Inside Hoops – Page 1570 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies center Marc Gasol aims to be more aggressive

Grizzlies center Marc Gasol wants to be more of a giant

Gasol has promised himself and teammates that he’s going to do less facilitating this season. Gasol’s goal isn’t to be selfish, but to better identify times when he can impose his will.

“I can get better mentally — knowing when to be aggressive and when the team needs me the most,” Gasol said. “I’ll keep making plays for my teammates but, at the same time, I have to dominate at some point and take over.”

Like a preacher in church on Sundays, power forward Zach Randolph all but bellowed a big fat “Hallelujah.”

“I’ve been telling him that from Day 1,” Randolph said. “Be aggressive. Pick your spots. Big fella is so talented and he plays the right way. But sometimes you’ve got to be aggressive. Sometimes coach wants him to score. He’s the best skilled center in the game by far.”

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger makes strong first impression

First impressions can be varied when a player joins a team, but Jared Sullinger’s initial work has highlighted one very specific quality for his older teammates to see.

And it’s not his most obvious strength as a rebounder and post player, though those talents certainly stood out in Sullinger’s team-high 16-point, eight-rebound performance during the Celtics [team stats]’ 97-91 loss to Fenerbache Ulker last night in their exhibition opener.

“His IQ is very high,” Kevin Garnett said of the rookie power forward. “I watched him a couple of times while he was (at Ohio State), and we saw a little of what he can do skill-wise. When you play with him you can actually see the IQ.”

Paul Pierce landed on the same spot.

“I think he has a great basketball IQ,” he said.

— Reported by Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald

Miami Heat players react to new flopping rule

Shane Battier smiles and laughs when he talks. It’s one of the many personality traits that would one day make him a good politician.

Here’s another. Battier will look at you with a straight face and tell you he’s not one of the NBA’s serial floppers.

“Listen, I don’t flop like a lot of these guys,” Battier said. “I know a lot of people say I flop, but I’m too old for that.”

Then, after a few minutes of bantering, Battier will tell you he’s “wholeheartedly against” the NBA’s new “anti-flopping” rule.

“Reputation may play a big role in it,” Battier said.

And that’s exactly what Indiana coach Frank Vogel is hoping will happen this season when the NBA begins administering its new “anti-flopping” rule. The league announced this week that it will begin the tricky work of reviewing flops and dives around the NBA and slapping repeat offenders with fines.

— Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald

Indiana Pacers being cautious with Danny Granger`s knee

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger is just like the rest of his teammates during most of practice.

He stretches with them and takes part in the same drills and scrimmages. But there comes a point in every practice when Granger makes his way to the sideline and becomes a spectator.

That’s because the Pacers continue to limit Granger’s practice time to avoid any flare-ups with his left knee.

“It is frustrating,” Granger said. “I’m just glad we still have plenty of time before the first game (on Oct. 31). I’m still conditioned, and when I’m on the court, my wind isn’t that bad.”

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star

Nets forward Gerald Wallace not a big city guy

Basketball fans know him as “Crash,” the small forward willing to give up life and limb for a loose ball — the player the Brooklyn Nets will match up against LeBron James, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. But the Alabama product is so frightened of New York City that he refuses to drive over the Hudson River, let alone live close to the Barclays Center.

Trips into Brooklyn require a chaperone from his home in Fort Lee.

“I have a driver,” Wallace said. “If I’m going to the city, that’s pretty much how I’m getting in.”

Off the court, the Nets have been marketed as the gritty black & white urbanites, the vision of Bed-Stuy-born Jay-Z and Russia’s Mikhail Prokhorov. But there’s an unmistakable southern accent dominating conversations at the practice facility, whether it’s with Avery Johnson from Louisiana, Joe Johnson from Arkansas, Reggie Evans from Florida or Wallace from Childersburg, Ala.

The adjustment is probably most difficult for Wallace, a 30-year-old of few words with a voice so deep it has been mistaken for Barry White’s. While Joe Johnson says he’s “like a chameleon,” able to shift from Little Rock to his Manhattan home with ease, Wallace is more country than most.

“I’m afraid of New York City,” the 6-foot-7 forward said.

— Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News

Dwight Howard strikes back at Shaq

After all this time, everybody still falls for Shaq’s Don Rickles act.

I mean, everyone: Shaq’s intended target, the media, the fans.

O’Neal said when he broke into the league making outrageous statements and jabbing opponents that it was all “entertainment,” like pro wrestling.

Shaq continues to throw barbs, especially Dwight Howard’s way. He says Andrew Bynum and Brook Lopez (Brook Lopez!) are better offensive players than Dwight.

“I don’t care what Shaq says,” Howard said. “Shaq played the game and he is done. It’s time to move on. He hated the fact when he played that older guys were talking about him and how he played. Now he’s doing the exact same thing. Just let it go. There’s no sense for him to be talking trash to me. He did his thing in the league. Sit back and relax. Your time is up.”

— Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel

New shooters give 76ers an outside chance

Doug Collins couldn’t have asked for a more fitting backdrop.

Moments after watching his 76ers play a spirited scrimmage at St. Joseph’s Hagan Arena that required an overtime period to settle, the coach discussed a favorite topic: spacing on the floor for his shooters.

Behind him, newly acquired sharpshooter Jason Richardson launched three-pointers, getting in some extra practice at training camp.

One key to the offense is having a big man capable of commanding a double team, drawing would-be perimeter defenders away from good shooters who are capable of making opponents pay.

In center Andrew Bynum, the Sixers feel they have that covered.

The other component is shooters, something the Sixers were woefully short of last season. They believe they have addressed the issue with the acquisition of players like Richardson, Dorell Wright, and Nick Young.

— Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

John Andariese retires from Knicks booth

Knicks legendary broadcaster John Andariese, a team radio staple for 40 years known around the Garden as “Johnny Hoops,’’ has stepped down from his color analyst position, the Knicks announced Friday. Andariese called the Knicks’ last championship — in 1973 with Marv Albert.

Andariese will be replaced by Hubie Brown’s son, Brendan Brown. The Knicks had reduced Andariese’s role last season, having him do just home games.

The decision comes on the heels of The Post reporting Wally Szczerbiak will replace Kelly Tripucka on MSG Network’s telecasts, teaming with Alan Hahn in the studio. Last season, radio play-by-play man Spero Dedes took over for veteran Mike Crispino, who remains as a backup.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Thomas Robinson impresses with hustle, skills

It was a simple game of 4-on-4 in his second day of practice.

But it only took a few seconds for Thomas Robinson to show why the Kings are so happy to have him.

There was a missed shot and a rebound to be had, and the rookie from Kansas made sure no one else would grab the basketball.

Robinson sprinted toward the basket and snatched the ball off the rim for a powerful dunk.

Hustle, athleticism and enthusiasm all in one fell swoop.

The Kings have needed someone to play like that for a while.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Dwyane Wade cited by NBA video as flopping violator

The NBA Friday offered video clarification on the parameters of its impending crackdown on “flopping,” citing Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade among the players who would have been penalized had the new policy been in place last season…

The play in question with Wade did not cite the Heat All-Star guard by name, nor did any of the sequences in the video cite players by name.

Instead, on a play when Wade released a shot and then attempted to draw a shooting foul on Boston Celtics forward Mickael Pietrus during last season’s Eastern Conference finals at AmericanAirlines Arena, the narrator says:

“After releasing the jump shot, the shooter, No. 3 in the white uniform, extends his right leg, attempting to draw a defensive foul call. While there is marginal contact on the play, the flail and spin to the floor by the offensive player is an over-embellishment and it is inconsistent with marginal contact. This is a flop that will be penalized.” …

Among those other than Wade cited in the video for “flopping” are San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari, Clippers center Ryan Hollins and Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans.

— Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel