March 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Brown Plans To Increase Bynum's Role In Lakers Offense

Dec 31, 2011 2:17 PM

Lakers center Andrew Bynum is coming back from a four game suspension, and awaiting the big man is a bigger role.

"He's going to see the ball probably a lot more than he did in the past, but he'll have to be able to do something with it in order to get it and keep getting it," Lakers coach Mike Brown said.

Brown said he would like for Bynum to blossom into a "double-double guy" this season.

"Does that mean 10 and 10 or 20 and 10? I don't know," Brown said. "But I think he can be a double-double guy."

Dave McMenamin/ESPNLosAngeles.com

Tags: Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

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Irving Pushing Pace After Conversation With Coach K

Dec 31, 2011 2:14 PM

Kyrie Irving said he has spoken to Duke's Mike Krzyzewski three times since the season began.

"He didn't like the pace I was playing at in the first game," Irving said in reference to his NBA opener on Monday, a night he shot 2-of-12 from the field in a loss to Toronto.

"He said I needed to play a little bit quicker, which I agree with. He offered as much advice as he could."

Irving certainly played a quicker game Wednesday in Detroit, where he scored 14 points and added seven assists.

"We both know he needs to play faster," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "[Irving] knows it. We want to be that type of team. Hearing it from me and also hearing it from a great coach like Mike, who coached him for the last year and knows him pretty well, I think kind of reinforces the way we want him to play. I don't have a problem with that."

Tom Reed/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, NBA

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Mavs Implement System To Work Odom Into Game Shape

Dec 31, 2011 2:11 PM

Lamar Odom has been placed on an industrial-strength remedial course for improved physical conditioning.

"There's an action plan in place, and he's working [hard]," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "He came in this [Friday] morning and worked for an hour and a half. He's got a ways to go, but he's a willing worker. He was behind when he got here condition-wise. But we'll get him caught up."

Carlisle has no doubt that Odom's slow start -- he was 4-for-27 from the field in the first three games -- will improve.

"We've all got a job to do," Carlisle said. "I can tell you his attitude has been good and he really wants to do well, but he knows he's got work to do.

Eddie Sefko/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Lamar Odom, Dallas Mavericks, NBA

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Ainge: Pietrus To Make Celtics Debut In Two Weeks

Dec 31, 2011 2:08 PM

Celtics president Danny Ainge said Mickael Pietrus should be ready for game action by the middle of January after July knee surgery.

“It feels great [to be in Boston],’’ Pietrus said. “Since I have been in the NBA, my goal has always been to win a championship, and I have a chance to win one so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got with my new teammates. So hopefully at the end of the year, we get what we want.’’

Pietrus injured his right knee in March while playing for the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were close to trading him to the Raptors earlier this month, but Toronto called off the deal when Pietrus’s knee did not test at full strength.

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Tags: Mickael Pietrus, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Hornets Waive Lance Thomas

Dec 31, 2011 1:52 PM

The New Orleans Hornets announced that they have requested waivers on forward Lance Thomas.

Thomas, a Duke University product, appeared in two regular season games, averaging 0.5 points. In two preseason games (both starts), he averaged 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

The Hornets roster now stands at 14.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Lance Thomas, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Waiver

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D'Antoni: Stoudemire Forcing Shots Offensively

Dec 31, 2011 1:12 PM

Amar’e Stoudemire shot 4-for-17 with four turnovers and no assists against the Lakers on Thursday.

“He, like a lot of guys, are taking it on themselves,’’ Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “When things aren’t quite right and don’t feel good, it’s ‘I’ll solve the problem.’ Everybody’s getting themselves in deeper problems. Relax, move the ball, keep the spacing.’’

D’Antoni is disappointed with the Knicks’ execution on the offensive end.

“A little bit of it is, we’re pressing,’’ D’Antoni said. “We’re thinking we have to be that great team right now and we’re not. We’re a little bit tight. We’ve got to loosen up. We’ve got to get the spacing better, get rotations better. We want it too bad. We’ve got to calm down and relax.’’

New York Post

Tags: Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks, NBA

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Hawes Pacing Sixers In Rebounds, Assists

Dec 31, 2011 1:10 PM

Spencer Hawes is leading the Sixers in rebounds (12.7) and assists (4.7), while shooting 64 percent from the floor.

Sixers coach Doug Collins said that Hawes is a natural passer.

"He was great last year as a passer," Collins said. "The one problem is that last year he would start out games making high-risk passes. I used to kid him, I'd say, 'Spencer, if you are going to start out turning the ball over the first play of the game, you might as well kick it into the stands so we can get our defense back and at least it's not a fastbreak.'

"But a big part of the efficiency of our offense is that Spencer is very skilled; he sees the floor very well and guys cut off of him because they know he will find them," Collins continued. "It's like anything else. When you run the floor and you know somebody is inclined to be a passer, you are more inclined to cut.

"And Spencer is one of the better passing big men in the NBA."

Philly.com

Tags: Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA

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Wade Likens Rubio To Nash

Dec 31, 2011 12:25 PM

Ricky Rubio dished out 12 assists, scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 103-101 loss to the Heat on Friday.

"The kid has something. He has that Steve Nash capability," Dwyane Wade said. "They've got a gem in him. He's going to be great for them."

Rubio left a lasting impression on the Heat.

"He's a handful on the pick-and-roll," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "At the end, we were forced to go bigger and switch just to get him out of that pulling trigger game and get us running around all over the place. He's a clever passer. Two or three times, he had me looking the wrong way."

FoxSportsNorth.com

Tags: Ricky Rubio, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Report: Kirilenko Staying With CSKA Moscow

Dec 31, 2011 12:06 PM

Andrei Kirilenko will stay with CSKA Moscow until the end of the season.

Kirilenko signed 3-year contract with CSKA Moscow before the start of 2011-12 season, with the option to opt-out once the lockout was over.

Kirilenko is coming off an injury-plagued season with the Jazz.

Sportando.net

Tags: Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, International, International Teams, International Misc Rumor

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Curry Switches Shoes For Greater Ankle Support After Consultation With Nike

Dec 31, 2011 12:03 PM

Stephen Curry went to Nike headquarters on Thursday to find a shoe to best support his oft-injured right ankle.

“I dropped an anonymous letter at Nike saying if they do make new Steph Curry shoes, I’m sure they’d be a big hit,” Curry said.

Curry, who previously wore the Nike Hyperdunks, settled on the Nike Zoom Brave V.

Curry said they are lower and wider than what he’s been wearing.

“They’re still analyzing all the data that we collected, and I changed to a different style of Nikes for (Saturday)," Curry said. "Hopefully, that will help and I think we’ve found a fit to avoid those injuries.”

ContraCostaTimes.com

Tags: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Injury

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Rose Near $250 Million Extension With Adidas

ESPN.com

Fesenko Leaning Toward Signing With Mavs

Marc Stein/ESPN.com

Malcolm Lee Undergoes Successful For Torn Meniscus

RealGM Staff Report

Pierce Makes 11-12 Debut, Boston Record Not A Factor

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Calipari Trusts Kidd-Gilchrist To Play Through Foul Trouble

UKAthletics.com

James, Wade Consciously Avoiding Three-Point Attempts

Joseph Goodman/Miami Herald

Casey, Raptors Focused On Playing More Physical On Defense

Ian Thomsen/SI.com

Millsap Set To Regain Starting Spot From Favors

Brian T. Smith/Salt Lake Tribune

Nick Young Eager To Change Unprofessional Perception

Washington Post

Aaron Gray Undergoing Tests For Irregular Heart Rate

Canadian Press

Batum Struggling To Adapt To Reserve Role

Oregonian

Frank: Pistons Must Protect Basket Area

Detroit News

Bryant: Surgically Repaired Knee '95 Percent Better'

Kevin Ding/Orange County Register

Stoudemire Sprains Ankle, Says He's 'Day-To-Day'

Mark Herrmann/Newsday

Pierce Close To Return From Heel Injury

Mark Murphy/Boston Herald

D'Antoni: Davis Weeks Away From Making Knicks Debut

Marc Berman/New York Post

Tobias Harris Waiting For Medical Clearance After Dehydration Scare

Charles F. Gardner/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Maurice Evans To Have MRI On Sore Right Knee

Michael Lee/Washington Post

Garnett Obtains Stake In Roma Football Club

Associated Press

Colangelo: 2012 Olympians Will Compare Favorably To Dream Team

Chris Tomasson/FOXSportsFlorida.com