Additional content from around the Association:
It would have been nice to open the season against the Knicks, but it’s fitting the Nets started their season without their crosstown rival, writes William C. Rhoden of the New York Times: “‘I wish we would have been able to play that game against the Knicks on opening night,’ said David Anderson, the general manager of Barclays Center. ‘It would have been special, and it still will be special, but all things considered, the game was secondary.’ A game against the Knicks may have been more desirable, but with their cross-borough rivals out of the picture, the Nets were able to focus on what this game meant to a nomadic franchise ever in search of its true New York roots.”
Atlanta Hawks lead guard Jeff Teague will have to earn his money this season by seizing a larger role on the team,according to Lang Greene of Hoopsworld: “President of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ferry has consistently reiterated his expectation for Teague to assume a much larger role in the team’s framework this season, but it’s also no secret the club’s top priority is resolving the future of forward Josh Smith, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Hawks have only $26 million in salary committed on the books for the 2014 season, which will give the team roughly $30 million in cap space for Ferry to continue reshaping the roster via trade opportunities or free agency.”
Are the Thunder getting complacent? Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman believes they might be: “If you’re like me, you’re wondering why the Thunder showed up like that. It could have been something simple, such as the Thunder knowing Josh Smith was back in Atlanta with a sprained ankle. Or it could have been something a tad more complex, something I’m sure nobody wants to hear and even fewer people will want to believe — such as the Thunder came back content and complacent following last year’s trip to the Finals. Perhaps these players feel they’ve arrived. Feel they can just show up and stomp on a starless club. If it’s the latter, it’d be the second-worst thing that can happen to this Thunder season.”
A week into the NBA season, why hasn’t Kenyon Martin received any interest? Marc J. Spears from Yahoo! Sports has the latest: “So why hasn’t any team called wanting to sign him. ‘There is a notion about me that is not accurate at all – I don’t know who started it or where it came from – that people can’t control me,’ Martin told Yahoo! Sports. ‘I don’t understand. Have I had my issues like a lot of other people? Yeah. But I’m getting back that people think they can’t control me, that if I don’t play I’m going to explode, or I can turn a locker room.'”
Knicks coach Mike Woodson wants three guards to make a ‘Point,’ writes George Willis of the New York Times: “The last time Kurt Thomas played with the Knicks might have been the last time the franchise had stability at point guard. At least it seems like it. Who knew once Charlie Ward was gone the Knicks would struggle to find a backcourt they could trust. You need only recall last year began with Toney Douglas as the starting point guard to realize how much the position has been upgraded for 2012-2013.”
Jeremy Bauman is a 2011 Indiana University alum who is an aspiring scout and shooting coach. After covering last June’s NBA finals for this site, he’ll be blogging for SheridanHoops.com weekday mornings during the 2012-13 basketball season. Follow him on Twitter.
Nice to see my boy JJ getting shots and making buckets! Now Orlando needs to deal him and get something for him asap since they are in FULL rebuild mode.
Funny how a lot of players are stepping up like the players we create in NBA 2K’s MyPlayer mode. Harden scoring buckets in his first two games, and then Lillard beasting as a rookie. Might be a fun season after all.
Certainly will be, Zee. Looking forward to it.