ESPN NBA Insider - 7/28/04 (티맥 & 제임스)

[삭2009]

제가 NBA게시판에 제임스가 6-10에 250이라고 써났는데 어디까지나 포포비치 눈에 그렇게 보였다는 것이니깐 그수치를 절대적으로 신뢰하라고는 말하고 싶지 않습니다.^^;;; 

다만 확실한건 아래 사진에도 나왔듯이 신장에서는 맥이랑 같으면 같았지 절대 작지는 않을것이며 발목두께에서 알수있듯이 체격은 확실히 제임스가 더 좋다것일겁니다. 

(그나저나 제임스의 오른쪽 사람은 엘튼 브랜드인가요?) 

Okafor jeopardizing fresh start
By Terry Brown

NBA Insider

Wednesday, July 28
Updated: July 28
11:09 AM ET


The good news is that power forward Emeka Okafor was not seriously injured after twisting his ankle in Monday's practice with Team USA while preparing for the Athens Olympics.

The bad news, however, is that the Charlotte Bobcats may not know that X-rays came back negative and Okafor most likely will continue to play.

"We are somewhat concerned because all that basketball causes a lot of wear and tear and prevents you from being fresh at the start of the season," Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said after learning of Okafor's selection to the team in June. "We have many concerns that we want to address."



OkaforOkafor signed a $10 million contract with the Bobcats and is expected to be the cornerstone of the expansion franchise.
But he wouldn't be the first player to participate in additional summer activities and have them affect his performance during the NBA's regular season. While no one directly blames last year's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico, the fact remains that several players on that squad did experience subpar seasons directly following it.

That tournament lasted from Aug. 20 to Aug. 31 and was played in Puerto Rico as Team USA went 10-0 in competition with an average margin of victory of 30.9 points.

One loss, however, may have been rookie Nick Collison. He was the only college player selected for the squad, and after playing in eight of those games, he tore up both of his shoulders in late September and ended up missing the entire 2004 NBA season after having surgery.

Okafor is the only college player selected for this squad that has three holdovers from the team that went to Puerto Rico.

Tim Duncan led that team in scoring and rebounding then returned to play for the Spurs a few months later. But after playing in 81 games in 2003 and averaging 23.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game on 51 percent shooting while leading San Antonio to an NBA title, Duncan averaged 22.3 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in 2004 as the Spurs lost in the Western Conference semifinals.

The statistical drop may have been minimal until one realizes that he played in only 68 games last year.

Allen Iverson also played in Puerto Rico and went from scoring 27.6 points per game on 41 percent shooting in 2003 to 26.4 points on 38 percent shooting in 2004. Even more revealing is that he played a full 82 games in 2003 but only 48 games in 2004.

The list goes on.

Jason Kidd, the team's starting point guard, went from 18.7 points on 41 percent shooting in 80 games in 2003 to 15.5 points on 38 percent shooting in 67 games in 2004. Ray Allen's number stayed relatively the same, but he played in only 56 games following the qualifying tournament after playing in 76 games the season before.

Tracy McGrady went from 32.1 points and 6.5 rebounds on 45 percent shooting in 74 games to 28 points and 6 rebounds on 41 percent shooting in 67 games.


Jermaine O'Neal was one of several stars who felt the effects of competing last summer.
Jermaine O'Neal saw statistical drops in scoring, rebounding and shooting percentage following his Puerto Rico experience and then limped through the Eastern Conference Finals after starting all 10 games in the summer, 78 games during the regular season and 16 games in the playoffs. Elton Brand played in Puerto Rico and then fractured his foot in the first game of the regular season.

But that doesn't mean that all of Team USA's members were hurt physically. Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin all went on to put up strong statistical numbers after Puerto Rico and play in a substantial amount of games. But at the end of the season, they were all either eliminated from the playoffs earlier than usual or didn't qualify at all.

Of course, there are several factors going into each of these player's 2004 performances, but the mental strain and fatigue may have been a factor.

Bibby's Kings were eliminated in the second round as he shot 38 percent from the field. Jefferson and Martin were also eliminated in the second round after the Nets made it to the NBA Finals the previous two seasons. Carter's Raptors won only 33 games despite the fact that he played in 73.

Kevin Garnett didn't play at all in Puerto Rico and he went on to win the 2004 MVP Award while pushing his team to the Western Conference Finals after it had never advanced out of the first round previously. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant didn't play and they made it to the Finals for the fourth time in five years. Ben Wallace and Rip Hamilton didn't play in Puerto Rico after being on previous national teams, but returned refreshed to Detroit and won the 2004 NBA Championship.

Now, these are all NBA veterans who know the pro game and have more developed bodies. Okafor, on the other hand, is scheduled to play his first NBA game in October with 81 to follow and a five-year contract ensuing.

In the course of eight months, Okafor will or will have already won an NCAA championship, become the second pick of the NBA draft, compete for Olympic Gold and carry the hopes and dreams of a new professional sports franchise on his already-sore back.

And not so coincidently, Collison is also expected to play his first NBA game in October.

========================================

Wednesday, July 28 Updated 8:26 AM EST


Malone might be headed to Miami

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Karl Malone

Lakers
Spurs
Heat

Jul. 28 - Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, says there is no news to report yet but the South Florida Sun-Sentinel ran a story in which Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale said the Mailman is headed for Miami. The story originally ran in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Manley admits that the Heat and Malone have had ongoing discussions. Heat general manager Randy Pfund doesn't deny his interest in Malone, but knows it may be awhile before Malone even decides to play again, much less for which team.
"Obviously Karl Malone is a name we have a lot of interest in," Pfund told the Palm Beach Post. "We're heavy at that spot, but Karl is special."

The Lakers are now offering $1.65 million to Malone, who has yet to say he would return at all after having offseason surgery on his knee and finger. The Spurs, meanwhile, have offered the future Hall of Famer $1.1 million.



WHO INTEREST THE SKINNY


Veteran small forward, guard Jul. 28 - The Heat are pursuing a power forward, most notably Karl Malone, but they're looking to add a veteran small forward and experienced point guard as well. According to the Palm Beach Post, Eric Williams and Bob Sura are among the players the Heat are targeting.
Williams, 32, spent last season with Cleveland and Boston, and his known for his defensive prowess. "He could be that person," Miami GM Randy Pfund said. "He's a good all-around team guy, a good defender and a winner."

At point guard, the Heat have Dwyane Wade and Keyon Dooling, but Pfund says the team needs more depth. Sura, 31, can play both guard spots and provide instant offense off the bench. Other guards the Heat could consider are Charlie Ward, Kenny Anderson, Brevin Knight and Lindsey Hunter.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jamal Crawford
Bulls
Bulls
Knicks
Jul. 28 - The much-publicized deal between the Knicks and the Bulls over Crawford has again fizzled. Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas flew all the way to Chicago on Tuesday to finalize the deal, but insisted on keeping Moochie Norris in the package instead of Dikembe Mutombo. The Bulls have long ago declined such a deal and Thomas returned to New York empty handed. The Arlington Daily Herald reports that even if a deal is not done that would pay Crawford $42.8 million over six years in the sign-and-trade proposal, the Bulls are offering the restricted free agent $39 million over that same amount of time.


WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Kerry Kittles
Nets
Clippers
Blazers Jul. 28 - The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Clippers are in talks with the Nets about Kittles, who is in the last year of a contract that will pay him $10 million. The Nets have been trying to unload Kittles, but were unable to complete a deal with the Blazers that would have allowed them to spend more money on Kenyon Martin. Since then, the team has been is a cost-cutting mode and may trade the shooting guard to the Clippers for cheap. Originally, the Nets had been asking for power forward Chris Wilcox in exchange, but they may be lowering their demands. The Clippers, meanwhile, are also on the clock to match the Suns' offer to shooting guard Quentin Richardson.

[LeonPowe]

오... 오클랜드의 레지잭슨져지가 저렇게 멋있게 보인다니!!+_+

[휴통 in NYK]

오카포 같은데요;