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The AP reports: Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright injured his shooting shoulder during practice Friday and could miss extended time. The team says Wright will undergo an MRI exam Monday to further determine the severity of the injury.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Wright played just 38 games as a rookie in 2007-08. And 39 games last season, though in 17.6 minutes he put up a respectable 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. His injury issues are almost getting scary, though.
The AP reports: Rookie Taj Gibson had 19 points and nine rebounds to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 104-95 on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Derrick Rose added 17 points, and Luol Deng and John Salmons had 15 each for the Bulls. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 27 points in 26 minutes. Luther Head scored 14 points, and Brandon Rush scored all 13 of his points in the second half for Indiana. Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas left the game in the third quarter because of a concussion.
The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Bill Walker underwent successful right knee arthroscopic surgery today at the New England Baptist Hospital.
Walker sustained a meniscus tear on the first day of training camp.
Surgery was performed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by John Rand, PAC. No timetable has been set for his return.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Walker’s had about 29,500 knee surgeries in his basketball playing days. Yet he maintains crazy hops.
The AP reports: C.J. Miles and Deron Williams scored 16 points apiece and the Utah Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 103-87 on Thursday night in an uneventful debut for replacement referees in the NBA preseason… Williams also had six assists in 21 minutes, Miles was 5 for 7 from the field and Mehmet Okur had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz. Anthony led the Nuggets with 13 points.
Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports: Andre Miller was the only player with a guaranteed contract who didn’t pass the Trail Blazers conditioning test on Tuesday night, while Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Greg Oden recorded notable times. In each of his five training camps, coach Nate McMillan holds a conditioning test that requires players to run the length of the court and back five times, or in other words, 10 lines. They have to do this in four different sets. Guards are allowed 61 seconds to do 10 lines, forwards 64 seconds and centers 65 seconds. Players are allowed to “bank” time in each set, meaning if they finish under the designated time for one set, it carries over to the next sets.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Miller isn’t especially quick or fast. He also can’t make outside shots. Yet he’s been a successful NBA point guard. That’s pretty unique. He’s like a rich man’s Anthony Carter.
Chicago Bulls center Brad Miller’s NBA career has tapered off in recent seasons, but his celebrity status just got a boost in the world of people who love the great outdoors.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:
Miller got to travel the world filming footage for “Country Boys Outdoors,” a new TV show he’s co-hosting that premieres on The Sportsman’s Channel this month.
A self-described “hick” from Kendallville, Ind., who long has been passionate about hunting and fishing, Miller found himself chuckling over his good fortune when he, say, hunted red stagg or rabbits in New Zealand.
“We’ve been filming stuff for over three years,” Miller said.
That’s eight less than the number of seasons the wily veteran has played after leaving Purdue as an undrafted free agent.
“Obviously, you approach the offseasons a little differently now because you’re looking more just to stay healthy,” Miller said. “You don’t recover as much as the young guys. So a lot more Advil, more time icing and just maintaining your body. Or hunting.”
Nothing beats a summer spent doing what you love and getting paid in the process. Dude is lucky.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West seems like a nice-enough guy, and he’s a talented combo guard, but the guy has some issues. Unfortunately, the Cavs now have a bit more of a distraction to deal with.
Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:
West hit a new low Tuesday on the first day of training camp, skipping both of the team’s workouts. The absences were unexcused and caught the team off-guard after West reported to Monday’s media day. It has now left the Cavs immersed in a gray area of how to proceed with their talented but troubled guard.
“Delonte is in Cleveland,” Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said in a statement. “He is addressing a personal matter and did not attend practice.”
According to a source, West was in his home for the day and did not leave to come to practice. There was no indication whether West was planning on coming to today’s workouts.
Whatever is going on, I hope Delonte is OK and not in some sort of bad situation beyond what everyone knows.
Boston Celtics shooting guard Tony Allen is taking a while to regain full health.
Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reports:
A slower-than-expected recovery from ankle tendon surgery was given as the reason Allen didn’t scrimmage during yesterday’s practice at Salve Regina College.
Add the arrival of swingman Marquis Daniels to the picture and Allen has never been further down the depth chart.
“We were hoping Tony would be able to come along for training camp but he just wasn’t coming along as quickly as we wanted,” general manager Danny Ainge said. “We’ll take it week by week. He’s close. He’ll do things on the court, but he just won’t go live to come out of the gate. It puts him behind everyone until he can play. You have to remember that the most important ability is availability.”
All players need their athletic ability to be effective, but some need it more than others. Allen is one of those guys. So until he’s close to 100 percent he should probably remain out of action.
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The AP reports: ”Big Al” isn’t quite as big these days, and that’s no accident for the Minnesota Timberwolves star as he returns from a major knee injury. A slimmer, trimmer Al Jefferson returned to full practice Tuesday for the first time in nearly eight months following surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. He has lost 31 pounds in an effort to reduce the stress on his knees and get him ready to run in the new up-tempo offense that coach Kurt Rambis plans to install. ”It felt real good,” Jefferson said after the Timberwolves opened training camp in owner Glen Taylor’s hometown. ”It’s more about my lungs than anything. My knee felt great. Felt good to be back out here with the team.”
Chicago Bulls center Aaron Gray developed lower leg pain over the last two days. He was examined by team physician Dr. Brian Cole of Midwest Orthopedics at Rush University Medical Center and it was determined that he has a stress fracture of his left fibula. The diagnosis was confirmed by MRI. He is likely out 6-8 weeks.
The 7-0, 270-pound Gray is entering his third NBA season, playing each year with the Bulls.
