Cnotes 2018 nba previews - news - notes - projections !

[StarDust Bum]

DeAndre Jordan joins Mavs with humor
September 21, 2018
By The Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) DeAndre Jordan took off his warmup jacket, tossed it aside and declared that his decision to join the Dallas Mavericks didn't mean he also would be playing for his favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Humor was the center's way of easing into all the questions about his infamous jilting of the Mavericks in free agency three years ago, when he agreed to play for Dallas and changed his mind before contracts could be signed.

When it was pointed out to him that folks in Dallas hadn't seen the fun-loving side of the native Texan before Mavericks media day Friday, Jordan did what he had done for most of his 15 minutes with reporters. He smiled.

''You haven't seen this side?'' Jordan asked, repeating the observation. ''You guys hated me the past three years so I probably wasn't very open in interviews. You know what I mean? I'm excited to get to know all of you guys.''

Jordan wanted to get one thing straight before agreeing again to sign with the Mavericks, this time after opting out of the final year of that four-year contract he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in the summer of 2015. He wanted to make sure coach Rick Carlisle and Dirk Nowitzki, among others, didn't have any hard feelings.

Well, Jordan was pretty sure he was cool with the 40-year-old German superstar who is about to set an NBA record by spending all 21 of his seasons with the same franchise.

''Dirk is an old man so he forgets a lot of stuff,'' Jordan said, sending a wave of laughter through the interview room. ''Like I said at the beginning, before I committed again I just wanted to make sure that we were OK and everything was positive. They said they forgot about all that and they were looking forward to the future.''

It wasn't necessarily forget for Nowitzki, who started at center the past couple of years and likely won't have a regular spot in the starting lineup for the first time since his rookie season of 1998-99. But it was definitely forgive - long before Jordan actually followed follow through on his plan to be Nowitzki's teammate.

''We've been over that a long, long time ago,'' Nowitzki said. ''It wasn't only about basketball. He made some other decisions about what was best for him. We're in no position to judge anybody. Everybody in a free agent situation has to make a decision that's best for himself first. And that's what he did.''

Besides, Nowitzki gets to see that other side of Jordan now, too.

''He's got a crazy personality,'' Nowitzki said. ''He's fun to be around. He enjoys life and he'll be a great addition to our team. That's off the court. I think on the court he's going to be pretty great, some of the defensive stuff he's going to wipe out.''

Jordan is one of the NBA's best rebounders, finishing in the top three each of the past five seasons. Although his shot-blocking numbers have dropped off the past two seasons, the 30-year-old is still considered one of the best rim protectors.

Those are a couple of reasons Carlisle didn't even have to forgive the 6-foot-11 Jordan when the exploratory phone call came.

''I said, `Hey, I've been waiting for this phone call for three years. You kidding me?''' Carlisle said. ''And so we're thrilled to have him here. Our guys love him. And he's going to be a big asset for us.''

Harrison Barnes was a defending NBA champion with Golden State when Jordan jilted the Mavericks. But the team's leading scorer the past two seasons still got caught up in the story a year later through a photo that was tweeted when Barnes signed the Mavericks immediately after the moratorium ended.

In it, Barnes is handcuffed to president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, standing alongside Carlisle and Nelson's top assistant, former player Michael Finley. All four of them are smiling, and yes, Barnes played along.

It was a final nod to the emoji-driven drama that included Blake Griffin and Clippers coach Doc Rivers holing up with Jordan in his Houston home while Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tried to contact the former Texas A&M standout. Griffin and Rivers didn't leave until Jordan had signed.

''I never thought all of us would be on the same team this many years later,'' Barnes said. ''I was like, `That is nuts.' It was crazy, but everything happens for a reason.''

The Mavericks have been telling themselves that a lot, through their first consecutive losing records in nearly 20 years after yet another first-round playoff exit the season after Jordan stayed in LA.

Dallas hasn't won a postseason series since winning its only championship in 2011. But with Jordan joining a pair of top-10 draft picks in Dennis Smith Jr. and rookie Luka Doncic, the Mavericks believe the franchise's fortunes may finally be turning.

Jordan is hopeful fans who booed him incessantly all five times he came to Dallas after the decision will come around as well.

''I don't think I would have changed what happened,'' Jordan said. ''I think I would have changed the way that it was handled. Because I don't regret my decision staying with the Clippers. I'm excited about this new chapter. I don't really think about it as much as I used to when I was younger anymore.'

[StarDust Bum]

10 NBA stories worth noting for 2018
September 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) Training camps for most NBA teams open Tuesday, and with the season fast approaching, here's 10 items of note as the league heads into the 2018-19 campaign:

JIMMY BUTLER

As media days were ending Monday, Jimmy Butler was still with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's likely temporary. The first big saga of the 2018-19 season is Butler and his trade request. ''Our job is to seek out the best opportunity for us,'' Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''If something's good for us, then we're interested in doing it. If not, we're ready to move forward the other way.'' Several teams - including Miami, Cleveland, Brooklyn - have interest, as would be expected when talking about a four-time All-Star.

GOLDEN STATE

The Warriors have won three of the last four NBA titles and added DeMarcus Cousins over the summer, making a great roster even greater. But Cousins, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and more could all be free agents next July 1, meaning Golden State may be changing more than its address (the Warriors are moving into a new arena in 2019) after this season. ''The idea is to really focus on how lucky we are to be here together in this era, this time and place,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''We're well aware it's not going to last forever.''

THE EAST

For the first time since 2010, the Eastern Conference team in the NBA Finals will not be led by LeBron James - since he's now with the Los Angeles Lakers. So while Boston, Toronto and Philadelphia are clearly good, the East race is as open as it has been in a decade. James helped Miami win the East from 2011 through 2014, and Cleveland in each of the last four seasons. ''A `LeBron-less East.' That's a good way to put it,'' Washington coach Scott Brooks said. ''He's gone. He got a lot of players cut, traded, coaches fired.''

VINCE CARTER

Carter is now with Atlanta, his eighth NBA team. He has an Olympic gold medal from 2000, but no NBA championship yet - though instead of ring-chasing in a season where he's turning 42, Carter decided to join a young team in Atlanta and simultaneously be a player and a mentor. ''I'm trying to wring the towel all the way out,'' Carter said. The Hawks might not have a great chance at the playoffs this season, but if they get there and Carter plays, he would become the third-oldest player to appear in a postseason game.

STREAKING SPURS

San Antonio has been to the playoffs in each of the last 21 seasons. The NBA record is 22 straight, set by Philadelphia from 1950 through 1971. If the Spurs get there this season, it'll be the first time they do so without any of their Big Three - Tim Duncan (retired two years ago), Manu Ginobili (retired this summer) or Tony Parker (now in Charlotte) - on the roster. ''It's a great opportunity for a new challenge,'' said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who took Ginobili along for San Antonio's preseason coaching retreat last week and picked his brain on strategy for the coming season.

MVP WATCH

There are seven active MVPs in the NBA right now - LeBron James has won it four times, Stephen Curry twice, and Dirk Nowitzki, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and reigning MVP James Harden all have claimed the award once. All seven now play in the Western Conference, and Harden plans to do his part to keep the trophy on that side of the league. ''I've got to take it to another level,'' the Houston star said. ''Every single year, I've got to improve and make sure that I'm a leader.''

WELCOME, ROOKIES

No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton goes into his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns with a rookie (at least, an NBA rookie) coach in Igor Kokoskov. Suns guard Devin Booker raves about what he's already learned from Kokoskov, and Ayton is duly impressed. ''Coach Igor is a smart coach, a very smart coach,'' the Suns' new center said. ''He's all about fundamentals and really taking your time in the post, taking care of your body and really all about conditioning, as well and studying the game.''

WAITING GAME

Memphis veteran Omri Casspi enters this season with a distinction nobody wants - no player in the NBA right now has been in more regular-season games without playing in a single playoff contest. Casspi has been in 552 games, none of them of the postseason variety, and that makes his playoff drought 17 games longer than Golden State's DeMarcus Cousins. But Casspi has made a career out of being patient; the first Israeli to play in the NBA remembers a time when few people thought he'd ever reach the league. ''If you believe in yourself,'' Casspi said, ''good things will happen.''

LEBRON'S SALARY

It's hard to find an NBA all-time list of anything where the Lakers' LeBron James isn't one of the leaders, and that includes earnings. James will pass Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki and climb to No. 4 on the league's career salary list this season, the $35.5 million he'll be getting in his first season with Los Angeles pushing him to about $270 million for his 16 seasons. He's on pace to pass Shaquille O'Neal for the No. 3 spot in the 2019-20 season, and would then pass Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett for the No. 1 all-time spot in 2020-21.

LAST DANCES

This will be the 21st and possibly final season for Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, and two guys he faced in the 2006 and 2011 NBA Finals against Miami are among those who are going into a season for the last time. Dwyane Wade said earlier this month this is his ''last dance,'' and Heat forward Udonis Haslem made the announcement Monday that his 16th season is his finale.

[StarDust Bum]

DeMarcus Cousins back on the court
September 24, 2018
By The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) DeMarcus Cousins has progressed in his recovery from surgery for a torn left Achilles tendon and is doing light shooting and other skill work on the court and will be able to do some noncontact work as the Warriors' training camp begins.

Golden State general manager Bob Myers said anyone who thinks the two-time defending champions plan to ''save DeMarcus for the playoffs, I think that's inaccurate, when he can play he'll play.''

That doesn't mean Cousins will be pushed to return too soon. He was re-examined last week by Dr. Richard Ferkel, the surgeon who performed his procedure, and all was positive. Myers said Cousins would be evaluated again in four weeks.

''We won't rush him but we also won't hold him back,'' Myers said at Monday's media day.

Cousins injured his Achilles in late January and it prematurely ended his season with the Pelicans. Before the injury, Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 48 games.

He said he's encouraged to be running full-court, playing 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 - and Cousins said he will be a new player when he returns, ''I'm seriously like a mad man right now.''

''It's been hard. I would be lying if I told you anything different. It's been an absolute grind,'' Cousins said of his recovery. ''It's taken a lot of dedication, a lot of commitment. ... It's probably one of the hardest things physically and mentally I've been through in my career so far.''

When Boogie is back, Golden State will have five 2018 All-Stars in coach Steve Kerr's starting lineup.

''Then you get to see DeMarcus Cousins, once he's healthy. How does he fit into the team? And how does the team grow as a whole?'' Kerr said. ''I think it will be fun as a coach and for fans. And by the end of the season we'll be clicking and ready to roll in the playoffs.''

Jordan Bell would like to see the fiery Cousins, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green get into it. Bell figures a little healthy scrapping on the practice floor might be good fuel for Golden State as it goes for a third straight title after winning three of the past four championships.

''I hope they fight this year, I would love ... I just want to see the fades go up, that's all I want to see is KD and him catching a friendly one, him and Draymond catching one,'' Bell said. ''Everybody just catch a friendly one, I want to record it. Just to make sure everybody's good, no hostility. I don't know when, I just hope it happens. I'm very excited about that. I'm going to be right there in front commentating, egging, gas `em, do all that.''

Green would much prefer that Bell take on Boogie.

''He's a young guy. He should be the one wanting to fight,'' Green said. ''I'm getting old, so he can have that.''

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Warriors would be the first team since Boston in 1975-76 to play five All-Stars from the previous season at the same time. That group was Jo Jo White, Charlie Scott, Dave Cowens, Paul Silas and John Havlicek.

The 28-year-old Cousins' imposing presence will mean so much.

''Obviously DeMarcus is one of the most talented players in our league. Most people see, `Oh, man, DeMarcus went to the Warriors, they won,' and it ain't that easy,'' Green said. ''Like that's 26 points a game you're working into the lineup. It's tough. But that's the fun part. The fun part is making it work. I think back to when KD came here, everybody, `Oh, man, they've got Kevin Durant, they won 73 games, it's over.' And honestly the fun part wasn't winning the championship. The fun part was during the year figuring that out, how we was going to make that work. And I'm looking forward to the same thing with DeMarcus.''

NOTES: Warriors coaching and front office promotions include adding Kerr's son, Nick, to the video staff after he spent last season with the Spurs. Bruce Fraser - Stephen Curry's regular shooting guru - is now an assistant coach and Chris DeMarco is an assistant coach and director of player development. ''He's a catalyst with who we are as a team and our identity,'' Curry said of Fraser. ''He does way more than quote-un-quote coach.'' ... Golden State signed free agent G Tyler Ulis. ... Myers said there have been talks with G Patrick McCaw's representatives and ''conversations have been cordial,'' the GM said. ''We're going to keep talking and hopefully we'll reach a resolution that works for him and us.''

[StarDust Bum]

LeBron captivates crowd in L.A. debut
October 1, 2018
By The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) LeBron James rubbed his hands in chalk powder at the scorer's table, yelled ''Yes!'' to ecstatic fans in the first few rows and the Los Angeles Lakers' new era was underway.

Playing in the same arena where Magic Johnson made his regular-season debut for Los Angeles 39 years ago, James captivated the crowd from the start of the Lakers' exhibition opener Sunday night, a 124-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

The opening tip came James' way and he tapped it to fellow newcomer Rajon Rondo, who threw an alley-oop pass to JaVale McGee for the game's first score.

James missed his first shot, a turnaround fadeaway, but then made a no-look bounce pass from about 27 feet out to Brandon Ingram for a dunk. A minute later, James hit a long 3-pointer.

He finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in just more than 15 minutes.

''It was great to get back on the floor and then just start a new journey for myself and hear the Lakers fans that we have here in San Diego,'' said James, who was married here in 2013. ''It was great feeling to go out there and hear the roar from the fans here. I very much appreciate it.''

The three-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP and 14-time All-Star said he played a little more than expected, ''and I felt pretty good.''

Seeing James in a Lakers uniform for the first time ''was awesome,'' said coach Luke Walton, who grew up in San Diego. ''When you're coaching the Lakers and you look out and see LeBron wearing your team's colors, it' a pretty good feeling.''

While the Lakers have a lot to work on, fans hope James' arrival will turn things around after the worst half-decade in the franchise's lengthy history.

He left the Cleveland Cavaliers for a four-year, $153.3 million free-agent deal with the Lakers.

''It always feels different for me anytime you change uniforms,'' he said. ''It felt different when I changed from wearing a St. Vincent-St. Mary jersey to wearing a Cavs jersey from a Cavs jersey to a Heat jersey, back to a Cavs jersey and now being a Laker. It definitely feels different and takes a little bit of time getting used to.''

He, Rondo and fellow veterans McGee, Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley signed to team with the Lakers' talented young core.

James was the focus on and off the court Sunday night.

He was cheered from the minute he ran onto the court with his new teammates for warmups. He played the first eight minutes before being subbed out.

When he came back in midway through the second quarter, he was greeted by a roar.

As he stood near the scorer's table during a video review, a fan yelled: ''LeBron, we love you!'' and the superstar responded with a hang-loose sign.

Walton said James and Rondo ''were great. Their commitment to pushing it, defensively. I thought the first group as a whole played really well, to start. Both groups were fouling way too much. They hit 30-some free throws. It's going to be tough to win a game like that. But there's some new rules we have to get adjusted to from this summer. The first group I thought played really well, obviously being led by the two of them out there.''

Asked before the game what stands out about James, Walton said, ''His intelligence. He sees everything. He knows even before drills. He knows where he's going. His work ethic. He's out there pre-practice with the guys, post-practice with the guys. Taking care of his body in the weight room.

''He's the ultimate professional.''

The Lakers' regular-season opener is Oct. 18 at Portland. Their home opener is two nights later against Houston.

This was another big night for an L.A. basketball team at San Diego's sports arena.

In 1975, John Wooden coached his final game here, leading UCLA to its 10th NCAA title in 12 seasons. In 1979, Johnson made his NBA debut when Los Angeles beat the then-San Diego Clippers in the season opener. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a buzzer-beating sky hook, Johnson hugged the center like they'd just won the championship. Seven months later, they did win the NBA title.

Johnson is now the Lakers' president of basketball operations and James was the prized acquisition of an offseason roster revamp.

As a kid, Walton used to watch his father, Bill, play for the Clippers, although the Hall of Famer's years in his hometown were largely marred by injuries.

[StarDust Bum]

Rockets hope Paul can escape bad luck
September 28, 2018
By The Associated Press

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said this week that his team was a ''hamstring'' away from the Western Conference title last season.

The hamstring he was referring to was Chris Paul's, with the injury the latest setback for the point guard whose illustrious career at times has seemed cursed.

After signing Paul to a four-year, $160 million extension in the offseason, the Rockets hope the bad luck ends this year and he'll help them to their first title since 1995.

''Chris deserves a championship,'' Fertitta said. ''It is time. But luck is luck and it just takes a little luck in sports. You have to set yourself up to be one of the best and then you need a few things to fall into place.''

The Rockets led the Warriors 3-2 in the conference finals last season before Paul's season ended with a hamstring injury in Game 5. Golden State won the next two games to advance to the Finals and go on to win the title.

Paul scoffed at the notion that his ill-timed hamstring injury was the worst thing that's happened to him.

''If that's the toughest thing, then I'm living a real good life,'' he said. ''But it's definitely up there as far as basketball goes, as far as not being able to influence the outcome. If that doesn't do something to you then you're in the wrong profession.''

But that disappointing end to Paul's first season in Houston was far from the first time things have gone awry at the worst times for the nine-time All-Star. He was dogged for years about his inability to escape the second round of the playoffs after making nine trips to the postseason without ever reaching the conference finals before finally breaking through with the Rockets last season.

Paul looked sure to advance in 2015 when he and the Clippers were up 3-1 over the Rockets in the conference semifinals. But they were routed in Game 5 before squandering a 19-point second-half lead in a loss at home in Game 6 and being eliminated in Houston in Game 7.

No one with the Rockets would go as far as to say that Paul might be cursed, but everyone agreed that he's had more than his share of bad luck. Coach Mike D'Antoni feels for Paul. But this isn't the first time he's worked with a superstar point guard with problems such as these.

D'Antoni coached Steve Nash for four seasons on those great teams in Phoenix that were never able to win a title. Nash was named MVP twice, but finished an 18-year career without a ring.

''(Paul's) had a remarkable career, so I don't know how bad of luck it is,'' D'Antoni said. ''Just sometimes at the end of a season it doesn't quite work out. Steve Nash was that way where he had just weird stuff happen. It happens.''

''But you keep knocking on the door and eventually it will (open),'' D'Antoni continued.

So, does Paul spend a lot of time sitting around thinking about what might have been if he'd been healthy for those last two games last season?

''It sounds crazy but unfortunately I've had a lot of different adversities and challenges and whatnot,'' he said. ''And I know it sounds cliche, but it only made me stronger mentally and everything like that. So for me ... I don't even think about it now.''

As the owner of Golden Nugget casinos across the country, Fertitta knows a thing or two about luck. He also knows about heartbreak as a sports fan after cheering on the Houston Oilers for years only to see them fall short of winning a title again and again before leaving for Tennessee.

''The Oilers kept trying to kick the door down and it never happened,'' he said wistfully.

That doesn't mean he isn't optimistic that it's time for the tide to turn for Paul, who is entering his 14th NBA season. But Paul doesn't think of it that way. Of course, his goal is to win a title and put his years of coming up short behind him. He just doesn't see it as him being due for some good fortune.

''Whatever's going to happen is going to happen and if that's the bad luck that I've had there's some people who have had a lot worse luck than I've had,'' he said. ''So, for me ... whatever happens you move on and you go to the next thing.''

[StarDust Bum]

Wade, Haslem get big cheers from fans
September 29, 2018
By The Associated Press

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) Dwyane Wade's first touch of the game was a lob to set up a dunk. His first shot was a corner 3-pointer. And his first trip into the lane resulted in getting his shot swatted away.

All three of those plays left him smiling.

Wade's 16th and final season - his ''last dance,'' as he calls it - got off to an unofficial start Saturday, when the Miami Heat broke training camp at Florida Atlantic University with their annual scrimmage. His stats, as if they even mattered: eight points on 2 for 7 shooting, with three assists and a steal in 23 minutes.

''It was cool,'' Wade said. ''We've been working hard in practice, obviously. But to be out here today in front of some fans, getting to play in a different energy, you could see it in everybody. Guys were moving quicker. Guys were into it.''

Wade got the big cheer at the start, and his fellow 16-year veteran got the biggest cheer at the end: The final play of the scrimmage was Udonis Haslem hitting a game-winning jumper, one that gave his team a 15-13 win in the final 10-minute period.

''It's always fun, man,'' Haslem said after the final shot, a play drawn up by Justise Winslow in a time-out with about 3 seconds remaining. ''It's always enjoyable to win a game. I still take it seriously. I still play the game at a certain level and compete, so when you have an opportunity you want to make good.''

The ''Red, White and Pink Game'' is an annual Heat tribute to breast cancer survivors, two of whom were honored at Saturday's game. Jeanine Werner is a fifth-grade teacher and a two-year survivor, and Michelle Rohloff is a former teacher and a three-year survivor - both having beaten triple negative breast cancer.

''It's very close to us,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''We want all the survivors to know we're right there with them on this fight and we're going to continue to do more each year.''

There was a serious cause, even if the game wasn't exactly played with playoff intensity.

There were plenty of moments of real up-and-down play and blowing off steam, with a four-minute span of Winslow's third quarter perhaps the best illustration of both. He and Bam Adebayo took part in a midcourt danceoff during a time-out, and not long afterward Winslow got called for a technical after throwing the ball at a basket stanchion.

Scores were reset after every quarter, and players bounced between teams. Derrick Jones Jr. led all scorers with 21 points, Adebayo finished with 17 and Duncan Robinson scored 16.

''It's great to be back,'' Wade said.

The game ended five days of work by the Heat at FAU. Wayne Ellington didn't play because of ankle soreness, Josh Richardson departed mid-game with what was described as a left thigh contusion. Dion Waiters (ankle) and James Johnson (sports hernia) remain sidelined to continue rehabbing injuries from last season.