Things are starting to really heat up in the Olympics, after Team USA survived a tough contest with Lithuania yesterday. For coverage of that, and all the other Olympic action, check out Nick Gibson’s Olympic recap from yesterday. Also be sure to check out Chris Sheridan talking about the lessons the Americans have to take away from that Lithuania game, and the five most important questions with the end of pool play. And, if you missed it, here’s the latest entry in the Diary of the Uncredentialed.
But if it’s just NBA news you want, here’s the latest:
- Jeremy Lin was in Taiwan recently, where he held a press conference. Lin was asked about what advantages he had as an Asian basketball player: “‘I think the advantage of being an Asian basketball player in America is that no one expects anything from you, and no one thinks you are going to be good,’ Lin told a press conference in Taipei yesterday. ‘The reason why I said it was an advantage is because everyone takes you lightly, and the minute you step out on the court, you give it to them and you immediately earn their respect, but no one is going to give it to you right away, not in America at least,'” writes Shelley Shan of the Taipei Times.
- Lin was also asked about the most famous and successful Asian player in NBA history, Yao Ming, and Christie Chen of Focus Taiwan writes: “Lin said he has always looked up to the 31-year-old Chinese ex-player. However, the 23-year-old point guard said he doesn’t see himself as having to ‘fill his shoes or anything like that. My goal is very simple, and that’s just to get as close as I can to reaching my personal potential,’ said Lin. When asked what he thinks of being described as the Chinese player’s successor, Lin said ‘what I have done is nothing compared to what Yao has done.'”
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a Q & A up, where he talks about the Heat potentially signing former Wizard Andray Blatche: “They just might do that. Yet just because, as ESPN reported, the Heat are doing their background work on Blatche, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are poised for a move. Yes, Andray has a place in South Florida and has been working out here, but for a player looking to rebuild his NBA career, there might be better places than a roster where his opportunities could be limited. While it might be worth the risk for the Heat, it might not be a move in Blatche’s best interests, particularly when considering how Eddy Curry, on a tryout deal of his own last season, essentially vanished.”
- Here’s an interesting quote from Danny Granger of the Pacers, courtesy of Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star via Sulia: “Granger on the East: ‘It’s going to be tough. Brooklyn, they are going to be threat. Obviously Miami is going to be there, but I think we still view ourselves as a top-2 team in the East.'”
- Here’s some news that’s sure to make Nets fans happy, courtesy of Nets Daily: Mirza Teletovic is coming to the NBA to “win championships”: “Mirza Teletovic, in an interview with the writer for a Slovenian basketball site, left no doubt as to why he decided to leave Europe, at considerable expense, for Brooklyn. ‘I’m not going to the NBA to waste my time, but to get the (championships).’ Teletovic is paying nearly $2 million of his own money to buy out his contract with Caja Laboral of Spain and was willing to take another $2 million a year pay cut so the Nets could pursue other players. He felt now is the time to make the leap. ‘For two or three years I have delayed this decision,’ the 6’9″ forward said. ‘Now the Brooklyn club is bringing me in. A lot of money has been invested in the composition of the team, I think it will be interesting.'”
- Last month, the Celtics gave up JaJuan Johnson as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Rockets for Courtney Lee. How does Johnson feel about the trade? Jeff Washburn of the Lafayette (In.) Journal and Courier talked to him about it: “‘If I’m with the Rockets, or wherever I’m at, I’m going to play as hard as I can and compete for minutes,” Johnson said. “Obviously with Boston signing Kevin Garnett to a three-year extension, minutes probably would have been hard for me there. In Houston, I probably will have more of an opportunity to contribute to the team.’”