- Kobe: "We're hitting the panic button now. That's what we're supposed to do. That's our job. We've got to push at it."
@Mike_BresnahanMike Bresnahan 
Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth takes a look at James Harden, who dropped a career-high 45 points last night. It’s a great read, so I highly recommend clickthroughs. Here’s a quick excerpt: “For someone who left a team that reached the NBA Finals and probably had a few more in its future, Harden seems content. Eighty million will do that. The Rockets are a work in progress and Harden could lose more games this season than he did the last two in OKC. The Rockets do have money to spend next summer, however, and they’re hoping that free agents see the benefits of suiting up next to Harden. If he’s in the All-Star Game this season, which coincidently will be played in Houston, what better advertisement could the Rockets get than that? He says he has no problem inviting attention, defensively or otherwise: ‘It says I’m doing something right.’ “- It seems like between Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut, the Warriors have their share of injuries already, but things went really bad for them last night when Brandon Rush tore his ACL. Benjamin Cruz of WarriorsWorld.net describes what happened: “Brandon Rush drove toward the basket and went up for what looked to be a thunderous dunk but instead, came down in one of the most awkward and gruesome ways a player can land. He immediately came up limping and screamed almost knowing immediately that whatever went wrong in his knee wasn’t going to be good. After he was helped off the court and into the locker room, the Warriors gathered into a huddle in what was likely a prayer for their fallen teammate (another sign that it was probably a very severe injury). Asked about the injury after the game, point guard Jarrett Jack shook his head in disbelief before answering. ‘It had me in a daze for a little while,’ said a very emotional Jack. ‘I’ve known Brandon probably longer than anybody in here. I knew him as a rookie. We both went to Indiana the same year – lived next door to each other, literally. He’s one of my really, really good friends. To watch that happen, it took the air out of me for a little bit.’ “
- Here’s the video of that Rush injury:
- Manu Ginobili should make his season debut for the Spurs tonight against the Jazz, writes Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News: “Veteran shooting guard Manu Ginobili said he expects to play limited minutes tonight against Utah after missing the first two games of the season with back spasms. ‘(I feel) much better, of course,’ Ginobili said after Saturday’s shootaround at the team practice facility. ‘Mentally and physically, since I’m going to be able to play. I had a tough week last week with a lot of back pain. I just couldn’t practice with the team. I needed more time.’ … Ginobili missed two other preseason games with a sore foot. He said he’s not worried that his early health issues will linger as he begins his 11th NBA season. ‘That’s why we rested two more days, so we don’t have concerns,’ Ginobili said. ‘They’re two very isolated cases. That’s why we’re taking anything in a hurry. It’s only the third game of the season.’ “
A really scary moment for the Hornets last night as #1 overall pick Anthony Davis took an accidental elbow to the head from teammate Austin Rivers in the second quarter, and didn’t return. Reports have confirmed that Davis suffered a concussion, but describe it as “mild”. John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has the prognosis: “The NBA put in a concussion policy in 2011 that will determine when players return from head injuries. Under the rule, Davis will have to complete a series of tests to determine if he’s fit to return. Once Davis is free of symptoms, he will have to make it through increasing stages of exertion, from a stationary bike, to jogging, agility work to non-contact drills while ensuring the concussion-like symptoms don’t return after each one, according to the league’s concussion policy. Before Davis is cleared, the Hornets will have to consult with a neurologist hired by the NBA. Davis could miss several games before he returns because of the league’s extensive concussion protocol procedures. The Hornets have officially listed Davis as day to day.”- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel updates us on Hedo Turkoglu’s injury: “Hedo Turkoglu will miss at least four weeks after he underwent surgery this morning to repair a broken bone in his left hand, Orlando Magic officials said.
