Source: http://tracking.si.com/2012/09/13/lebron-james-changing-agents/?xid=si_nba
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Seattle City Council backs deal to build NBA arena
Efforts to bring the NBA back to Seattle took a giant step forward in a revised arena deal announced Tuesday, with investor Chris Hansen agreeing to kick in more money for transportation improvements near a proposed new arena, personally guaranteeing the city's debt -- and offering to buy everyone a beer.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/11/new-seattle-arena-closer.ap/index.html?rss=true
LeBron James: Analyzing What Makes Him the Most Versatile Player in NBA History
Now that LeBron James can add the title "NBA champion" to his resume, it's time to examine where James fits among the NBA's all-time greats.
It wasn't that long ago that James was making noise (and history) in the Ohio High School Athletic Association. When James was just 16 years old, Ryan Jones of Slam Magazine said the then-sophomore might be "the best high school basketball player in America."
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated noted the high level of praise NBA scouts doled on James as a high-school junior who already impressed with his all-around game.
Heaping that much praise on a high schooler often can be disastrous.
And James' admirers had set the bar higher than that for any high-school player before or since.
Dubbed "King James," he was also dubbed Jordan's heir apparent before he had even left the campus of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
There was no way that this child (not even a 6'7", 225-pound man-child) could ever live up to this level of buzz, right?
Well, not exactly...
Fast forward to 2012, and James is now unquestionably the best player on the planet. Basketball minds are still raving about his versatility, and those Jordan comparisons still resonate.
Yet it's hard to say that James has lived up to the "next Jordan" moniker.
He's simply the first LeBron James.
Truth be told, James has drawn more comparisons to Magic Johnson than Jordan, but even those fail to capture the immense talent of the King.
The Johnson-James comparisons draw from a reasonable origin: Both players are 6'8" or taller with the handles, court vision and decision-making to play the point-guard position.
But as great as Johnson was, he was never the scorer nor the defender that James is.
Johnson topped the 20-point mark just four seasons in his career (his best scoring year came when he averaged 23.9 in 1986-87), while James has topped it in each of his nine seasons and has even topped the 30-point plateau in two different seasons.
As for the defensive comparisons, Johnson was lauded as a smart team defender. But he never made an all-defensive team in his NBA career.
James, meanwhile, has appeared on the past four all-defensive first teams and realistically should have an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award by now (the only piece of NBA hardware still evading the 27-year-old).
Wait, James can score and defend? Maybe those Jordan comparisons aren't too off base.
In terms of raw talent and importance to their teams, the comparisons are warranted.
But the two played vastly different games.
Jordan was every bit the athletic specimen then that James is today, but he was not initiating former Bulls coach Phil Jackson's offense. Jordan has the edge in career scoring (30.1 to 27.6), while James has the advantage in assists (6.9 to 5.3).
Likewise, while Jordan could defend anyone on the perimeter, he simply didn't have the size to defend the bigs of his era on a nightly basis.
James is simply unlike anyone player the game has seen.
With his combination of size, strength, intelligence and athleticism, he can do everything on the basketball court.
Sports fans love to compare players across eras in order to "decide" who was the greatest or who will be the next so-and-so.
But basketball fans would be much better with that sliver of hope in searching for the next Jordan. Because there will never be another King James.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Phillips, Pirates pitcher speak about racist slur
Phillips and Pittsburgh's Hughes spoke and, according to Phillips, resolved their dispute.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/iVhitBxj654/1
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
NBA: Yesterday, the @DallasMavs unveiled five new pieces in hopes of keeping pace with the strong West. http://t.co/xRkB3u70
NBA: Yesterday, the @DallasMavs unveiled five new pieces in hopes of keeping pace with the strong West. http://t.co/xRkB3u70
NBA: RT @Pacers: The celebration continues tonight for @ReggieMillerTNT. #PacersHOF http://t.co/06peM0k7
NBA: RT @Pacers: The celebration continues tonight for @ReggieMillerTNT. #PacersHOF http://t.co/06peM0k7
NBA: RT @Suns: Your Suns are working to make our community better. That's why we've formed SunsCentral. http://t.co/r1ihPGrs #All4Orange
NBA: RT @Suns: Your Suns are working to make our community better. That's why we've formed SunsCentral. http://t.co/r1ihPGrs #All4Orange
Miller, Nelson among 12 inducted into Hall of Fame
Reggie Miller wasn't always the biggest name in his own family. On Friday night, he was the top star in the biggest basketball Hall of Fame class in half a century.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/07/2012-hall-of-fame-enshrinement.ap/index.html?rss=true
Monday, September 10, 2012
Power Ranking Who Has the Most Clout in the NBA
The NBA has a chain of command, which in the scheme of things means very little.
Regardless of who holds what position and who is supposed to answer to whom, the Association's true caste system is hardly documented. But it does exist, just in the unspoken sense.
From a league commissioner struggling to save face to crafty front-office personnel to larger-than-life athletes, the NBA boasts a wide variety of personalities who possess certain levels of control and hold a certain amount of clout.
And while job titles and descriptions are an integral part of shaping a person's league-related reputation and stature, there are plenty of other factors that come into play.
Simply put, respect isn't given, it's earned. Whether it's achieved through action, marketing worth, national and global popularity, among other things, is irrelevant.
Because it hardly matters how you became influential; all that matters is how influential you've come to be.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1326172-power-ranking-who-has-the-most-clout-in-the-nba
5 Best Situational Lineups for the Utah Jazz in 2012-13
The true genius in Utah's offseason acquisitions is the tremendous flexibility and depth it gives the roster. The lack of drop-off from player two to player 10 makes the insertion of a certain player into the lineup over another much more feasible.
Lacking a bona fide NBA superstar, Utah will look to use their tactical advantage of depth and flexibility to counter advantages other teams with NBA First Team-caliber talent may have and create mismatches.
Here are Utah's best five situational lineups that can be wielded in battle against various NBA foes.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1328047-5-best-situational-lineups-for-the-utah-jazz-in-2012-13
PBT: Wade says Lakers 'will be great,' but ...
Sunday, September 9, 2012
NBA: Only fitting that Reggie Miller closed out the 2012 #HoopHall ceremony (via @SHowardCooper). http://t.co/DTNN9gRh
NBA: Only fitting that Reggie Miller closed out the 2012 #HoopHall ceremony (via @SHowardCooper). http://t.co/DTNN9gRh
Miller, Nelson among 12 inducted into Hall of Fame
Reggie Miller wasn't always the biggest name in his own family. On Friday night, he was the top star in the biggest basketball Hall of Fame class in half a century.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/07/2012-hall-of-fame-enshrinement.ap/index.html?rss=true
Report: Musician Timberlake in bid to buy Grizzlies
Award-winning singer and actor Justin Timberlake has agreed to be part of the ownership group assembled by billionaire Robert Pera in his attempt to buy the Memphis Grizzlies, said a person familiar with the situation.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/07/justin-timberlake-bid-buy-grizzlies.ap/index.html?rss=true
Trout's heroics send Angels past Verlander, Tigers
C.J. Wilson won his third straight start, Mike Trout hit a leadoff homer in the first inning and the Los Angeles Angels roughed up Justin Verlander en route to a 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=504a3d4b93a3bdcc6e6efaf2e4e2783b
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Biggest Obstacles to Kobe Bryant's 6th Title
In theory, life is peachy for Laker fans and Kobe Bryant. They have a balanced roster, fit with the game's best center and one of its best point guards. Pau Gasol is an All-Star, if not a superstar, and yet he's the fourth option on this high-powered team.
What could possibly go wrong? Despite an excellent track record, the Lakers have demonstrated that perfect situations can quickly devolve into something else. Shaq and Kobe should have won twice as many titles, and Magic Johnson's career ended about five seasons too soon.
So what are the main obstacles in L.A.'s way as it forges forth with this reloaded roster? How can a super-team meet its demise?
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1326668-biggest-obstacles-to-kobe-bryants-6th-title
NBA: Chet Walker accepts the honor of being inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (video): http://t.co/8YdT9Ddt
NBA: Chet Walker accepts the honor of being inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (video): http://t.co/8YdT9Ddt
Reader mailbag: Submit your questions now
Reader mailbag: Submit your questions now
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6824417/ns/sports-nba/
Miller, 11 others enter Hall
Friday, September 7, 2012
Miller, Nelson among Basketball Hall of Fame inductees
She was the first person he called after he got the call. And Cheryl Miller will be on stage to present her brother, Reggie, when he is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/06/hall-of-fame-2012-inductees.ap/index.html?rss=true
Magic owner DeVos recovering in Michigan after mild stroke
Orlando Magic owner and Amway Inc. co-founder Rich DeVos is recuperating following what was described as a mild stroke last month.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/05/rich-devos-recovering-after-mild-stroke.ap/index.html?rss=true
Limited practice following knee surgery won't keep Urlacher out of Bears opener
The Chicago Bears defense has five starters 31 or older, and 34-year-old linebacker Brian Urlacher is coming off knee surgery a month ago.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=b6d75067ce7bbf94e438618be1067605
5 Sneaky-Good Situational Lineups for the Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks haven't been considered an elite team in years, but that's not to say the roster doesn't possess any talented lineups. In fact, this franchise could do some major damage this season, despite the absence of perennial All-Star Joe Johnson.
While shipping their franchise cornerstone to the Brooklyn Nets for essentially future cap space will almost surely hurt next year's overall record, there is no denying this franchise has the tools to upset some elite opponents, maybe finding enough success to experience postseason action.
Losing Johnson is a big blow, albeit necessary, but that doesn't mean the team doesn't possess depth on the roster. In fact, this team may have one of the deepest benches in the Eastern Conference, which has been becoming stronger the past few years.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1325490-5-sneaky-good-situational-lineups-for-the-atlanta-hawks
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Derrick Rose: Injured Star Taking Up the Pizza Business While Recovering
Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose has found a way to kill some of the downtime he has on his hands as he recovers from his ACL surgery. The Chicago Bulls point guard has become an equity partner in the Chicago-based pizza chain, Giordano's, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com.
The pizza chain is looking to expand to other states, beginning with the Midwest region, and Rose could be its ultimate marketing tool during the process.
The key piece to this pie was former Bull and Rose's agent, B.J. Armstrong, as he made a relationship with Richard Levy, a managing partner in a firm that owns Giordano's and helped get Rose on board with the company.
With Rose having an unusual amount of free time on his hands now that he is out of commission for the time being, taking up a business venture like the one with Giordano's will help keep Rose busy and keep him from dwelling on his injury as the NBA season begins in November.
In an interview with CSNChicago.com, Rose disclosed that his ACL injury is the "closest thing to death" that he has experienced, so his mental state has to have been affected in a negative manner as well.
Rose can now have something that he is involved with that gives him a sense of worth, something that being away from the game he loves so much could have damaged along with his injury.
So before Rose is back on the court serving up his opponents, he will be in the pizza business helping serve up slices of deep-dish pizza during Giordano's expansion outside the state of Illinois.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Seeing the results of child's sponsorship in Rwanda gratifying
I'm Kristen Blake, and my husband, Steve, is a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. I've been asked by David Aldridge to share about our recent trip to Rwanda.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/09/03/morning-tip-guest-kristen-blake/index.html?rss=true
The Critical Improvement Each Young Charlotte Bobcats Player Must Make
One good thing you can say about the Charlotte Bobcats is that they're young.
Extremely young. And perhaps, with a little more time, extremely good.
In writing this article, the cutoff age is 26 years old. Being a rabid Bobcats fan, I knew we had plenty of players under that mark, but I wasn't quite expecting three quarters of the team to be at or below 26 years old.
Of the 12 players currently contractually included on the Bobcats' roster, nine of them are 26 years old or younger. That's pretty astonishing when you think about it.
And it gives us a good reason to perhaps assign blame for how bad the team was last year. Little veteran leadership on a young team that had more injuries than they could keep up with.
But with every season, every Bobcat gets another year of experience, and this team is going to keep getting better.
Three players are not being included on this list—Ben Gordon, DeSagana Diop and Brendan Haywood. There is a strong possibility that the Bobcats will elect to sign Josh Howard and/or Tracy McGrady to bring some veteran leadership to this team as well.
But the rest of these guys are under 26, and every single one of them has room for improvement.
Hank Nichols
Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo talk about Hank Nichols' lustrous career as a NCAA referee.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/hall_of_fame/2012/09/04/20120904_nichols_extra_bite.nba/index.html
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Looking Back at Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller talks about growing up in California and how he gravitated to basketball.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/09/04/20120904_miller_young_years.nba/index.html
Scouting Report, Analysis and Predictions for Raptors Rookie Terrence Ross
"Reach" is a relative term in the NBA draft. Every team enters the draft with different priorities and different methodologies with regard to evaluating and selecting players in any given year.
To call Terrence Ross a "reach" at No. 8, then, is to take umbrage with how the Toronto Raptors go about their business.
Which would be rather reasonable actually, considering the Raptors haven't reached the playoffs since 2008 and appear to have plenty of building left to do before they can crack the code in the Eastern Conference.
Still, GM Bryan Colangelo's presumptive process in picking Ross, projected by some as a late lottery pick, has its merits. Rumors of a promise made by Toronto to Dion Waiters began to swirl after the Syracuse guard abruptly withdrew from the pre-draft combine in Chicago and canceled his remaining workouts.
But when the Cleveland Cavaliers took Waiters with the No. 4 pick, the Raptors were left without their first choice on the wing, at which point they evidently opted for the 6'7" swingman out of Washington as their Plan B.
In reality, nobody will know with any certainty whether or not Toronto actually "reached" for Ross until the kid's had the opportunity to strut his stuff in live NBA action. A strong rookie season by Ross would go a long way toward not only establishing himself as a fixture north of the border, but also absolving Colangelo of a perceived "sin," if a minor one.
How Ross Fits In
Terrence Ross' list of NBA-ready skills, of which the Raptors would do well to take advantage, is short and sweet: He shoots and he defends.
On the offensive end, Ross projects a rangy, athletic "two" guard who can get his own shot and convert at a high rate. His shooting stroke is picturesque with a high release point and smooth mechanics to go along with tremendous balance on his feet.
Ross' combination of leaping and shooting ability—along with his penchant for getting off shots in all manner of situations—has drawn favorable comparisons to Nick Young and JR Smith. Whether such comparisons are flattering or not is another story entirely.
The point is, Ross can and does shoot more often than not. According to Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress, 67.2 percent of Ross' possessions in college ended with him jacking up a jumper. To his credit, Ross was effective in such a role thanks in no small part to his deep range (37.1 percent from three).
Ross' arrival should help the Raptors spread the floor even more with a roster that already features five players—Linas Kleiza, Alan Anderson, Jose Calderon, Kyle Lowry and John Lucas III—who shot better than 34 percent from deep last season.
Not to mention Andrea Bargnani and DeMar Derozan, who've both been known to launch the long ball from time to time.
That'll come in handy for a T-Dot team that ranked 20th in three-point percentage and 24th in two-point percentage last season.
Defense, though, wasn't particularly problematic for the Raptors last season—they ranked in the top 10 in just about every category related to field goal defense—and should be even less so with Ross on board. He's a fundamentally sound defender who understands how to position himself between ball and man at all times, be it as an off-ball defender or while boxing out on the boards.
Ross' fundamentals are only aided by his all-around athleticism. When the basics fail him, Ross can use his physical skills to recover and make plays anyway.
Per Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress, Ross limited his opponents in college to 0.88 points per possession (PPP) in catch-and-shoot situations, 0.69 PPP on jump shots and 0.4 PPP when going to his right. On the whole, the players Ross defended shot just 21.7 percent in isolation situations.
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, a defensive guru in his own right, should find Ross' proficiency as a lockdown perimeter defender to his liking.
Adjustments Ross Must Make at the Pro Level
On the other hand, Casey might not care for Terrence Ross' jump-shooting ways, if only because they portend a player who leaves much to be desired as a ball-handler, passer and playmaker. That is, Ross took so many jumpers because he couldn't (or chose not to) take the the ball to the basket.
It's no wonder, either. Ross averaged more turnovers (2.0) than assists (1.4) and gave the ball away on 12 percent of his possessions as a sophomore.
Ross' middling dribble and the rash of turnovers it precipitated served to discourage him from attacking the rim and, in turn, left him without many attempts from the free-throw line. Ross notched just 2.7 foul shots per game in Year 2 at Washington, placing him fourth in that category on his own team, even though he was the Huskies' leading scorer.
If Ross is ever to become a go-to scorer in the NBA (or at least make the Raptors look good for taking a chance on him at No. 8), he'll need to tighten up his dribble and work on both getting to the basket and drawing contact while there.
Some time spent on his passing wouldn't hurt, either.
Intangibles
To his credit, Terrence has already shown himself to be a diligent worker who improves from year to year and isn't afraid to seize the opportunity when it's there for the taking. Ross' minutes (17.4 to 31.1) and shots (6.8 to 13.4) increased dramatically between his freshman and sophomore seasons, paving the way for spikes in his scoring (8.0 points to 16.4 points) and rebounding (2.8 board to 6.4 boards).
Some of that growth can be attributed to the natural leap that most collegians make in their second seasons. Ross was no longer a newbie to the college game and showed as much on the court as a sophomore.
Still, there's something to be said for a player whose improvement in productivity so closely mirrors the expansion of his role on a team. It helps, too, that he stepped up his game as far as defense and shot selection are concerned.
If Ross applies himself to the game as a pro as diligently as (or more so than) he did at UW, he'll have a legitimate chance to be a special player in Toronto.
Rookie-Year Projections
Terrence Ross' productivity as a rookie will depend on the role into which he's cast by Dwane Casey. Ross won't have much competition for the starting job at shooting guard, though the player set to give chase—Landry Fields, to whom the Raptors gave $18.75 million this summer—could be an issue for the first-year sharpshooter.
Assuming Fields doesn't infringe too much on his territory (and shots-per-game stats), Ross should be good for 12 to 15 points and five rebounds on a nightly basis.
The folks at bovada.lv, though, don't seem so sure that his numbers will be Rookie-of-the-Year-worthy. He's currently listed as a 30-to-1 oddsmaker, putting him on par with fellow long shots Austin Rivers, Maurice Harkless and Tyler Zeller.
As much of a ROY outsider as Ross may be, at least he can claim to be on an "if" team in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. That is, the Raptors could end their four-year postseason drought if Andrea Bargnani stays healthy, DeMar Derozan improves, Linas Kleiza returns to a greater semblance of his pre-knee-injury self, Kyle Lowry plays as well as he did during the first half of the 2011-12 season with the Houston Rockets and new import Jonas Valanciunas lives up to the considerable hype.
And, of course, if Terrence Ross can shoot the lights out on offense and shut 'em down on defense well enough to look less like a reach and more like a steal.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
NBA: RT @NBATV: Tune in to @NBATV NOW for "Looking Back At Reggie"! #HoopHall
NBA: RT @NBATV: Tune in to @NBATV NOW for "Looking Back At Reggie"! #HoopHall
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Blazers name Dale Osbourne to Stotts' staff
The Portland Trail Blazers have added Dale Osbourne of the NBA D-League's Tulsa 66ers to head coach Terry Stotts' staff.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/08/30/blazers-add-osbourne-to-stotts-staff.ap/index.html?rss=true
Source: Nets to work out former Knick Curry
Free agent center Eddy Curry will work out with the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, a source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com.Source: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8314520/source-brooklyn-nets-work-eddy-curry
Monday, September 3, 2012
Don Barksdale Highlights
Don Barksdale's career spanned four season, split between the Baltimore Bullets and Boston Celtics.
PBT power rankings: Lakers make big leap
Dwight Howard's Back Injury a Blessing in Disguise for L.A. Lakers
A dark gray cloud hangs over the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2012-2013 season.
Although the Lakers made some fantastic moves this summer—having the best offseason of any NBA team by my estimation—the question mark stamped on Dwight Howard due to back surgery he underwent in April is the main factor hindering the Lakers from being outright championship favorites this year.
Even so, Howard missing regular season games this season to ensure he’s back at 100 percent before returning could be a blessing in disguise for Laker Nation.
Lakers teams led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are not strangers to having injured centers on the roster. In fact, during their back-to-back championship runs in 2009 and 2010, Andrew Bynum played in just 115 of a possible 164 regular season games.
Bynum became relatively healthy for both championship runs in the postseason, playing in 23 total games each time. However, his 17.4 minutes per-game average during the 2009 playoffs and 24.4 minutes per-game average during the 2010 playoffs made Bynum an afterthought to L.A.’s success.
In addition to his lack of minutes, the Philly-bound big man never notched double-digit points per game in the playoffs during the Lakers’ two championship runs. Bryant and Gasol ran the show and have some nice jewelry as a result.
The Bryant-Gasol tandem had great success when it was three to four years younger than it is now, so the Lakers’ past success with an oft-injured center does not mean they should be thrilled about Howard’s situation. Nevertheless, more factors than past triumphs could make Howard’s early season absence a net positive for this Lakers squad.
First off, the role players on this team will be asked to embrace a larger role than they’ll see come playoff time in 2013. Namely, Jordan Hill and Antawn Jamison should see increased minutes while Howard recuperates. If these two players can take advantage and help the Lakers jump out to a hot start, the absence of “Superman” may not mean all that much.
As a veteran presence who has already won a Sixth Man of the Year award in the NBA, Jamison should have no trouble adjusting to his new role in Los Angeles. He can return to a winning culture following a stint with the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers and take advantage by being the leader of a revamped Lakers bench.
The true test falls on the broad shoulders of Hill.
There’s a chance that Hill could start in Howard’s place beside Gasol to patch up the hole at the center position, but even if the former University of Arizona Wildcat doesn’t start, his minutes will see a spike.
Hill was productive in eight regular season games (one start) with the Lakers after coming over via trade from the Houston Rockets. In just 11.7 minutes per game, Hill averaged 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. To put those numbers in perspective, that translates to 14.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Because of his production during the brief time spent with the Lakers in regular season, Hill saw an increased role in the 2012 playoffs.
The former eighth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft averaged 18.1 minutes per game in 12 playoff appearances. His 43.4 percent field-goal shooting coupled with 68.8 percent shooting from the charity stripe were less than stellar to say the least, but Hill played with a high motor in his first-ever trip to the postseason.
If Hill can play well to start the season, the confidence he’ll gain will be invaluable to the Lakers’ second unit when Howard returns.
The team’s putrid bench play a season ago was its Achilles heel. Jamison and Hill should go a long way toward improving the second unit. The increased minutes for key role players will create an avenue to improve the Lakers’ second unit, but it’s not the biggest positive related to Howard’s recovery.
That distinction falls upon two veteran stars and how they might be impacted by Howard's absence. One is a new face and the other has two championship rings to his name: Steve Nash and Pau Gasol.
In an ideal world, Nash will be handed the reins to run the Lakers’ offense. The former two-time MVP kept the Phoenix Suns running like a well-oiled machine, even after the fancy rims got swapped out in favor of overpriced plastic, so running an offense surrounded by stars should make Nash feel like a kid in a candy store.
Although Nash won’t be able to adapt to Howard to start the season, he can still develop a strong on-court chemistry with Gasol.
The seven-foot Spaniard fits the prototype of a player Nash works with best; he’s a highly skilled big man who can operate both down in the post and out top thanks to his excellent mid-range game. Look for Nash to run a great deal of pick-and-roll/pop sets with Gasol before Howard makes his return.
Following a season spent overshadowed by Bryant and Bynum in terms of go-to scoring options, Gasol’s new floor general should get him plenty of touches and help him regain his confidence and swagger.
The Lakers defense could (and mostly likely will) struggle until Howard comes back to anchor and protect the interior. Nevertheless, the positives the Lakers could salvage from Howard’s early absence could go a long way toward establishing a championship-caliber rotation.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Pistorius upset at Paralympics, rips winner
The double-amputee was upset at the Paralympics, then complained about his opponent's blade advantage.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/gkbgo8GXERg/1
NBA: RT @NBASTORE: Just released: @jumpman23 Retro 7 & LeBron 9 Low shoes at http://t.co/yWhFYxiw http://t.co/qPkTpBRU http://t.co/aYQJElD1
NBA: RT @NBASTORE: Just released: @jumpman23 Retro 7 & LeBron 9 Low shoes at http://t.co/yWhFYxiw http://t.co/qPkTpBRU http://t.co/aYQJElD1
Should Milwaukee Bucks Give Brandon Jennings a Contract Extension?
Beggars can't be choosers. I don't wish to offend Milwaukee Bucks fans, but the city is not exactly a free agent draw. Withhold your cash, let a current player go, and you might not be able to net a new big name.
Brandon Jennings has already publicly hinted at a possible departure. Last season (via ESPN), he said, "I am going to keep my options open, knowing that the time is coming up. I'm doing my homework on big-market teams.''
This was not some off-the-cuff remark. Jennings said this over email. He is eyeing the market, more fiercely than any other free agent will eye the Bucks.
So the Bucks have a decision on their hands—a few actually, within the single "do we sign him or not" choice. They can wait on Jennings and seek out more information before deciding on whether to make a large offer. They can give him a contract extension right now. They can just decide against re-signing him, looking to build around Monta Ellis. They can also trade him.
It is difficult to know just how good a 22-year-old point guard will become, but I would elect to gamble on Brandon were I Milwaukee. If Jennings does improve between now and his prime, whatever deal they offer today could be a bargain tomorrow.
This is what happened with the Celtics and Rajon Rondo. In 2009, Boston signed Rajon to an extension at $55 million over five years. They have yet to regret the move. In 2010, Memphis gave a much-mocked $45 million contract to Mike Conley. He has outperformed the deal in spite of the criticism.
Gambling on young, fast point guards can work in an increasingly quick league. Brandon Jennings is currently not worth a max contract, but if a team can offer a secure future for say, $11 million per year, there are certainly worse risks out there.
On the other hand, Brandon Jennings is far from a perfect player and his improvement is far from assured. He's one of the worst shooting starting guards in the league at a career .393 field-goal percentage. Don't be deceived by his incredible rookie-year display.
Here's the oddest aspect to Jennings' woeful shooting: He's improved every season. Brandon shot .371 his rookie year, .390 his second season, and .418 in his third year. At .418, he's still abysmal, but Jennings has incrementally improved towards that terrible mark.
This is either encouraging or discouraging, depending on your perspective. An optimist would conclude that Jennings is on an upward trajectory, and that he'll eventually merge his quickness and handle with a reliable shot. A pessimist will say that he's come so far to still be bad, and therefore, might regress to somewhere terrible.
I'll go with optimism, namely because I think Jennings is capable of returning to his good rookie three-point shooting (.374). He's not a terrible shooter anymore below the line (38 percent from 10-15 feet, 39 percent from 16-23 feet) and players tend to improve on three-point shooting later in their careers. A bounce-back season from behind the arc—or sustained genuine improvement—would easily turn B.J. into an efficient scorer.
Of course, Jennings has more to improve on. His court-vision is good, but not great. His right hand is weak. Despite all these flaws, he's able to maintain an 18.46 player efficiency rating at this stage of his career. It might not presage greatness, but small-market teams are left few other options than to gamble on youth.
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Saturday, September 1, 2012
Fan, 20, was drinking before fatal fall at Georgia Domne
A 20-year-old man fell about 35 feet from the upper level of the Georgia Dome during the Tennessee-North Carolina State game Friday night.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/tkir6OxFiD4/1
Catch of the year? OSU player's one-handed TD
Is it possible that we saw the catch of the year in a noon game on the first football Saturday?
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/FJAjKZG4Y7U/1
Is Kevin Love Trade Speculation to the Chicago Bulls Just a Dream?
Chicago Bulls fans are searching for hope.
After such a devastating ending to last season, and lingering concerns regarding how well Derrick Rose will recover from his torn ACL, fans are desperate for potential happenings to lift their spirits. The offseason signings of players like Nate Robinson and Kirk Hinrich simply will not satiate the hearts of the Bulls faithful.
Dwight Howard to the Bulls trade speculation circulated for over a year, even though it was never a highly plausible scenario. Bulls fans enjoyed entertaining the thought while holding out hope that "Superman" just might somehow land in Chicago and latch on long-term, but that thought was clearly just a dream.
The next man in line for unending trade speculation is Kevin Love, who declared over the summer that his "patience is not high" with his current squad, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After such a declaration, it's inevitable that rumors are going to spread about what could happen to K-Love if the T'Wolves whiff on the playoffs again in 2012-13. Would he demand a trade?
His current contract has him locked in through the 2014-15 season, with a player option for 2015-16. But it's clear Love's patience could run its course before he hits free agency.
This is where a team like the Bulls could enter the picture. Is it a dream to wonder if Love's dissatisfaction will reach a boiling point and a trade to Chicago could be a realistic potential?
Well, it may be a potential, but numerous factors will have to fall into place.
First of all, will the T'Wolves really miss the playoffs again this year? If they stay healthy and regain playmaking Ricky Rubio come December or January, then there's every reason to believe Minnesota can crack into the playoffs as the 7th or 8th seed.
If this happens and the T'Wolves begin to show major signs of life, perhaps Love will squelch any hint of a lack of patience.
Secondly, do the Bulls have the pieces to land a player of Love's caliber?
The truth is they likely do if Minnesota becomes willing to make Love available, but it would be a hefty price. We're talking Taj Gibson (assuming Chicago inks him to a long-term deal next offseason), prized prospect Nikola Mirotic and a couple draft picks (one of which would likely be a future Charlotte Bobcats first-round pick).
Pulling the trigger on such a deal is not a no-brainer. Gibson, while not an All-Star level player, has great value, particularly on defense, and Mirotic's upside is through the roof.
Therefore, trading for K-Love is obviously an idea to speculate if it's an option, but the Bulls would be wise to play their cards wisely if considering such a deal. It may not be worth trading away a very bright future for one player, despite the caliber of player Love is.
Further, perhaps the Bulls could wait until Love hits free agency in 2015 or 2016. Bulls fan may lack the patience for that, but it could be wiser for Chicago to wait rather than gamble in the next year or two.
Lastly, money, as always, is a factor. The Bulls can't readily trade for Love like you can on a video game. With the bulky contracts of Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer on the books, some tinkering would need to be done to free up the appropriate space for Love, who will make around $15 million over the next few seasons.
All that to say, is adding Love just a dream?
Yes and no.
Yes, because, as we all know, most trade speculation never ends up happening. We may talk about this for three years but in the minds of Chicago and Minnesota management, this is downright silly and they are giggling at us.
And no, because if certain details fall into place, then there's reason to believe Love would be excited about playing in the Windy City. If he could join a nucleus of Rose, Noah and Deng, the Bulls would enter the mix of the league's elite.
At any rate, this is at least an idea for Bulls fans to speculate. Adding Love, even if it cost a great deal, would give Chicago a legitimate No. 2 option alongside D-Rose.
Therefore, maybe Chicago fans should passionately root against Minnesota this season, yearning for a disgruntled K-Love who soon asks for a trade to a true title contender.
If this happens, then it may not merely be a dream to think the Bulls will soon pursue Love. It may become reality.
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