Dalembert Moves Well, Dunks Better

The Sixers center said that he was pleased, but that he still had a way to go.

DURHAM, N.C. - In a week that had little news or excitement, Samuel Dalembert's appearance in a 76ers intrasquad scrimmage yesterday was more than just a footnote.

Dalembert moved well and dunked even better during the training-camp scrimmage at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The center suffered a stress fracture in his left foot while competing for Canada in last summer's Olympic qualifying tournament. He complained of pain after Canada's last game, on Aug. 30, and had to wear a boot and cast for about a month. The boot didn't come off until Monday.

"I am very pleased with my performance, the way I came in," Dalembert said afterward. "I've got a little limitation in terms of jumping and turning."

During the time reporters were able to observe the workout, Dalembert scored on two emphatic dunks and a nice turnaround jumper.

"He hadn't done a whole lot this training camp, so to go out and play the way he did this day, I was pleasantly surprised," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Now we're not going to know how he feels until [today], so we will have to wait until then."

The Sixers will have two practices today, and Dalembert is limited to just one per day at this point. He said he would likely practice in the evening session to give himself more time to recover.

Dalembert said that he was disappointed in his jumping but that it was going to come back the more he was on the court.

While Dalembert had been participating in limited contact during the first three days of practice, this was by far his most work.

After practice, he experienced pain in his calf and went immediately for treatment.

"The calf was killing me because I was starting to stay away from putting pressure on my foot," Dalembert said.

While the Sixers will be staging competition for minutes at most positions, center is where they have the least depth. Much-traveled veteran Calvin Booth is Dalembert's backup. The only other player on the roster listed as a center is rookie Herbert Hill, who is no certainty to make the team.

The players realize how much Dalembert means to the team, especially after last season, when he started all 82 games and averaged 10.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.94 blocked shots in 30.9 minutes.

"Today was a good start for Sam," swingman Andre Iguodala said. "He looked pretty good, ahead of his normal schedule in training camp."

source : philly.com

NETS GET FIRST LOOK AT ARMSTRONG

October 6, 2007 -- Darrell Armstrong kept pondering his decision in the shower Wednesday night - five, 10, finally 20 minutes. The veteran guard walked into his bathroom all but a Maverick, but walked out a Net - and they say they're a better team for it, better for having one of the most infectious leaders in the NBA.

Armstrong cleared waivers Wednesday and signed with the Nets, practicing for the first time yesterday. He reached the 2005-06 NBA Finals with Dallas and came to the Nets because he's convinced he can help them go one step further.

"I fell like this team's very close. This team is a contender. This team has a lot of weapons. If I can bring my leadership off the bench while Jason [Kidd] is not on the floor it can help big," Armstrong said. "Every year I'm here to win a championship. I know I can play, so I felt New Jersey could be a great fit.

"To be honest, about 7 o'clock I was in the shower. . . . I was already leaning toward Dallas. Just kept thinking, water running over me, just thinking. I just kept thinking about New Jersey, and made up my mind, told my wife when I came out of the shower that I'm going to New Jersey."
He knew the Mavericks wanted him back, but Marcus Williams' broken foot created immediate playing time in New Jersey.

"He can still play. He's one of the best leaders in the NBA. The injury to Marcus Williams and the opportunity to come in and play right away (swayed him)," said agent Glenn Schwartzman, who got Armstrong a one-year, $1.2 million deal, ostensibly to compete with Mateen Cleaves and Eddie Gill.

"He's extremely high-energy, very, competitive," said Lawrence Frank. "Those traits carry over. That's why he's been so effective for so long."

Though the 39-year-old was the NBA's third-oldest player last year and his only offseason exercise is golf, he says he'll be ready by the opener.

"I can get 10-14 points, get stops, get pressure, and change the game," Armstrong said. "That's my job, put pressure on the ball, get the tempo changed if it's not already in our favor. That's what I've done my whole career."

source : nypost.com

Knicks Return Likely For Allan Houston

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Allan Houston is leaning toward rejoining the Knicks but likely will wait until tomorrow before making a final decision, according to a person close to the veteran shooting guard.

Should Houston choose the Knicks over the Nets, there is no guarantee that he will make the 15-man roster. Isiah Thomas currently has 15 players with guaranteed contracts and would have to make one roster move in order to keep second-round pick Demetris Nichols. If the Knicks elect to keep both Nichols and Houston, the club would have to eat two contracts, which wouldn't make fiscal sense.

When asked why he would go to such great lengths to bring in Houston at the expense of possibly releasing a younger player, Thomas said: "It's out of respect. He's a great Knick. He wants to come back and give it a shot."

Yesterday, Thomas hinted that Nichols could have trouble making the team while at the same time strongly endorsing veteran guard Fred Jones. The Knicks would have held Nichols' draft rights had the rookie from Syracuse played overseas.

"That ship has sailed," Thomas said. "It was an option for him and team-wise for us down the road it would have been great to hold onto his rights. But we don't have that option now."

Nichols wants to play in the NBA and could be in danger of being cut, especially if Houston comes in and proves that he can be a contributing player. Houston, who was forced to retire because of chronic knee pain, has a lot of catching up to do considering he has already missed the first week of camp.

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source : nydailynews.com

Monta Ellis Released from Hawaii Hospital After Spraining Neck

LA'IE, Hawaii, Oct. 6 (AP) -- Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis was released from the hospital after injuring his neck in practice.

He left Castle Hospital in Kailua on Friday night on his own accord with what the team said was a neck sprain. Ellis underwent a battery of tests, including an MRI and CT scan, and all were normal.

He hit his head on teammate Brandan Wright's knee. He lay face down for 20 minutes, showing only slight movement before he was carried off the court on a stretcher.

His status was listed as day-to-day and his availability wasn't immediately known for preseason games against the Los Angeles Lakers in Honolulu on Tuesday and Thursday. The Warriors' training camp is on the campus of BYU-Hawaii.

The 21-year-old Ellis averaged 16.5 points and 4.1 assists for the revitalized Warriors last season, his second in the NBA. He was chosen the NBA's Most Improved Player.

source : NBA.com

Yao Lends Ear Tto New System

AUSTIN — For all the changes rushing toward Rockets center Yao Ming in his first practice of the season Friday, his first adjustment came before the first beads of sweat dripped to the floor.
There would be time to get accustomed to the new offense, get to know new teammates and coaches.

First, however, he needed to brush up on lip reading.

"After Jeff Van Gundy, his voice is much lower than Jeff," Yao, who is almost deaf in his left ear, said of Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "That's another challenge for my ear. Everybody knows I have a bad ear. I think our trainer did not tell him that. I need to stay closer to our new coach."
After that, however, Yao seemed to have little difficulty, despite missing the first three practices of the Rockets' training camp.

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Lakers’ Walton Strains Hamstring In Practice

HONOLULU, Oct. 5 (AP) -- Luke Walton and Derek Fisher sustained minor injuries Friday during Lakers' training camp.

Walton strained his right hamstring and is listed as day-to-day. Fisher received a deep, 1-inch gash to the forehead when he took an elbow from center Larry Turner.

Walton sat out the remainder of the workout, while Fisher did not require stitches and returned. Kobe Bryant didn't participate in the final minutes of practice as he iced his left knee.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said injuries during camp are inevitable.

"They're going to happen,'' he said. "Guys are getting in shape and in the process they've got tight muscles and things get stretched, pulled, etc.''

"We think we've got this early enough so we have avoided anything that's a long-term injury, but we'll wait and see.''

Jackson said he's aware some players are more susceptible to injuries than others.

"We do know who the toilet tissue paper players are. We make a note of that. Right now we have a few of them,'' he said.

Two years ago in Honolulu, Walton strained his left hamstring late in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' preseason game with the Golden State Warriors and missed a few weeks of the regular season.

"We're aware that he's sweating a lot - low potassium here in Hawaii. He's got to eat more bananas,'' Jackson said.

In July, the 27-year-old Walton, who has played all of his four NBA seasons with the Lakers, had become an unrestricted free agent and received a six-year deal to remain with the team.

The 6-foot-8 Walton averaged career highs of 11.4 points, five rebounds and 4.3 assists in 60 games last season, all starts. He played 33 minutes a game, led the team in scoring twice, five times in rebounds and 18 times in assists.

The Lakers face the Warriors in two exhibition games next week.

source : NBA.com

Iverson Guarded In Desire To Stay

Two years is a lengthy period of time, unless you're talking about the world of athletes and contracts.

Nuggets guard Allen Iverson has two seasons remaining on his contract: this year and next. Thursday, the eight-time NBA all-star said he would like to finish his career in Denver but will go wherever a good chance to win a title takes him.

"I'd rather be here," Iverson said. "But I mean, I'm going to do what's right for me. And that's just as far as being able to win a championship. That's the most important thing to me.

"So, after this contract is over, I would like to stay here. But, you know, I'm going to try to do what's right for me and my family."

Iverson is owed $20 million next season, but he has an early-termination option following this season. Exercising that option and leaving the money on the table, however, are unlikely. Neither side has broached the idea of a contract extension beyond next season.

Iverson was brought to Denver in a December trade after he spent his first 10 full professional seasons in Philadelphia, where he signed two contract extensions, including his current four-year, $76.7 million pact that expires in 2009.

"I don't think about contracts," he said. "When my time is up, I'll weigh my options after the season after my contract is up. I don't get into it like guys do when they're coming into the last year of their contract, and then they start worrying about if they're playing well and thinking about their money. The only thing I think about is basketball. I got enough money."
Still, how he plays will be key to how long Denver commits to him.

Nuggets coaches have talked about monitoring Iverson's regular-season minutes in order to keep him as fresh as possible for the playoffs. Iverson insists he's still playing at a high level.

"Obviously, nobody is the same as they was two, three years ago," he said. "But I still feel strong. I can do the same things that I've been able to do on the basketball court. I can still go wherever I want to go on the court. I can create whatever I want to create.

"I've seen Michael Jordan dominate at 37. I'm 32 years old and people are trying to put me in a wheelchair already. It's not going to happen. Not going to happen. I don't get in that wheelchair until God says, 'You need to be in it."'

Nuggets coach George Karl appreciated the impact Iverson made with the Nuggets last year.

"A.I. is such a plus, that I can't even fathom anything negative," Karl said. "The guy came in here with negative baggage, and the first game I remember saying to my assistants, 'This guy says the right stuff all the time.'

"We had moments where he got emotional and angry, but the man wants to win. He's a tremendously talented fun guy to watch play. Even the coaches love watching him play. He'll be better (this season). Eighty games is a lot better for playoff preparation than 35 games that he had in some turmoil situations last year."

source : denverpost.com

Dunleavy Likes His Place In NBA

He has lived in cities across the country, is playing for his fifth coach as he enters his sixth NBA season and can play three positions.

Mike Dunleavy hasn't had an identity crisis, however. More like a stability crisis.

He believes he has found a secure home in Indianapolis, where he is getting a fresh start in a city he enjoys with a new coach -- one who really doesn't care that he was the third selection in the 2002 NBA draft.

While some Golden State fans saw a player who didn't live up to expectations during Dunleavy's 41/2 seasons there, Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien sees a versatile talent who has much to contribute beyond scoring.

"If you're looking for him to be one of the top scorers in the league, you're not going to see it," O'Brien said. "But he's always going to have a good assist-to-turnover ratio. He's going to be a good rebounder. He's just going to be a great team player.

"He's going to know quickly how much we believe in what he brings to us. If you're only going to use Mike as a shooter, it's too much (emphasis) on one element of his game. There's much more he can bring to us."

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source : indystar.com

Afflalo Not Afraid Of Big Challenges

AUBURN HILLS -- As Tayshaun Prince dribbled toward the basket, 6-foot-5 Arron Afflalo, about four inches shorter than Prince, did his best to defend him by trying to keep Prince as far from the basket as possible.

A few seconds later, 6-foot-7 Ronald Dupree was trying to back Afflalo down into the paint as well. Up next was 6-8 Jarvis Hayes, yet another bigger, more experienced player Afflalo had to contend with.

They each had varying degrees of success in scoring against the rookie.

But Afflalo kept coming back, seemingly more determined than before.

His willingness to mix it up, regardless of how much of a size disadvantage he might be at, is one of the reasons why the Pistons are optimistic that he will contribute this season.

"He's not afraid of the physicality of our league," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "That's usually the biggest thing (with rookies). Young players that come in our league, they don't understand how physical our game can be especially over an 82-game schedule. He doesn't back away from that."

Said Afflalo: "I look forward to as many competitive drills as possible, so you can get a better judgment of where you are."

While Afflalo's role has yet to be determined for this upcoming season, his ability to defend NBA players is clearly ahead of his offensive skills.

However, Saunders is quick to caution that Afflalo is not as one-dimensional as some might believe.

"He's a defensive player, but he can do other things," Saunders said. "Don't slight his offense because he works hard defensively."

Afflalo acknowledges that most of the talk since he was drafted by the Pistons has centered around his play defensively.

"I don't take any shame in that," Afflalo said. "It's part of the game. Basketball is a two-sided game. If I can get to the top in this area and slowly come along in another area, so be it. But I take pride in both."

Afflalo's effort defensively has drawn some comparisons to San Antonio's Bruce Bowen.
"Bruce has been one of the top three defenders in our league, and he's 6-7. Arron is 6-4 1/2," Saunders said. "He's a good defender, but he has a ways to (go to) be Bruce Bowen. He plays like Bruce in that he plays hard, takes pride in his defense and gives his body up."

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source : mlive.com

Rashard Lewis Is Ready To Show For Magic

The Orlando Magic play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in their exhibition opener, a rather ho-hum event for most veterans.

Funny, but even after nine seasons in the NBA, forward Rashard Lewis is a little antsy for his cameo.

"I don't know how long Coach is going to play the starters. But I feel like it's the first time Orlando Magic fans get a chance to see me, so for my little five, 10 minutes I'm out there, I want to let them know that I'm here and here to play," he said.

"This is going to be the first impression, and I want to show them. I want to show them that I'm here and ready to help the Magic make the playoffs."

Lewis, the club's $118 million free-agent catch this offseason, already has made an impression on his new playmates and Coach Stan Van Gundy.

The Magic broke training camp Thursday, ending two-a-day sessions, with everyone raving about him.

He was hired away from the Seattle SuperSonics because the Magic desperately needed his scoring punch. They envision Lewis and all-star center Dwight Howard providing an inside-outside tour de force.

Lewis wasted no time in demonstrating how he averaged more than 20 points per game the past three seasons, leaving teammates to offer breathless testimonials.

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source : orlandosentinel.com

Yao's - The Big Man On Campus

AUSTIN -- Between obligations with the Chinese national team and hosting a charity basketball game with Phoenix point guard Steve Nash, Rockets star Yao Ming married his longtime girlfriend, Ye Li.

The ceremony, which was held at a glamorous hotel in Shanghai, was covered by every tabloid worthy of a spot next to the super-market cash register.

"I'm off the market now," Yao said. "It's a totally new life."

In eight months, he wouldn't mind scheduling another life-changing ring ceremony.

The five-time All-Star center arrived on the University of Texas' campus for Rockets' training camp Friday with hopes that Houston's retooled roster has made enough significant additions to make a run at an NBA title. Despite being jet-lagged from a long flight from Shanghai and dealing with a cold, Yao participated in his first training camp workout with little trouble.

Having spent the summer learning Rick Adelman's offense in China, the center already felt somewhat comfortable in the Rockets' new scheme. He was also pleased to meet some of his new teammates and get back to work."

Our general manager did a lot of work in the summer," said Yao, referring to new Rockets general manager Daryl Morey. "The team is much stronger. There are a lot of new guys. I think this team is the one that I want."

The big question is how Yao will fit in Houston's revamped system.

Since training camp opened earlier in the week, Yao's teammates and fans have been waiting to see how the 7-foot-6, 310-pound center would fit into Adelman's up-tempo offense. He was mostly a low-block pivot under Jeff Van Gundy, rarely playing near the elbow. He also had more time to get up the floor in Houston's half-court sets.

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source : NBA.com

May To Have Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Charlotte Bobcats forward Sean May will miss the entire 2007-08 season after an exploratory procedure and several evaluations on his right knee revealed that he will need microfracture surgery.

Drafted by Charlotte with the 13th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft after leaving the University of North Carolina as an early-entry candidate, May has appeared in 58 games for the Bobcats during his first two seasons and averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. He missed 41 games last season and the final 56 games of the 2005-06 season.

“Sean has dedicated himself to taking every available route to get back on the court,” Team Physician Dr. Glenn Perry said. “We are hopeful that this procedure will allow him to resume his career and be the player that he wants to be.”

Dr. David W. Altchek will perform the microfracture procedure on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Sports Medicine and Shoulder facility at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City. May is expected to be on crutches for up to eight weeks. Full recovery likely will take six to 12 months, according to previously performed procedures such as this.

“Obviously this is a terrible blow for our basketball team and another setback for Sean,” Bobcats Head Coach Sam Vincent said. “Sean has worked extremely hard to get back on the court this season, which is testimony to his off-season regimen and professionalism, but at this time, we want what’s best for him and unfortunately that requires surgery.”

source : NBA.com

Raptors Exercise Third Year Option On Andrea Bargnani

(October 5, 2007) - In his hometown of Rome the Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have exercised the third year team option on the Rookie Scale Contract of forward Andrea Bargnani.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the office of Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome. The Raptors are in Rome to face the Boston Celtics and Virtus Lottomatica Roma as part of NBA Europe Live. 2007. "

Andrea has more than lived up to the enormous expectations thrust on him last season as the top pick of the draft," said Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

Exercising the option while in Andrea's hometown of Rome could not be more fitting."

The Rome native is now guaranteed through the 2008-09 season. The team retains a fourth year option for the 2009-10 season. In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Raptors had until October 31 to exercise their option on Bargnani. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal was not disclosed.

Bargnani became the first Italian born player selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when he was selected by the Raptors on June 28, 2006. During his first season in the NBA, Bargnani averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 65 games. He also appeared in six playoff games last season, averaging 11.0 points and shooting 7-for-11 (.400) from three-point range. He was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team and captured T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours in January and February.

source : NBA.com