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News From Around The World: September 13

09/13/12

Written by: DHawes22

September 13

Trail Blazers: New Trail Blazers Trading Cards
"The folks at Panini, the "worlds largest sports and entertainment collectables company," were kind enough to hook us up with images of some new Trail Blazers trading cards, including the "Prestige" rookie cards featuring this year's draft class, which go on sale Friday. And due to the lockout, no rookie photos were taken of the 2011 class, which is why both Nolan Smith and Elliot Williams get rookie cards this season, too (2011-12 was technically Elliot's rookie season since he missed the entirety of the 2010-11 season)."

Trail Blazers: Fan Blog: Believe
"My choice is to believe. It's not going to be the team's tagline anytime soon, not should it be. I'm not going to pretend to be Bill Schonely or Mike Barrett doing the Rip City United ads, I'm just going to stand put in my belief that this team, from Paul Allen to Neil Olshey to Terry Stotts knows what they're doing, and that it will work toward the championship this city deserves. Will it be this year? 99 if not 100% of people you ask will say no. I'd have to echo that sentiment. It doesn't mean we're joyous in not having an NBA title in 35 years, but that we know it's only a matter of time before we expect the league might take notice we're making a run again. "

Trail Blazers: Fan Blog: A Message For Elliot
"I couldn't believe the news! After waking up from a glorious cat nap and grabbing some brunch (turkey and gravy...my fave!), I logged onto blazers.com for my daily fix to find out that one of my favorite players suffered another setback :( . Get better, Elliot! And as always, hang in there, baby!"

Trail Blazers: Anthem Auditions Impress At The Rose Garden
"The Start Spangled Banner wasn’t the only song the judges heard. O Canada, the Canadian national anthem performed when the Toronto Raptors visit, appeared quite bit with a couple truly fantastic renditions. There was even a version of God Bless America, though I think The Schonz has the rights to that performance in the bag."

Blazersedge: Five Real, Live Reasons For Portland Trail Blazers Optimism
"Now...Damian Lillard is going to be good. From the moment his name first entered the consciousness through every bit of discovery and research through the draft and beyond, the assertion has been confirmed at each step. You have to go back to 2006 before you can find a rookie whose impact I felt was this certain. That guy's name was Brandon Roy. I don't know if Lillard will reach Roy's level ever, let alone as quickly as Brandon himself did. I do know that my assessment of him sounds the same as it always did: Portland fans, you're going to like...this...kid."

Canis Hoopus: Biggest Rival: There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne...
"That one time we traded Roy for Foye. That one time Kevin Love beat out LaMarcus Aldridge for an All Star spot. We acquired Martell Webster from them, then accused them of being liars. Then we demanded draft picks as compensation. An issue that still isn't resolved. Then we tried to sign Nicolas Batum for way more than they think he's worth, in a summer drama that resulted in them insulting our state."

Ball Don't Lie: President Obama’s Vanity Fair feature details his (hollering) obsession with pickup hoops
"The president, according to Lewis, doesn't want to be counted on as the president once he steps between the lines. Lewis relayed how Obama didn't pout when taken advantage of by younger, better players on defense. He apparently was keen to make the extra pass, even while open himself, and doesn't enjoy counting kowtowers amongst his practice mates. "If you defer to him," Lewis told NPW's Terry Gross, "you're not invited back."

Ball Don't Lie: Ex-Rocket, King and Raptor Joey Dorsey shatters backboard with dunk during game for Greek team Olympiacos (VIDEO)
"Personally, I think the fact that the pane shatters but doesn't fall all over everyone is a pretty neat representation of how a finely tuned athlete can display pinpoint control over destructive power, not unlike Frank Dux using the Dim Mak to shatter only the bottom brick in a large stack prior to the Kumite tournament. It's like my grandfather always said: "One man's underwhelming highlight is another's thrilling paean to 'Bloodsport.'" (Our holiday dinners were weird.)"

Ball Don't Lie via Thunder Rumblings: Kendrick Perkins thinks James Harden will sign an extension in Oklahoma City, but is this guesswork?
"We're doing good. We're making positive steps going forward," Perkins said of the organization's off-season. "We got coach (Scott) Brooks locked in. We got Serge (Ibaka) locked in. And we're getting close with James, and we're getting close to keeping our unit together. And we're still hungry. Once James gets here it's nothing to be said," Perkins said. "He'll see his family and that's all he needs. So once he sees everybody's faces that's enough said."

Ball Don't Lie: On LeBron James’ bold move to leave CAA, and the league-wide implications that could result
"On top of that, Paul is not just a friend hired due to strict nepotism. Through his employment with CAA, Paul also serves as the agent for Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson (discussed here), Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe, and Charlotte Bobcats first-round pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Paul isn't as experienced as other top agents around the league, but he's also not a neophyte. In four years as a CAA agent, he's earned a strong reputation."

The Basketball Jones: Thaddeus Young is a lover
"A lot of times, if you ask a married person what the best day of their life was, they’re going to say their wedding day, even if they don’t mean it. It’s a day when they feel loved by their friends and family, they get to throw a huge party where everyone in attendance is there to see them at their happiest, and they’re starting a new stage of their life’s journey with someone who they love very much. It’s sappy to say and sappy to think about, but there’s something that’s just undeniably great about seeing the joy on a person’s face when they’re at their most ecstatic."

The Basketball Jones via Vanity Fair: What it’s like to play basketball with President Obama
"And he chattered constantly. “You can’t leave him open like that!” … “Money!” … “Take that shot!” His team jumped ahead, mainly because it took fewer stupid shots. When I threw one up I discovered the reason for this. When you are on the president’s basketball team and you take a stupid shot, the president of the United States screams at you. “Don’t be looking to the sidelines all sheepish,” he hollered at me. “You got to get back and play D!"

SLAM via Sports Illustrated: Matt Barnes Close to Deal With LA Clippers
“Sources say the 32-year-old is strongly leaning toward joining the other inhabitants of Staples Center, and a deal could be formalized later this week. Barnes turned down a more lucrative deal with Cleveland two summers ago to sign with the Lakers at the behest of Kobe Bryant, and it appears a similar superstar dynamic could be in play with the Clippers and Chris Paul. Paul, who carries more Clippers clout than ever these days because of his looming free agency in 2013, has been included in the team’s decision-making process throughout the summer and would love to make Barnes the latest addition."

SLAM via Sporting News: Warriors Expect Andrew Bogut to Play on Opening Night
“Yes, we expect that,’ Warriors GM Bob Myers said. ‘That’s just me prophesizing, but all indications are that will be the case. We’re hoping that he is in there for us on opening night. But if he needs two games, if the difference is waiting because he is not quite there, then we’ll wait. But we expect Bogut to play opening night.’"

SLAM via Yahoo!: Tracy McGrady Working Out for Spurs, Knicks
“Still searching for an NBA franchise willing to guarantee a contract for next season, seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady worked out for the San Antonio Spurs this week at the team’s practice facility, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Tracy McGrady averaged 5.2 points and three assists with the Hawks last season. Next up for McGrady on Thursday is a workout for the New York Knicks, league sources said. Time is running out for the 33-year-old McGrady to secure a guaranteed contract for the season."

DIME: The NBA’s Top 10 Moves That Belong In A Video Game
"This is the most unguardable shot in basketball. The way that Dirk does it is very crafty and caught opponents off guard at first by using his leg to gain separation. It allows the shot to release while leaning back at the steepest angle possible, reaching the highest arch of any shot in basketball this side of a Derek Fisher three. No one is going to get their hands on it as it goes up. That’s a featured shot that almost everyone wants to have. Whether real life or virtual gameplay, there is no way of stopping that shot. It’s the ultimate cheat code in the NBA."

DIME: The Best $9 Million The Brooklyn Nets Ever Spent
"I think one of the Nets’ biggest improvements could come at backup point guard. While last season’s reserve unit was led by a committee of D-Leaguers, this year’s group will be commandeered by a capable scorer in C.J. Watson. While Watson may not be the most consistent or efficient player in the league, he has proven capable of providing offense in bunches. While ’11-12 wasn’t his best season to date, Watson did post a 33-point game and displayed 39 percent accuracy from long range."

ESPN Chicago: Derrick Rose: Rehab Going Well
"(I didn't) work on my core as much as I do now," Rose said. "Sit-ups, so many exercises that I do just to get my core together, that's a huge part of getting back … basketball players don't usually don't have to work on our core like that. Because we work on our hips and weights. … I've been working with my trainers, and they're making sure I'm on top of that, and that my upper body is strong."

ESPN: Contenders Profile: Indiana Pacers
"Paul George could be the most intriguing player on the roster thanks to his blend of terrific athleticism and defensive skills. Becoming a full-time starter last season, the versatile George saw jumps in nearly every major statistical category. He averaged an impressive 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and two steals per 36 minutes. He also displayed skills that could land him on league's All-Defense team sooner rather than later. George could be the X factor against the Heat as the Pacers' best bet to slow LeBron James. While David West's production dropped off in his first season back from a devastating knee injury, his workman-like toughness helps against elite power forwards."

Sports Illustrated: Seattle City Council backs deal to build NBA arena
"Efforts to bring the NBA back to Seattle took a giant step forward in a revised arena deal announced Tuesday, with investor Chris Hansen agreeing to kick in more money for transportation improvements near a proposed new arena, personally guaranteeing the city's debt - and offering to buy everyone a beer. The plan for the $490 million arena, which could also host an NHL team, represents the best shot at bringing the NBA back to Seattle. The SuperSonics ended their 41-year run here in 2008 and skipped town for Oklahoma City, where they became the Thunder."

Trail Blazers: Weekend Plan: Specially Designed For Families And The Busy Nine-To-Fiver
"Built for the family-oriented fan with a busy work-week, the 12-game Weekend Pack maximizes the thrill-factor while keeping the competitions to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A smattering of Western Conference rivals and Eastern Conference visitors during one-offs and key home stands, you can get your hands on this schedule-friendly pack for as low as $11/game and $52/game in the lower bowl."

Trail Blazers: The Rivals Plan: Two LAs, Oklahoma City And The Return Of Roy
"The smallest of the four big ticket plans, the eight game Rivals Pack packs a big punch. You’ll be in the building and eating a corndog while others are wondering how to get their hands on a way to see the return of Brandon Roy and the sure to sell out L.A. Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder."

Trail Blazers: Why The Value Plan Makes 'Cents' For You
"The Value Pack starts at just $5 a game. That’s 12 games for as low as $60! Talk about some serious bang for your buck. But that’s not even the best part about this ticket plan. Four of the 12 games take place in the month of January. And there is absolutely no better place to be during an Oregon winter’s night than inside the raucous Rose Garden. Not to mention this pack gets you into the arena to see some of the league’s biggest names and brightest young stars such as Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Kyrie Irving, John Wall, and Rudy Gay."

Trail Blazers: Big Games Plan: 12 Of The Biggest Games
"This game has it all. Season opener, at home, against the loathe-inducing Lakers, in Steve Nash's first game in purple and gold and it's on Halloween night! Any game against the Lakers at the Rose Garden is going to be a lively one, but the confluence of circumstances in this particular game sets the stage for one of the all-time season openers in Trail Blazers history."