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#Post#: 516--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 6, 2012, 12:40 am
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Stephen Jackson Wants Contract Extension
In a good place in both his basketball and music careers,
there’s not much that can keep a smile off Stephen Jackson’s
face these days.
Three days into his first Spurs’ training camp since 2002,
Jackson wants the world to remember his new rap album drops at
the end of the month.
“’Jack of All Trades’ coming Oct. 30,” he bellows to anyone
within earshot at the team’s practice facility. “Be looking out
for it. On iTunes and your nearest Best Buy. Go get it.”
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.”
#Post#: 517--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 6, 2012, 12:41 am
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Kevin Durant Has Added Bulk to Frame
Critics have gone after (Kevin) Durant for years, each season
claiming he needs to get stronger even in spite of his scoring
prowess. It’s been a justifiable critique seeing as how Durant
easily gets pushed off his spot when fighting for position and
frequently must drift well beyond the 3-point line to receive a
clean entry pass.
But Durant’s body is changing.
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.
#Post#: 518--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 6, 2012, 12:43 am
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Dirk Nowitzki Rips New Flopping Rule
In some unofficial polls, Dirk Nowitzki said he’s seen himself
listed as high as second-team All-NBA when it comes to flopping
to try to induce a foul call.
He’s not completely disagreeing with that, by the way. And it’s
why he’s very much opposed to the new rule from the NBA that is
going to start penalizing players who flop to try to get a
referee to blow his whistle.
“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.”
#Post#: 519--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 6, 2012, 12:44 am
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Nelson Admits Howard’s Words Hurt Him
On a more personal note, (Jameer) Nelson was bothered by
(Dwight) 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.
On Thursday, following the Magic’s fifth practice of the
training camp, Nelson opened up about how much Howard’s words
last season hurt him. The two have since reacquainted and often
still communicate via text messages, but Nelson admitted that it
took him some time to get over Howard’s inferences last season.
“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 just took the approach to play
basketball wherever I was. I knew that I was still in Orlando
last year for a reason and that the organization still wanted me
here. Really, that helped me kind of get over all of the
nonsense that was going around.’’
#Post#: 522--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 7, 2012, 7:34 pm
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Knicks Contract Terms Surprised Camby?
Perhaps because of his history of injuries and long career,
(Marcus) Camby privately told teammates when he arrived for
training camp that he was surprised he received a three-year
deal worth $13.1 million.
#Post#: 523--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 7, 2012, 7:35 pm
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Can Rajon Rondo Serve as ‘Team General’?
(Celtics coach Doc) Rivers also touched on Rajon Rondo take more
of a commanding role with the team.
“Basketball-wise we want him to make his jump shots a little bit
more, we want him to make his free throws,” Rivers said. “But
leadership is the wrong word, it’s more being the team general
on the floor. That’s to me where I want him to really improve.
I’m really pushing him this year to think like me on the floor.
The better he does that, I can sit on the sideline and maybe
have a cup of coffee or something during the game.”
#Post#: 524--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 7, 2012, 7:36 pm
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Can Stephen Curry Prove His Worth?
On the surface, it looks like a conflict of interest, but
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry warns against buying into a
negative outlook.
Curry’s representatives and the Warriors’ front office have
agreed to table contract extension talks until after the
preseason, when the point guard’s health can be better
evaluated. But coach Mark Jackson on Saturday said he’s leaning
toward sitting Curry and his surgically repaired right ankle for
either Sunday’s preseason opener against the Lakers or Monday’s
home opener against Utah.
That approach would give the team one less game to appraise
Curry and give the point guard one less game to prove he’s worth
big money.
#Post#: 525--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 7, 2012, 7:37 pm
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Harden Doesn’t Want Point Guard Tag
Though (James) Harden often handles the ball, he does not
consider himself a point guard. “No, not at all,” Harden said
with conviction. “I’m a shooting guard who can make plays and
score the ball as well.”
(Coach Scott) Brooks agreed with Harden’s assessment.
“You know what, it’s just kind of progressed to him (Harden)
handling the ball more,” Brooks said. “I look at James and our
guards as guards. We’re kind of a throwback backcourt. Both
guards can make plays. Both guards can handle the ball in that
second unit — Eric (Maynor), Reggie (Jackson) and James. It
definitely is a luxury having that. If you get trapped, you can
always have the off-guard bring up the ball. We should never
have problems in the backcourt bringing up the ball if they trap
us.”
#Post#: 526--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 7, 2012, 7:38 pm
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Steve Nash Easing into Leadership Role
The Lakers value (Steve) Nash beyond his fifth-place standing in
NBA history in assists (9,916) and his mastery of the
pick-and-roll. They also trust his shooting. So much that (Kobe)
Bryant touted Nash as “one of the great shooters our game has
ever seen.”
It also showed that a team full of superstars is looking for
Nash to lead.
“He’s a natural leader, more of a quiet leader than a
rah-rah-type leader,” Lakers Coach Mike Brown said. “But you can
definitely tell that everybody respects him. He has a great feel
for the game. He understands when and how much he needs to
learn, too. He knows how to listen as much as he knows how to
teach. It helps out tremendously. It makes you feel like you
have an assistant out there on the floor.”
“They may be waiting a long time if they want me to pass on any
gems,” Nash said with a smile. “But if I can share with them any
of my experiences, I’d be happy to. It’d be great to pass on
anything I’ve learned. I’m here to help.”
#Post#: 531--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: October 10, 2012, 1:08 am
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Pau Gasol Relieved to be a Laker
How close was Pau Gasol to playing for the Houston Rockets?
Members of his inner circle bought airline tickets from LAX to
IAH, resigned to Gasol’s stunning fate amid an alphabet soup of
airport codes.
Gasol, though, never booked one. He hoped for a miracle reversal
of the trade involving Chris Paul to the Lakers, and it came a
day later when NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal.
It didn’t help Gasol’s mind-set that the same team that
delivered a three-year, $57-million contract extension on the
way to winning consecutive championships wanted to drop him for
the dynamic New Orleans point guard in a three-team trade.
Is it any wonder that Gasol’s stat line last season showed a
career-low scoring average (17.4 points) and his second-worst
shooting percentage in 11 NBA seasons (50.1%)?
With Howard and Steve Nash on the payroll, so much less is
expected of Gasol this season. He will have plenty of chances to
cut toward the basket in the Princeton offense, not to mention
post up whenever Howard flashes to the free-throw line for the
entry pass from the guards that initiates the offense.
“Last year, there was a lot going on, but this year’s a new
year,” Gasol said, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a smile.
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