Al Jefferson was very blunt about his shortcomings as a defender and someone who used to be known as a “black hole” on offense, from Zach Lowe of Grantland: “In the meantime, Clifford, a defense-first guy, faces the challenge of repairing a sieve that now features Jefferson at center. Jefferson’s teams have always failed on defense, and the big man knows his issues against the pick-and-roll have often driven those struggles. He’s a bit plodding in space, and has struggled badly to corral opposing point guards. “It ain’t no secret around the league that I struggle with my defense,” Jefferson says. “My pick-and-roll defense is my weakness. And that’s mind over matter. I just gotta suck it up, get my ass out there, and do it.”… He also says he is past the point of wanting to dominate the ball, a maturation he credits to his time with the Jazz. “They used to call me The Black Hole, and that’s really who I was,” Jefferson says. “But going to Utah just matured me in so many ways. I’m past the stage in my career where I feel like I have to take all the shots.”
Brook Lopez talked about his foot surgery and how he has been progressing, from Tim Bontemps of New York Post: “For the third time in less than two years, he needed surgery on his right foot, this time to replace a screw inserted in an earlier procedure that had bent. “I think I was more disappointed than anything,” Lopez told The Post yesterday. “I wasn’t concerned. I was disappointed, but it was best to do it when we did it, in the week after the season, to give myself the most time to get back in shape and to get ready for the season.”… After having the surgery in May, the 7-footer recently was able to shed his walking boot and resume workouts. He said he’s on track to be ready by the time the Nets reconvene for training camp in late September. “I feel great,” Lopez said. “I have been getting in some weight lifting, getting shots up and everything is going well. “I’m not fully working out. I’m not jumping or running or anything like that, but we have a good month-and-a-half just until training camp starts, so we’ll definitely be all right by then.”
Hakeem Olajuwon shared his excitement of having the opportunity to teach Dwight Howard, from Jason Friedman of Rockets.com: “…they come equipped with a wealth of knowledge and experience so encyclopedic and expansive that even Olajuwon himself appeared somewhat awestruck by what had just taken place on an otherwise uneventful Monday afternoon. “Standing there with Coach McHale, for me as a big guy, it was incredible to listen to what he was teaching and to see the look in his eyes, realizing his basketball IQ and understanding of the game,” Olajuwon said. “I was just thinking, ‘Wow, how lucky (Howard) is to be with two Hall of Famers, adding true value to his development.’ “As good as he is right now, he’s still very raw. But he has all the tools so I’m like a kid in a candy store. That’s why we give him the fundamentals of these moves. There’s a rhythm. And once he sees it, then it’s easier to emulate and then incorporate with power. He has the power. Now we’re adding finesse to the power. “The best big men in the game – they’re game-changers. That’s what he is. And he’s in the right situation where the coach understands it, he demands it, and Dwight can give it.”
- Howard says he wants to be held accountable by his coach and teammates, from Friedman: “I just feel like having guys like Hakeem and Kevin McHale on my side, I can’t lose,” he says. “They’re going to really stay on me and that’s what I want. I want Coach to hold me accountable. I want my teammates to hold me accountable and to push me which in turn will make everybody better because I’m going to push these guys the same way they’re pushing me. “Everything Hakeem has done has been positive and geared toward helping me grow. He told me, ‘I see something in you.’ He wants me to dominate. So this is it. This is the right place for me. This was about putting myself in the opportunity to win and to make myself the best player I can be.”
Amare Stoudemire will be a judge for Miss America pageant, according to The AP: “Former ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass and New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire (ah-MAR’-ay STOW’-duh-my-ur) highlight the list of judges for next month’s Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. Joining them will be Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell; comedian and performer Mario Cantone; and Barbara Corcoran, an investor from ABC’s entrepreneurial competition show “Shark Tank.” Also on the panel are Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s food-and-talk show “The Chew,” and Deidre Downs Gunn, an obstetrician and gynecologist who was the last Miss America to be crowned in Atlantic City. Pageant officials announced the list of judges Tuesday. The pageant will be broadcast live from Boardwalk Hall on Sept. 15. It had been held in Las Vegas the past six years before returning to New Jersey.
- In this Grantland interview with Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose, Kevin Durant and James Harden talked about being separated. Durant also called Harden the best guard in the league:
- Kobe Bryant got competitive with his chopsticks on an Asian talk show:
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
Hi there, I do believe your web site might be having browser compatibility problems.
Whenever I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s
got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Apart from that, fantastic site!
my web page; Oakley(オークリー)
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after going through
many of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking
it and checking back regularly!
My site – stylish asics gel noosa tri 8 wholesale
I’m curious to find out what blog system you are utilizing?
I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latest blog and I’d like to find something more risk-free.
Do you have any solutions?
my web blog – レディースファッション シフォン
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I in finding It truly useful &
it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to offer one thing back and help others like you aided me.
Here is my site – gregory グレゴリー メッドバッグ
I just couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that
I really enjoyed the usual info a person provide for your visitors?
Is going to be back incessantly in order to check out new posts
My blog … エクセリーヌ 超電波ソーラー
Hey there! I just want to offer you a big thumbs up for
your excellent information you have got here on this post.
I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
I am really impressed along with your writing skills and also with the format on your blog.
Is that this a paid subject matter or did you customize it
your self? Either way stay up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to look
a nice weblog like this one these days..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about columbia
jackets for men. Regards
Ahaa, its nice conversation concerning this paragraph at this place at this blog,
I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting
here.
I’m extremely impressed together with your writing abilities and also with the
structure on your blog. Is this a paid topic or did you modify it your self?
Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare
to see a nice blog like this one nowadays..
I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the
internet users, its really really good paragraph on building up
new weblog.
These are truly fantastic ideas in about blogging.
You have touched some nice points here. Any way keep up wrinting.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to
and you are just extremely great. I really like what you have acquired here, really
like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it
sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you.
This is actually a tremendous site.
Your method of explaining all in this article is truly pleasant, every one
be able to simply be aware of it, Thanks a lot.
With all the talk about Al Harrington being close to a deal with The Wiz, it terms out to be a 1 year minimum. Reminds we of the Oden to Heat talks.
Jared Zwerling has about a 10% success rate – that is for every 10 players who Knicks reportedly have interest in or vica verca (or mutual), at most 1 signs with team. Knicks already have 14 players on Roster and that usually is how teams like to start season.
Knicks front office like to think they are “special” as part of their publicity.
Regarding Howard to Houston at trade deadline in 2012, Fred Kerber of the NY Post wrote as fact, about 15 months ago (wasn’t picked up by any major sports network) that ORL threatened to trade Howard to the Lakers if he didn’t waive his Early Termination Option. Kerber didn’t mention Houston, but its quite possible Dwight received a threat to be traded to Houston (we always knew the teams had some trade talks). However, truth is that Howard’s agent expected his client to be traded to Nets, when he got Howard to issue a statement during that infamous day, hours before Howard changed his mind. After the season Howard made reference to promises that ORL didn’t keep, and he still wanted to be traded to Nets.
The fallacy with Berger’s story is that the Lakers and even more so Houston, would have wanted some sort of guarantee that Howard would re-sign with them. Otherwise it just would have been a 3 month rental and not worth giving up assets similar to what Nets were offering (including their 1st round pick that ended up becoming Damian Lilliard). Nets were prepared to sign Howard as a free agent that summer (without forfeiting Lopez), so they had the leverage to force the trade to B’klyn, had Howard resisted ORL’s last minute efforts. Brooklyn had always been Howard’s desired destination, but ORL, according to GM Billy King, didn’t want to have to trade him to an EC team.
As far as Jim not having issues with Phil as well as putting the onus on his dad in the coaching decision, yeah, I’m calling BS on that. Jim Buss is going to run what his father built right into the ground (like he did with the KIngs) if he doesn’t start putting the franchise first instead of his own ego.
Truth is that the Lakers team is on its way to becoming irrelevant in NBA. LeBron isn’t going to join Kobe in LA, and Melo soon will be an aging former Star (he never was a superstar because of his lack of Defense and Team play).
Howard made the smart decision, that even Phil Jackson endorsed, by going to Houston where he will get training from 2 Greats (his coach and Olijawon).
Please. Low spot? Probably or yes. Irrelevant? Never. Lakers have been ducking a bullet for the last couple of years, restarting fresh was an inevitability that’s needed. We had to do the same after Magic and co. retired and we did the same after Shaq left. Now it’s almost that time with Kobe. But we’ll get it together. There’s no reason to think they won’t.
As far as Dwight making the smart decision, that’s open to debate. He certainly has come up with a bunch of justifications to show that it was a good idea (despite the Lakers and ROckets being virtually the same situation save that one kissed his ass and the other didn’t) but it’s all exactly that–justifications, to cover up that his choice to go to Houston had almost next to nothing to do with basketball.
Let’s just wait and see who’ll be truly irrelevant in the next couple of years. Kinda late in the game to be trying ot teach an old dog new tricks and if Howard hasn’t been a good post player by now, he’s likely not going to, even with Mchale and Olijawon working with him. Name me a player Howard’s age that suddenly did a role reversal, got better to the level that people are going to expect from him/rely on him for championships.
To be fair to Jim Buss (and this is definetly not my thing to defend Jim Buss as he’s nowhere near the smarts of his sister and father), this time he’s actually speaking the truth. Howard was, by and large, passing through. Saying he wasn’t really a Laker isn’t literally “he wasn’t” because he put on his uniform and went out and played. But as far as where his heart was throughout the season, he wasn’t really feeling it and it showed.
So saying he wasn’t really a Laker is pretty truthful (especially if reports from varying parties are to be believed, that mid-way through the season it became apparent that Howard wanted out).
Make no mistake, Laker management really wanted him (running the pick and roll with Howard and Nash was a goal with D’Antoni and something the Lakers forsaw running with Howard since he was so good at it in Orlando). Is it the Lakers fault or Howard’s that he completely bucked the system that was basically built to use him at his offensive best (since his post moves are…limited to say the least)?