'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1808

The San Antonio Express-News (Jeff McDonald) reports: Manu Ginobili, the Spurs’ leading scorer last season, will miss at least all of November while recuperating, coach Gregg Popovich said. “Manu will be out 20 to 25 games – until mid-December at the latest,” Popovich said on the eve of Spurs training camp. Doctors initially gave Ginobili a timetable of 8-12 weeks for recovery. The most optimistic end of that spectrum would put him back in uniform for the start of the regular-season. For now, it appears the Spurs will approach Ginobili’s return more cautiously. When training camp begins today, Ginobili, 31, will be a non-participant. He has been able to walk without crutches and without pain for some time but has not been cleared to participate in any activities other than swimming and weightlifting.

InsideHoops.com editor says: For the good of the Spurs and his NBA career, Manu needs to stop playing international basketball. Or else he should just start paying money back to the Spurs for all the times he’s not 100 percent because he keeps playing for Argentina in the summer.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1809

The Deseret News (Tim Buckley) reports: The Jazz have discussed contract extensions with the camps of both starting power forward Carlos Boozer and starting center Mehmet Okur, general manager Kevin O’Connor said during the team’s opening session of training camp here Tuesday morning. But Boozer doesn’t plan to decide anything until next offseason, including whether to extend or pursue opportunities in the free-agency market, he said before the Jazz’s evening workout. “We’re going to enjoy this season and play basketball,” Boozer said. “I look forward to having an opportunity to win, and hopefully win a championship… Boozer, an All-Star the past two seasons, currently is in the fifth year of a six-year, $68 million deal.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Boozer is obviously more important to keep than Okur, but both guys are key to the team’s success. Okur is the third most important Jazz player, behind Boozer and Deron Williams, with Andrei Kirilenko 4th. Boozer and Deron are the two building-block stars and they’re both safe to commit to long-term.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1810

The Houston Chronicle (Jonathan Feigen) reports: Yao Ming again declared the condition of his foot at 100 percent, showing the familiar sense of humor that had abandoned him when a third consecutive season was interrupted by a major injury. “I feel good,” he said. “I can’t say it’s like brand new, but it’s like my foot.” Yao has looked forward to a chance to start over since he blamed himself for the Rockets’ first-round exit last spring in Salt Lake City. As much as he cherished his experiences in the Beijing Olympics, he said Tuesday that in many ways it was valuable as preparation for the Rockets’ season to come, forcing him to prepare early and then pushing his conditioning to the point he reported 13 pounds lighter than last season and feeling far more fit than a month ago.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1811

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: A year after entering Miami Heat training camp as a longshot prospect, Joel Anthony has moved into the mix for significant minutes this season at center. Asked to name someone who has stood out over the first five days of training camp, first-year coach Erik Spoelstra today cited the 6-foot-9 undrafted shot-blocker out of UNLV. “I don’t know why I would be surprised about Joel, because he’s been such an incredible hard worker for the last year,” Spoelstra said. “But he’s had a terrific camp so far and his energy has been incredible, with his athleticism. “He’s probably in the best shape of anybody in the camp, and he’s really got an idea of what we’re trying to do. He’s really made strides offensively, even.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: In training camp and preseason, coaches have a habit of tossing praise at deep bench players who are “working extra hard.” Hard work is great and all, but 9 times out of 10 the player remains glued to the bench once the regular season rolls around.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1812

The East Valley Tribune (Jerry Brown) reports: Suns fan favorite Pat Burke will be continuing his basketball career. The 34-year-old signed with Polish champion Asseco Prokam this week, continuing his tour of European basketball to yet another outpost. Burke hooked on with Khimky in the Russian League last season, where he played in 11 games, after some bad luck in October.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1813

The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports: Magic General Manager Otis Smith reiterated Wednesday that the club doesn’t have any plans to give forward Hedo Turkoglu a contract extension before this season plays out. Some teams offer star players extensions before they can become free agents. “You can do an extension, but wouldn’t I be negotiating against myself right now?” Smith said. “I like Turk. I like what he does for our team. It’s way too early, way premature, for this.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: No big deal. Turkoglu had a breakout season last year. If he keeps playing on that level, he’ll probably get the deal he wants.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1815

The Sacramento Kings today added Shareef Abdur-Rahim to their coaching staff as an assistant coach, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Abdur-Rahim, a 12-year NBA veteran, recently retired his playing career due a reoccurring knee injury.

Abdur-Rahim enjoyed 12 seasons in the NBA with four different teams (Vancouver 1996-97 to 2000-01, Atlanta 2001-02 to 2003-04, Portland 2003-04 to 2004-05 and Sacramento 2005-06 to 2007-08), amassing career averages of 18.1 points (.452 FGs, .297 3FGs, .810 FTs), 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game through 830 outings. His most productive season, statistically, occurred during the 1998-99 campaign in Vancouver when he averaged 23.0 points (.432 FGs, .306 3FGs, .841 FTs), 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game through 50 contests (NBA Lockout season). The following season (1999-00), Abdur-Rahim averaged double figures in both points (20.3) and rebounds (10.1) per game, in which he played in all 82 contests for the Grizzlies. Abdur-Rahim was a member of the gold-medal winning United States Olympic team in 2000 while still with the Vancouver Grizzlies. He was selected to the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star Team where he scored nine points in 21 minutes as a member of the Atlanta Hawks in 2002.

On December 28, 2002, Abdur-Rahim became the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to reach the 10,000-point plateau when he scored 18 points at Washington at age 26, trailing only Kobe Bryant, Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with that distinction. He scored a career-high 50 points (including a career-high 21 field goals made) versus Detroit on November 23, 2001, becoming the first Hawks player to hit that mark since Dominique Wilkins poured in 52 points in 1991. Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies (now Memphis) as an undergraduate out of California with the third pick of the 1996 NBA Draft, Abdur-Rahim has a long-standing history of community service involvement. He was named by The Sporting News as the NBA’s Number 1 Good Guy for 2004 after funding the Reef House in Atlanta through his Atlanta-based Future Foundation with the purpose of assisting at-risk and underprivileged youth.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1814

The Orange County Register (Kevin Ding) reports: Andrew Bynum will likely receive a maximum-value contract extension this month worth nearly $90 million over five years. Pau Gasol has nearly $50 million over three years left on his massive contract – also new money being spent by Jerry Buss when you consider the Lakers acquired Gasol for Kwame Brown’s contract that expired at the end of last season. With the Lakers paying Bynum and Gasol that kind of coin into the future behind one Kobe Bryant, it’s just not in the budget to keep paying Lamar Odom his current wage – $14.3 million this season – or more. There were no talks over the summer about a contract extension for Odom for good reason: The Lakers can’t possibly do it. If the Lakers win the title this season, the only way to keep the team intact figures to be Odom accepting a massive pay cut. And the only way that even becomes a realistic possibility is if Odom has a bad year – at least in the statistical sense, which fewer minutes as a sixth man might trigger.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10141

Ben To Run With The Bulls: Chicago Bull's guard Ben Gordon has supposedly reached a decision on which deal he will sign today. The Bulls' and Gordon's camp have been talking since Monday, and it seems the Bulls are not budging on the size of their multi-year deal – six years, $59 million. A source close to this situation said yesterday they felt if the Bulls put some incentive money into the deal Ben might sign it, but it's unclear if Chicago is open to that. Ben is expected to practice with the team today after inking his deal. The Bull's qualifying offer expires today meaning the guaranteed $6.4 million comes off the table, but the Bulls would still retain the right to match any contract offer. The Bulls have handled this situation as well as could be expected, Ben is watching and participating in all the practice sessions from the sideline, and has been eager to learn the new terminology and plays. As soon as details of the deal are made clear, we'll get something posted on site.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/29982339.html

The Wolves signed 11-year veteran guard Kevin Ollie on Tuesday, and he joined the team and former Philadelphia teammate Rodney Carney for the evening practice.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10141

Bulging Disc?: So word is that New York Knicks draft pick Danilo Gallinari has been suffering from a bulging disc in his back, and that treatments over the past few weeks have included not one, but two Cortisone shots. This is really not good news for the Knicks. While it is possible with intense "core training" that Danilo can prepare his body to manage this kind of injury, that's off-season work. Experts HOOPSWORLD has spoken with point to the fact that bulging discs rarely get completely better and flare up more often than not, saying that surgery is often the only way to insure this is not a recurring nagging injury. There is no doubt that the manner in which this injury was managed in the off-season is questionable, now that the words bulging disc are floating around, this could be a significant setback for the Knicks and their promising Italian star. More as this story evolves.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... ways_.html

EDDY ILL: Eddy Curry, who arrived for camp in poor shape, missed the first day of practice due to a bacterial infection. Curry was taken to Saratoga Hospital for evaluation and prescribed antibiotics. He will be out at least one more day. "You know what, I heard he was throwing up and everything, so, it's a great way to lose weight," D'Antoni said.

The Knicks revealed that first-round pick Danilo Gallinari is suffering from a bulging disk in his back. The team is confident that Gallinari, who has been out since mid-July, will practice by the end of the month.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketbal ... 0645.story

But Allan Houston, attempting his second comeback, looked good. Stephon Marbury, the unwanted man, was sharp. And the atmosphere had a rare positive vibe.

"These guys can surprise you," D'Antoni said. "They can do what they want to do and it's up to them to understand, here's where we want to go . . . We're not going to wait on anybody. We're trying to set the tone and then it's up to me to keep this pace and leave it to the guys to fall right in."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/six ... o_run.html

McKie officially on staff. Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski announced the return of 13-year NBA veteran Aaron McKie as an assistant coach.

McKie was a member of the Sixers' staff last season before the Los Angeles Lakers, who still owned his rights as a player, traded him to Memphis. The Grizzlies waived McKie on May 9, 2008. McKie is a graduate of Simon Gratz High and starred at Temple for three seasons before playing for the Sixers from 1997-2005.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.wnba.com/games/20081001/DETSAN/recap.html

Katie Smith and Taj McWilliams-Franklin helped Detroit take a first step toward reclaiming the WNBA title by leading the Shock to a 77-69 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Smith scored 25 points and McWilliams-Franklin had 24. Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Friday in San Antonio. The Silver Stars, who lost to an Eastern Conference team for the first time this season after 14 wins, were led by Sophia Young's 21 points and 16 from Ann Wauters.

San Antonio's Becky Hammon, who scored 35 points in the decisive Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday, scored 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting in Game 1. Smith's jumper from 19 feet with 8:19 to play gave Detroit a 14-point lead. But the Silver Stars outscored the Shock 20-6 during the next six minutes. Hammon scored on two straight layups and then hit two free throws to tie the game with 2:16 to go.But Kara Braxton scored inside and was fouled. She missed the free throw, but Detroit rebounded and Smith sank a jumper to make it 73-69 with 1:44 left and the Shock hit four free throws to close out the game. Smith also had nine rebounds, was 4-of-8 on 3-pointers and made all 5 free throws. She helped the Shock build a 10-point lead at halftime when she connected on a 4-point play - a 3-pointer from 22 feet plus a free throw after Young's foul - that put Detroit ahead 40-30.

Detroit didn't get its first lead until 2:19 into the second quarter when Smith made two free throws to go up 21-20 before the Shock outscored San Antonio 21-12 the rest of the half for the double-digit margin. The Silver Stars went cold, shooting 4-of-16 in the second quarter. San Antonio played without key reserves Helen Darling and Edwige Lawson-Wade. Darling strained her right calf and Lawson-Wade sprained her right ankle during Saturday's Game 2 victory over Los Angeles in the Western Conference semifinals. Detroit, already without All-Star forward Cheryl Ford, missed Plenette Pierson for the third time in the last five games because of a labrum tear in her right shoulder.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3621188

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon skipped two practices Wednesday as a deadline neared for him to sign a deal for the upcoming season. The fifth-year guard was present but did not participate in a morning practice at the Bulls' suburban training facility, a team spokesman confirmed. He was a no-show for a late afternoon session.

The Bulls were expected to release a statement on Gordon's status after the deadline passed at midnight ET. Gordon, who led the Bulls averaging 18.6 points last season, could still sign a one-year qualifying offer worth $6.4 million and become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Team officials said earlier this week that they still hoped that a multiyear agreement could be reached. Earlier this summer, Gordon reportedly rejected a five-year, $50-million deal last summer. Bulls officials were not available Wednesday to discuss Gordon's status. General manager John Paxson was expected make a statement on Thursday morning. The Bulls welcome back nearly the entire team that finished 33-49 last season.

[nasty daddy]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=22751

Larry (MI): Hey John, Do you see the Pistons taking a step back this year?

John Hollinger: Not back so much as sideways ... I think they'll do about what they did a year ago, but with fewer regular-season wins. But that's only with the current roster -- Dumars is still hunting around for that game-changing trade.

[nasty daddy]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=22751

MarkButter in SoCal: What is Joe D. hunting? Any idea?

John Hollinger: I don't think hunting season starts until the trade deadline. When we see who's surprising and who's disappointing some deals will become available that aren't right now.

[nasty daddy]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=22751

Jim (LA): If the Nuggets are struggling and the Pistons are in their usual spot near the deadline can you see the Pistons going after Allen Iverson??

John Hollinger: I could, but I think the guy they really want is Melo.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spur ... tring.html

With the first day of Spurs training camp came the first nagging injuries of the season.

Veteran forward Kurt Thomas was held out of Tuesday's drills with a mild left hamstring strain. Guard Salim Stoudamire, signed to a free agent contract last week and expected to compete for a backup spot at both guard positions, suffered a right groin strain.

Neither injury was believed to be serious.