Month: September 2010

High level expected of USA

The AP reports:

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski say they are satisfied with what they’ve seen from the undefeated Americans, who face Angola in an elimination game Monday in the round of 16.

But fans and media in Turkey seem to expect a higher level, one reachable by the star-studded Olympic gold medalists of two years ago but maybe not by a young team that hasn’t been together nearly as long.

They expect the U.S. not only to win the tournament, but also every game and perhaps even every quarter along the way. Krzyzewski always faces similar expectations at Duke, where he says ”people think we should win every game and not let anyone score.”

”I don’t want that to be what this team feels,” he said, allowing he’d be OK with any criticisms if he’d brought back the team from Beijing.

Bucks sign second-round pick Darington Hobson

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Darington Hobson to a contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Hobson (6-7, 210) was the 37th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.

A junior selected out of New Mexico, Hobson averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists over three college seasons, the first two at Eastern Utah. During the 2009-10 season, Hobson averaged career-highs in rebounds (9.3) and assists (4.6) while scoring 15.9 points and shooting a career-best 36.1 percent from three-point range (39-108).

Hobson was the Mountain West Conference’s Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year in his only season at New Mexico. He was also named Third Team All-America by the Associated press. He was the only player in New Mexico’s history to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists in the same season and joined Ohio State’s Evan Turner as the only Division I players to average more than 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Chase Budinger out 4-6 weeks with ankle sprain

Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger suffered an injury during an offseason workout yesterday afternoon.  Budinger underwent a complete medical evaluation by Rockets team physicians at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute where it was determined that he suffered a moderate to severe sprain of his left ankle.

The injury will prevent him from future conditioning work for the next three weeks with the expectation that he can resume basketball activities in four-six weeks.

Hawks sign Etan thomas

Hawks sign Etan thomas

The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Etan Thomas, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

“We’re excited to add a player of Etan’s caliber to our roster,” said Hawks head coach Larry Drew. “He provides additional veteran leadership, physicality and toughness to our club, especially on the glass and the defensive side of the ball. We also add another versatile and multi-positional player to our frontcourt.”

Thomas, who finished last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, has spent the bulk of his career with the Washington Wizards. In eight seasons (seven in Washington), the 6-foot-10 Syracuse product has averaged 5.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg (.514 FG%, .600 FT%) in 396 career regular season games, starting 74 contests.

In 23 games (one start) with the Thunder last season, Thomas put in 3.3 ppg and 2.8 rpg (.456 FG%, .591 FT%). He also saw action in two postseason contests with Oklahoma City, tallying 6.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg. He’s appeared in 17 career playoff games.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Thomas adds bench depth. And as a poetry buff, he can confuse opponents by using fancy phrases they’ve never heard before, throwing them off balance as their brains attempt to process the new information.


WASHINGTON - APRIL 23: Washington Wizards basketball player Etan Thomas arrives at the Gondobay Manga Foundation Inaugural Gala on April 23, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

FIBA dance team told to stop performing at Worlds tournament


Cheerleaders, wrapped in national flags of competitors in FIBA Basketball World Championship, perform during the Ivory Coast and Greece game in Ankara September 1, 2010. The absence of scantily clad female cheerleaders at recent World Championship basketball matches involving host nation Turkey has raised eyebrows in the overwhelmingly Muslim but officially secular nation. Troupes of energetic cheerleaders have entertained the crowds at matches involving other teams in the tournament, but no dancers appeared during Turkey's match against Greece on Tuesday nor their match against Russia on Sunday. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (TURKEY - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)
 
The AP reports:The Red Foxes have been told to stop performing in games involving the host country because their risque costumes and routines are offensive to the nation that is nearly entirely Muslim. Islam prohibits women from exposing their skin in public.

Basketball’s governing body said Wednesday the ban was not its decision. Secretary general Patrick Baumann said he wants entertainment to be part of the games, but “if it needs a little bit of adjustment that is fine with us.”

Performers wore long pants Wednesday during a game between the United States and Iran. Iranian officials had turned their backs when the dancers, who usually wear tiny shorts or skirts, performed in earlier games.


Cheerleaders perform during the FIBA Basketball World Championship game between Ivory Coast and Greece in Ankara September 1, 2010. The absence of scantily clad female cheerleaders at recent World Championship basketball matches involving host nation Turkey has raised eyebrows in the overwhelmingly Muslim but officially secular nation. Troupes of energetic cheerleaders have entertained the crowds at matches involving other teams in the tournament, but no dancers appeared during Turkey's match against Greece on Tuesday nor their match against Russia on Sunday. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (TURKEY - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)Members of the CSKA Moscow' dance team perform during a break at FIBA Basketball World Championship game between USA and Slovenia in Istanbul August 29, 2010. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (TURKEY - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Delonte West returning to Celtics

Celtics are reportedly signing Delonte West

Delonte West is reportedly returning to where it all began and is set to sign a contract with the Boston Celtics.

According to CSNNE, 6-3 combo guard will rejoin the team his career began with. West entered the NBA in 2004, playing for the Celtics through the 2006-07 season before a quick stint with Seattle SuperSonics and then years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For his career, West averages 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 28.5 minutes per game. He averaged 7.4 PPG with the Cavs last season.

Because of his legal infraction, West is suspended by the NBA for the first 10 regular season games.

InsideHoops.com editor joking: At press time, the parents of Boston’s current players have yet to comment on this breaking news.

InsideHoops.com editor being straightforward: This is a good move for Boston. Delonte has some personal issues but I don’t believe they will be a real factor with his new team. He should be fine. The signing adds good bench depth to both guard spots. If any problem did develop with Delonte, the team can just send him packing. Boston gets slightly better with this move and are pushing hard to squeeze out another championship before Kevin Garnett fades away and Paul Pierce’s age starts to become a factor.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.


March 06, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..Cleveland Cavaliers Delonte West brings the ball up the court, West had 27 points and 7 assists coming off the Cavaliers bench tonight..Milwaukee Buck won over the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-85. Mike McGinnis/CSM.