Joakim Noah is back, running the floor and making cool layups, so that’s good (VIDEOS) (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Chicago  No Responses »
Oct 102012
 

Heading into Tuesday night, it had been more than five months since we’d seen Joakim Noah take the floor for live, competitive action, thanks to a severe left-ankle sprain suffered during the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of the 2011-12 NBA playoffs that sidelined him for the remainder of Chicago’s first-round defeat and kept him from suiting up for France at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. But at Media Day, the Bulls’ starting center declared himself “ready to go” following extensive summer rehab, setting the stage for his return to the floor in Chicago’s Tuesday night preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies — and, mercifully for Bulls fans (who really don’t need more bad injury news right now, or any time in the foreseeable future), he looked nice and spry running the floor.
Peep this second-quarter fast break, keyed by a Luol Deng steal, extended by some tic-tac-toe passing between Deng and returning guard Kirk Hinrich, and finishing, somewhat acrobatically, with a nifty lay-in by a rim-running Noah at full gallop:

Noah also got on his horse in the third quarter, after a Hinrich block started a break that saw Joakim take off from the shadow of his own basket and beat two Grizzlies defenders down the court:

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Nicolas Batum, on his Olympic-sized crotch-punch: ‘I feel bad about it because that’s not me. I just lost it’ (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Portland  No Responses »
Sep 242012
 

People do ridiculous things when they’re angry. Michael Nesmith punched a wall. Pat Riley kicked a cooler. Michael Richards used some career-ending language, the dweeb from Green Day yelled something about Justin Bieber, and This Moronic Author may or may not have crashed a guy’s forehead into a marble bar-top when, were it not for my combatant’s uneasiness due to drink and a series of surrounding friends who held him back from me after the crash, he probably would have destroyed both me and my vintage blazer.
Nicolas Batum? In a game that was broadcast worldwide in a setting designed to promote goodwill and sound sportsmanship between nations? He punched a dude in the junk . Former Memphis Grizzly and current Spanish team floater-maestro Juan Carlos Navarro’s junk, to be exact. All because Batum’s outfit from France was behind during a very frustrating 2012 Olympic turn, and Batum needed to foul Navarro to stop the clock.
A few months on, and Nicolas is more than a little regretful over his actions. In an interview that sounds far more in line with the Batum we’ve known as an NBA comer since he joined the Portland Trail Blazers in 2008, he discussed his misstep. From the Trail Blazer website , via Blazer’s Edge :
“I just left London like the next day, went back to my house and got some rest, saw my family and try to see something else,” said Batum. “I went on vacation to Greece, spent ten days in Greece, refreshed my mind, see something else.”
See something else. While I assume that’s not exactly what Nic was trying to say, it perfectly describes what he needed to do after an eventful summer that unfortunately concluded with Batum committing a now infamous foul on Juan Carlos Navarro at the end of France’s 66-59 loss to Spain in the men’s basketball quarterfinals at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
“What I’m mad about is what I showed to people about myself, what I showed about the game, about France, everything,” said Batum. “I feel bad about it because that’s not me. I’m human. I lost it. I just lost it.

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Nicolas Batum, on his Olympic sized crotch-punch: ‘I feel bad about it because that’s not me. I just lost it’ (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Portland  No Responses »
Sep 242012
 

People do ridiculous things when they’re angry. Michael Nesmith punched a wall. Pat Riley kicked a cooler. Michael Richards used some career-ending language, the dweeb from Green Day yelled something about Justin Bieber, and This Moronic Author may or may not have crashed a guy’s forehead into a marble bar-top when, were it not for my combatant’s uneasiness due to drink and a series of surrounding friends who held him back from me after the crash, he probably would have destroyed both me and my vintage blazer.
Nicolas Batum? In a game that was broadcast worldwide in a setting designed to promote goodwill and sound sportsmanship between nations? He punched a dude in the junk . Former Memphis Grizzly and current Spanish team floater-maestro Juan Carlos Navarro’s junk, to be exact. All because Batum’s outfit from France was behind during a very frustrating 2012 Olympic turn, and Batum needed to foul Navarro to stop the clock.
A few months on, and Nicolas is more than a little regretful over his actions. In an interview that sounds far more in line with the Batum we’ve known as an NBA comer since he joined the Portland Trail Blazers in 2008, he discussed his misstep. From the Trail Blazer website , via Blazer’s Edge :
“I just left London like the next day, went back to my house and got some rest, saw my family and try to see something else,” said Batum. “I went on vacation to Greece, spent ten days in Greece, refreshed my mind, see something else.”
See something else. While I assume that’s not exactly what Nic was trying to say, it perfectly describes what he needed to do after an eventful summer that unfortunately concluded with Batum committing a now infamous foul on Juan Carlos Navarro at the end of France’s 66-59 loss to Spain in the men’s basketball quarterfinals at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
“What I’m mad about is what I showed to people about myself, what I showed about the game, about France, everything,” said Batum. “I feel bad about it because that’s not me. I’m human. I lost it. I just lost it.

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D-Leaguers Taking Their Talents To Foreign Countries

 NBA D-League  No Responses »
Aug 162012
 

Some of the D-League’s most impressive talent from last season have decided to take their talents to Europe and other foreign countries next season. From the two-time D-League Slam Dunk champion, to three players who helped the Los Angeles D-Fenders win a record amount of games during the 2011-2012 season, a significant amount of players will be looking to bring the excitement they produced in the D-League to a gym with a name they will likely have to learn to pronounce.

L.D. Williams (Bourg, France) – Williams was the D-League’s very own highlight reel last season. He had an epic put back slam-game winner against the Maine Red Claws to help the Springfield Armor win 93-91 last January, a play so incredible it landed on ESPN Sportscenter’s top-10. Williams also amazed fans capturing his second consecutive dunk title at the All-Star festivities. Williams is an exciting player there is no doubt about that, but he accompanies his thrilling play-making abilities with a notable stat line finishing last season with 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game averages. The European fans will get their money’s worth when they watch Williams take his athletic, high-flying game into French basketball arenas next season.

Brandon Costner (Sonic Boom KT, South Korea), Zach Andrews (Montegranaro, Italy) , Otis George (Orlandina Italy) – Costner was the third leading scorer last season for the D-Fenders and probably the most talented player out of this trio. Costner will be taking his talents across a different pond then his former fellow teammates next season as Andrews and George will test out the European game. Andrews shear size will impress European crowds as he will likely be the largest person in any gym he steps into over in Italy. His post skills can use some work and perhaps he can learn some better footwork playing in Europe where big men seem to have point guard-like handles. George has a raw, yet impressive skill set. His athleticism is what perhaps sticks out the most, but developing a more consistent and confident jump shot can benefit the young player.

Brad Wanamaker (Limoges CSP, France) – Wanamaker had a stellar final two games in the D-League championship last season against L.A. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals in the final 2-games against L.A. The former Pitt standout will be making a second trip overseas to play, however, this being his first in France. Wanamaker is a nice player with some upside for sure, he will likely relish in the International setting and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wanamaker lace ‘em up on U.S. soil again.

Patrick Ewing Jr. (Telekom Baskets Bonn, Germany) – With one of the most recognizable last names in the NBA Development League last season, Ewing Jr. put up rather sub par numbers for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Finishing the season with averages of 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists the former Georgetown Hoya did have some standout performances last season eclipsing the 20-point mark in a few contests. The former 2nd round draft pick will look to increase his versatile skill set while playing likely significant minutes in Germany next season.

Juan Pattillo (Anyang KGC, South Korea) – Pattilo stuffed the stat sheet regularly for the Bakersfield Jam last season and now will be joining another multi-stat accumulator Brandon Costner in South Korea. The 6’6” slasher has a very well rounded game, Pattillo’s best performance last season came against the Idaho Stampede where on the road he exploded for 33 points on 15-16 shooting from the foul line. He also pulled down 9 rebounds in that game. Pattillo will enjoy success in South Korea and his name will likely appear stateside once again in the near future.

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Flop of the Night: Rudy Fernandez

 Rumors  No Responses »
Aug 132012
 


Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
Andre Iguodala touched Fernandez’s leg, and touched off a Shakespearean death scene.
Despite the acting reputations of American players like Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, many still see European hoopers as the masters of flopping. In the gold medal game between Team USA and Team Spain, former NBA player Rudy Fernandez fulfilled the stereotype.

You may remember how the Olympic quarterfinals between Spain and France took an ugly turn when France’s Nicolas Batum took a closed-fisted swing at the groin of Spanish guard Juan-Carlos Navarro.

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Basketball: Russia beat Lithuania to reach semi-finals (Reuters)

 Utah  No Responses »
Aug 082012
 

LONDON (Reuters) – Russia made the most out of their strength under the basket to beat Lithuania 83-74 and advance to the semi-finals of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday. Andrei Kirilenko played his usual brilliant all-round game for Russia, while burly centre Timofey Mozgov operated down low with great effect to carry the Russians to the medals round in a grueling battle marked by determined defense. Kirilenko led Russia with 19 points and had a game-high 13 rebounds, while Mozgov added 17 points. Russia will play either France or Spain in the semi-finals. …

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Taurean Green May Accept NBA Camp Invite

 Rumors  No Responses »
Aug 082012
 

Taurean Green is making a nice living playing basketball overseas and is contemplating a future career in coaching. He just completed a season playing overseas in Turkey and is contemplating accepting an invite to an NBA training camp. He also has offers to play overseas in Italy, Germany, Belgium and France. Green said he will [...]

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