Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel: “Michael Redd is coming back from major surgery on his left knee after an injury that prematurely ended his season in January and helped push the Bucks out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. ‘It’s amazing; it’s been a fast journey,’ Redd said of beginning his 10th season with the Bucks this fall. ‘I’m looking forward to a new chapter after the injury. I’m ready to explode and have some fun.’ But first there is more work to be done, more taxing hours of rehabilitation and preparation. Redd has been spending 2 to 2½ hours each day working out at Ohio State University, his alma mater in his hometown of Columbus. Redd has not played basketball yet or been on the court, and he admitted he’s getting anxious for that moment. ‘I’m just trying to get the leg stronger,’ he said. ‘I feel good. I really haven’t had any breaks. ‘I’m doing a lot of scar-tissue work, machine work and cardio. It’s getting the scar tissue to heal. I’m making progress. The whole process is good because it’s a chance to build your body up again.’”
Marcus Thompson II of the Contra Costa Times: “Azubuike, who is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and in his fourth season, said he’s spent the offseason preparing for anything. He’s been lifting weights, working on his post-up game, improving his ball-handling, crafting a go-to move and perfecting his midrange game. He has spent the last month in Chicago working with Michael Jordan’s former trainer Tim Grover, who is known for his work with knees (Gilbert Arenas, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O’Neal are there this summer, too). Azubuike said he will return to Chicago and finish training efore coming to camp. He said he expects to be healthy. He also expects to see some time at power forward, so he’s preparing himself ‘to take a beating.’ Toward the end of last season, Nelson said the Warriors weren’t good enough as a small team, so he would go big this season. He penciled swingman Stephen Jackson at the shooting guard spot, while second-year protege Anthony Randolph and a healthy Brandan Wright, Nelson said, sewed up the power forward position.”
Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday: “‘If we get a guy like Sessions in, it’s only going to make our team better,’ said Duhon, who got off to a strong start last season before appearing to wear down under heavy minutes. He wound up averaging 11.1 points and 7.2 assists. He added, ‘That was my thought process throughout the whole time. If we get a guy like Jason Kidd, we’re going to be better. If we get a guy like Grant Hill, we’re going to be better. Andre Miller, we’re going to be better. ‘I’ve always been a team player. It’s never been about me as a player; it’s always been about the team. Whoever we bring here, that makes us better, gives us a chance to win, bring ‘em in.’ The Knicks – who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday – appear to want to improve at point guard. And that could mean a new role for Duhon, who signed a two-year deal worth almost $12 million in July 2008. But Duhon, who will turn 27 on Aug. 31, said he’s more focused on the team’s postseason chances.”
Peter May of The Boston Globe: “The additions of Jefferson and McDyess pushed the Spurs well over the tax limit (almost $9 million, according to one account) and required some arm-twisting of longtime owner Peter Holt. ‘We told him that if we were going to compete, we had to go over the [tax threshold]. He did not like that answer,’’ Popovich said. ‘But he also said, ‘I don’t like it, but I understand it, so go out and do what you need to do.’ Jefferson is the biggest of the new arrivals, a scorer, a wing player who still has a few hops left. Popovich got to know Jefferson during the 2004 Olympics (as did Duncan, a US teammate) and looks forward to having the ex-Net, ex-Buck on the team. ‘He’s a grown-up. He doesn’t have to be developed,’ Popovich said. ‘And personality-wise, he fits. He has a great sense of humor. You can coach him and he can respectfully talk back to you. Timmy enjoys him.’ McDyess is also a grown-up. ‘He’s Kurt Thomas, but a better scorer,’ Popovich said.”
Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal: “He was the cheapest guy available. He signed an unprecedented year-and-a-half deal. But if the Grizzlies are able to transform perceptions of the franchise inside Memphis and beyond, it will be because Lionel Hollins has managed to extract more out of his players than anyone suspected he could. He has to get Gay to become a complete player. He has to get Randolph to care about winning more than stats. He has to get someone to play defense. Can he? ‘I have been in this league a lot of years,’ said Grizzlies assistant Johnny Davis. ‘And I will tell you, in all honesty, that I believe this is his time.’ Davis has been with Hollins since they played together in Portland, of course. What’s he going to say? But Hollins has a straight-forward, no-excuses approach that is a perfect fit for this team.”
Jeremy Schmidt of Bucksketball: “Scott Skiles is not a cuddly teddy bear. He’s not fat and jolly. There is nothing gregarious about him, he’s just a mean looking short dude. And like most short people do everywhere, Skiles looks like he’s got a chip on his shoulder when he’s coaching. He’s sworn more times already as a Bucks coach as any I’ve ever seen. Since there were only about fifty people at each Bucks game last year I could hear a lot of what Skiles was saying, even in the upper deck and he was often cussing his guys out. Whenever I used to see a coach screaming on television, I’d always assume they were giving it to the refs. Skiles has made me rethink that. I saw him tear his guys new ones for missing defensive assignments or dropping a ball out of bounds more times than I could count. And I like that. I like the passion. He holds everyone accountable and expects positive things. But everyone has their limits. How much of this are millionaire players going to take before they tune him out? It took three years in Phoenix and four in Chicago.”
Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic: “Jerry Colangelo has a World Series trophy and a gold medal. He has earned the respect of everyone who remembers Phoenix as a dusty desert pit stop on the road to somewhere else. And now the countdown has begun. In less than 50 days, the International Olympic Committee will announce its host city for the 2016 Olympics. Colangelo is deeply vested in the outcome, currently serving on the bid committee for his hometown. If Chicago wins, his own personal finish line comes into view. ‘The vote takes place in Copenhagen on October 2nd, and I plan to be there, representing Chicago, doing whatever I can to help,’ Colangelo said. ‘It’s all about the delegates. It’s all about the votes.’ It’s all about twisting arms, and who better to get the job done? … Chicago’s push for an Olympic bid has opened another window for Colangelo, who in return gives the city much additional clout and international currency. The biggest opponent seems to be Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, although Tokyo and Madrid, Spain, also are in the game.”
Reuters: “Wang Zhizhi, who preceded both Yao and Yi in the NBA, showed more drive but at 32 he is three years older than Yao and in the twilight of his career. ‘Yi is a great talent … but it’s a lot on him and … he is not a player who will make a difference in a team,’ Iran’s experienced Serbian coach Veselin Matic said after the game. He’s not a leader in the team, Zhizhi was more of a leader but he is a little bit old now.’ With Lebanon and Jordan also making it to the last four, the 25th Asian championship witnessed a shift in the balance of power to the west of the continent. ‘West Asian teams have indeed made great progress in recent years,’ Guo added. ‘They play flexibly. They have different characteristics from the east Asia teams.’ Iran coach Matic also noticed the difference in approach. ‘They are like in the army,’ he said of the Chinese team. ‘Basketball is a game where you have to give players freedom to play. It’s a big pressure on the players, everyone speaking about Yao, everybody speaks about the big stars and nobody speaks about the hard work in the team to give freedom. They are scared of making mistakes.’”
Wendell Maxey of HOOPSWORLD: “John Townsend would like you to believe his summer hasn’t been about trip after trip after trip. But don’t buy that for one second. ‘To be honest with you, I’ve traveled. But it hasn’t been that bad,’ said Townsend, who is preparing for his third season as shooting coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. Yet the longest Townsend has been home this offseason has been a week to ten days. The rest of the time he’s lived out of a suitcase, jumped from airport to airport and logged major court time working with guys like Jerryd Bayless, Steve Blake and rookies Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph. Towsend is one of four shooting coaches in the NBA – along with former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mark Price (Atlanta), Chip Engelland (San Antonio Spurs) and Bryan Gates (Sacramento Kings) – whose client list includes Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard and Ime Udoka among others. But Townsend’s approach to his craft goes beyond developing better shooting habits through teaching, video analysis and repetition on free-throws, jumpers and three-pointers. It’s also about a personal relationship within the workout regardless if he’s working with a veteran, second-year player or NBA novice.”
