Media Day is in full swing for a number of teams, which means we will be flooded with quotes in the next few days or so about championship desires, expectations of making the playoffs (even if your team has no shot at it) and players claiming they can shoot the ball now. We’ll have plenty of that and more in today’s blog.
But first, be sure to check out some news on the knee situation of a couple of very important players: Chris Bernucca explains why Andrew Bynum will miss the next three weeks of action and Chris Sheridan is unsure of what to make of the latest enigmatic status on Eric Gordon’s knee.
Sheridan also made sure you understood just how old the New York Knicks are right now.
Without further ado, here is what went down on Monday:
The Nets are still talking about the possibility of a championship this season, from Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York: “The Brooklyn Nets haven’t played a game yet — but, as they’ve reiterated throughout the offseason, they’re already talking title. “Where we are now, the goal is to win a championship. That’s the goal. At the end of the day, that’s what we’re playing for,” coach Avery Johnson said Monday at the team’s media day inside the $1 billion Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn. “I couldn’t say that about the team the last two years because we weren’t there on any level. … We’re not a championship team today, (but) hopefully we’ll be one as we move on through training camp and into the regular season and into the playoffs. … Are we a championship team right now? No. But do we have the potential to be one? Absolutely. And that’s where we want to be.”
- How confident is Deron Williams about the gelling of his new team? Chris Mannix of SI has the answer:
Williams is asked how long it will take the Nets to get on the same page: "8.2 days."
@ChrisMannixSI
Chris Mannix
Mike Woodson is also confident about the Knicks chance of winning a title this season, from Ian Begley of ESPN New York: “Woodson said team brass and ownership felt it was best to surround the core of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler with veterans. “We felt that we needed veteran pieces around those guys,” Woodson said. “(There aren’t) young guys who are winning NBA titles.” Woodson experienced that firsthand when he couldn’t get out of the second round with the youthful Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks, of course, haven’t won a title in more than 40 years. Woodson thinks that, if this group stays healthy, they can win one this season. “I think we’ve got a legitimate shot here, as (much as) anybody in the NBA this season, to reach that goal,” the coach said.”
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Photo of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, via Jose3030
Kobe Bryant reiterated the fact that the Lakers are Dwight Howard’s team… when Bryant retires. Lisa Dillman of Los Angeles times has the story: “If you sense a theme developing, you would be correct. Bryant kept using the word “different.” This latest version of the Lakers has the potential to reset the standard and resist old comparisons. There is the short-term goal, as in this specific season, and Bryant offered a longer-range view when he was asked about Howard. It is Bryant’s team now… “But I want to make sure with Dwight, when I retire this is going to be yours,” Bryant said. “I want to teach him everything I possibly know so when I step away this organization from right on it’s (like) I never left. “I mean, listen, this organization has done so much for me. I’m so thankful. That’s one of the things, the conversations that Jimmy (Buss) and I had over the summer. We have an opportunity to get it right here.”
- In the article above, you will find Bryant saying the current Lakers are “different” than other teams a number of times. Here’s a simple explanation of what that might mean, from Chris Palmer of ESPN:
Kobe Bryant says this is the most talented Laker team he's ever been on.
@ESPNChrisPalmer
chris palmer
With Dwyane Wade slow to heal from his knee surgery, there are some in the Heat organization who are concerned about Wade’s career moving forward, according to Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald: “The Heat will not admit it publicly, but there are concerns among those in the organization about the second half of Wade’s Hall of Fame career. Reckless abandon on the court made him famous and made him rich and made him loved in his adopted city of Miami, but now it’s making him and the Heat refocus their expectations. Wade is only 30 years old, but it’s an old 30. Wade expects himself — as does the Heat — to play well into his 30s and at a very high level. It might seem early in his career for such things, but the team has started an aggressive plan to preserve Wade’s body for the long term. Reduced minutes, scheduled off days and a repurposed skill set are all being considered. It begins in earnest with this training camp.”
- LeBron James and Ray Allen demonstrated how to hit a clean halfcourt shot in the video below. James then went on to say that the current Heat team is the best shooting team he has ever been a part of:
Tyreke Evans has developed a confident jump shot over the summer (sound familiar?), from Jonathan Santiago of Cowbell Kingdom: “I can feel it (the improvement),” said Evans of his growing confidence in his jumper. “Even when I miss one, I know I can shoot it again and I can make the second one.” Absent from his jump shot’s development this offseason was renowned shooting coach Keith Veney. The “Shot Doc” came to Sacramento last year to work with Evans midway through the season. Evans had planned to work with Veney this offseason, but scheduling conflicts prevented them from getting together. Despite Veney’s absence, those closest to Evans believe that the work he put into his jump shot and his overall game will translate into significant progress this upcoming season. “He’s just getting back to the things he did before the NBA, the work ethic he had before the NBA” said older brother Doc Evans of his younger sibling in a conversation with Cowbell Kingdom. “He’s always had the work ethic. It’s just getting back to the hard work (that got him to the pros), that focus.”
Blake Griffin has also made improvements on his jump shot, according to Broderick Turner of Los Angeles Times: “”It’s not one of those things where people are going to be like, ‘Oh, wow, it’s completely different,'” Griffin said. “For me, it’s much more compact than it was. I feel like there’s less chance for error. But, still, I’ve got a lot more work to go.” The Clippers hired Bob Thate as the team’s shooting coach, and his job has been to work with Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan. Griffin said they broke down all of his old shooting habits. He had a hitch in his shot and frequently looked hesitant to shoot. Griffin said he would fade back on his jumper, hang in the air too long and keep the ball up high. “I think we’ve pretty much gotten rid of all that,” Griffin said. “Now it’s a matter of getting reps and shooting the same way.”
Lamar Odom had some nice things to say about the future of Griffin. In fact, he called him a future hall of famer (he also once called Anthony Randolph a future hall of famer, FYI), from Dan Woike of The Orange County Register: “Like those players, Odom said, Griffin is a force at the rim, using athleticism and physicality. And like those players, Griffin will eventually have to play more from the perimeter. “It just takes time,” Odom said. “He’s great at being an athlete. But he understands the game and understands what he needs to do. He’ll be a hall of famer.” Odom, Del Negro and Griffin all know that adding a mid-range jumper and improving at the free-throw line are keys to getting his game to the level of players like Malone and Barkley. “Later on in their careers, they started to establish their perimeter shot,” Odom said. “I think if Blake can try to establish that early in the career, not only will he make himself better but he’ll make the team better.”
- The Spurs have added a champion on their roster, from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
- The Bulls finally gave Tom Thibodeau a contract extension, from K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
- Johnson also announced some encouraging signs of extending forward Taj Gibson:
- The 76ers have picked up the option on Doug Collins’ contract, according to The AP: “The Philadelphia 76ers have picked up the 2013-14 option on coach Doug Collins’ contract. Collins led the Sixers to the playoffs in his first two seasons with the team, including a run to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season. Collins says he wants to stay with Sixers in a front office or consulting role when he’s finished coaching.”
- Masai Ujiri says contract talks are going well with Ty Lawson, from Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post:
Masai on Ty Lawson contract extension: "Talks are good. We continue to talk. It never gets really serious until that date comes." (Oct 31)
@nuggetsnews
Benjamin Hochman
Rick Adelman, as high as he was on Andrei Kirilenko, was apparently not so sure about adding Brandon Roy on the roster, according to Britt Robson of Minn Post (via Kurt Helin): “The coach wanted a guy who could defend more than one position, and David found the best person who fit that description in [Nicholas] Batum. We overpaid to try and get him but we lost him. So then we went after Kirilenko. “The coach says, ‘This is the guy I want. He never talks about scoring, he talks about passing and he talks about defense. I need that player in my system to be successful.’ So that one was clearly the coach. “And Chase Budinger, that’s the coach. Rick knows him. He says, ‘I can put him in the game, he’s going to be smart; he’s not going to be the greatest defensive player but he can do it. He isn’t going to make mistakes.’ “Brandon Roy, you might think that is the coach, but that is more David. I think it is David saying, ‘Let give this player to Rick and get the backup in place in case it doesn’t work out.’ Because Rick keeps saying to me, ‘I don’t know if he can play!’ And I tell him, ‘Rick, I don’t know if he can play either!’ So the Brandon Roy thing is a risk.”
Are the Celtics now Rajon Rondo’s team? According to the now-analyst Brian Scalabrine, they have been Rondo’s team for quite some time: “Paul Pierce will still get the ball [in big spots], but he’ll get it because Rondo will make sure or Doc Rivers will make sure he does,” Scalabrine said. The former NBA veteran forward said Rondo has an intelligence for the game and the ability to know what is needed for his teammates that is unlike any player he’s ever played with. The Celtics mercurial point guard will get a few MVP votes if he improves his relationship with the media, Scalabrine said.”
- George Karl expressed just how much he dislikes the Lakers, from Hochman: “I can’t deny that I just despise the Lakers,” Karl said Monday. “There’s a bigger (description) for it (that I can’t use in public). I’ve been beaten by them too many times. I didn’t expect them to be bad this season, but when they got Steve Nash, I can’t deny I was really upset.” Karl said he sent a text message to L.A. executive Mitch Kupchak, descriptively suggesting where Karl believes Kupchak has a rabbit’s foot on his person.”
One would assume that Karl would start JaVale McGee, who signed a big contract with the team over the summer. The coach, however, is heading into camp assuming otherwise, from Hochman: “Training camp is going to tell me who plays. My idea right now is Mozgov would start with Faried and JaVale would stay with (reserve point guard) Andre Miller. But again, I don’t (care) about starting lineups, and you guys are already stirring the pot. It’s all about how many minutes you play, who you play with, how well you play and how we play (when you’re on the court). Kosta Koufos is in the mix, too. Let’s make sure you understand that. In the last 15-20 games of the season, when Timo got hurt, Kosta not only played well but good enough to get us to the playoffs.”
Darko Milicic is all about the Celtics this season, but he may be a little too excited for his own good. A. Sherrod Blakely has the story: “Reliving the past doesn’t do Milicic any good. Living in the past? That’s even worse. “I’m done trying to prove I’m the No. 2 pick and that [expletive] stuff,” Milicic told CSNNE.com. “This year, it’s all about Celtics, to show that I am a team player. It’s not about me. It’s about us as a team. Milicic added: “I’ll do whatever it takes, whatever I need to do to help this team. So now, if I have to go kill someone on the court, I’ll kill someone on the court.” Uh, just grab a few rebounds, maybe block a shot or two and defend. Basketball homicide not required. “Whatever needs to be done for the team to be better,” Milicic added, “I’ll do it.”
Nicolas Batum hopes to achieve big things on a personal level and team level, from Chris Haynes of CSNNW: ” Batum says he knows people are looking for him to be an borderline All-Star in this league with his new deal and he’s in agreement with that line of thinking. However, he says he won’t be content with just that. “I signed an All-Star-type contract and now it’s up to me to play up to that level,” Batum told CSNNW.com. “I got team goals and personal goals I want to accomplish and becoming an All-Star one day is one of them. “I want to be an NBA champion, I want to be a three-point champion. It’s all about winning in this league and I’m ready for that next step in my career.”
- The vice president of the Hornets accidentally took a loaded handgun and was caught in Newark Airport, according to Josh Margolin of New York Post: “Does the TSA know what a gun looks like? The bumblers at the Transportation Security Administration let an NBA executive fly from New Orleans to Newark with a loaded handgun in his bag without calling a foul, The Post has learned. New Orleans Hornets VP Joshua Richardson had allegedly taken the weapon on his trip to the New York area by accident after he grabbed his wife’s bag containing the weapon, instead of his own. The b-ball blunder came to light last night after TSA agents at Newark Airport found the .38-caliber handgun in the luggage as Richardson tried to fly home, Port Authority police reported. The 36-year-old exec was detained at Newark’s Terminal A as he tried to check in for his flight.”