The Toronto Sun (Mike Ganter) reports on Raptors center Jermaine O’Neal: “I’m just not making the shots,” said O’Neal. “When I look at the (tape) I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing as far as getting the position I want. I’m catching it deep. I’m clearing the space when I turn to the basket but I’m just not making the shot.” In four games so far this season, O’Neal has had a 3-for-10 shooting night — that was Wednesday — and a 2-for-10 night last Friday against Golden State. For the year, he’s shooting just shy of 38% from the field, well below his career average of just a tick under 46%. O’Neal said he’s trying to make sure he doesn’t let this funk become a mental one. “The things I’m going through now were things I was hoping I would go through in the pre-season,” he said. “But it takes time. I’m always going to be a little more frustrated by a situation like last night when we lose the game and where we’re down one with chances to win and I take a couple of shots and I wasn’t able to make them.”
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
Report: MLB will not let Mark Cuban buy Cubs
The Chicago Sun-Times (Chris De Luca) reports: Sources close to commissioner Bud Selig sounded an alarm this week during the annual general managers meetings: Forget about Mark Cuban buying the Cubs. Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks’ owner, was the fan favorite, the guy who liked to drink beer, watch the game from the bleachers and spend money. He was the most appealing bidder to Zell’s group, who knew Cuban could swing the quickest transaction for a team and ballpark that at one time figured to fetch $1 billion. Global financial crisis or not, baseball’s old guard plans to stand firm against letting Cuban into the club. ”There’s no way Bud and the owners are going to let that happen,” a Major League Baseball source said this week. ”Zero chance.”
Kenyon Martin foundation forms
NBA Star Kenyon Martin announced today the establishment of The Kenyon Martin Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.
The Foundation will focus on providing life-changing opportunities to underserved youth throughout the country, with an emphasis on assisting families without father figures in Denver, Dallas, and Cincinnati.
Martin has a long history of distinguished charitable involvement. He has served as an honorary Ambassador for the March of Dimes’ Colorado Chapter and is currently a Board Member of the American Institute for Stuttering. He has also lent his support to the numerous charitable endeavors of his teammates and other notable figures both here and abroad.
“I was given an opportunity to earn a wonderful living doing what I love, playing basketball,” Martin observed “I hope to give other children opportunities to do what they love as well. My goal is to do what I can to help them realize their dreams and let them know that no matter where you come from you can always succeed.”
“I applaud Kenyon’s sense of responsibility and obligation to others, in using the hard-earned lessons he learned during his own difficult childhood to help a new generation of kids,” commented Marc Pollick, President of The Giving Back Fund. “He exemplifies the maxim ‘to whom much is given, much is expected…’“
The Denver Nuggets’ power forward Kenyon Martin was raised in Oak Cliff, Texas, attended college in Cincinnati, and currently resides in Dallas during the off-season.
Vladimir Radmanovic grew up in civil war
The Orange County Register (Janis Carr) reports: Vladimir Radmanovic grew up in what used to be Yugoslavia. At age 11, the country’s civil war started as did his family’s difficulties. His father joined the military and soon the family was on the move. They first relocated to different military bases, then approximately 200 miles from their home in Belgrade, where the fighting was fierce. He lived in four cities over the span of four years, but as a carefree teen, he was oblivious to the financial strain the war had put on his family and the rest of the country. “I was a kid,” he said. “Obviously, at that age, you don’t think about the consequences of what is happening. You’re living the life, trying to play and go out with kids your age. Now, from this perspective, I can understand the kind of struggle my parents had.” At age 14, Radmanovic began playing basketball, first for his school team then for a club team.
Nov 6: Blazers 101, Rockets 99 OT
The AP reports: Brandon Roy made a 30-foot jumper as time expired in overtime to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a thrilling 101-99 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who snapped a five-game losing streak to the Rockets in a game that featured three dramatic shots in the final 1.9 seconds. Roy first hit a turnaround 21-footer that put the Blazers up 98-96 and sent a sold-out Rose Garden into a frenzy. But Yao Ming scored and drew a foul against Roy on the other end with 0.8 seconds left, then made the free throw to give Houston the lead. Portland called timeout and the inbounds play went to Roy, who swished the winner to send a charge through the delirious crowd.
InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: For Portland, Aldridge had 27 and 9 plus 3 blocks. Brandon Roy (just 6-of-18) had 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists (but 5 turnovers). Rudy Fernandez (5-of-9, 3-of-5 three-pointers) scored 15 off the bench. Travis Outlaw (5-of-12) had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks off the bench. Steve Blake had 8 points and 8 assists. For Houston, Tracy McGrady (11-of-23) had 30 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals. Luis Scola (7-of-10) had 14 points and 4 rebounds. Aaron Brooks (5-of-9) scored 14 off the bench. Yao Ming (4-of-13) had just 13 points and 6 rebounds. Ron Artest had a mere 10 points and 4 assists.
Nov 6: Magic 98, Sixers 88
The AP reports: Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis scored 20 points apiece and the Orlando Magic overcame Dwight Howard’s foul trouble to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 98-88 on Thursday night. With All-Star center Howard limited to only four minutes in the first half, the Magic got strong performances from Tony Battie and Lewis, who picked up the rebounding slack as Orlando won its third straight game. Thaddeus Young scored 19 points for Philadelphia, which placed four players in double figures. The Sixers cut a 23-point deficit to six in the fourth quarter but couldn’t draw closer… Jameer Nelson had a season-high 16 points for Orlando, and Howard scored seven of his 14 points in the fourth.
InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Magic shot 45.1%, the Sixers just 37.9%. The Magic also got double the free throw attempts, though bricked a lot from the line. The Magic only committed 10 turnovers. Nelson had 16 points and 9 assists. Dalembert had 10 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Elton Brand had just 6 points on bad shooting, and 12 rebounds. Iguodala had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, but 5 turnovers.
David Harrison signs in China
Fiba.com reports: American center David Harrison has been reunited with good friend and former NBA colleague Dontae Jones in China’s with Beijing. The seven-footer, who averaged almost 13 minutes in 55 games for Indiana last season, said to Titan: “I came here for the sake of basketball. “I love basketball. Besides, my good friend Dontae Jones is here, which is amazing we are together here in China playing basketball. “I will try all my best to bring the team a champion’s title.”
Adam Morrison talks with InsideHoops
Charlotte Bobcats small forward Adam Morrison averaged 11.8 points per game as a rookie in 2006-07, didn’t play last year, and is getting used to being back on the court in the early part of the new season. One big change is formerly famous long hair was now buzzed off; he almost looks like a totally different person. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner met with Morrison in Madison Square Garden Wednesday night for an exclusive interview.
Read the Morrison interview on important subjects like haircuts and video games.
Matt Barnes now father to twin boys
Phoenix Suns forward Matt Barnes left the team prior to last night’s 113-103 win over the Indiana Pacers to be with his fiancée, Gloria Govin, who gave birth to twin boys, Isaiah Michael Barnes and Carter Kelly Barnes.
The timetable for Barnes’ return is undetermined. The Suns return to action Friday night in Chicago against the Bulls at 6:30 p.m. (Phoenix time).
Jerry Sloan has 999 coaching wins
Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan is one win shy of 1,000 victories as head coach of the Jazz. With the win, Sloan will be the first head coach in NBA history to achieve 1,000 wins with one team. The Jazz head coach currently holds an overall record of 1093-717 and a 999-596 record with the Jazz.
Currently in his 21st season as head coach, Sloan is 204 victories ahead of Red Auerbach (second all-time wins with one team) and 366 wins ahead of the only other active coach in the top five, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (third all-time). Sloan is also the longest tenured coach in all of major professional sports. There have been 219 coaching changes in the NBA since he was named head coach of the Jazz on December 9, 1988.
Over his first 20 seasons, he has produced two conference championships, seven division titles, 16 consecutive winning seasons, 12 seasons with 50-plus wins and 18 playoff appearances. The 4-0 Jazz are seeking their third straight Northwest Division title in 2008-09.
Sloan will celebrate his 20th anniversary as Jazz head coach on December 9 when the Jazz travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves at 6 p.m. MST.