Inside Hoops – Page 1576 – NBA Blog

Dave Benz is new Timberwolves TV play-by-play announcer

In conjunction with Fox Sports North, the Minnesota Timberwolves today named Dave Benz as the team’s television play-by-play announcer. Benz will team up this season with color analyst Jim Petersen to call 75 Wolves games this season on Fox Sports North and WFTC MY29.

Benz, a graduate of Oswego State University (Oswego, NY,) brings a wealth of experience and versatility to Minnesota with over 20 years in the sports industry. His television and radio play-by-play experience includes college basketball for FOX Sports, the mtn. and Comcast Sportsnet where he covered a number of men’s and women’s programs in the Mountain West, Pac-12, Big-12, WCC, Big West and Sun Belt conferences. He has also been behind the mic for Major League Baseball Cactus League games as well as Arena Football League and CHSAA High School Football games. Most recently he was the radio “Voice of the Sabercats” for San Jose’s AFL team.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be the new television voice of the Timberwolves. It has been my lifelong dream to be an NBA play-by-play announcer,” said Dave Benz. “I look forward to calling many Timberwolves wins this season alongside Jim Petersen, who is one of the best in the business. I also look forward to meeting Timberwolves fans and sharing in their passion for this organization.”

Benz comes to the Twin Cities from the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked as host, anchor and reporter for Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area. There he had the opportunity to cover the Giants 2010 World Series title and the 49ers run to the NFC Championship game as a pre and postgame show host. His lengthy career has afforded him the opportunity to regularly cover a number of NBA teams including roles as pre and postgame host for the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. He has also had roles covering the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets.

“After a nationwide search, we were captivated by Dave’s call of a game and how he captures the moment,” said Ted Johnson, Wolves Sr. Vice President of Marketing/Communications & Chief Marketing Officer. “Dave has experience covering many teams in different leagues and we feel he will be a great fit for our emerging team.”

“We’re pleased to welcome Dave to our FOX Sports North family, we’re confident he’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to our Timberwolves telecasts,” said Tony Tortorici, executive producer for FOX Sports North. “His knowledge of the sports scene will complement Petersen, Hanneman, Lynch and the rest of the TV team very well.”

Joe Johnson fighting jewelry-related lawsuit

Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson insists … he’s no jewel thief — and now, he’s lashing back against a lawsuit that says he stole $125,000 worth of bling from an Atlanta diamond dealer.

Aydin & Company filed a lawsuit against Johnson earlier this month, claiming the NBA star entered into a purchase agreement back in October 2010 for $125,500 worth of jewelry.

The items in question — a white gold watch with diamonds, diamond beaded bracelet, black diamond stud earrings and a white gold bezel set rosary.

— Reported by TMZ.com

Stephane Lasme signs to play in Greece

Panathinaikos Athens found a stopper to reign in the paint by signing [forward] Stephane Lasme, who returns to the Euroleague after two years away. Lasme (2.03 meters, 29 years old) finished among the top vote-getters for the 2010 Best Defender Award after his last season with Maccabi Electra. He averaged 6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and was third in the league with 1.4 blocks per game in a reserve role for Maccabi that season. He helped Partizan Belgrade and Maccabi to playoff appearances in both of his two previous Euroleague campaigns. Lasme is ranked second all-time with 1.46 blocks over his 39 career Euroleague games. Last season he played for Obradoiro CAB in the Spanish League, where he was worth 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34 games.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Elton Brand expects to be Mavs enforcer

The Mavericks need somebody willing to do the dirty work in the paint. It doesn’t take a Duke education to figure that out.

Elton Brand, a first overall pick out of Duke and former All-Star, basically announced himself as willing and able to play the enforcer role.

“I’m definitely going to have to anchor the defense, bring toughness,” the 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brand said. “I’m not proud of it, but I think I led the league in flagrant fouls last year. You’ve got to bring that. In order to win, you’ve got to do those kind of things, protect that paint.”

Actually, Brand led the league in flagrant fouls in 2010-11, but you get his point.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Detroit Pistons add Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn to training camp

The Detroit Pistons announced today the addition of guards Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn to the 2012-13 training camp roster.

Williams was drafted 11th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2009 NBA Draft. He’s played in 129 career NBA games with the Nets, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings, averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Williams was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April 2010 while with the Nets where he averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 22.6 minutes while recording eight double-doubles as a rookie.

Flynn was drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft. In 163 NBA games (90 starts) with Minnesota, Houston and Portland, the 2010 NBA All-Rookie second team member has averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds. With the Timberwolves in 2009-10, Flynn ranked fifth among rookies in scoring (13.5 ppg), fourth in free throw accuracy (82.6% FT), fifth in assists (4.4 apg) and seventh in steals (1.01 spg).

Celtics look to push the pace offensively

For Boston to have any chance this season at bringing home Banner 18, they must become a more effective scoring team than the one last season which averaged 91.8 points which ranked No. 26 in the NBA.

Looking back at the last 10 NBA champions, they all achieved greatness differently.

But the one thing they all had in common was that they were a better scoring team than the C’s squad we saw last year that advanced to the Eastern Conference finals before being eliminated in seven games by Miami.

Boston’s scoring woes were a major factor in their Game 7 loss to the Heat, a game in which the Celtics’ second unit scored a total of just two points.

“That’s unacceptable,” said Celtic guard Jason Terry, one of the league’s top sixth men. “And it won’t happen while I’m a Celtic.”

— Reported by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE

Chris Bosh no longer trying to bulk up

Bosh tried to bulk up. Gave it is all, truly. But you can’t turn an apple into an orange, you can’t change a thoroughbred into an elephant and you can’t morph Chris Bosh into Alonzo Mourning.

“It’s been like that for three years,” Bosh said on Saturday about the long-term plan to bulk him up and tweak his game. “After about three years I said forget it and just be myself. I’m never going to be big and just bulky like that.

“I’m strong but it’s a wiry strong and it’s two totally different things.”

The muscles are there, but, as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said on media day, “He’s long; he’s strong.”

And, most importantly, fast.

— Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald

Scottie Pippen lawsuit shot down by judge

Scottie Pippen is not bankrupt — but according to a federal judge, he cannot sue anyone that said he was.

As TMZ first reported, Pippen sued a TON of media outlets for defamation back in 2011 after they published articles claiming he was broke. As proof he’d never gone belly up, Pippen said he has never worth less than $40 million at any point in the last 10 years.

Pippen wanted $1 million from every media outlet that said his finances were in the toilet.

— Reported by TMZ.com

Kevin Garnett no longer speaking to Ray Allen

Ray Allen still considers Kevin Garnett a friend even if their communication has apparently been cut off.

On Friday, Garnett said he is no longer speaking to longtime Boston Celtics teammate Allen after he signed with the rival Miami Heat over the summer.

Speaking Saturday after his first official practice with the Heat, Allen said he was disappointed at Garnett’s sentiment.

“That’s a shame,” Allen said. “I’m a good person to talk to on the phone. … I’ve been in weird trade situations the last few years. You always felt you had one foot in and one foot out so I can’t worry about it.”

— Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

LeBron says Heat can get a lot better

With 12 players back from last season’s championship roster — foremost among them himself, after a season where he won the NBA’s MVP award, the NBA Finals MVP, his first league title and then an Olympic gold medal over the summer for good measure — the Heat clearly has tons of talent. Adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to the mix figures to make Miami that much better.

Naturally, James isn’t complaining.

“It’s scary to see, to look in our locker room today and say that we can be better than we were this past season,” James said. “Are we better right now than we were just a couple months ago? Of course not.

“But we have the potential to be better. We have the potential to be a lot better. That is scary.”

— Reported by the Detroit Free Press