Mike Barrett of Trail Blazers.com: “The Oregonian’s Jason Quick had an opinion column about Oden in Sunday’s edition, and it seems to have a lot of people talking about Oden, and evaluating their expectations of him come the regular season. I’m around the team every day, and have seen most of the practices here in the preseason. I think Jason did hit the nail on the head in describing what he sees as ‘Oden’s burden’ to this point, even if we’re all guilty of helping to create the issue in the first place. Last week we were hosting our annual Harvest Dinner at the Rose Garden, feeding 5,000 turkey dinners to needy residents. About an hour of my time serving was spent next to Greg (I was on turkey, he was on stuffing). We talked a little, but it was all light stuff, most of it non-basketball related. What stuck with me was how many times Greg was asked, by those receiving meals, how his knee was feeling, and how his ankle was. And, keep in mind, these were people who are dealing with some very serious, and sometimes dire, situations. Many of them were homeless, so this wasn’t your typical Q and A session.”
Blazer’s Edge: “If you gave Kevin Durant the best owner in professional sports, a top 5 coach in the league, a top 2 GM in the league, an all-star for a teammate, one of the best international players in the game for a teammate, a rising power forward star for a teammate, a steady veteran point guard for a teammate, and a fanbase that absolutely, without question, adores you, I think Kevin Durant would be thanking his lucky stars. I mean, just look how happy he was when his team drafted Russell Westbrook. Russell Freaking Westbrook. That dude would be our third string point guard and it was fiesta time for KD. If Greg is really getting down, he should seriously consider some role reversal. Perspective will do wonders. To whom much is given, much is expected.”
Sam Amick of The Sacramento Bee: “With the Kings’ running game still in its infancy, the Mavericks and their oldie-but-goodie starring point guard Jason Kidd were kind enough to provide a clinic as they scored 40 of their 124 points on the fast break. The Kings’ lack of transition defense was by far the most talked-about aspect of the game afterward, leaving coach Reggie Theus to hope there aren’t too many reruns of this show. ‘Right now, we are running only one way,’ Theus said. ‘If you’re going to play faster, then you’ve got to run back faster also. That’s just something we have to work on. This is relatively new for a lot of the guys, so we have to keep building. Baby steps.’ Not literally, though. Giant, swift steps would be preferred to avoid being beaten at their own game.”
Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: “Once again, the worst shot decision came at the absolute worst time of the game. And, once again, the shooter was J.R. Smith. In the game against Utah last week at the Pepsi Center, Smith heaved an airball 3-pointer in the final seconds instead of driving to the basket or looking to pass. On Sunday, he again heaved an airball 3-pointer in the final seconds. Against Utah, the game was tied, but against Minnesota, the Timberwolves were leading by two, so Kevin Ollie got the ball and was fouled, icing the game with two free throws. On the bench, Karl hid his head in his hands. ‘That shot was J.R.’s decision, and he continues to take incredibly tough shots,’ Karl said after the game. ‘And I have no idea how he expects to be on the court if he continues to do that in the end of games.’”
Jan Hubbard of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Carlisle pointed out that Wright, who has started four preseason games, has had more playing time than any of the newcomers or players vying for the final roster spot. But after Carlisle said that, he played Gerald Green for 20 minutes, and Green responded with a preseason high of 29 points in the 124-109 victory over the Kings. ‘He’s making a case that he belongs somewhere,’ Carlisle said. ‘This is what a lot of people thought he could do. … He’s been a little up and down the first three years of his career, [but] the way he’s approached it the last three or four months, it’s been worthwhile to him.’ Green came into the NBA out of high school and was only 19 years old as a rookie. He is, no doubt, a human highlight film, but like many young players, he has discovered that the NBA is not all about offense.”
John Jackson of The Chicago Sun-Times: “Thomas’ play in the Bulls’ 88-80 loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday night at the United Center was an example of both his potential and his inconsistency. Thomas had a great first half with 13 points on 3-for-6 shooting and 10 rebounds in 17½ minutes. But in 12 second-half minutes, he had only two points on 1-for-4 shooting and four rebounds. The Bulls are hoping Thomas, the fourth pick in the 2006 draft, can earn the starting spot at power forward, which will allow Drew Gooden to shift to center and result in a more potent frontcourt.”
Hoops Addict: “Kevin Love is less than one month into his NBA career and his pedestrian averages of 8.3 points and 5.5 rebounds have resulted in some fans spraining their ankles while jumping off his bandwagon. People need to take a deep breath and realize the growing pains Love is going through are nothing different than what any rookie endures when they arrive in the NBA. ‘Kevin Love is a rookie that’s gone through ups and downs like any rookie does,’ Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman told Hoops Addict. ‘He’s trying to adjust to the speed of the game compared to the college game.’”
Lou Babiarz for the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Rookie Kevin Love continued to struggle, finishing with five points in a little more than 11 minutes before fouling out.”
JONES ON THE NBA: The Jordan vs. Magic Pay-Per-View That Never Happened
Chris McCosky of The Detroit News: “It seemed fair to ask this question: With so many veteran players — Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace all in their 30s — how will Curry know when he’s maybe pushed them too far? How will he know when he’s crossed the line between building them up and tearing them down? ‘We monitor it, and we use Arnie Kander, who is the best (strength and conditioning coach) in the business,’ Curry said. ‘When Arnie tells me it should be light, then we go light.’ Kander does closely monitor all the practices. He looks for changes in players’ mechanics, the way they are moving, the way they are carrying themselves and whether they are engaged mentally, vocally and physically in the drill work and scrimmages.”
Russ Bengtson of SLAM: SLAMonline Top 50: Dwyane Wade, no. 8
Michael Wallace of The Miami Herald: “During his time in Phoenix, there seemed to be little difference between the forward spots in that run-and-gun offense. You simply fill a wing and finish with authority at the rim when Steve Nash finds you. In Miami, it’s different. Much different. And the Matrix seems to be caught in the middle. On top of that, he’s playing with a torn ligament on the pinkie finger of his shooting hand. Still, this new up-tempo offense the Heat has been advertising should be tailor-made for Marion’s open-court game. Only that offense has yet to kick into gear because of turnovers, chemistry issues and growing pains.”
Chris Perkins of The Palm Beach Post: “The problem is the Heat, which hasn’t translated those defensive numbers into a single victory, can’t get timely stops or key rebounds. In other words, it doesn’t make plays. On top of that, Miami, which isn’t blessed with size, rebounding, or shot-blocking, doesn’t play defense with hunger or desire. Right now the Heat’s defense is more like organized confusion among a group of unfamiliar players. Opponents take advantage to build double-digit leads, a problem will only get worse as the regular season starts and teams play their regulars for extended periods of time.”
Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel: “Point guard also has become a bastardized position. In his 35 minutes Saturday, Wade had eight assists, compared with the five that point guards Chris Quinn, Banks and Chalmers had in their combined 66 total minutes. Just nine days from the Oct. 29 season opener in New York, Spoelstra does not seem committed to any single approach. He said he held lengthy practices last week to get a better read on his roster, and that approach certainly could continue this week. Along the way, with three exhibitions this week, the Heat hopes to pick up its first preseason victory since 2006.”
- Check out Saturday and Sunday’s Fundamentals for more recommended reading
