive. Those are the only "elite" teams the Blazers have played, so this could be fool's platinum.
What they have stopped -- at least to begin this season -- is losing games. Recent history with the Blazers showed a tendency to lose games as opposed to getting beaten. Thankfully, somehow that has stopped. LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews (who is the true difference-maker here) are making sure that if you get a "W" against the Blazers, you earned it. They are no longer giving teams anything.
Aldridge, Lillard and Batum were all draft day acquisitions, and Matthews has spent all but one season with Portland. Fans have seen these players grow up, and as a result, they're well-liked. The vibe is similar, although not quite as strong yet, as the esteem the 1977 championship team enjoyed.
3. Monta Ellis on a team with which all of his flaws become virtues For years Ellis has been in the wrong place at the right time. The minute he left Golden State, it seemed like the team got better. In Milwaukee, there was just too much drama going on for him to save the franchise. For the first time in Ellis' misunderstood career, a team fathoms and appreciates him. He understands his role, and what he needs to do.
With the Dallas Mavericks, he's Dirk Nowitzki's better half. If Mark Cuban decides to do a "Kobe" and sign Nowitzki to an unnecessary extension it would make sense only because of Monta being there. He's Dallas' answer to James Harden. And when the early conventional belief is that the road for coming out of the West is at some point going to have to go through Texas, it makes Monta probably just as important -- and intrinsic -- as Dwight Howard.
4. Michael Jordan's ownership of the Bobcats/future Hornets looking bright Finally! The pieces of the puzzle that Jordan has been building in his mind are beginning to develop into an image that is indelible instead of unimaginable.
The crazy/questionable/heavily criticized draft picks and illogical personnel and player moves, which held back the team over the years, are slowly becoming irrelevant. There's hope. And wins. Wins in games that in the past would have been losses. It's something to be truly grateful for.
The core of Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson (even though he's played only seven games), Gerald Henderson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is unsung.
5. Anthony Davis becoming the next Tim Duncan before our eyes For two generations, the game of basketball has been in this search for the "next" Jordan. All the while no one seemed to have an interest in when the next Duncan was going to appear in the NBA. The Pelicans' Davis has shown in a short period of time that Duncan-status is an attainable goal. He's also building a case for heavy consideration as the best "big man" in the game.
Davis' current averages of 19.4 points, 10. 6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game are beyond comparable to Dwight Howard's 17.7 ppg, 13.2 rpg and 2.3 bpg and Roy Hibbert's 11.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 4.1 bpg. Plus, at only $5.4 million and still on his rookie contract, Davis is easily the best bargain found by any team in the NBA. That's something to be thankful about.
Reasons to be a grateful NBA fan - ESPN
Something besides the obvious. Something other than the play of the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs. Someone besides LeBron James (and the fact that Kevin Love might be the one to stop him from getting his fifth MVP).
Beneath the NBA's superstar, major-market, marketing-driven surface there are six storylines this Thanksgiving that are worth appreciating. Even if you aren't fans of the teams, players or organizations that are somehow below the radar yet making things happen.
And if you haven't recognized them, this holiday break might be the perfect time to do so.
1. Bradley Beal and John Wall emerging as the future best guard tandem in the NBA: Disregard the injury that is going to keep the Wizards' Beal off the floor for at least two weeks. In the first 15 games of the season, he's making a strong argument that he, not Klay Thompson, is the best shooting guard in the game.
Don't just look at Thompson's shooting accuracy and scoring average when comparing. Consider Beal's minutes logged (40.2 mpg), assists (3.5 apg) and three-year age difference before you disagree.
And while Steph Curry, the "Can't Miss Kid," gets magazine covers, all Wall has done since he returned from his injury last season is play himself into the discussion of "best point guard alive." There's enough plausible evidence to support this case that this Beal/Wall collab is worth giving thanks. And oh yeah, Wall was just named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
2. Portland Trail Blazers living up to their potential Eleven wins in a row before their streak was snapped. Wins against the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors help make that streak more impressive. Those are the only "elite" teams the Blazers have played, so this could be fool's platinum.
What they have stopped -- at least to begin this season -- is losing games. Recent history with the Blazers showed a tendency to lose games as opposed to getting beaten. Thankfully, somehow that has stopped. LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews (who is the true difference-maker here) are making sure that if you get a "W" against the Blazers, you earned it. They are no longer giving teams anything.
Aldridge, Lillard and Batum were all draft day acquisitions, and Matthews has spent all but one season with Portland. Fans have seen these players grow up, and as a result, they're well-liked. The vibe is similar, although not quite as strong yet, as the esteem the 1977 championship team enjoyed.
3. Monta Ellis on a team with which all of his flaws become virtues For years Ellis has been in the wrong place at the right time. The minute he left Golden State, it seemed like the team got better. In Milwaukee, there was just too much drama going on for him to save the franchise. For the first time in Ellis' misunderstood career, a team fathoms and appreciates him. He understands his role, and what he needs to do.
With the Dallas Mavericks, he's Dirk Nowitzki's better half. If Mark Cuban decides to do a "Kobe" and sign Nowitzki to an unnecessary extension it would make sense only because of Monta being there. He's Dallas' answer to James Harden. And when the early conventional belief is that the road for coming out of the West is at some point going to have to go through Texas, it makes Monta probably just as important -- and intrinsic -- as Dwight Howard.
4. Michael Jordan's ownership of the Bobcats/future Hornets looking bright Finally! The pieces of the puzzle that Jordan has been building in his mind are beginning to develop into an image that is indelible instead of unimaginable.
The crazy/questionable/heavily criticized draft picks and illogical personnel and player moves, which held back the team over the years, are slowly becoming irrelevant. There's hope. And wins. Wins in games that in the past would have been losses. It's something to be truly grateful for.
The core of Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson (even though he's played only seven games), Gerald Henderson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is unsung.
5. Anthony Davis becoming the next Tim Duncan before our eyes For two generations, the game of basketball has been in this search for the "next" Jordan. All the while no one seemed to have an interest in when the next Duncan was going to appear in the NBA. The Pelicans' Davis has shown in a short period of time that Duncan-status is an attainable goal. He's also building a case for heavy consideration as the best "big man" in the game.
Davis' current averages of 19.4 points, 10. 6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game are beyond comparable to Dwight Howard's 17.7 ppg, 13.2 rpg and 2.3 bpg and Roy Hibbert's 11.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 4.1 bpg. Plus, at only $5.4 million and still on his rookie contract, Davis is easily the best bargain found by any team in the NBA. That's something to be thankful about.
Reasons to be a grateful NBA fan - ESPN
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2006/12/07
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In the end, Jason Kidd’s most public and cagey coaching move was a bust, earning him his second reprimand from the league and putting more scrutiny on a first-year coach who seems desperate for answers.
Or, in keeping with the bizarre nature of the stunt — Kidd’s attempt to manufacture a timeout when he didn’t have any by instructing his own player to crash into him, causing him to willfully drop a cup of soda, totally fizzled out.
Kidd was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Thursday for intentionally spilling his cup of soda to gain more time in a home game against the Lakers on Wednesday, the league announced Thursday night.
The fine is yet another setback for Kidd, who has had a forgettable start to his young coaching career. He has already served a two-game suspension to start the season after pleading guilty to DWI in the summer of 2012.
And the Nets (4-11) are off to a disappointing start, residing near the basement of the Atlantic Division, a surprising position for a team with the league’s highest payroll. Brooklyn has lost nine of its past 11 games.
Those disappointments, coupled with this latest fiasco, suggest the soda has finally hit the fan.
Holding a plastic cup with 8.3 seconds left in regulation, Kidd was caught on video mouthing to point guard Tyshawn Taylor to “hit me.” Taylor then slightly lowered his shoulder into Kidd, who dropped the soda on the court in front of the Nets bench, clearly acting surprised upon contact in a bit of apparent acting. The mess had to be cleaned up, serving as a timeout for the Nets when the team didn’t have any and also serving as an attempt to apparently ice the Lakers’ Jodie Meeks, who was in between foul shots when the soda hit the floor.
The Nets could be seen huddling together as assistant John Welch drew up a final play for Paul Pierce. The Lakers seemed to catch on to what the Nets were doing, with point guard Steve Blake comically intruding on the Nets huddle with Kevin Garnett good-naturedly directing him away. Meeks hit both foul shots,
putting the Nets in a three-point hole. But Pierce came up short, misfiring on a 3-pointer off a high-screen by Garnett, and the Nets dropped another game, this one 99-94.
Afterward, Kidd denied he had intentionally dropped the soda to give his team more time to draw up a play.
“The cup slipped out of my hand,” Kidd said. “I was getting tired, sweaty palms. I was never good with the ball. So, in the heat of the battle, you’re trying to get guys in and out of the game, and the Coke fell out of my hands.”
But the Lakers weren’t buying that explanation, and neither was the league.
“That’s vet stuff,” Los Angeles guard Nick Young told the Daily News on Wednesday. “That’s something you can’t teach. That’s something you have to learn if you’ve been in the league for a while.
“I don’t think they had any timeouts left so they had to do what they had to do.”
Read more: NBA fines Jason Kidd $50,000 for spilling soda on court in Nets game vs. Lakers - NY Daily News
Or, in keeping with the bizarre nature of the stunt — Kidd’s attempt to manufacture a timeout when he didn’t have any by instructing his own player to crash into him, causing him to willfully drop a cup of soda, totally fizzled out.
Kidd was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Thursday for intentionally spilling his cup of soda to gain more time in a home game against the Lakers on Wednesday, the league announced Thursday night.
The fine is yet another setback for Kidd, who has had a forgettable start to his young coaching career. He has already served a two-game suspension to start the season after pleading guilty to DWI in the summer of 2012.
And the Nets (4-11) are off to a disappointing start, residing near the basement of the Atlantic Division, a surprising position for a team with the league’s highest payroll. Brooklyn has lost nine of its past 11 games.
Those disappointments, coupled with this latest fiasco, suggest the soda has finally hit the fan.
Holding a plastic cup with 8.3 seconds left in regulation, Kidd was caught on video mouthing to point guard Tyshawn Taylor to “hit me.” Taylor then slightly lowered his shoulder into Kidd, who dropped the soda on the court in front of the Nets bench, clearly acting surprised upon contact in a bit of apparent acting. The mess had to be cleaned up, serving as a timeout for the Nets when the team didn’t have any and also serving as an attempt to apparently ice the Lakers’ Jodie Meeks, who was in between foul shots when the soda hit the floor.
The Nets could be seen huddling together as assistant John Welch drew up a final play for Paul Pierce. The Lakers seemed to catch on to what the Nets were doing, with point guard Steve Blake comically intruding on the Nets huddle with Kevin Garnett good-naturedly directing him away. Meeks hit both foul shots,
putting the Nets in a three-point hole. But Pierce came up short, misfiring on a 3-pointer off a high-screen by Garnett, and the Nets dropped another game, this one 99-94.
Afterward, Kidd denied he had intentionally dropped the soda to give his team more time to draw up a play.
“The cup slipped out of my hand,” Kidd said. “I was getting tired, sweaty palms. I was never good with the ball. So, in the heat of the battle, you’re trying to get guys in and out of the game, and the Coke fell out of my hands.”
But the Lakers weren’t buying that explanation, and neither was the league.
“That’s vet stuff,” Los Angeles guard Nick Young told the Daily News on Wednesday. “That’s something you can’t teach. That’s something you have to learn if you’ve been in the league for a while.
“I don’t think they had any timeouts left so they had to do what they had to do.”
Read more: NBA fines Jason Kidd $50,000 for spilling soda on court in Nets game vs. Lakers - NY Daily News
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Four weeks into the 2013-14 NBA season, it's time to stop chalking up early successes and failures to small-sample-size theater.
Take the Indiana Pacers, for example. Anyone who still doesn't buy into the Pacers, even after they've won 14 of their first 15 games, needs to wake up and smell the roses. They're legit.
The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, on the other hand, couldn't look further away from championship contention. There's still plenty of time for either team to bounce back, but the further they dig themselves into a hole, the less likely a massive turnaround becomes.
Like the contrast between the Pacers and the New York squads, certain budding superstars are trending in majorly opposite directions, too. New Orleans' Anthony Davis looks to be years ahead of his developmental schedule, while Cleveland's Kyrie Irving has hit the skids since his 2013 All-Star berth.
Here, take a look at eight of the biggest winners and losers from the first month of the 2013-14 NBA season based on how they've fared compared to their preseason expectations.
Pictures: Biggest Winners and Losers from the First Month of the NBA Season | Bleacher Report
Take the Indiana Pacers, for example. Anyone who still doesn't buy into the Pacers, even after they've won 14 of their first 15 games, needs to wake up and smell the roses. They're legit.
The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, on the other hand, couldn't look further away from championship contention. There's still plenty of time for either team to bounce back, but the further they dig themselves into a hole, the less likely a massive turnaround becomes.
Like the contrast between the Pacers and the New York squads, certain budding superstars are trending in majorly opposite directions, too. New Orleans' Anthony Davis looks to be years ahead of his developmental schedule, while Cleveland's Kyrie Irving has hit the skids since his 2013 All-Star berth.
Here, take a look at eight of the biggest winners and losers from the first month of the 2013-14 NBA season based on how they've fared compared to their preseason expectations.
Pictures: Biggest Winners and Losers from the First Month of the NBA Season | Bleacher Report
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The 3-4 Celtics fell off the collective radar sometime between their quick playoff exit last spring, the defection of Doc Rivers and the departures of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
The plan was to load up on Ping-Pong balls and pray the ghost of Red Auerbach and gravity-defying antics of David Stern would deliver Kansas' all-universe Andrew Wiggins via the No. 1 pick in the NBA lottery.
Then the Celtics took a quick trip to Florida and the worst-laid plans of #RigginForWiggns and someday seeing his No. 22 1/2 jersey raised to the Garden rafters in 2032 were demolished.
Saturday, Jeff Green posterized LeBron James with his game-winning 3-pointer from the corner as the buzzer sounded that gave Boston a 111-110 "See You In The Next Life Wiggins" victory over the two-time defending champion Miami Heat. '
In your facial.
Friday, the Celtics beat their fellow lottery hopefuls the Orlando Magic when Aaron Afflalo's 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left turned out to be 2-pointer [his size 14 shoe was on the line] and Boston won 91-89.
That "Enjoy Your Trip To Florida and Don't Forget To Lose" email from the front office got must have been deleted by Brad Stevens somewhere over Jacksonville.
2013 has been a year of Improbable Dreams for New England sports teams and fans.
The Red Sox did the incredible. The Bruins babysat Tyler Seguin and the rest of us all the way to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Patriots, now unofficially the worst 7-2 team in the history of the NFL, emerged from the offseason of "Heaven and Hell" and torrent of never-ending injuries to again dominate the AFC East. They enter the second-half of their season next week poised as the best team in the AFC to reach the Super Bowl not from Kansas City.
[But don't look past Carolina next Monday night, though, since the Panthers are now 6-3 after Sunday's victory over San Francisco.]
Now, we have the Celtics. Beating the Heat. Literally right in LeBron's face.
Witness that, South Beach.
It came too late for all of you to leave. So you watched it in deliciously stunned disbelief.
Green went full Ray Allen right on the same court where Allen and the Heat celebrated their 2013 championship just five months earlier.
Jesus H. Shuttlesworth, what was he thinking?
Players on the floor, in practice, or on X-Box find it impossible to try and lose. It's just not in our nature. That's why all the "tank" talk sounds good, but is so impossible to implement without the players buying into it.
Don't worry, Celtics fans, Jake Peavy doesn't have to worry about gassing up his Duck Boat.
Regular-season NBA victories carry about as much importance as spring-training batting averages.
But these victories by the Celtics this early in the season have changed the dynamic of this team, whether it had been real or imagined.
The Celtics, who would be the No. 7 seed in the East if the regular-season somehow mercifully ended after seven games, are going to give it a try this season. That much is certain. And if Rajon Rondo doesn't want to play along, he could likely be jettisoned before it's over.
And if the Celtics give us any more victories like they did this weekend, another year or two of mediocrity might be worth it.
Hey, Boston, we have an NBA season - Obnoxious Boston Fan - Boston-com