Phil Jackson talks to the press the day before training camp begins for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Here is a quick recap if you are becoming overwhelmed by the stron smell of Stetson coming off your screen from P-JAX.
Phil is calling this season his…..wait for it….LAST STAND. In his 11th season with the Lakers and 20th coaching in the NBA Jackson will attempt to achieve the unprecedented fourth 3-peat this season.
In an effort to cut down on “complaining” the NBA is expanding the list of unsportsmanlike actions that will be punishable.
INCLUDING:
— Punching the air
— Waving off an official as a sign of disrespect
— Running up to an official from across the court
— Waving arms in disbelief, or jumping up and down in disbelief
— Clapping sarcastically at an official
It’s too bad Rasheed Wallace is retired because he did all 5 of the punishable actions all at the same time.
“Why are we doing this? We just want to have everyone take ownership of how our game looks and the image of our game, and send a message that we want player complaining to be minimized and for everyone to have respect for the game,” executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said Friday during a conference call.
For the second time in four years, the NBA is warning players that more technical fouls could be coming if the yelping doesn’t stop. The crackdown during the 2006-07 season ignited a feud with the players, who eventually filed an unfair labor practice charge against the league with the National Labor Relations Board.
Coaches were already told of the new enforcement plans, along with another point of emphasis this season: There will be an “almost zero-tolerance policy” on assistants yelling at referees.
Players will learn the details in a preseason memo, and also during a clinic given to their teams by referee operations officials.
Kobe isn’t going to like this one bit!
All 30 NBA teams will wear new on-court uniforms beginning this season, and adidas and the NBA are inviting you to see the unveiling today. Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez, Wilson Chander, Jordan Farmar and Toney Douglas will be the ones delivering the new jerseys from an armored truck outside the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue at 10:30am, and showing them off to the public for the first time. Let me put it this way: You’re definitely going to want to take the day off from school/work.
To commemorate this historic occasion, adidas and the NBA have also produced limited edition, collectible authentic jerseys numbered and boxed with a seal of authenticity. Player jerseys – in home, road and alternate colorways – were made in limited edition runs of 50, 100, 250 or 500 and are numbered sequentially and authenticated by Panini so that each boxed jersey is a unique collector’s item.
Only for those recession-proof fans, the first jerseys in each of these sets will be available exclusively at the NBA Store during tomorrow’s event for $350.
The folks over at The Basketball Jones present:
“Shaqers” is a 2010 American thriller directed by Gaylord Menendez and starring Shaquille O’Neal, Angelina Jolie, Renoly Santiago and Matthew Lillard. The film follows the exploits of a group of gifted hackers and their involvement in a corporate extortion conspiracy.
The Miami Heat announced Wednesday night that they’ll hold their first camp with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida’s Panhandle from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. Miami has typically held training camp at its home arena, but in an effort to limit distractions going into this much-hyped season, the Heat wanted a different locale.
A different locale indeed. When ESPN reported Wednesday, that Lebron had been rated as the sixth-most-disliked player in American pro sports I never thought he would need this sort of protection.
Eglin officials said Wednesday night they could not recall another professional sports team holding part of its training camp at the base, which is about 650 miles away from Miami. Practices will take place at Hurlburt Field’s Aderholt Gymnasium. The Heat said they would be involved in several other on-base events.
“The Miami Heat is extremely humbled to train in an environment where service, sacrifice and discipline are the norm,” Heat president Pat Riley said. “We know our players will appreciate being immersed in that kind of environment, and supporting the men and women who defend our freedom everyday.”
ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images
The United States won its first world championship since 1994 on Sunday, beating Turkey 81-64 behind another sensational performance from tournament MVP Kevin Durant.
Once again Team USA relied heavily on their defensive dominance and Durant’s unstoppable scoring. Durant had 28 points, setting a record along the way for most in the tournament by a U.S. player. He left the court with 42 seconds left and shared a long hug with coach Mike Krzyzewski, who finally won the world title after his previous two attempts ended with bronze medals. Durant scored 20 in the first half.
Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 boards. Rudy Gay, and Andre Iguodala were both essential defensively in todays game and throughout the tournament.
The U.S. victory put a disappointing end on an important day for Turks, who approved sweeping changes to their constitution in a referendum vote, which the government hailed as a leap toward full democracy.
President Barack Obama called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the game, congratulating him on the success of the tournament and Turkey’s team while acknowledging “the vibrancy of Turkey’s democracy as reflected in the turnout for the referendum.”
But the team, serenaded throughout by fans singing “12 Giant Men,” its theme song since its runner-up finish while hosting the 2001 European championship, fell short of becoming the fourth host to win the world championship and first since Yugoslavia in 1970.
Team USA now awaits the 2012 London Olympics, where members of the 2010 Olympics look to return to the roster. Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul just to name a few, will all want consideration for 2012. Kevin Durant has locked in his roster spot, but other members of the “B” squad could be missing out on Olympic gold.
BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)
Kevin Durant scored 17 points in the first quarter finishing with a U.S.-record 38 points Saturday in an 89-74 victory over Lithuania.
Lamar Odom added 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Andre Iguodala led the defensive effort that took Lithuania star Linas Kleizaright out of the game.
“They did a great job on our leader, Linas Kleiza. We couldn’t find a solution on their star Kevin Durant,” Lithuania coach Kestutis Kemzura said. “He was unstoppable today.”
Lithuania led by two midway through the first quarter before Durant and Russell Westborook seized the game. Durant and Westbrook combined for nine straight points, extending the lead to 42-25. The U.S. took a 15-point advantage into the half
The Americans extended the lead to 19 in the third quarter, and though Lithuania kept making little runs, could never get within single digits. Durant finished 14 of 25 from the field, adding nine rebounds in 38 minutes before taking a seat with 44 seconds remaining.
Now the Americans have a chance at gold, and an automatic berth into the 2012 Olympics. They will play Sunday against Turkey, which beat Serbia 83-82 in the other semifinal.
The folks over at Operation Sports and @Da_Czar have set forth on a much-appreciated quest to breakdown ten teams from the soon to be released(Oct.5th) NBA 2K11 over the next ten days.
Up first were the Oklahoma City Thunder and the expanded play-call system. Next were the San Antonio Spurs and their slow but difficult to defend offense.
On day 3, Czar rested, choosing to breakdown the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe being Kobe, and the triangle. We get to see Czar unleashing his “inner Lamar” and the play that will be used over and over again-12 Island.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has opened a new office in Moscow as part of its ongoing effort to bring the NBA closer to its growing fanbase in Russia and Eastern Europe. The announcement was made today in Moscow by NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Adam Silver.“This is a great time for the NBA to expand its presence in Russia, especially given Mikhail Prokhorov’s commitment to further grow the sport in the country,” said Silver. “We are excited to open our first office and we welcome Egor Borisov, whose wealth of experience and tremendous enthusiasm for the game will help spur the continued growth of basketball in the region.”
“We are very supportive of the NBA’s decision to open an office in Moscow,” said New Jersey Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov. I’m sure Prokhorov is supportive, seeing how he is from Russia. “I look forward to working together with the NBA to create more opportunities for boys and girls and students throughout Russia to become active basketball participants.”
“Basketball and the NBA are extremely popular throughout Russia and Eastern Europe,” said Borisov. “I am excited to join the NBA and look forward to representing such an iconic brand as we grow the game both on and off the court.”
The NBA has offices in 16 markets worldwide, including seven in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region: the headquarters in London, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, and Paris.
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