Jason Kidd’s debut as a head coach will have to wait, for two games at least: “Kidd was arrested in the early hours of July 15, 2012 — mere days after signing a contract to become the newest member of the New York Knicks — on suspicion of drunk driving after crashing his 2010 Cadillac Escalade into a wooden telephone pole near his Long Island, N.Y., home. Earlier this summer, after retiring from the NBA and becoming the Nets’ new head coach, Kidd pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge, but was able to secure a deal that allowed for achange in the official charge. Kidd’s suspension will begin at the start of the regular season, meaning he will miss Brooklyn’s Oct. 30 season opener on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Nets’ nationally televised Nov. 1 home opener against the defending champion Miami Heat. Assistant coach Lawrence Frank — who has 652 games of NBA head coaching experience under his belt, most recently with theDetroit Pistons — is considered Kidd’s likely replacement during the suspension.”
With the arrival of Doc Rivers in Los Angeles, ‘Lob City’ is no more: “”Lob City doesn’t exist anymore. Lob City is done,” Griffin told ESPN’s Shelley Smith in an interview this week. “We’re moving on and we’re going to find our identity during training camp, and that will be our new city. No more Lob City.” Griffin stressed that new coach Doc Rivers has been instilling a defensive-minded culture and said his offensive game will change noticeably this season. The up-tempo, exciting style of play the Clippers have become known for since point guard Chris Paul joined Griffin and fellow high-flyer DeAndre Jordan in 2011 has already been de-emphasized. “Our offense is going to have a totally different look this year,” said Griffin, who added that he did a lot of work in the offseason on his face-up game from 10 to 15 feet. “Our offense is going to have a lot of movement and floor spacing. I’m looking forward to it.” Rivers noted that Lob City won’t be completely gone.
“We want to be a basketball team,” he said. “We want to win. That’s one thing we always talk about. I’ve told them that lobs are great, but winning is better. Let’s try to get them both, but I understand what he’s saying. I think the message there is people look at us as a showtime team and not a winning team, and we want to be a winning team, but you can do both.
‘Linsanity’ may have never been, Jeremy Lin reveals: “It’s not entirely full of good cheer and triumphant turns, though, as the film details Lin’s uneasy 20 month-turn between going undrafted out of Harvard, and starring for New York’s top team. This includes Lin’s work with the Golden State Warriors, his first NBA team, and one that was rightfully criticized for treating Lin as a fan-luring curiosity, instead of a player worth taking a chance on.”
Lin, who is so often reserved or rehearsed with the media, is as candid as can be throughout.
There is a scene of Lin, while talking with a group of kids at a basketball camp after “Linsanity” had died down, saying he wanted to quit the game while he was with the Warriors. Amid rumblings that their decision to sign the undrafted point guard had more to do with marketing than it did his talent, Lin was discouraged. He played 33 minutes the entire month of December 2010.
“On Dec. 29, I wrote about how I actually wish I never signed with the Warriors,” he tells the children. “‘I wish I could quit basketball (he wrote),’ because I wasn’t having fun.”
Victor Oladipo is already making a big impact and winning over his Orlando Magic teammates: ““He’s a great kid,” Maurice Harkless said. “He works hard, he’s easy to be around, he’s funny. I like being around him personally. I think he has a bright future. “I think he’s going to be really good. He works really hard. That’s what I love about him. Off the court, he’s a great guy to hang around. Me and him, we have a lot in common. I think he’s going to be really good. He’s a gym rat and I think he fits in. He’s an up-tempo guard, who likes to run and push the pace. With our young team, I think that’s what we’re going to do a lot this year.” Oladipo is part of Orlando’s strong young nucleus, which also includes Harkless, Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O’Quinn, Andrew Nicholson and Doron Lamb among others. On the first day of the Orlando Summer League, Oladipo approached his teammates in the locker room, asking what he could do to help the team and how he could fit in with the Magic’s core.”
With a lot of change in Philly, Evan Turner reveals he expected to be traded: “”I was getting ready for it,” Turner said on the eve of training camp. And he knows his tenure in Philadelphia likely remains short-lived. Turner is the antithesis of a Sam Hinkie player. The analytic-minded new Sixers president and general manager aims to identify and mine undervalued, efficient talent, and Turner has proven a treasure chest that contains an I-owe-you, a promise of riches to this point unfulfilled. The swingman has failed to live up to fans’ lofty expectations since the Sixers selected the 2009-10 NCAA player of the year out of Ohio State with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. And he’s entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, making him a possible trade candidate, should the Sixers receive a half-decent offer.”
One thing you have to give Dwight credit for being very smart, is that he avidly believes and credits his Acupuncture (with Electric Stimulation) treatment for his recovery from injuries. I know the players aren’t supposed to talk about it, but he has tweeted photos during the past year. I don’t think Kareem meant to say that Dwight wasn’t Dominant – Just not as good as he could be. His poor FT shooting in games, but not in practice, is a good example.
Regarding Derek Rose, I agree that he isn’t enough to get the Bull’s past the Heat, Nets and Pacers, but there are now 4 Elite teams in the East.
Glad you mentioned the Pistons. I think analysts are factoring in terrible chemistry. They may be surprised if Detroit challenges NY for 5th in East.
Regarding Lawrence Frank coaching the 1st two games for Brooklyn, I think it will be an advantage. Lets face it, JKidd is there for important motivation and direction, but LFrank is the real coach of the team. Without Kidd, LFrank won’t have to pretend to defer to Kidd (they really like each other) which could hurt the Nets team. Instead Frank will take charge in those 1st two games. A win vs. Heat will establish Frank as the Best Asst. Coach in the NBA.