Michael Jordan promised changes for next season to a group of season-ticket holders, from Rick Bonnell of Charlotte Observer: “Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan told an audience of season-ticket holders Tuesday that he anticipates off-season change and that everyone in the organization – basketball and business side – will be evaluated come spring. Jordan was speaking to about 100 of the team’s highest-spending customers, as they decide whether to renew their ticket plans. He sat on a panel with team president Fred Whitfield and general manager Rich Cho. Former San Antonio Spurs guard Bruce Bowen served as a moderator for the event. Media were not allowed to attend, but one season-ticketholder described what happened, on condition of anonymity. Jordan declined, through a team official, to elaborate on his Tuesday comments. Jordan told the audience he’s as frustrated as anyone by the team’s 15-52 record, worst in the NBA, following a 7-59 lockout-shortened season a year ago.”
Antawn Jamison discussed the difference between Kobe Bryant and Gilbert Arenas, from Dan Feldman of NBC Sports: The difference between Kobe and Arenas? According to Jamison, Bryant will pass if yelled at and Arenas will shoot regardless. “Kobe will tell you, he’s like, ‘Look, you guys as my teammates, yell at me. Let me know that you’re open because I’m so programmed,’” Jamison told ESPN LA radio. “And this guy has told me this. ‘I see nothing but that basket. You could be open. It could be three guys on me. But the only thing I see is that basket. So, you have to tell me, Look, I was open. Or yell at me in mid-play.’ He said, ‘That doesn’t affect me at all, and I respect that.’ So, you know, I’ve dealt with Gilbert, who, ‘Look, I’m going to shoot with three guys on me, and that’s it.’”
Derrick Rose says there’s soreness in his knee, but believes he has become much stronger, from Joe Cowley of Chicago Sun-Times: “Derrick Rose admitted after the Thursday shootaround that while he might be “close’’ to returning from May surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, there is still no timetable, and an even bigger concern, there is still pain in the knee area. “Still about the same, where when you warm a little bit it will be loose, then the activity will pick up and then it gets back sore, so just going through that,’’ Rose explained… “It’s coming,’’ he said. “I’m not panicking or anything. If anything I think I’m going to be a better player. Like I said, I’m just being patient and doing all the right things. Really eating right and getting rest.’’ With the hope that Rose 2.0 could be even better? “Yeah. I’m way stronger, way stronger,’’ he continued. “But just seeing how I’m going to put that into my game, I don’t know yet. When we’re playing five-on-five, just trying to pick the right spots and just really trying to find out how strong I am.’’
The Pacers are hoping to have Danny Granger back in time for the playoffs, from Mike Wells of Indy Star: “Kaeding said it’s not uncommon for athletes to have setbacks while working their way back from the injury. The Pacers were also prepared for the possibility of Granger running into a roadblock. “You start to feel better, but as soon as you get back and you start going hard, it’s not uncommon for the pain to come back,” Kaeding said. “That’s why it’s such a challenging problem.” Granger was cleared to resume on-court activities earlier this week. He was expected to go through a workout at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday when the rest of the team had the day off. The Pacers hope to have him back for the playoffs.”
The ever-opinionated Jeff Van Gundy believes the Brooklyn Nets have overachieved this season, from Tim Bontemps of New York Post: ““I think they’ve overachieved, absolutely,” Van Gundy told The Post Wednesday before calling the Nets’ 113-96 victory over the Mavericks on ESPN… “When you have, to me, high expectations, but not necessarily the roster to fulfill them, you can be enveloped by disappointment,” Van Gundy said. “I think they should be ecstatic [with] where they came from the last couple years to where they are now, and [now] just [need to] keep trying to add and build.”… “I think [the Nets] have accomplished great things,” Van Gundy said. “I think they have maximized what they have. And the only down period, to me, was when Brook Lopez, who I think is a very good player, was out, and the combination of Williams not playing well at that point and Lopez being out led them to a difficult stretch.”
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/03/21/warriors-guards-stephen-curry-klay-thompson-adjusting-to-big-minutes/