August 19, 2010 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Wade reacts to idea of surpassing 72 wins

Kyle Koster of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Wade discusses the idea of surpassing 72 wins

Winning, and winning with historic regularity, is something this Heat squad is expected to do. NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy recently predicted the Wade-James-Bosh triumvirate could surpass the NBA-record 72 wins notched by the 1995-96 Bulls.

While Wade isn’t discounting the possibility, he said it’s not the Heat’s top priority.

”I don’t think about it, and I don’t think the guys are really worried about it. At the end of the day, we have to go out and play the game. People can say whatever they want, but you’ve got to go out there and play. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

”I look at it, and I can’t believe [the Bulls that year] only lost 10 games. That’s unbelievable. I’m sure that’s one of the hardest feats that’s ever happened in sports. It’s nothing that I’m looking at, though. We’re going to go out there and be the best team we can be. If it isn’t 70 wins and we have a great season and win the championship, I don’t think anyone’s going to be mad.”

InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner says:

I don’t think it’ll happen. Maybe in the future, but not in 2010-11. Building chemistry takes time, and while winning will come easy quite often for the Heat, there are plenty of very talented NBA teams who can and will beat these guys. But as the supporting cast presumably improves in the future, so will the possibility of winning 70 or more regular season games.

Apr. 25, 2010 - Miami, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - epa02131631 Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (L) drives the ball past Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen (R) during the first half of their conference quarterfinals round game at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida USA 25 April 2010. The NBA playoffs begin 17 April and end with the NBA Finals in mid-June.

Stephen Curry hopes for quick recovery from ankle sprain

The AP reports:

Stephen Curry is eager to overcome an ankle injury, hopeful it won’t impact his chances of making the U.S. roster for the world championship.

Curry didn’t practice Thursday after suffering a mild sprain to his left ankle a day earlier. The U.S. team said Curry’s recovery was ”progressing” but he remained day to day.

With one player still to be cut from the 13-man squad — and most likely a guard — Curry looked slightly anxious after watching his teammates practice.

InsideHoops.com editor says:

It’ll be close. The ankle sprain definitely hurts Curry. I think he had around a 50 percent chance of sticking with the squad before getting hurt. Now I’d guess it’s around 25 percent.

Kenyon Martin not sure Nuggets have improved

Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports:

Kenyon Martin, like his coach, is wondering what will happen with Melo. He’s a friend of Melo’s, but said he hasn’t talked with him recently.

“He’s got a lot of people in his ear already,” Martin said. “But I understand what he’s doing and what he’s going through. I’ve been there. I turned down $66 million in New Jersey and everybody thought I was crazy. . . . My thing is, everybody is rushing this man to sign the extension. Why are they rushing him? He has until July to sign the thing, so why rush? The money will still be on the table.”

Asked about Anthony’s mind-set, Martin said the uncertainty surrounding the franchise has to be on his mind.

“Personally, my thinking is — I can’t see where we got better this summer. Al (Harrington, a free-agent signing) is cool, Al’s my man, but I can’t see how we got better. You know, I’m going to be out and (Andersen) is going to be out (to start the season), so did we get better? I can’t say that we did.”

With his expiring contract, Martin said he wouldn’t be surprised to get traded but expects to play the season out.

“I’ve got one more year, so we’ll go from there,” he said.

Apr. 25, 2010 - Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA - epa02132055 Denver Nugget's Kenyon Martin makes a gesture after missing a free throw in a game against the Utah Jazz's in the second half of their Western Conference first round playoff game at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 25 April 2010. The Jazz beat the Nuggets 117-106 to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

Two advance scouts pursue pay disputes with Clippers

Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Two advance scouts for the Clippers have been locked in a pay dispute with the team.

Jerry Holloway, employed since the 2003-04 season, alleged the Clippers quit paying him this spring and breached his contract. Documents filed June 4 in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County said the Clippers owed Holloway $22,920 in unpaid salary.

After the suit was filed, the Clippers settled with Holloway for $20,000, a source familiar with the situation said. Court papers said Holloway asked for nearly $36,000, which included the unpaid wages, liquidated damages and legal fees.

Another scout, Scott Wissel, alleges he is owed slightly less than Holloway. Wissel, in an interview, said he is considering his legal options.

The Clippers contend the two scouts were “at-will” employees and did not have written contracts.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This owner is really setting himself apart from the rest, in a bad way. No other owner has consistently gotten into disputes of this nature so often.