NBA Teams – Page 1705 – NBA Blog

Sixers players work out in Los Angeles

It’s perfectly logical for NBA players during the lockout to meet up with friends or teammates and, well, play basketball. And work out. And do other stuff, too.

The latest to do this are most of the Philadelphia 76ers players.

Dei Lynam of CSN Philly reports:

For those of you familiar with destination weddings, consider the Sixers’ weekend in Los Angeles, where eight current team members met to practice, a destination basketball workshop for family only. These pick up games were not about having as many NBA players participate as possible, rather about having as many Sixers be in attendance as possible.

“The guys came out. We are having a great time together, bonding together. That’s what it is about,” said Elton Brand who, along with Lou Williams, organized the gathering.

“I think that creates a winning environment, having each others back out there,” Brand continued. “So you have to care, you have to grow, you have to know where someone likes the ball. When a guy can’t play defense or can’t show as well on a pick you have to know that. You have to know that. You have to be there to help your guy and have their back.”

Along with Brand and Williams, in attendance were Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks, Spencer Hawes and Craig Brackins. That list includes last year’s starting five, their sixth man and a rookie who will likely earn a starting spot whenever the upcoming season does get underway.

I would think other squads should aim to do this as well. Why not?

Patty Mills to sign in Australia

Melbourne Tigers will confirm one of the NBL’s greatest recruiting coups with the signing of Boomers guard Patty Mills.

Coming off two seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, free-agent Mills is available to the Tigers because of the NBA lockout that could cancel the season.

While Mills has an offer on the table from Portland and likely will return to the NBA if the lockout ends, the Tigers are keen meanwhile to cash in on the availability of the lightning fast guard.

No official comment was available from the Tigers, but they have scheduled a media conference for a significant announcement at 11am today.

— Reported by the Herald Sun

FBI joins police in searching for Javaris Crittenton

Javaris Crittenton has gone from being a professional basketball player to a man on the run.

The Chicago Tribune reports:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is helping police in Atlanta and Los Angeles search for a former NBA player wanted for murder.

FBI Special Agent Steve Emmett in Atlanta told The Associated Press on Sunday that the agency is involved as police look for Javaris Crittenton. Authorities say Crittenton is charged in the fatal shooting of 22-year Jullian Jones, a mother of four who was gunned down Aug. 19 in Atlanta..

Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. Curtis Davenport said Crittenton was not in custody as of Sunday afternoon.

It’s a sad story, and I still hope that he turns out to be innocent of charges. Maybe he’s running around trying to find evidence to clear his name. That’s what would happen on a TV show, at least. Unfortunately, this is real.

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Javaris Crittenton charged with homicide

This is wild. And very bad. After getting into trouble with the NBA and Washington Wizards due to the “guns (and threats) in the locker room” incident with former teammate Gilbert Arenas that resulted in lengthy league suspensions, there’s now a much bigger negative development in the world of guard Javaris Crittenton.

Alexis Stevens of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

A former NBA player and Georgia Tech standout has been charged with shooting a 23-year-old woman to death, Atlanta police said Friday night.

Javaris Crittenton faces a homicide charge in the death Jullian Jones, according to Carlos Campos, APD spokesman.

Jones was walking with others near 2915 Macon Drive in southwest Atlanta around 10 p.m. Aug. 19 when she was shot, Campos said. Jones, a mother of three, was struck in the hip and later died during surgery.

Two men walking with Jones fled and were not injured.

And more, from WSBTV.com:

Police said the motive appears to be retaliation for a robbery that occurred in April in which Crittendon was a victim.

Crittendon most recently played with the Washington Wizards.

In 2010, Crittenton was suspended for an incident involving a gun inside the locker room.

Crittenton went to high school at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He helped lead Georgia Tech to a 20-12 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 as a freshman.

I just hope that Javaris is innocent — as presumed, until proven otherwise.

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Due to traffic ticket warrants, Ron Artest cannot become Metta World Peace yet

Instead of throwing a barbecue to celebrate his name change to Metta World Peace, Lakers forward Ron Artest plans to navigate the legal system.

With outstanding traffic warrants preventing Artest from legally changing his name, the Lakers forward wants copies of the citations and will pay them if “it’s found they are unpaid,” according to a person close to Artest who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

It was expected that the name change would be made official at a hearing Friday morning at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, but Artest’s next court date was scheduled for Sept. 16 because of the unspecified traffic citations. Artest was issued two tickets for “moving violations,” according to the person, but wasn’t informed how much they cost and what incidents earned him those citations.

— Reported by the Los Angeles Times blog

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Knicks may hire Mike Woodson as assistant

The Knicks are moving closer to hiring former Hawks head coach Mike Woodson as an assistant coach, which will fuel speculation that Woodson may one day succeed Mike D’Antoni as the team’s head coach.

Although Woodson’s last Atlanta team was criticized for its failure to make defensive adjustments when getting bombed by Orlando in the 2010 playoffs, the former first-round pick of the Knicks will join D’Antoni’s staff as a defensive coach.

The Daily News first reported in May that D’Antoni, who has resisted bringing in an outsider to his coaching staff, would be forced to hire a defensive coach because of the Knicks’ failures at that end during his first three seasons in New York.

In the past few days, Woodson had told two confidantes that he expects to join the Knicks.

— Reported by Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News

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Omri Casspi out of EuroBasket 2011

Israel have suffered a major blow ahead of the EuroBasket with confirmation that Omri Casspi will be unable to play in Lithuania with a knee injury.

The Cleveland Cavaliers forward, the only Israeli ever to play in the NBA, was hurt in practice two weeks ago but had hoped to recover in time with the initial diagnosis suggesting he could be back on court within a fortnight of sustaining the injury.

However, that has not proved to be the case and he has now left the squad with only one week left until tip off.

— Reported by FIBA Europe

Alonzo Gee signs in Poland

Asseco Prokom added another weapon to its new-look backcourt with the signing of Alonzo Gee. The move comes on the heels of the additions of fellow newcomers Leroy Nobles and Jerrel Blassingame, all of whom can make their Euroleague debuts this season. Gee (1.98 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Cleveland of the NBA, where he averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games last season. He has also played for Washington and San Antonio in the NBA, as well as for Austin in the NBA D-League after finishing his college career at the University of Alabama (NCAA).

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Michael Jordan’s Steak House Chicago opens Tuesday

MJ is coming to the Magnificent Mile.

Michael Jordan’s Steak House Chicago will make its debut Tuesday in the InterContinental Chicago hotel (505 N. Michigan Ave. 312-321-8823), taking over that property’s sprawling, architecturally fascinating second-floor dining space (which accommodates 160, plus a couple of 20-seat private spaces). The restaurant also is taking over the hotel’s lobby-level bar space, which will be expanded to hold 90.

“It’s an upgrade, to say the least,” says executive chef James O’Donnell.

— Reported by Phil Vettel of the Chicago Tribune

LeBron James jumps into swimming pool in Barcelona

LeBron James is in Spain on a promotional trip and was in Barcelona, jumping from high in the air into a swimming pool.

It took him a while to make the leap, but LeBron finally took the plunge.

I laughed hearing some kid yell “booooooo!” at the 1:09 mark.

Really, he’s high up in the air. I’d be extremely hesitant to do it as well. You also have to make sure the pool is as deep as you need it to be so your legs don’t crash into the bottom. I completely understand him hesitating before doing the jump.