» August 10, 2009 3:56 PM | By Brandon Hoffman
- Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald: “After seven weeks of offseason workouts designed to help last year’s No. 2 overall draft pick transition between power forward and small forward, Spoelstra said he’s reached a decision on what Beasley (right) will be classified next season: ‘I want to be able to just call him a forward,’ said Spoelstra, who suggested Beasley wouldn’t be tagged with a position-specific title next season. That means, as Heat president Pat Riley said recently, Beasley will see time at both forward spots. Nothing new here. But Spoelstra did offer some insight on how Beasley will be used in roles similar to the ones played by Marvin Williams, Lamar Odom and – to a very slight degree – LeBron James. In a quest to maximize Beasley’s versatility, Spoelstra said you can expect to see Beasley initiate the break off defensive rebounds and push the ball up the court.”
- A profile of Andre Miller at Blazers Edge. It’s great. Here’s a highlight: “‘Andre didn’t have a parent pointing him toward an NBA career before he could start his college career,’ attests David Benezra, executive director of the Los Angeles Rockfish, a summer league team that Miller played with in high school. ’His mother kept things in perspective. All of the guys who have played for us and gone on to the NBA had the same thing. So many parents now are putting the focus on the big dollars and on the NBA that their kids never become good college players — or good students for that matter.’ One of Miller’s summer league coaches, Mark Mayemura, reiterated the point that Andre’s focus was a little different than that of many star jocks. ‘Los Angeles is the hotbed for talent,’ he said. ‘A lot of kids that were more hyped than Andre got more attention. He was not a product of hype. He did not play on all the summer league teams and get a lot of press. He did not develop as early as some, but his game has always been about improving.’ Andre’s mother instilled foremost emphasis upon school work and helping out around the house. Basketball was an auxiliary to real life in her household. Andre’s coach at Verbum Dei, Mike Kearney, recalled the way that Andre used to scurry into practice late, work boots on his feet with blades of grass still stuck to his clothes. ‘Arriving late for practice was not allowed, but I could not bring myself to punish him after doing all that yardwork,’ Kearney remembered.” And a link to Part II.
- Sports Radio Interview’s Tas Melas transcribes an interview with Brandon Roy. Roy on what Miller brings to the Blazers: “I think the biggest thing he’ll bring is leadership to our team. Me, and LaMarcus, and coach Nate of course have tried to do that; even coach Nate would say that you need a player out there to do it. I would go to coach Nate a number of times this season and say, ‘You know, coach, there’s times during the game I wish there was an older, veteran guy around to help maybe show me the way.’ I think that Andre Miller, he’s the perfect guy for that. And, not only help me out, I think Greg and LaMarcus will benefit extremely from having a pass first point guard, and a point guard that has an aura about himself. He’s a crafty guy, he’s been in this league for a number of years, and he’s excited about being here, and he’s excited about making us better. So, that makes me think that, ‘Eh, this guy’s gonna help make this team even better than a 54-win team.”
- Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com: “NBA people say their league is clean. They say it’s a culture thing, that baseball’s steroid culture grew out of control while owners and the union were dickering over testing. They say the NBA has been testing for steroids since 1999, allowing the league to stay ahead of the culture. It’s a compelling argument: The NBA never had the chance to develop a steroid culture. But this is a fact: The NBA does have a marijuana culture. Everyone knows it. Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks has flat out said ‘most of the players in the league use marijuana,’ and I haven’t heard a single compelling argument to the contrary. So in this culture of marijuana use, with marijuana being an addictive drug, how often does an NBA player get suspended five games for being caught a third time? Almost never. Which tells me drug testing in the NBA is about as tenacious as defense in the NBA. So here’s what I know. Baseball players use steroids. Football players use steroids. Track athletes use steroids. Swimmers. Cyclists. Even Ping-pong players, for crying out loud. But the NBA, where players have become noticeably thicker in the past decade, is basically clean? This sport that places a premium on explosion and strength, and rewards those attributes with $100 million contracts, has had just six steroid users since 1999?” (Via Indy Cornrows)
Category: Advanced Statistics, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Points in the Paint, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards
Tags: Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Gilbert Arenas, Josh Howard, Michael Beasley, Rashard Lewis, Tracy McGrady
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