Wade reacts to idea of surpassing 72 wins

Kyle Koster of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Wade discusses the idea of surpassing 72 wins

Winning, and winning with historic regularity, is something this Heat squad is expected to do. NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy recently predicted the Wade-James-Bosh triumvirate could surpass the NBA-record 72 wins notched by the 1995-96 Bulls.

While Wade isn’t discounting the possibility, he said it’s not the Heat’s top priority.

”I don’t think about it, and I don’t think the guys are really worried about it. At the end of the day, we have to go out and play the game. People can say whatever they want, but you’ve got to go out there and play. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

”I look at it, and I can’t believe [the Bulls that year] only lost 10 games. That’s unbelievable. I’m sure that’s one of the hardest feats that’s ever happened in sports. It’s nothing that I’m looking at, though. We’re going to go out there and be the best team we can be. If it isn’t 70 wins and we have a great season and win the championship, I don’t think anyone’s going to be mad.”

InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner says:

I don’t think it’ll happen. Maybe in the future, but not in 2010-11. Building chemistry takes time, and while winning will come easy quite often for the Heat, there are plenty of very talented NBA teams who can and will beat these guys. But as the supporting cast presumably improves in the future, so will the possibility of winning 70 or more regular season games.


Apr. 25, 2010 - Miami, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - epa02131631 Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (L) drives the ball past Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen (R) during the first half of their conference quarterfinals round game at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida USA 25 April 2010. The NBA playoffs begin 17 April and end with the NBA Finals in mid-June.

Stephen Curry hopes for quick recovery from ankle sprain

The AP reports:

Stephen Curry hopes for quick recovery from ankle sprain

Stephen Curry is eager to overcome an ankle injury, hopeful it won’t impact his chances of making the U.S. roster for the world championship.

Curry didn’t practice Thursday after suffering a mild sprain to his left ankle a day earlier. The U.S. team said Curry’s recovery was ”progressing” but he remained day to day.

With one player still to be cut from the 13-man squad — and most likely a guard — Curry looked slightly anxious after watching his teammates practice.

InsideHoops.com editor says:

It’ll be close. The ankle sprain definitely hurts Curry. I think he had around a 50 percent chance of sticking with the squad before getting hurt. Now I’d guess it’s around 25 percent.

Kenyon Martin not sure Nuggets have improved

Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports:

Kenyon Martin not sure Nuggets have improved

Kenyon Martin, like his coach, is wondering what will happen with Melo. He’s a friend of Melo’s, but said he hasn’t talked with him recently.

“He’s got a lot of people in his ear already,” Martin said. “But I understand what he’s doing and what he’s going through. I’ve been there. I turned down $66 million in New Jersey and everybody thought I was crazy. . . . My thing is, everybody is rushing this man to sign the extension. Why are they rushing him? He has until July to sign the thing, so why rush? The money will still be on the table.”

Asked about Anthony’s mind-set, Martin said the uncertainty surrounding the franchise has to be on his mind.

“Personally, my thinking is — I can’t see where we got better this summer. Al (Harrington, a free-agent signing) is cool, Al’s my man, but I can’t see how we got better. You know, I’m going to be out and (Andersen) is going to be out (to start the season), so did we get better? I can’t say that we did.”

With his expiring contract, Martin said he wouldn’t be surprised to get traded but expects to play the season out.

“I’ve got one more year, so we’ll go from there,” he said.


Apr. 25, 2010 - Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA - epa02132055 Denver Nugget's Kenyon Martin makes a gesture after missing a free throw in a game against the Utah Jazz's in the second half of their Western Conference first round playoff game at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 25 April 2010. The Jazz beat the Nuggets 117-106 to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

Two advance scouts pursue pay disputes with Clippers

Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Two advance scouts for the Clippers have been locked in a pay dispute with the team.

Jerry Holloway, employed since the 2003-04 season, alleged the Clippers quit paying him this spring and breached his contract. Documents filed June 4 in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County said the Clippers owed Holloway $22,920 in unpaid salary.

After the suit was filed, the Clippers settled with Holloway for $20,000, a source familiar with the situation said. Court papers said Holloway asked for nearly $36,000, which included the unpaid wages, liquidated damages and legal fees.

Another scout, Scott Wissel, alleges he is owed slightly less than Holloway. Wissel, in an interview, said he is considering his legal options.

The Clippers contend the two scouts were “at-will” employees and did not have written contracts.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This owner is really setting himself apart from the rest, in a bad way. No other owner has consistently gotten into disputes of this nature so often.

Mavericks re-sign Tim Thomas

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have re-signed free agent forward Tim Thomas. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Thomas (6-10, 230), a 13-year veteran, was the seventh overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and has played with seven teams during his career (Philadelphia, Milwaukee, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, L.A. Clippers and Dallas), including two stints with both New York and Chicago. In 824 career games, he holds averages of 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, while shooting .437 from the field, .369 from behind-the-arc and .758 from the foul line.

In 2009-10, Thomas played in 18 games with Dallas (starting once) and averaged 7.5 points and 2.3 rebounds.  He missed the first 11 games of the season due to right knee surgery and 41 games due to personal reasons.

The Patterson, N.J., native has seen action in seven different Playoff runs (55 games). Thomas’ postseason averages show an increase in every major category over his career regular season numbers with averages of 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting .468 from the field, .436 from three-point range and .772 from the foul line.

Thomas was a standout at Villanova University where he played for one season before making himself eligible for the NBA Draft. In his only season as a Wildcat, Thomas averaged 16.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. He was named The Sporting News Freshman of the Year and Big East Rookie of the Year.

Al Harrington talks to InsideHoops

Forward Al Harrington has been around the block and now finds himself in a good situation with the Denver Nuggets.

Assuming that Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin are around to start at the two forward spots, Harrington can back either guy up and be a big part of the team.

InsideHoops.com met with Harrington and talked about his situation. Harrington names the team that also really wanted him, and his goal of a longer-than-usual NBA career.

Read: Al Harrington interview.

Anderson Varejao OK after ankle sprain

The AP reports:

Anderson Varejao OK after ankle sprain

Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao is not expected to miss any time after spraining his right ankle while playing in an exhibition game for Brazil’s national team.

Varejao hurt his ankle in a collision during a game on Wednesday in Logrono, Spain. A spokeswoman for Brazil’s team said an MRI exam after the game was normal.

Nathan Jawai signs in Serbia

Nathan Jawai signs in Serbia

Serbian powerhouse team BC Partizan have confirmed on their website that Australian basketball star Nathan Jawai has signed a one-year deal with the club.

Jawai, a former player for the Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League, had just finished his second season in the American NBA.

At Partizan Jawai will replace fellow countryman and Australian Boomers World Championship team member Aleks Maric, who recently signed with Greek superpower club Panathinaikos.

BC Partizan are Serbia’s best team, and have won nine consecutive national titles.

Jawai played 39 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in season 2009/10, averaging 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He played six games for the Toronto Raptors in the 2008/09 season.

He also has appeared in the NBA Development League for Idaho Stampede and Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Jawai was originally drafted 41st overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2008, but was immediately dealt to the Toronto Raptors.

One year later, Jawai was traded again to Dallas in a four-team deal involving the Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic.  A few months later Jawai, who never appeared in a game for Dallas, was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.


ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Nathan Jawai of the Australian Boomers scores during game three of the International Series between Australia and Argentina at Brett Maher Court, The Dome on June 29, 2010 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.

WNBA: Chamique Holdsclaw out with torn Achilles tendon

San Antonio Silver Stars forward Chamique Holdsclaw suffered an injury during the Stars game at Minnesota on Sunday, Aug. 15; after further evaluation, an MRI revealed a torn right Achilles tendon.

Holdsclaw will miss the remainder of the 2010 season. She is expected to have surgery, but a date has not yet been set.

For the season, Holdsclaw was averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. It’s the lowest scoring average of her career.