Archives › Kurt Helin
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Josh Howard creates a nice Web site, that a “respected leader” does not make
Oct 19, 2010, 5:29 PM EDT
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I get Wizards owner Ted Leonsis is about second chances. Second chances for a struggling franchise, second chances for Gilbert Arenas. We need that in sports and just in life — people screw up but that is different than being a screw up. Josh Howard is getting a second chance. A chance to play after…
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Quote of the day: Mark Jackson thinks Reggie Miller likes all the technicals
Oct 19, 2010, 4:26 PM EDT
“If I was a guy like Reggie Miller I’d love the rule because it would add three or four points a night to my scoring total from technical fouls.” —ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, during a conference call Tuesday, where both he and fellow analyst Jeff Van Gundy said they do not like the new enforcement…
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Last season: 25-57, in a year that was really all about figuring out that Tyreke Evans is a star you can anchor a team around. He is. And they found a nice young core to go around him. Head Coach: Paul Westphal, who did a pretty good job trying to build young team and getting…
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The new Adidas commercial series with Ken Jeong as “mogul and cheetah owner Slim Chin” are oddly amusing. This is the second one (Dwight Howard was first) and it works for Derrick Rose — and adiZero Rose kicks.
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Everyone had just assumed that Ronnie Brewer would be the starting two guard in Chicago this season. Then Brewer battled a hamstring injury while Keith Bogans has gone out, started all six games in the preseason and has knocked down 52.9 percent of his threes (9 of 17). Suddenly everyone is thinking Bogans may be…
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NBA bans, helps sales of shoe that may (or may not) help you jump higher
Oct 19, 2010, 1:05 PM EDT
David Stern is a marketing wizard, and he just came up with the slogan that will sell a lot of Athletic Propulsion Labs’ Concept 1 shoe: Banned by the NBA. The league met last month with executives from then this week sent notice to APL saying this, according to Business Wire (via Yahoo): “Under league…
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Cavaliers starting five basically set, with Hickson beating out Jamison
Oct 19, 2010, 12:45 PM EDT
Things are going to look a lot different in Cleveland. No LeBron James, a lot less isolation in the offense, them getting out and running rather than being one of the slowest teams in the NBA. More losses, too. The starting lineup looks basically set, according to the Akron Beacon Journal: Mo Williams at the…
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Sixers coach Doug Collins to miss game with concussion symptoms
Oct 19, 2010, 12:07 PM EDT
Plenty of talk about concussions in sports these days, particularly in Philadelphia. Although not really so much in the NBA. And not with coaches. But we have our first in that department now — Philadelphia’s Doug Collins will not coach tonight’s Sixers preseason game as he stays home to rest concussion symptoms, a recurrence of…
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If you have the money to make a jewel encrusted pendant of your basketball jersey… well, maybe Biggie Smalls was right about money. LeBron James’ business manager Maverick Carter is now being sued by VaNeisha Robinson, who is charging false imprisonment, according to TMZ.com (via FanHouse). The fact that this is on TMZ next to…
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Timberwolves, Grizzlies hope preseason success carries over to games that matter
Oct 19, 2010, 10:24 AM EDT
Preseason games are not irrelevant. A team’s record in them can have some correlation to the regular season. Not so much with the elite teams — nobody thinks Boston is any better at 6-1 in the preseason, nobody is reading much into the Lakers being 2-3. Come deep in the playoffs those teams will still…
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Last season, as the point guard in Don Nelson’s free-flowing offense, Stephen Curry had nearly a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. So far this preseason in the smarter Keith Smart offense that is a 1:1 ratio. As in 28 assists and 28 turnovers. Not good. Last season Curry’s turnover rate of 16.5 percent was too…
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New CBA, their own play leaves much of 2007 draft class hanging without extensions
Oct 19, 2010, 8:44 AM EDT
Kevin Durant got his, because he is a value at any price. Joakim Noah got his because he is a cornerstone of what is being built in Chicago. Al Horford may get one because, well, if you’re going to pay Joe Johnson that ridiculous money you better have something left over for Horford. But that…
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Troy Murphy is expected to practice with team by this weekend. When he plays… who knows?
Oct 19, 2010, 8:17 AM EDT
If you’re a Nets fan who has watched the erratic Derrick Favors this preseason, you realize you need a healthy Troy Murphy. Favors needs to be brought a long slowly, throwing him to the wolves this season does not move the Nets toward the playoffs. So on that front, good news from the Nets today.…
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In case you were at all worried, LeBron James looks just fine
Oct 19, 2010, 1:11 AM EDT
The Miami Heat have been racking up injuries this preseason like an NFL team so far, including LeBron James missing some time with a tight hamstring. If you were worried that hamstring was going to linger, worry no more — James moved well, had his jumper going and had 33 points on 10 of 17.…
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Pacers do the expected, pick up third-year options on Collison, Hansbrough
Oct 18, 2010, 11:21 PM EDT
The Pacers are counting on Darren Collison and Tyler Hansbrough to be part of the future in Indiana, so picking up the third year of their rookie contracts are no brainers. That’s just what the Pacers officially did Monday, meaning both players will be part of the team through the end of the 2011-12 season.…
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Fabricio Oberto talking with Portland, Turkish club about deal
Oct 18, 2010, 8:09 PM EDT
Fabricio Oberto is a man who can get things done. That despite being a little to slow, not great on the boards and not quite good enough a shot. He plays a smart game — which is why he was a starter for the 2007 title-winning Spurs, his interior passing was a great fit with…
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Friday night, Danny Granger sprained his ankle, keeping him out until the start to the season and maybe slowing him at the start of said season. But he’s a good teammate, still hanging with his team while his ankle recovers. Well, he was going to. Until he got pulled over on his way to the…
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Magic Johnson sells his shares of the Lakers, looks to purchase another team
Oct 18, 2010, 4:15 PM EDT
Magic Johnson has nothing to do with the Lakers. Well, not exactly, he will forever be a Laker in everyone’s minds, forever wearing the “Forum blue and gold” in the hearts of Lakers fans. But now he has no actual ties to the team Magic Johnson is selling his shares of the Lakers. “After heavy…
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Doc Rivers misses practice for minor throat surgery, will return soon
Oct 18, 2010, 2:55 PM EDT
Doc Rivers is day-to-day. The official Celtics twitter account noted that Rivers missed Monday’s Celtics practice to have a minor throat operation on Sunday. That is to relieve pressure on his vocal chords, according to Chris Mannix at Sports Illustrated. Lawrence Frank ran the practice for the Celtics. Rivers could be back at practice as…
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New television show most often pitched at Lakers games this season? A reality program called “Lakers’ Wives” because now you can throw R&B singer Monica into the mix. Well, soon anyway, but Monica and Shannon Brown are engaged. She tweeted over the weekend a picture of her new ring (and Prince-like hair), thanking her supporters…
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This year the Spurs are going to run… no, Popovich means it this time. Really.
Oct 18, 2010, 2:00 PM EDT
The Spurs were not the slowest team in the NBA last season — actually they were 19th, tied with the Bucks. They were faster than the Celtics, Cavaliers, Haws and the dead-last Blazers. It just never feels like it. They feel slow, methodical. This year is going to be different. Sure, 29 other coaches said…
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Last season: 54-28, as they returned to the style that the roster was built for — seven seconds or less. Well, really, it was more like 12 seconds or less as they utilized a lot of secondary options in the transition and drag screens, but the philosophy was the same. The rode that style to…
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They call him JSmoove for a reason. Still, two images of this Josh Smith commercial for Dick’s Sporting Goods are disturbing. First — and maybe it’s just me — him gliding through the closet with a silly grin on his face nodding reminded me of “The Gentlemen” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Second — dude…
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Monty Williams trying to cut back Chris Paul’s minutes a little
Oct 18, 2010, 11:47 AM EDT
When Chris Paul returned from injury last season, he averaged 38 minutes per game. He has played at least 36 minutes a game every year he has been in the league. New Hornets coach Monty Williams wants to cut that back to below 35 minutes a game, resting his star a little bit and saving…
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Blake Griffin misses game with sprained ankle… don’t go there. This is different.
Oct 18, 2010, 11:17 AM EDT
Blake Griffin sat out the Clippers preseason game Sunday night with a sprained ankle and… Don’t go there. Just don’t. This is a tweak of the ankle, not some major knee issue, Clippers coach Vinny del Negro told the LA Times. “To be honest with you, I was kind of thinking about giving him the…
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Video: Heat finish off Bulls, James 'has no energy left'
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Video: Health woes make Heat vulnerable
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Video: Good news for Sacramento, Kings stay
