Five reasons to feel positive about the Oklahoma City Thunder

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(This is another in a series of 30 guest columns that will run in October, when optimism reigns supreme across the NBA. The theme will be “Five Reasons to Feel Positive About … ” We encourage you to follow the authors on Twitter and visit their sites. – CS)

thunder small logoThe Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the league’s most talked-about teams last season, and it seemed that they were destined to meet with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. It was what everybody wanted – the young, homegrown team from a small town taking on the superstars who decided to pal around and live on the beach.

But after OKC’s Game Five loss, the focus of the NBA has shifted to the league’s newest quickly constructed powerhouse, the Los Angeles Lakers. Other teams are looking more powerful as well, with the LA Clippers grabbing Lamar Odom, Denver getting Andre Igoudala, and San Antonio getting more time to work out their roster.

From a distance, it looks like the Thunder may disappoint this season. After all, the only real moves they made were losing veterans Derek Fisher and Nazr Mohammed while signing a late first-rounder in Perry Jones III and a well-known draft bust in Hasheem Thabeet.

However, if there’s one thing the Thunder know how to do, it’s to surprise you when it’s least expected. Here’s five reasons to feel positive about the team from OKC.

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Tweet of the Day: Kevin Durant

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Can you imagine falling faster than the speed of sound…from the edge of space? How would you react? Would you classify the experience as being fun? Thrilling? Exhilarating?

Or would you be sweating bullets? Perhaps you—like some others—would release your bowels?

One such person is Kevin Durant who, after seeing Felix Baumgartner’s free fall from the earth’s stratosphere, wrote:

Wow just seen Felix Baumgartner jump from the edge of space! #couldnthavebeenme..my pants woulda smelled like a dump truck lol congrats
October 14, 2012 2:19 pm via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite
@KDTrey5
Kevin Durant

When corrected by a fan, Durant confirmed the hypothetical status of his pants:

Hahhahah no question RT @: @ So it would be a Doo Doo Jump?
October 14, 2012 2:24 pm via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite
@KDTrey5
Kevin Durant

While Kevin’s response is quite humorous, Baumgartner’s feat was anything but.

It was both amazing and historic.

Felix, an Austrian extreme sports enthusiast—whose accolades include skydiving across the English Channel and base jumping the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, just became the first person to complete a supersonic skydive.

Here is an animated simulation of the free fall and a gallery of photos from today’s history feat.

Baumgartner received this tweet from NASA after completing his 128,000 foot plummet to earth.

Congratulations to Felix Baumgartner and @ on a record-breaking leap from the edge of space! http://t.co/HQIga3Ov #livejump
October 14, 2012 2:37 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@NASA
NASA

You can read all about Baumgartner’s historical jump on the Red Bull website.

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Michael Brumagin is the “Tweet of the Day” columnist for Sheridan Hoops and a sports column Contributor for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter and read more of his writing on B/R:

Follow @MBrumagin
Contributor at Bleacher Report

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SH Blog: Kobe and Nash show great promise against Warriors, Howard wants to be “Iron Man”

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In Sunday night’s preseason game between the Lakers and the Warriors, we witnessed something that may take a while to get used to: Steve Nash was running the floor alongside Kobe Bryant in a Lakers uniform. If you’re not a Lakers fan, what we saw was bad news because Nash – as he always does – made the game look so darned easy for everyone else. The Warriors actually blew the game open for a 110-83 victory and showed promising signs of their own, but the glimpse of what the Lakers could do, even without their prized center Dwight Howard, was the intrigue of the night. See what Bryant had to say about his new backcourt mate, along with your daily news from Monday below:

  • Bryant feels joy from playing with Nash. The bond between the two is already obvious, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports: “Yes, it was just a preseason game for these new-look Los Angeles Lakers. But the first Nash-to-Bryant assist also showed all the promise that could await them this season. ”He just makes the game easy,” Bryant said later of his new point guard. “It’s a joy for me. I’ve had to facilitate and score my entire career. I don’t have to do that now and I’m pretty happy about it.” In Nash’s first game with the Lakers, he and Bryant looked comfortable from the opening tip. The Lakers hope their relationship only continues to improve. In previous seasons, the Lakers too often watched as Bryant dribbled out the shot clock before taking a tough, contested shot. Nash also should be able to keep L.A.’s big men happy – or at least happier than they were when the offense ran only through Bryant’s hands. Bryant can now spend his energy trying to get open, knowing that if he does, Nash will find him.”
  • How did the Lakers look in Sunday’s preseason game against the Warriors? Mark Medina of Los Angeles Times noticed fluidity on offense: “The Lakers also ran the revamped offense that includes elements of the Princeton system with fluidity. Rarely did they ever go into isolation sets. Each player appeared intent on following Nash’s lead and finding the open player for a shot. Bryant, who posted 10 points on two-of-seven shooting and three assists, appeared intent on facilitating. The Lakers set strong screens and actually played off them. They routinely covered for one another on defense. The floor spacing gave plenty of room for Metta World Peace to operate outside and score 10 points on three-of-six shooting. It’s fair to say that this reflects how much calmer and easier it’s been for the Lakers to absorb Brown’s teaching concepts with more time and a solidified roster. As a result, the Lakers look a lot more exciting and fluid on offense than last year.”
  • Klay Thompson displayed his full arsenal against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, from Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area: “It didn’t take long for Klay Thompson to unveil a little more of his game. Thompson, primarily an outside shooter in his rookie season, went to the bucket three straight times early in the game on Bryant, and finished on two of them. Thompson was the Warriors’ best offensive player on Sunday night, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. “I was taking what the defense was giving me,” Thompson said. “If they were playing up on my shot, drive. Kobe can’t move his feet as much as he used to so I got into the paint and made some plays.” Would Thompson have done that a year ago? “Not as effectively, no,” he answered. “But I’ve gotten stronger, worked on my quickness. I would have tried but I wouldn’t have gotten those results.”
  • Here are some highlights from the Lakers-Warriors game. Fast forward to 0:45 for Jarrett Jack’s forgettable moment:

Everybody chill I tripped on pau foot
October 8, 2012 1:20 pm via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite
@Jarrettjack03
JARRETT JACK
Even tho I tripped only thing I was thinking was please don't fall or @ will never let me hear the end of this hahahaha
October 8, 2012 1:35 pm via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite
@Jarrettjack03
JARRETT JACK
  • Dwight Howard apparently wants to be known as Iron Man now, according to Mike Prada of SB Nation: “Dwight Howard gave a mid-game interview with the Los Angeles Lakers’ broadcasters during the team’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. During the interview, Howard declared that he is now “Iron Man,” not “Superman.” Which is funny, because: 1. Superman would probably kick Iron Man’s ass. 2. Howard was not playing because he’s still recovering from a back injury.”
  • Deron Williams is impressed with Barclays Center, according to Howard Beck of The New York Times: “It’s built for basketball,” point guard Deron Williams said, drawing a sharp contrast with the Newark arena, which he disdained. “It’s not built for hockey; it’s not built for soccer. It’s built for basketball. Like I said, when they thought about it, they thought about everything. They thought about the crowd reacting, and it’s just got a great feel. It’s almost like there’s no bad seats in the arena.” The Nets will use stage lighting — just as the Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers do — enhancing the feel of intimacy and putting the focus squarely on the court. Johnson described it as “that Broadway feel.”
Deron Williams elaborated on choice of Nets over Mavs. Says Mark Cuban's absence at meeting helped cinch decision.
October 8, 2012 2:31 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@HowardBeckNYT
Howard Beck
  • Nikola Pekovic has become leaner and stronger in the offseason, which had Rick Adelman gushing about the big man’s many talents. Jerry Zgoda of Star Tribune has the story: “He’s slimmed down, but he’s stronger,” Adelman said. “You just watch him. Guys in the scrimmages just want out of there. They don’t want to go against him. He’s going to be crucial for us. If we have a guy who has to be our Iron Man, it’s Pek. When we have him out there, he’s such a force around the basket. It makes everybody else better.”… Adelman praised Pekovic’s passing, of all things, after Thursday’s practice, saying the big guy is seeing plays unfold and making passes that he didn’t see from Pekovic all last season. Adelman also wants Pekovic to expand his offensive game, which apparently means shooting the ball from beyond 2 feet. ”He can really shoot the ball from 15, 16 feet, he just never looks for it,” Adelman said. “I offer him the three-pointer every time I talk to him about it, and he has not accepted that yet.”
  • Tyreke Evans will rely on his jump shot- something he has tirelessly worked on – this season. DeMarcus Cousins and Keith Smart have noticed the difference in Evans, according to Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee: “Evans has a key to the Kings’ practice facility and got in a lot of late-night shooting sessions, earning him the nickname “Cat Burglar.” He focused on his form. That meant not leaning back and kicking out his leg on jump shots. ”I just try to go straight up and down,” Evans said. “Every time I’d go and lean back, I’d just think to myself to go straight up.” Evans’ dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. ”He’s way more focused,” said DeMarcus Cousins. “He’s in good shape, and he’s ready to turn things around. He wants to get this thing turned around as well.” A more mature Evans is a good thing for the Kings…”(Evans has) always been a guy who wanted to (improve), but you had to give him a plan and a staff that won’t leave until the last person leaves the building,” Smart said.
  • Allen Iverson played in an exhibition game in China and showed he still has the deadly crossover in his arsenal:

  • Amare Stoudemire is excited about displaying his new abilities in the post and blamed Mike D’Antoni’s system for never having developed a post game, from Marc Berman of New York Post: “I’m ready to step into a new era of my career,’’ Stoudemire vowed. “It’s going to benefit my career and I’ll become more of a complete player, having an all-around game.’’… Stoudemire didn’t know a single move before the summer. He blames it on being attached to former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni’s speedball game. “I’m a player who adapted to the system I played in,’’ Stoudemire said. “I’ve been under D’Antoni for seven, eight years. Post-up wasn’t a factor for us. We were such a high-octane, up-tempo team where speed and quickness was to our advantage. I’m now allowed to develop a post game where my speed and quickness will still be used to my advantage but add a lot of [post] skill.’’
  • Dwyane Wade will ignore the questioning of his age from reporters moving forward. It’s safe to say that the question ticks him off, according to Shandel Richardson Sun Sentinel: “The whispers will turn into yells if he has any sort of problems recovering from offseason knee surgery that is expected to keep him out most of the preseason games, which begin Sunday at the Atlanta Hawks. So, will Wade struggle early? It’s unlikely, considering Wade kept a log of the “old man” articles from last season. He actually viewed it as an energy drink, an extra boost heading into his 10th season. Did the premature retirement party tick him off? You bet. ”Any time someone questions you, it’s going to bother you if you have any kind of competitive nature,” Wade said. “It fuels you. You want to see what you’re made of in a sense. You want to come back and not only answer the bell, but do a little bit more than expected.”
  • Kevin Durant wants you to stop blowing his workouts with LeBron James out of proportion, from Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: “Kevin Durant wants to clear up something about his offseason workouts with LeBron James. “A lot of people blew (it) out of proportion,” the reigning three time scoring champion said. “It was just one day.” Still, some had a problem with Durant recently traveling to Ohio for the second consecutive summer to train with James. Durant, though, doesn’t see the big deal. “I’m a competitive guy,” Durant said. “I’m sure you guys have seen that in me. I just wanted to work out. That’s what it was all about. I’ll work out with anybody. I would have worked out with Kobe Bryant. I would have worked out with Carmelo (Anthony). I just wanted to work out and get better.”
  • Although David Stern likes NBA jerseys the way they are now, he won’t interfere with advertisements if that is the preference, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE: “And while he recognizes the upside of such a decision – increased revenue – Stern likes the league’s jerseys as they are now. ”As a personal matter, I am not in favor of it, but I’m not standing in the way of it,” Stern said. “If my board wants to do it, we’ll do it.” It is clear that Stern’s opposition to having ads on jerseys has more to do with tradition than anything else. ”Of all the leagues in the world, the NBA is the only one that has its own logo on it,” Stern said. “No information of the manufacturer and no sponsor, and that is something that I have worked hard to preserve for many decades. But I understand that the team may have to come to consider it. So we’re going to let the Board of Governors decide what to do.”
  • Stern hopes to see a new team in Seattle within the next five years, according to Gary Washburn of Boston Globe: “Commissioner David Stern offered this little nugget on the future of basketball in Seattle, which is just approved a new arena plan when talking to reporters in Milan, Italy. “It would be my hope that within the timeframe that you mentioned, five years, that if everything works out perfectly, there would be a new arena and new team in Seattle. That’s always, for the board of governors, but I know that many governohrs are favorably inclined.”
  • Andrew Bynum’s teammates firmly believe in the abilities of the center, according to John Mitchell of The Inquirer: “The Sixers I’ve talked to are firmly in their teammate’s camp. This includes Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Dorell Wright and Jason Richardson (who has played with Howard). One of them even went as far to say that Bynum, who will be their first option rather than the third, as he was in Los Angeles, could average 25 points this season. The good thing about this is that, as far as the Sixers are concerned, what’s being said by others outside of their locker room hasn’t altered their opinion about their teammate, which should help them this season… Speaking of Bynum, he looks to be in great condition. He’s trim. He’s engaging his teammates and coaches. And if they were playing games right now, Bynum would be out there.
  • Anthony Randolph will look to renew his career with the Denver Nuggets this season, and his first preseason game was encouraging, according to Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: “So there’s this player. He’s only 23 years old, a lanky, leaping 6-foot-11 pogo stick who can seemingly touch this high ceiling everyone talks about him having the potential to reach. Then there’s this player who has been on four NBA teams since 2008, arguably a vagabond bust, cursed by his potential. Well, it’s the same dude. Anthony Randolph is a Nugget now. The team took a gamble on the big man this summer, hoping he’s more potential than unfulfilled potential. And in the Nuggets’ preseason opener Saturday night in Las Vegas, Randolph had the team’s best plus-minus rating (plus-11) against the Clippers and finished with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 18 minutes.”
  • Doc Rivers hopes to change the fragile mind of Darko Milicic, from Washburn: “You can see that he gets frustrated easy,” Rivers said. “So we’re trying to eliminate those episodes. Our thing right now with Darko is to play forward. From being around for a short time, as a coach I can probably feel he’s played his career backwards. He lives in the past a lot and we’re trying to get him to live in the future. I told him (Friday), the only time I’ll take you out is if you make a mistake and make another mistake because you’re thinking about the last mistake. I won’t take you out for making a mistake. So hopefully that works.”
  • Why did the Bucks struggle with their defense last season? The small backcourt was part of the issue, according to Dan Sinclair of Brew Hoop: “The Bucks’ other big problem was an inability to keep opponents away from the basket. They allowed the 5th-most attempts at the rim per game last season at over 26 per. The only thing that saved Milwaukee from disaster in that regard was their ability to contest close shots; the Bucks were 6th-best in opponent FG% at the rim, likely a testament to their many shot blockers. The obvious targets for blame here are Milwaukee’s perimeter players. Jennings has left his early reputation as a plus defender behind, becoming more gambler than stopper. Adding Monta Ellis hardly helped, and Beno Udrih has a poor defensive reputation as well.”
  • Rodrigue Beaubois will miss Tuesday’s preseason game, according to Dwain Price of Star-Telegram: “Dallas Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois will not play in Tuesday’s game in Barcelona, Spain, against FC Barcelona Regal. Beaubois sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of this past Saturday’s 89-84 preseason-opening victory over Alba Berlin in Berlin, Germany. After the game, Beaubois wore a protective boot. However, he is no longer wearing the boot, which is a sign of progress. ”Twisted ankles are just part of the game,” general manager Donnie Nelson said. “No major setback at all.”
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar thinks Shaquille O’Neal is delusional:

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SH Blog: Pau fits perfectly in new offense, Kobe blames last season’s offense to defend Pau

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We all realize at this point that the Los Angeles Lakers have assembled a team to do some special things this season. There is an incredible amount of talent on the team from Steve Nash’s play-making abilities, Dwight Howard’s defensive presence, Kobe Bryant’s scoring prowess to Metta World Peace’s renewed focus. Then there is Pau Gasol, whose ability to be an all-around player for the team could be the x-factor to help carry the Lakers over the top. See why Gasol is the perfect fit for the Lakers’ new offense, along with why Bryant blamed Mike Brown’s offense for Gasol’s woes last season and more from Friday below.

  • The Lakers new offense could maximize the abilities of Pau Gasol, according to Mark Medina of Los Angeles Times: “He thrives on team play. Gasol often likes to react to how the defense plays him instead of overly forcing his will. His background in the triangle offense allows him to tap into the elements of the Princeton offense, including proper spacing, passing and cutting. ”It’s going to be a lot of looks with the movement and the quality of the players that will be out there,” Gasol said. “That attracts a lot of attention. We’ll have opportunities regardless, no matter what …. No player is worried about that, even though we have players who have the ability to score easily.”
  • So what was the problem with Gasol last season? Kobe Bryant put the blame on Mike Brown’s offense, from Medina: ”It’s a matter of the system versus having a traditional pro set,” Bryant said. “Last year, we made calls. We had to make calls. We ran down. Run a play for me. Run a play for Andrew. Run a play for Pau. It was tough to try to find that balance. In this type of system, you have ball movement and defense. That determines where the ball is going. You try to get the easiest shot possible. It enables us to be decision makers and play to our strengths.”
  • Metta World Peace was never concerned about being amnestied. Why? Because he’s too good, from Helene Elliott of Los Angeles Times: ”I’m way too good of a basketball player to be amnestied,” he said. “I don’t mean that to be arrogant, but I’m on a team with arguably one of the greatest starting fives ever to step on the court, and I’m on that team. I’m blessed. I really thank God for that opportunity. But there’s got to be something I’m doing right. I’m with the Laker organization that makes the most money in the NBA and has won the second-most championships. Mitch Kupchak is one of the best general managers. Why else would I be here. ”There’s no way I was being amnestied. A lot of people were talking. Totally false. A lot of media reported stuff. Totally inaccurate and impossible.”

  • Photo of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, via Jose3030

    Dwight Howard fired back at Shaquille O’Neal in a big way, from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: “And so when word was passed onto Howard that O’Neal had compared him unfavorably to Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, Howard did something long overdue: He stood up for himself and fired back at O’Neal. ”Shaq played the game and he is done,” Howard told reporters on Thursday. “It’s time to move on. He hated the fact when he played that older guys were talking about him and how he played. Now he’s doing the exact same thing. Just let it go. There’s no sense for him to be talking trash to me. He did his thing in the league. Sit back and relax. ”Your time is up.”

  • Kevin Durant has bulked up over the summer, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: “From his lower body, through his midsection on up to where it’s as clear as ever — his upper body — Durant has bulked up. As with everything else that defines his skills, Durant isn’t overly interested in discussing the matter. That he said as much as he did hints that he has indeed gotten stronger and is darn proud of it. “I hope so,” Durant said when told he looks bigger and asked if he got stronger over the offseason. “I guess we’ll know when we start banging during the season. But I feel a little bigger, and coach is going to put me down low a little bit more at the 4, so I’ve got to be stronger to guard those guys. I’m just looking forward to doing as much as I can to help this team.”
  • Marko Jaric wants to return to the NBA for personal reasons and hopes to catch on with the Bulls, according to Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago: ”It was very tough because I played two half seasons in Europe before that and I didn’t want to go back to Europe anymore. I had a couple of very good offers and it was a big decision for, but I needed to put my family before anything else because of my second child. We couldn’t just travel anymore from Europe to the States and I needed to make tough decisions, and refused pretty good offers from Europe in hopes that a good NBA team picks me up. Hopefully this year, that happens.”
  • Dirk Nowitzki thinks the new anti-flop rule is a bunch of crap, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: “I never looked at myself as a big flopper,” Nowitzki said Thursday after the Mavericks arrived in Germany for their preseason opener Saturday. “If you play me physical then, obviously, I’ve got to sell the call and get to the [free throw] line. That’s just part of the game. We’ll have to see how they enforce that. “I think it’s a bunch of crap to be honest with you. Are they going to come back after a game and fine you for flopping? That’s tough to do to me.”
  • Blake Griffin is not concerned about where ESPN ranked him, according to Broderick Turner of Los Angeles Times: “Still, Griffin was aware ESPN ranked him as the 14th best player in the NBA for the 2012-13 season, down from the 10th spot after his rookie year. ”You can look at the list and you can make the case that anybody could be higher or lower,” Griffin said. “I know ‘CP’ [Chris Paul] was four” in the ESPN survey. “LeBron [James] one. KD [Durant] two. ”But other than some of those guys, it’s a personal opinion. It’s who you see more. You could have seen 10 of my best games in my career and you could have seen 10 of LaMarcus Aldridge’s worst. It’s one of those things where you put one guy higher than the other.”
While its just preseason, @ lost in Turkey to Istanbul Fenerbahce Ulker, playing 4th game in 4 nights, 97-91. Sato & McCalebb had 45
October 5, 2012 4:40 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@SpearsNBAYahoo
Marc J. Spears
Holiday looks terrific in scrimmage. Thad Young sprained an ankle earlier, is day to day
October 5, 2012 2:22 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
@BobCooney76
Bob Cooney
  • Kurt Thomas turned 40 today, but he feels the same as 10 or 12 years ago, from Steve Popper of The Record: “I feel the same as yesterday,” Thomas said. “No difference. I was just out there having fun, running up and down the floor with my teammates, just trying to get in better shape each and every day. ”I don’t think about it. I just go out there and play. I feel my game hasn’t changed in 10, 12 years. If you think I’m old, that’s fine. But when you get out there on the floor I don’t think you’d see that.”
  • Andrew Bogut looked pretty spry during his individual work, according to Tim Kawakami of Mercury News: “Andrew Bogut looked quite spry doing about 45 minutes of individual work after practice, including some of the first dunking since he broke his ankle last season. He ended one running drill by dunking twice one-handed and then throwing down a two-handed reverse slam at the conclusion. I note this because I asked him a couple weeks ago if he’d started dunking and he said that the explosive work was yet to come. Well, it’s here, and Bogut seemed fine doing it. Afterwards, he said he wanted me to keep the dunks quiet, but oops, I’d already Tweeted out the info. And now I’ve put it in a blog headline.”
  • Bogut hopes to bring some fight and mental toughness to the Warriors, from Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com: ”If I can influence other people to step up their up games defensively, that’ll be mission accomplished for me,” he said. “I think I need to bring the same tenacity and the same defensive mindset I had in Milwaukee, but make it rub off on David Lee and Brandon Rush and Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, that we need to get stops to win games…”If there’s not one fight in practice during the season — you never want to fight just to fight — but if there’s not one little scuffle or one little verbal, something’s wrong. Guys aren’t competing, guys aren’t there for the right reason, guys are just punching the clock,” he said. “I guarantee you if you interview the Lakers and the Celtics with Paul Pierce and Garnett, there’s scuffles at practice, there’s physicality, elbows thrown.”
  • Jameer Nelson touched on the topic of Dwight Howard and discussed his new (bigger) role with the Magic, from John Denton of NBA.com: “On a more personal note, Nelson was bothered by Howard’s inference last season that the Magic would be better off making a run all-star point guards Chris Paul or Deron Williams instead of sticking with his fellow co-captain in Nelson… “It was just one of those things from (Howard) that I never did understand and I guess some things just aren’t meant for you to understand,’’ Nelson said… “I am going to step my game up in certain areas and try to bring guys along with me and make us better. The thing I’ve learned the last few years is that guys want to be led by a great leader and I’m a natural-born leader. “I feel more of a sense of relief now for whatever reason,’’ Nelson continued. “I guess it feels like I finally have more freedom.’’… More falls on me now, especially when you’ve got guys who are younger like we have now, and that’s just fine with me.”
  • Chris Kaman expects to return to action from his sprained back, according to Earl K. Sneed of NBA.com:
Chris Kaman (sprained lower back) says he went through every rep and fully expects to play Saturday.
October 5, 2012 6:32 am via FacebookReplyRetweetFavorite
@EKS_MavsNBA
Earl K. Sneed
  • Chauncey Billups went through contact drills for the first time since injuring his Achilles tendon and looked good doing it, according to Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles: “Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups didn’t anticipate he would be ready to return to the court until November when training camp started last week. But Billups participated in contact drills Thursday for the first time since he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon in February. ”Chauncey practiced a little bit more today, which was good,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “He actually went through a couple of contact drills that we had. Not long, but more than in the past.”… ”He feels good,” Del Negro said. “He’s moving good. You can be in condition but the body contact and the up and down things, he’s got to get in shape, but he’s got plenty of time. As long as he keeps on, not having any setbacks and keeps on working, as he’s been doing, he’s going to be in good shape.”
  • Is Grant Hill looking to become an analyst after his NBA career? Ric Bucher of ESPN hinted at the idea:
Happy 40th to @. Told me recently: "I thought I would've joined you on the dark side by now." Just a matter of time...
October 5, 2012 11:46 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@RicBucher
Ric Bucher
  • Brandon Jennings is looking to take a page out of Steve Nash’s game, and it has nothing to do with passing, according to Charles F. Gardner of The Journal Sentinel: “Brandon Jennings figures it doesn’t hurt to emulate a two-time NBA most valuable player. So the Milwaukee Bucks point guard has been practicing a shot made famous by Steve Nash, the former Phoenix Suns star who is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. ”It’s the one-leg floater in the lane,” Jennings said. “When you play against a guy like that, you just see the different ways he can score. ”It’s not easy what you can take from him. But if you put time into it, I really wanted to perfect some of the things he does. A lot of his buckets are easy. I’ve watched a lot of film on him and if I ever want to talk to him, I have that direct contact with him. ”And the fact he’s 38 and playing is amazing.”
  • Royce White wants to travel to some games by private bus due to his anxiety issues, according to Myron Medcalf of ESPN: “Busing to games, he said, is a vital component in the treatment of his anxiety… ”What it’s going to look like is every game that’s drivable, I’m going to get a bus for myself,” White said. “And I’m going to make that bus feel like home so that there’s a level of consistency in a job where inconsistency is very apparent because of the schedule. I’m going to try and level that out and make sure that my stress levels stay low and that my rest is regular and that my meals are regular and that as much as I can, draw consistency from a very inconsistent schedule. … ”People with mental illness, one of the most important things is that they have that consistency and routine. The girth of (my request) was, ‘Can I travel by bus to close enough games?’ “
I hope Royce White gets help w/ his condition. Seems like a huge talent. But some1 is gonna get fired in org 4 giving the go ahead. IMO
October 4, 2012 8:26 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
@Hoya2aPacer
Roy Hibbert
  • What kind of game does Nets forward Mirza Teletovic bring to the table? Michael Scotto of SNYNets explains in detail: “Teletovic is a 6-foot-9 power forward with NBA three-point range that will stretch opposing defenses. Last season, Teletovic shot 43 percent from beyond the arc for Caja Laboral (Spain) and has continued to shoot efficiently through the start of Nets training camp. Unlike most European big men, Teletovic is a versatile long-range shot maker. He can connect after curling off of a screen, pick-and-pop after setting a screen, or—thanks to his high release point—shoot over defenders. He’s also effective at creating space by using his jab step, as well as hitting off balance jumpers.”
  • Stephen Jackson hopes for an extension from the Spurs, from Mike Monroe of Express-News: “Only one thing could make Jackson’s professional life better: An extension of his contract, worth $10 million in its final season. “I want it, but I can’t control it,” Jackson said, toweling sweat off his face after Tuesday’s practice. “Every day when I walk in here I’m hoping they’ll call me in and say, ‘Jack, here’s your extension.’ “I think I deserve it, but at the end of the day I’m still happy to be here and all I can worry about is what I can control, and that’s my play.”

  • Iguodala is the veteran of a young 76ers squad.

    George Karl believes Andre Iguodala is a defensive stopper, from Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: “But coach George Karl believes the Nuggets’ overall defense can improve, so he got himself a differential difference maker. ”With Andre Iguodala, I think we have a stopper,” Karl said of his new starting shooting guard, an all-star last season. “I don’t think we’re going to be statistically high in a lot of traditional defensive categories. But I think differential is the key for us — field-goal differential, points differential, turnover differential. How we control the other team. Can we have moments of defensive momentum rather than offensive momentum? Can we have moments when we intimidate with our presence on the defensive end on the court?”

  • Kevin Love just wants to win and is looking forward to being a facilitator, even if his numbers drop. Ray Richardson of Pioneer Press has the story: “As much as Love appreciates the hype, he would gladly exchange some of the individual success for a trip to the Western Conference playoffs, which he promised the Wolves will make happen this season. The trade-off is part of the leadership and maturation process for Love as he enters his fifth NBA season with a revamped team. “I’ve already had that thought process that my numbers might go down,” he said Thursday, Oct. 4. “I will always be productive in whatever system I play in, but it feels great to have other options now. I’m ready to do whatever it takes for us to win games.”… ”It feels good to be a setup man,” Love said. “I’ve been finding guys all week in camp. You might see a drop in points because of the guys we have now, but you might see a spike in my assists. I’ll be in the giving mood this season.”

NBA players react to anti-flop rule 

Shaquille O’Neal prefers Brook Lopez over Dwight Howard


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Fantasy Spin: October 3, 2012 – Part I

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Elimination Roto Draft Results, Part I

Last night was the first “big” draft of the fantasy hoops season for all three of us on the Sheridan Hoops team. On Monday, I went into considerable depth about the rules and strategy of this unique format, but what you can learn from these draft results applies to any type of league.

Usually, “Round 1” refers to a 12-team league, and there are 13 rounds in standard-sized leagues. That means anyone who made it past Round 8 in our 20-team draft (Part I of this article) is likely to be a free agent.

Part II, of more interest if you play in deeper leagues, will list our final eight rounds, players 161 to 320. I’ll comment mostly on who I picked and why, with a nod to the ones that got away — players a rival snatched from the top of my queue.

Keep in mind that we drafted before the first exhibition game, and at this stage even “experts” are guessing. Consider where some sleepers went, and how far some injured players fell, as you are prepping for your own drafts.

 

Round 1 (Players #1-20)
LeBron James (Mia – SF,PF) Numero Ocho
Kevin Durant (OKC – SF) Pistol Pete
Chris Paul (LAC – PG) Kosrae Kiwis
Kevin Love (Min – PF,C) Shortsteppers II
Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG) Aggie Swish
Andrew Bynum (Phi – C) Skyrim Walkers
Dwyane Wade (Mia – PG,SG) ’92 Dream Team
Deron Williams (Bkn – PG) Last Man Standing !!
Al Jefferson (Uta – PF,C) STAT
LaMarcus Aldridge (Por – PF,C) Alcindor Skyhooks
Josh Smith (Atl – SF,PF) Trillionaires
Kobe Bryant (LAL – SG) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Dwight Howard (LAL – C) Madafakas4Life
Paul Millsap (Uta – PF) R.I.P Super Sonics
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal – PF) Brick Master
Carmelo Anthony (NY – SF,PF) Ski Bum
Kyrie Irving (Cle – PG) Roots for Goliath
Ty Lawson (Den – PG) Cuban’s defectors
Marc Gasol (Mem – C) Chief
Pau Gasol (LAL – PF,C) Magic 9

 

My team is the Alcindor Skyhooks. The name honors a player I grew up watching in awe, long before he became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Lewis,” as legendary UCLA coach John Wooden always called him, was so dominant that the NCAA banned dunking. Alcindor responded to the removal of his main weapon by perfecting the unstoppable shot that led to many of his 38,387 points in the NBA. LaMarcus Aldridge is no Kareem, but he was a safe first pick. I would have preferred Al Jefferson and seriously considered Kobe Bryant. Best pick of the round? Kyrie Irving, who fell several spots lower than expected.

Round 2 (Players #21-40)
DeMarcus Cousins (Sac – PF,C) Magic 9
Brandon Jennings (Mil – PG) Chief
Al Horford (Atl – PF,C) Cuban’s defectors
Blake Griffin (LAC – PF,C) Roots for Goliath
Rajon Rondo (Bos – PG) Ski Bum
James Harden (OKC – SG,SF) Brick Master
Serge Ibaka (OKC – PF,C) R.I.P Super Sonics
Nicolas Batum (Por – SG,SF) Madafakas4Life
Greg Monroe (Det – C) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Monta Ellis (Mil – PG,SG) Trillionaires
Rudy Gay (Mem – SF,PF) Alcindor Skyhooks
Danny Granger (Ind – SF,PF) STAT
Andre Iguodala (Den – SG,SF) Last Man Standing !!
Mike Conley (Mem – PG) ’92 Dream Team
Stephen Curry (GS – PG) Skyrim Walkers
Goran Dragic (Pho – PG) Aggie Swish
Paul Pierce (Bos – SF) Shortsteppers II
Chris Bosh (Mia – PF,C) Kosrae Kiwis
David Lee (GS – PF,C) Pistol Pete
Kyle Lowry (Tor – PG) Numero Ocho

 

I was happy to get Rudy Gay at #31 but would have been content with Danny Granger or even Chris Bosh. It’s still very early in the draft, and there have been few surprises.

Round 3 (Players #41-60)
Eric Gordon (NO – SG) Numero Ocho
Amar’e Stoudemire (NY – PF,C) Pistol Pete
Paul George (Ind – SG,SF) Kosrae Kiwis
Marcus Thornton (Sac – SG) Shortsteppers II
Ryan Anderson (NO – PF,C) Aggie Swish
John Wall (Was – PG) Skyrim Walkers
Marcin Gortat (Pho – C) ’92 Dream Team
Joe Johnson (Bkn – SG,SF) Last Man Standing !!
Anthony Davis (NO – PF) STAT
Steve Nash (LAL – PG) Alcindor Skyhooks
Tony Parker (SA – PG) Trillionaires
Klay Thompson (GS – SG,SF) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Joakim Noah (Chi – PF,C) Madafakas4Life
Ersan Ilyasova (Mil – PF) R.I.P Super Sonics
Tim Duncan (SA – PF,C) Brick Master
Derrick Rose (Chi – PG) Ski Bum
Tyson Chandler (NY – C) Roots for Goliath
Kevin Garnett (Bos – PF,C) Cuban’s defectors
Roy Hibbert (Ind – C) Chief
Jrue Holiday (Phi – PG) Magic 9

 

This is the last time I’ll ever own Steve Nash. It was a tossup with Tony Parker but I went with my heart. Few athletes have given me more pleasure than a skinny, underdog Canadian becoming a multiple MVP. Nash is even a great fimmaker; his Terry Fox documentary made me cry and his “home movie” of the Suns on an airplane is hysterically funny. Fanboy emotions notwithstanding, I like his FG% and FT% a lot and this league counts both AST and A/T.

Round 4 (Players #61-80)
Gerald Wallace (Bkn – SF,PF) Magic 9
Zach Randolph (Mem – PF,C) Chief
Manu Ginobili (SA – SG,SF) Cuban’s defectors
Tyreke Evans (Sac – SG,SF) Roots for Goliath
Carlos Boozer (Chi – PF,C) Ski Bum
Luis Scola (Pho – PF,C) Brick Master
Kris Humphries (Bkn – PF) R.I.P Super Sonics
Damian Lillard (Por – PG) Madafakas4Life
Danilo Gallinari (Den – SF) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Brook Lopez (Bkn – C) Trillionaires
Wesley Matthews (Por – SG,SF) Alcindor Skyhooks
Raymond Felton (NY – PG,SG) STAT
Kemba Walker (Cha – PG) Last Man Standing !!
Nene Hilario (Was – PF,C) ’92 Dream Team
Jeff Teague (Atl – PG) Skyrim Walkers
Andrew Bogut (GS – C) Aggie Swish
Jeremy Lin (Hou – PG) Shortsteppers II
Andrea Bargnani (Tor – PF,C) Kosrae Kiwis
Luol Deng (Chi – SF) Pistol Pete
Rodney Stuckey (Det – PG,SG) Numero Ocho

 

Wesley Matthews was not my first choice at SG. I’d been targeting Paul George earlier until Jeff snapped him up, then had my sights on Tyreke Evans. When Bruce grabbed him, it felt like my Spin colleagues were conspiring to make me scramble a bit.

Round 5 (Players #81-100)
Nikola Pekovic (Min – C) Numero Ocho
JaVale McGee (Den – C) Pistol Pete
Kenneth Faried (Den – PF) Kosrae Kiwis
Arron Afflalo (Orl – SG) Shortsteppers II
Anderson Varejao (Cle – PF,C) Aggie Swish
Michael Beasley (Pho – SF,PF) Skyrim Walkers
Kevin Martin (Hou – SG) ’92 Dream Team
Al Harrington (Orl – PF,C) Last Man Standing !!
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Cha – SF) STAT
Evan Turner (Phi – SG,SF) Alcindor Skyhooks
David West (Ind – PF) Trillionaires
Brandon Knight (Det – PG,SG) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Mo Williams (Uta – PG,SG) Madafakas4Life
Isaiah Thomas (Sac – PG) R.I.P Super Sonics
O.J. Mayo (Dal – SG) Brick Master
DeAndre Jordan (LAC – C) Ski Bum
Lou Williams (Atl – PG,SG) Roots for Goliath
Darren Collison (Dal – PG) Cuban’s defectors
Ray Allen (Mia – SG) Chief
Derrick Favors (Uta – PF,C) Magic 9

 

At this point, it’s clear that I’m playing “small” — lacking a shot-blocking rebounder. But that’s OK in the elimination format; I have five mini-drafts and months of trading to address that deficit. Evan Turner is an excellent passer and rebounder who completes my starting five.

Round 6 (Players #101-120)
Ricky Rubio (Min – PG) Magic 9
Jason Terry (Bos – PG,SG) Chief
Thaddeus Young (Phi – SF,PF) Cuban’s defectors
George Hill (Ind – PG,SG) Roots for Goliath
Elton Brand (Dal – PF,C) Ski Bum
Jason Kidd (NY – PG) Brick Master
Bradley Beal (Was – SG) R.I.P Super Sonics
Chris Kaman (Dal – PF,C) Madafakas4Life
Wilson Chandler (Den – SG,SF) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Trevor Ariza (Was – SG,SF) Trillionaires
Jameer Nelson (Orl – PG) Alcindor Skyhooks
Greivis Vasquez (NO – PG,SG) STAT
Jamal Crawford (LAC – PG,SG) Last Man Standing !!
J.R. Smith (NY – SG,SF) ’92 Dream Team
Avery Bradley (Bos – PG,SG) Skyrim Walkers
Jared Dudley (Pho – SG,SF) Aggie Swish
Samuel Dalembert (Mil – C) Shortsteppers II
Gordon Hayward (Uta – SG,SF) Kosrae Kiwis
DeMar DeRozan (Tor – SG,SF) Pistol Pete
Dorell Wright (Phi – SG,SF) Numero Ocho

 

I was fully expecting to take Greivis Vasquez here but thought Jameer Nelson would be gone. If that pick was a mistake, my excuse is being momentarily distracted by the disappointment of Chris Kaman and Wilson Chandler being plucked from my queue.

Round 7 (Players #121-140)
Andrei Kirilenko (Min – SF,PF) Numero Ocho
Tristan Thompson (Cle – PF,C) Pistol Pete
Kawhi Leonard (SA – SG,SF) Kosrae Kiwis
Dion Waiters (Cle – SG) Shortsteppers II
Channing Frye (Pho – PF,C) Aggie Swish
Harrison Barnes (GS – SF) Skyrim Walkers
Jose Calderon (Tor – PG) ’92 Dream Team
Antawn Jamison (LAL – PF) Last Man Standing !!
Courtney Lee (Bos – SG,SF) STAT
Brandon Bass (Bos – PF,C) Alcindor Skyhooks
Shawn Marion (Dal – SF,PF) Trillionaires
Ramon Sessions (Cha – PG,SG) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Brandon Roy (Min – SG,SF) Madafakas4Life
Jae Crowder (Dal – SF,PF) R.I.P Super Sonics
Emeka Okafor (Was – C) Brick Master
Brandon Rush (GS – SG) Ski Bum
Drew Gooden (Mil – PF,C) Roots for Goliath
Tony Allen (Mem – SG,SF) Cuban’s defectors
Hedo Turkoglu (Orl – SF,PF) Chief
Jason Richardson (Phi – SG,SF) Magic 9

 
Many of us in this draft have known each other for a decade or more and are fierce rivals in keeper leagues that draft later. Could there have been some “sandbagging?” Theoretically, but everyone wants to win this league. Bruce, Jeff and I have Sheridan Hoops bragging rights at stake and the others had the advantage of knowing who we liked. Brandon Bass was a safe pick; I’m an admirer of big men who can hit free throws.

Round 8 (Players #141-160)
MarShon Brooks (Bkn – SG,SF) Magic 9
Spencer Hawes (Phi – C) Chief
Danny Green (SA – SG,SF) Cuban’s defectors
Thomas Robinson (Sac – PF) Roots for Goliath
Mario Chalmers (Mia – PG) Ski Bum
Glen Davis (Orl – PF,C) Brick Master
Omer Asik (Hou – C) R.I.P Super Sonics
J.J. Redick (Orl – SG) Madafakas4Life
D.J. Augustin (Ind – PG) ~*~ Wizard of Oz ~*~
Jordan Crawford (Was – PG,SG) Trillionaires
Patrick Patterson (Hou – PF,C) Alcindor Skyhooks
Luke Ridnour (Min – PG,SG) STAT
Jason Thompson (Sac – PF,C) Last Man Standing !!
Nikola Vucevic (Orl – PF,C) ’92 Dream Team
Austin Rivers (NO – PG,SG) Skyrim Walkers
J.J. Hickson (Por – PF,C) Aggie Swish
Kirk Hinrich (Chi – PG,SG) Shortsteppers II
Jonas Valanciunas (Tor – C) Kosrae Kiwis
Derrick Williams (Min – SF,PF) Pistol Pete
Tiago Splitter (SA – C) Numero Ocho

 

This is where I switched to sleeper mode. Patrick Patterson may not have the breakout year I expect, but I can afford to bench him and eventually replace him.

There were eight more rounds in our draft; to see where the next 160 players were selected, continue to Part II.

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