Points in the Paint

» May 21, 2009 7:59 PM | By Brandon Hoffman

Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress: “From what people around the league are saying, Rubio’s camp may already be sending out feelers indicating that he’s not interested in the least bit in playing in Memphis. ‘Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City.‘ Unlike Griffin or Hasheem Thabeet, who don’t really have any choice where they will play next season if a team decides to play hardball, Rubio has a reasonably attractive alternative option at his disposal—returning to Spain.”

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register: “There was no additional pressure or panic in practice, just a lot of Lakers preparation for moving the ball fast and preferably inside when Denver’s overloading defense commits to Bryant … just the kind of thing that will open up myriad opportunities for Pau Gasol, Bynum and Odom to get shots and put-backs. Then again, Bynum already knew those things could be coming. He watched Game 1 again on video right after it was played, something he regularly does on his own as part of a very self-contained personal drive. He’s not the sort of guy to get fired up by all the fans who’ve approached him in public to ask what’s still his problem, even though that has gotten awfully annoying. He isn’t mad at Nuggets coach George Karl for that February comment – ‘Don’t you have to make the statement that maybe they’re better without Bynum?’ – but just respectfully disagrees. ‘If I come out and I play the way that I know I’m capable of doing, I don’t think that’s true at all,’ Bynum said. No, not the boldest declaration – because the confidence isn’t all back. Bynum’s excuses about not enough minutes or too many fouls remain ever ready, because he’s not very good yet about accepting responsibility.”

The Baseline: “Cavaliers small forward LeBron James has been selected by his peers as the runaway winner for Sporting News’ 2009 NBA player of the year. In a poll of 231 players, James received 142 votes. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade was second with 44 votes, and Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant was third with 32.”