ATL: Preseason edition (Is Hayward worth $50mm pg15)

[theFireBlanket]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... z2hxNymnaU

Summer of 2007 and O.J. Mayo, the No. 1 high school player in the country, attends the Kobe Basketball Academy at Loyola Marymount. Mayo asks Bryant if they can work out together. "Yeah," Bryant responds, "I'll pick you up at three." The next evening Mayo sees Bryant and asks, "Where were you?" Bryant looks confused. "Three in the morning," he says. "Not three in the afternoon." Mayo slinks away. The back-patting era, however long it lasted, is over. "I can't relate to lazy people," Bryant says, speaking generally, not about Mayo.

[EastSideBucksFan]

It's to the point to where I just legit feel bad for the guy.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/gswscribe/status/391177919550087168[/tweet]

Andrew Bogut knocked out of game with lower back spasms

By Marcus Thompson
Friday, October 18th, 2013 at 5:23 am in Uncategorized.

Andrew Bogut got the ball on the left low block, with Pau Gasol on his back. He took a couple dribbles towards the middle then spun back to his left, dropping in the left hand hook. This was at the 9:26 mark of the first quarter.

Running back down court, Bogut began to grimace and hold his lower back. Moments later, he was taken out of the game. He limped straight to the locker room. Not exactly a sight Warriors fans wanted to see.

Bogut was done for the night, knocked out of the second and final preseason game with lower back spasms. No word on the severity of the spasms, but safe to say the 12 hours of flying back to the United States will be uncomfortable.

Bogut played just 32 games last season. And though he was pivotal to the Warriors’ playoff success, he was laboring all 12 games in the postseason. But he said he was fully healthy after recuperating in the offseason. He’d lost nearly 20 pounds and clearly chiseled up. He said he was in the best shape he’d been in the last two years.

He has made it clear to point out his injury history, which has caused him to miss 104 regular season games the last two seasons, was the result of “freak” injuries. But this was hardly that.

This isn’t Bogut’s first back issues. He missed time last season thanks to a protruding disc in his back. He missed 43 games in 2008-09 with a lower back injury.

Bogut, who is currently negotiating a contract extension with Warriors’ management, was clearly frustrated at this latest brush with injury. It appeared he was expecting to stay in the game. He was attuned on the ensuing defensive possession, defending Gasol. Then as play stopped, he looked to be trying to stretch out his back by lifting his knees. He never asked to come out.

Coach Mark Jackson summoned Marreese Speights to check in seconds after he saw Bogut favoring his back. But when Speights checked into the game, Bogut appeared to wave him off at first before eventually jogging off straight to the locker room.

[Thunder Muscle]

Bogut is definitely going to be one of those guys you look back at and wonder "what could've been". A guy that didn't live up to the #1 pick billing but if weren't for the injuries could've been an All-Star caliber Center. I can't believe the Warriors are (or maybe were now) talking extension. I don't think he's far from being a 1 year contract guy that you try to keep healthy for late in the year if you need a big man. That, or he'll just retire one of these seasons. There is just no way you can count on this guy to stay on the floor.

[DanoMac]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20131016/kobe-bryant-lakers-si-cover-story/#ixzz2hxNymnaU

Summer of 2007 and O.J. Mayo, the No. 1 high school player in the country, attends the Kobe Basketball Academy at Loyola Marymount. Mayo asks Bryant if they can work out together. "Yeah," Bryant responds, "I'll pick you up at three." The next evening Mayo sees Bryant and asks, "Where were you?" Bryant looks confused. "Three in the morning," he says. "Not three in the afternoon." Mayo slinks away. The back-patting era, however long it lasted, is over. "I can't relate to lazy people," Bryant says, speaking generally, not about Mayo.

Kobe is such a G. Any player with that amount of determinition and with his will to win is bound to have success. The last of a dying breed.

[EastSideBucksFan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20131016/kobe-bryant-lakers-si-cover-story/#ixzz2hxNymnaU

Summer of 2007 and O.J. Mayo, the No. 1 high school player in the country, attends the Kobe Basketball Academy at Loyola Marymount. Mayo asks Bryant if they can work out together. "Yeah," Bryant responds, "I'll pick you up at three." The next evening Mayo sees Bryant and asks, "Where were you?" Bryant looks confused. "Three in the morning," he says. "Not three in the afternoon." Mayo slinks away. The back-patting era, however long it lasted, is over. "I can't relate to lazy people," Bryant says, speaking generally, not about Mayo.

Kobe is such a G. Any player with that amount of determinition and with his will to win is bound to have success. The last of a dying breed.

I don't care what anybody says, I love Kobe.

I'm sure the guys at ESPN ranked him #25 just to get a reaction out of him and all the readers.

He'll be back.

[DanoMac]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20131016/kobe-bryant-lakers-si-cover-story/#ixzz2hxNymnaU

Kobe is such a G. Any player with that amount of determinition and with his will to win is bound to have success. The last of a dying breed.

I don't care what anybody says, I love Kobe.

I'm sure the guys at ESPN ranked him #25 just to get a reaction out of him and all the readers.

He'll be back.

I'm a big fan, too. Whether you like him or not, you have to respect him.

I mean, just 2 years ago the most talented player in the world gave up in the Finals. No excuse. Mentally lost it.

Then you have Kobe. Physically, he's your average SG, but mentally, he's an assassin at all times. The guy has given his heart and soul on the court for the last 17 years, and it's paid off for him.

[stellation]

Bogey didn't look that bad, I don't think there's really much in it.

[EastSideBucksFan]

Bogey didn't look that bad, I don't think there's really much in it.

Still not something you want when you have a history of back spasms and are currently negotiating a new contract extension.

[theFireBlanket]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Rusty_SFChron/status/391298758400425984[/tweet]

[stellation]

Bogey didn't look that bad, I don't think there's really much in it.

Still not something you want when you have a history of back spasms and are currently negotiating a new contract extension.

Oh, no- of course not. I'm sure it's worrying a few folks, but he genuinely looked like he was just a bit sore and intended on playing through it.

I know I'm an Aussie Bogey homer, but I do think any caution was mainly about him being 7 feet tall with a long flight ahead of him and a coaching staff not wanting him to sit out too many days of practice on his return more than him being Mr Missagame.

I've clearly jinxed him now.

[AussieBuck]

Kobe quit in an elimination game in the playoffs against the Suns and Chucked his team out of a title against the Pistons because he was sick of being Shaq's sidekick. The Kobe just wants to win narrative has always been silly. He's only interested in winning if it's his way.

[AussieBuck]

Yeah some back spasms aren't likely a big deal but it takes a baseball bat to his extension bargaining position.

[Bucksfans1and2]

Kobe quit in an elimination game in the playoffs against the Suns and Chucked his team out of a title against the Pistons because he was sick of being Shaq's sidekick. The Kobe just wants to win narrative has always been silly. He's only interested in winning if it's his way.

But he didn't quit in the finals?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[AussieBuck]

Chucking like Monta with A HURT HAND!!! when you have prime Shaq destroying the opposition is something worse than "quitting"

[blazza18]

I can't believe the Warriors are (or maybe were now) talking extension. I don't think he's far from being a 1 year contract guy that you try to keep healthy for late in the year if you need a big man. That, or he'll just retire one of these seasons. There is just no way you can count on this guy to stay on the floor.

When you look at what centres are FA next year and what money GS can give them, extending Bogut is almost a priority to them if they want to remain contenders.

This back spasm couldn't have happened at the worst time but from all reports its nothing to be concerned about and he's in the best shape he's been in for years.

[drew881]

Bogut is definitely going to be one of those guys you look back at and wonder "what could've been". A guy that didn't live up to the #1 pick billing but if weren't for the injuries could've been an All-Star caliber Center. I can't believe the Warriors are (or maybe were now) talking extension. I don't think he's far from being a 1 year contract guy that you try to keep healthy for late in the year if you need a big man. That, or he'll just retire one of these seasons. There is just no way you can count on this guy to stay on the floor.

Aussies will probably compare him to Bill Walton, but I wonder if he is closer to the Sam Bowie end of the spectrum.

[AussieBuck]

Probably not.

[paulpressey25]

Sam Bowie isn't a bad comparison when looking at it from 30,000 feet......the expectations and careers have been somewhat similar, although Bogut had the benefit of those first couple years of health that Bowie didn't get.

[stellation]

Obviously the back spasms won't help contract talks, but if it really is nothing then I imagine it would more impact in the public perception of an extension than on the front office's.

I think I read somewhere that they were flying back straight after the game? If so you can understand them not even bothering to try getting anyone to play through anything.

[Buckrageous]

Kobe quit in an elimination game in the playoffs against the Suns and Chucked his team out of a title against the Pistons because he was sick of being Shaq's sidekick. The Kobe just wants to win narrative has always been silly. He's only interested in winning if it's his way.

Yes, all Kobe wants to do is win, when he's the star and he gets all the credit. What about his air balls against the Jazz on plays they supposedly not even drawn up for him. It seems to me Kobe wants glory, winning is a just a means to that end. I think that why Kobe acted dumbfounded about Lebron going to Miami. I think he couldn't wrap his head around not minding sharing the spotlight more than that he couldn't wrap his head around leaving for a better team.