- Dwight Howard looks to be ready to suit up for the first time this season when the Lakers face the Kings on Sunday, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports: “The Los Angeles Lakers have targeted Sunday’s preseason game against the Sacramento Kings for Dwight Howard to make his debut, several sources told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday night. Barring any complications with Howard’s back over the next couple days, the Lakers are optimistic the All-Star center will make their first appearance for them on Sunday. “He is making progress,” one Lakers source told Yahoo! Sports. “There is a good chance he can play Sunday.” Howard has been sidelined since having surgery in April to repair a herniated disk. He’s not expected to play against the Kings on Friday in Las Vegas. The Lakers would like Howard to play in two of their three remaining preseason games after Friday, sources said. But they’re hesitant to play him in both games of a back-to-back Wednesday and Thursday.”
Howard claims that doing the Gangnam Style dance helped his back get stronger, from Lakernation: “Gagnam style has helped me strengthen my core and lower back. I’ve got a great PT program, but this dance has taken me to the next level,” said Howard. Weeks later, Howard was on the court at training camp, ferociously dunking on roster hopeful Robert Sacre. Coach Mike Brown and Kobe Bryant have been amazed by Howard’s progress, comparing him to Bill Russell and noticing no signs of injury. “Whatever he’s doing to get ready for the season, he should keep doing it. I’m not seeing any problems,” said Bryant. Asked why Bryant didn’t join Howard in the Gangnam Sytle dance during a break in action at the Lakers-Trailblazers preseason game, he sternly replied “I don’t ride horseys.” Now with Jordan Hill is out for the rest of the month with a similar injury, does Howard have any suggestions for the backup big man in his recovery? Howard smiled. “The only way to go is Gangnam Style.”
LeBron James responded to rumors about the Lakers going after him in 2014, from Michael Wallace of ESPN: “Responding to an ESPN.com report on Thursday that teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers already are plotting for the next time he potentially can become a free agent, James said his only focus is on helping the Heat defend their title.I’m here, and this is what it’s all about,” James said after the Heat’s 105-78 preseason win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. “I’m preparing for this season, preparing to defend our title and that’s it. This is where … I’m here now.””That story, I don’t know where it came from, but I understand why it came up because of who I am — it’s going to happen,” James told reporters after Miami’s first preseason home game. “But I’m not going to worry about it. I’ve got to continue to stay focused with these guys and make sure we’re ready for any challenges that come.”
Dwyane Wade also responded to the story, saying they need to leave his teammate alone, from Ethan J. Skolnick of Palm Beach Post: “So, after the game, much of the talk still centered on the story that served as the centerpiece of the ESPN.com site for much of Thursday morning and afternoon, a story suggesting that the Lakers were positioning themselves for a run at James in free agency if he opts out of his contract in 2014. James and Wade had some fun with it before the game, as I covered at the top of my column. After it, Wade offered more pointed words, albeit still with a hint of a smile. “They need to leave my teammate alone with that, and go mess with somebody else,” Wade said. “He’s gonna be here. We’re straight.”
JaVale McGee has not performed well so far in the preseason, according to Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: “Seventeen minutes. Minus-17. That was JaVale McGee’s plus-minus number in the Nuggets’ loss at Portland on Wednesday night. The center signed the big contract this summer, but has not been statistically dominant thus far in the preseason, though one should point out that he averages around just 18 minutes per game. In the four preseason games, he has notched averages of 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. And he has only two total blocks. Low-post counterpart Kenneth Faried is averaging 10.8 points and 6.3 boards in 23.5 minutes.”
- Avery Johnson believes Kevin Garnett’s complimentary words about the Nets was a setup, from Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News: “Two days after losing to the Nets’ reserves in Boston – and two days after fielding questions about the Nets’ chances at winning the Atlantic Division – the Celtics sent a message. “If there’s some supposed new kid on the block, you know how it is in the neighborhood,” said Avery Johnson, the coach adding that Kevin Garnett’s praise of the Nets as a contender “was a straight setup. “No matter what documentaries and books are being written about us this year, everybody’s not excited, everybody’s not impressed,” Johnson said. “So we need to really play.”
Zach Lowe of Grantland explained why the big-man combination of Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries is not a recipe for a contender: “It’s no secret the Nets are going to have issues on defense. Lopez has been something of a punch line for two years now, owing mostly to his miserable rebounding numbers. The Nets have been among the league’s 10 worst defenses each season since he entered the league, and they have consistently played much worse on that end when Lopez is on the floor, per NBA.com and Basketball Value. Humphries, Lopez’s front-line partner, is a worker and a glass-eater, but effort alone can’t make up for deficits that are more or less unchangeable. Humphries isn’t especially tall or fast, he doesn’t have long arms, he’s not a great leaper, and though he generally has good intentions, he doesn’t have the genius-level innate understanding of space, timing, and angles that can turn a so-so defender into a very good one. And it’s very hard to find teams that have won titles without at least one very good big-man defender.”
- LaMarcus Aldridge said some very bold things in his recent interview with Ben Golliver of Blazersedge: