NBA Daily Links: 12.13.15

PHILOSOPHICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful.”

-Mark Victor Hansen

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NBA:

NBPA begins heart screenings for retired players

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14351646/national-basketball-players-association-begins-heart-screenings-retired-players

 

NBA’s matinee games raise profile in Europe

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/sports/basketball/nbas-matinee-games-raise-profile-in-europe.html?ref=basketball

 

The NBA’s All-Outperform Team

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/the-nbas-all-outperform-team/

 

Tanks for the memories? Not yet for the NBA

http://www.denverpost.com/dempsey/ci_29242472/dempsey-tanks-memories-not-yet-nba

 

Where is he now? Stromile Swift

http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/grizzlies/grizzlies-where-are-they-now-high-flyer-stromile-swift-grounded-with-daughter-trucking-company-26bc6-361683691.html

 

D-LEAGUE:

Defenders players keeping their dream alive by playing in D-League

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-nba-d-league-20151213-story.html

 

Caboclo in a good place with Raptors 905

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/12/raptors-caboclo-in-a-good-place-with-905

 

76ERS:

Mike D’Antoni reportedly being considered for 76ers associate head coach

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2598275-mike-dantoni-reportedly-being-considered-for-76ers-associate-head-coach

 

Sixers would make another good move by adding D’Antoni

http://espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/14350724/why-mike-dantoni-help-floundering-sixers-nba

 

Colangelo wasting no time in changing ‘The Process’

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20151213_Inside_the_76ers__Colangelo_wasting_no_time_changing__The_Process_.html

 

Q&A with Nerlens Noel

http://nbpa.com/qa-nerlens-noel-on-sixers-future-staying-patient-charting-effort-and-more/

 

BUCKS:

Milwaukee could have had Curry, Thompson

http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-milwaukee-could-have-had-curry-thompson/article_6a9c8ba2-77fe-5d6f-a009-1b57861ad0fe.html

 

Bucks put emphatic end to Warriors 24-0 start

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/live-updates-bucks-vs-warriors-b99632326z1-361689361.html

 

BULLS:

Bulls overcome offensive slows with strong fourth quarter to tip Pelicans

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-bulls-tip-pelicans-report-spt-1213-20151212-story.html

 

Fred Hoiberg likes way defense is playing

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-fred-hoiberg-defense-bits-bulls-spt-1213-20151212-story.html

 

Wonderful winding road of coaching brings Jim Boylen to Bulls

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-jim-boylen-bulls-spt-1213-20151212-story.html

 

Derrick Rose cuts his hair and drops the mask

http://chicago.suntimes.com/basketball/7/71/1175913/derrick-rose-cuts-hair-mask-next

 

CAVALIERS:

Iman Shumpert shines in season debut

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/12/cleveland_cavaliers_guard_iman_1.html#incart_social_feature

 

Cavs reintroducing themselves to Warriors and basketball world

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/12/cleveland_cavaliers_15.html#incart_river_index

 

Cavs still need Love upon Kyrie’s return

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25411147/can-the-kevin-love-resurgence-continue-upon-kyrie-irvings-return

 

CELTICS:

C’s win again on second night

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/celtics-beat-hornets-98-93-after-strong-second-half

 

Warriors loss already in the past

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/13/cnotes/bxRJVpHI63YXPxiMc9s0UK/story.html

 

Avery Bradley shines against Hornets

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article49506795.html

 

CLIPPERS:

Blake Griffin helps Clippers avoid a collapse and beat Nets

http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-nets-20151213-story.html

 

Paul Pierce shows off an old move

http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-report-20151213-story.html

 

GRIZZLIES:

Can Grizzlies find their fading grind?

http://www.commercialappeal.com/columnists/geoff-calkins/can-grizzlies-find-their-fading-grind-26bc6e30-50b0-672f-e053-0100007f2e79-361688371.html

 

HAWKS:

Spurs-Hawks report card

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/spurs-hawks-report-card/nph6b/?icmp=ajc_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral

 

Observations from Hawks loss to Spurs

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/five-observations-from-the-hawks-103-78-loss-to-th/nph42/

 

Coincidence? Spurs rest some starters before playing Hawks

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/coincidence-spurs-rest-some-starters-before-playin/nph2N/?icmp=ajc_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral

 

HEAT:

Trading Mario Chalmers has come at a price for Heat

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article49465325.html

 

Former Heat teammates plan to welcome back Chalmers with an embrace

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-mario-chalmers-s121215-story.html

 

Trade market opens; are Heat shopping?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-ira-nba-column-s121315-column.html

 

Dwyane Wade wants to own an NBA team (video)

http://www.slamonline.com/nba/dwyane-wade-wants-own-nba-team/#oQzcVXrprLzH8eRk.97

 

HORNETS:

Isaiah Thomas blew up Hornets in third quarter

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article49512770.html

 

JAZZ:

Rodney Hood’s shooting slump continues

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3297499-155/utah-jazz-notes-rodney-hoods-shooting

 

Trey Lyles responding to early season wake-up call

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3297461-155/utah-jazz-rookie-trey-lyles-responding

 

Pleiss maximizes his D-League stint

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3297484-155/kragthorpe-jazz-center-tibor-pleiss-maximizes

 

KINGS:

Chris Webber says Kings can turn negative into a positive

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article49489405.html

 

Breaking down the Kings’ coming week

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article49477360.html

 

KNICKS:

Carmelo puts Knicks on his back in superstar statement

http://nypost.com/2015/12/13/carmelo-anthony-puts-knicks-on-his-back-in-superstar-statement/

 

Carmelo blasts back at Barkley: You know nothing about me

http://nypost.com/2015/12/12/carmelo-blasts-back-at-barkley-you-know-nothing-about-me/

 

LAKERS:

After much delay, it appears the Lakers are going to finally let the kids play

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14347520/nba-lakers-seem-embracing-youth-movement

 

Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard hug it out

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-report-20151213-story.html

 

Lakers end trip with loss to Rockets 126-97

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-houston-rockets-20151212-story.html

 

Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour highlighted by his reception in Houston

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/12/kobe-bryants-farewell-tour-highlighted-by-his-reception-in-houston/

 

Spurs free agency win prompts Lakers to change approach

http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Lakers-learned-from-their-mistakes-after-losing-6694365.php

 

Byron Scott failing on multiple levels

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-saturday-byron-scott-failing-on-multiple-levels/

 

MAGIC:

Hezonja receives playing time at point guard

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-mario-hezonja-orlando-magic-1213-20151212-story.html

 

Magic have reached a potential crossroads to their season

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-orlando-magic-news-1213-20151212-story.html

 

MAVERICKS:

Mavs go from horrifically ugly to flat-out disappointing in loss to Wizards

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2015/12/12/sefko-mavs-go-horrifically-ugly-flat-disappointing-114-111-loss-wizards?f=r

 

Jeremy Evans asks to be assigned to D-League to work on perimeter game

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2015/12/12/six-year-veteran-jeremy-evans-asks-assigned-d-league-work-perimeter-game?f=r

NETS:

Nets’ rally falls short as Clippers hold on

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/nets/nets-rally-falls-short-as-clippers-hold-on-1.11222439

 

PACERS:

Pacers poor defense leads to Pistons blowout win

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2015/12/12/pacers-poor-defense-leads-pistons-blowout-win/77231358/

 

PELICANS:

Pelicans looking to build off loss to Bulls

http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2015/12/new_orleans_pelicans_looking_t_1.html#incart_river_index

 

Strong fourth quarter leads Bulls past Pelicans

http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2015/12/strong_fourth_quarter_leads_ch.html#incart_river_index

 

Gentry says this is the final trip Jrue Holiday has to sit on back-to-backs

http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2015/12/alvin_gentry_says_this_will_be.html#incart_river_index

 

Exec expects Ryan Anderson to fetch a max contract

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25411390/report-exec-expects-ryan-anderson-to-get-a-max-deal-this-summer

 

PISTONS:

Pistons blow Pacers out of Palace

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2015/12/12/detroit-pistons-indiana-pacers/77199088/

 

Jennings focused on his comeback story

http://www.freep.com/longform/sports/nba/pistons/2015/12/12/detroit-pistons-brandon-jennings/77222790/

 

SVG tweaks critics of Jackson’s Pistons deal

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2015/12/12/pistons-point-guard-reggie-jackson/77219154/

 

RAPTORS:

DeRozan feels Sixers pain

http://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2015/12/12/demar-derozan-feels-the-sixers-pain.html

 

Raptors keep balance, on and off court

http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/2015/12/12/raptor-keeps-balance-on-and-off-court.html

 

ROCKETS:

Rockets torch Lakers in first win of season after a double-digit deficit

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/12/rockets-torch-lakers-in-first-win-of-the-season-with-a-double-digit-deficit/

 

Ariza and Lawson check in against Lakers despite ailments

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/12/trevor-ariza-and-ty-lawson-check-in-against-lakers-despite-ailments/

 

JB Bickerstaff recalls first encounter with Kobe Bryant

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/12/j-b-bickerstaff-recalls-first-encounter-with-kobe-bryant/

 

James Harden earns respect from Kobe Bryant after Rockets win over Lakers

http://espn.go.com/blog/houston-rockets/post/_/id/1592/james-harden-gets-respect-from-kobe-bryant-after-rockets-win-over-lakers

 

SPURS:

With Le Gant setting defensive tone, Spurs rout Hawks

http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/With-Le-Gant-setting-defensive-tone-Spurs-rout-6695068.php

 

SUNS:

Knight’s 0-12 game continues streaky ways

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/12/12/brandon-knights-0–12-game-continues-streaky-ways/77226472/

 

Chandler probable to return on Sunday

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/12/12/suns-tyson-chandler-probable-return-sunday-game/77211220/

 

THUNDER:

The latest episode of the NBA mini-series

http://newsok.com/the-latest-episode-of-the-nba-mini-series/article/5466490

 

TIMBERWOLVES:

Karl-Anthony Towns is revealing his secrets, one game at a time

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/sports/basketball/karl-anthony-towns-is-revealing-his-secrets-one-game-at-a-time.html?ref=basketball&_r=0

 

TRAIL BLAZERS:

Blazers fall to Carmelo, Knicks

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2015/12/trail_blazers_new_york_knicks_game_rewind_2.html#incart_river_index

 

WARRIORS:

How Stephen Curry makes his daily peace with a contract unfit for the MVP

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-stephen-curry-makes-his-daily-peace-with-a-contract-unfit-for-the-mvp-014857274.html

 

Combination of factors does Warriors in

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/112469/streak-stoppers-combination-of-factors-does-warriors-in

 

Warriors fall to Bucks, ending win streak at 28 games

http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-fall-to-Bucks-as-win-streak-ends-at-28-6694927.php

 

Stephen Curry gets high praise from Jason Kidd

http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-Stephen-Curry-gets-high-praise-from-6694828.php

 

24 golden memories of Warriors 24-game win streak

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14324698/24-golden-memories-golden-state-warriors-24-game-win-streak

 

WIZARDS:

Wizards to be without Beal for at least 2 weeks

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14349943/bradley-beal-least-two-weeks-washington-wizards

 

Wizards beat Dallas behind Porter, Wall

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards-hold-off-mavericks-as-porter-wall-enjoy-big-nights/2015/12/12/b2c3bdc6-a113-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_story.html

 

Peter Newmann is an analyst and writer who spent 10 years at ESPN, 8 as the NBA senior researcher working 24/7 on the league. He wrote game notes for crews, articles for ESPN.com, analysis for studio shows, and regularly assisted reporters and writers. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Web site, www.peternewmann.com.