NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog
NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
Nets blog – Brooklyn Nets blog. A great Nets news blog
The New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets game that was originally scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled for Monday, November 26 at 7 p.m. ET at Barclays Center, the National Basketball Association announced today.
The game will be televised by TNT.
The original game was scheduled for Thursday, November 1 but was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
The National Basketball Association game scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 1 between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center has been postponed due to the conditions in the New York area caused by Hurricane Sandy.
“Mayor Bloomberg informed us this afternoon that after further analysis of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy that he felt it was in the best interests of the city of New York, the teams and our fans that we postpone the Knicks-Nets game scheduled for Thursday night,” NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating storm.”
The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.
This means that the first NBA regular season game to ever take place in the new Brooklyn Nets Barclays Center will be Saturday night, November 3, against the Toronto Raptors. Unless that event gets postponed as well, which InsideHoops.com speculates is quite possible.
|
Less than a week before the Nets officially begin the Brooklyn era, point guard Deron Williams, the star who is the cornerstone of the franchise, has been sidelined with an ankle injury that the team admits could be a lingering problem. Williams received an injection in his left ankle on Friday and is expected to miss two days of practice.
“We don’t think it’s anything serious, just a case of tendinitis, so he’ll be out (Saturday) for practice,” Avery Johnson said following Friday’s practice, “but we anticipate having him back Sunday or Monday.”
That would give Williams at least three days of practice to get ready for Thursday’s season opener against the Knicks at the new $1 billion Barclays Center. Williams, who signed a five-year, $98 million contract this offseason, was not available for comment after practice Friday.
— Reported by Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News
The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forwards James Mays and Carleton Scott, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Both players were signed to the training camp roster on September 17.
In 24 minutes over two preseason games, Mays tallied six points and four rebounds. Scott totaled nine points and 10 rebounds with three blocks in 51 minutes over three contests.
The Nets roster currently stands at 15.
New York Islanders Owner Charles B. Wang, Barclays Center Majority Owner and Developer Bruce Ratner, and Onexim Sports and Entertainment announced today that the Islanders will move to Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 25-year agreement begins for the 2015-16 season.
The announcement was made at a press conference in the GEICO Atrium at Barclays Center, which was also attended by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Islanders General Manager Garth Snow, and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark.
In support of the illustrious history of the team, the New York Islanders name and logo will remain unchanged.
“It was our goal from day one to keep the Islanders in the local New York area.” Wang said. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play in Barclays Center, a first class arena. This has been a long journey for the Islanders family starting with our loyal fans, sponsors, and employees. I want to personally thank them for their patience, loyalty, and support. I am excited about today’s announcement and I am looking forward to a long and successful future in Brooklyn.”
“We are delighted to welcome the Islanders to Brooklyn and to bring NHL hockey to the borough for the first time,” Ratner said. “Eleven subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road come directly to Barclays Center at Atlantic Terminal, offering great accessibility for current and future Islander fans. I want to thank Charles for his determination in keeping the team in New York and for having the vision to bring his club to Brooklyn.”
“More than ever before, Brooklyn is the place where everyone wants to be,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “Barclays Center has already brought an incredible amount of excitement to Brooklyn since opening last month. Now things will get even more interesting, with Brooklyn’s first-ever NHL franchise. Whether or not you’re a hockey fan, more events at Barclays Center will lead to more economic activity and more jobs, and that’s good news for all New Yorkers.”
“Today is another great day for Brooklyn,” BP Markowitz said. “When I first campaigned for Borough President, I made the promise that I would bring a major-league sports team to Brooklyn. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I think we would be home to both the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Islanders. With the Nets and the Islanders, Brooklyn is beginning a dominant power-play.”
“The Brooklyn Nets are excited to welcome the Islanders to Barclays Center and Brooklyn!” Yormark said. “Barclays Center will offer the Islanders with an exciting opportunity to grow their fan base and to build their brand. Islander fans are going to love Barclays Center for its intimacy, sightlines, Brooklyn Taste culinary program, and customer service. We are looking forward to opening our doors for the Islanders and bringing the best in sports and entertainment to Brooklyn.”
Barclays Center will hold 14,500 seats for Islander games. Current Islander season ticket holders will have first rights to purchase season tickets in Brooklyn.
If you want to see the Knicks play the Nets on opening night, and you want a ticket through the secondary market, you’re going to have to pay.
The current average price for the Knicks-Nets battle at the Barclays Center on Nov. 1 is $819.89, up 21.39% from the price on Oct. 1 ($675.31), according to TiqIQ, a website that tracks ticket prices on secondary markets.
— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York
The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Stephen Dennis, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Dennis was signed to the training camp roster on September 17.
In three appearances with the Nets this preseason, Dennis played 21 minutes, scoring two points with a rebound and a steal.
The Nets roster currently stands at 17.
|
The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the third-year contract option on MarShon Brooks, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Brooks is now signed through the 2013-14 season.
Brooks was selected 25 th overall by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, and then traded to the Nets for the rights to the 27 th pick, JuJuan Johnson, and the Nets’ 2014 second round pick. Last season the 6-5 guard appeared in 56 games, with 47 starts, averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. Brooks shot .428 (274-640) from the field and .764 (113-148) from the line. The Providence alum scored a career-high 24 points twice last season, vs. Orlando (2/2/12) and Miami (4/16/12). Brooks participated in the Rookie/Sophomore game during All-Star Weekend and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
The Nets are ready to finally take the floor at Barclays Center.
After months of preparations, the team will play its first game inside its new home Monday night against the Wizards.
“Everybody’s super-excited, I think,” said Joe Johnson prior to the team’s shootaround Monday morning. “We all feel as if this is a fresh start, and we want to make the best of it.
“We want to get off to a great start. We’ve had a great training camp, and we want to keep working hard to get better.”
The Nets will have plenty of opportunities to get used to their new home this week, as they’ll play three games here in the next five days. But while that will allow them to feel a little more comfortable in their new digs, coach Avery Johnson admitted it’s going to take awhile before it feels like they belong here.
— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post
|
Q: You were overseas the entire year. What was the calculation behind that decision, considering the labor situation the NBA faced at the time?
Chris Douglas-Roberts: It was actually great for me, because during the lockout — I’m was a fairly young player, I (had just finished) my third year — so it was about basketball for me. It wasn’t about money, I just wanted to play basketball. But I went over there, and made that commitment to stay. It definitely made me a better basketball player, and it made me a better person.
It made me more appreciative, because some days I didn’t have heat. The living conditions were terrible. I had to heat up water to give my daughter a bath, some days. If you had the microwave on and the washer on, the electricity may go out in the whole house. It was very small. The shower at the gym that we practiced at, it was filthy. There was mold everywhere. You couldn’t put your feet on the ground, barefoot. Guys were getting staph infections. It was basically back to when I was growing up in Detroit. But when I look at it, it just made me a better person and a player.
Q: Did you know what you were getting into?
CDR: Not at all. I had no clue. When you think of Italy, you think of beauty. You think of good food, great people. Which was the case, but it’s a different game over there. They look at basketball different, they look at the athlete different. You’re practicing two times a day, regardless. Very hard practices, two hours both sessions, and there aren’t any days off, really. It’s more about the organization, really. It’s not about the athlete, really.
— Reported by Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN Los Angeles