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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:31:15 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135408&format=textDoc Rivers plenty thankful Celtics coach gives praise By Steve Bulpett | Friday, November 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matthew West It wasn’t quite on the level of Superman and a phone booth, but some time very late Wednesday night, Doc Rivers slipped into a chartered jet and emerged in Orlando, Fla., as Family Man. The coach, who chose not to uproot his loved ones when he joined the Celtics [team stats], returned home for Thanksgiving. At a time when people pause to reflect on the truly important things in life, the C’s coach was focused after Wednesday’s win over Golden State on a good day with his relatives. But in a basketball sense, he of course has much for which to be thankful, as well. Here, in Rivers’ words - and in no particular order - are the hoop things that make him happy: “I’m thankful for our team’s health, No. 1. We’re relatively healthy, and that’s obviously very important. You see what injuries can do to teams, and we’re just happy we’ve been able to avoid that so far.” “I’m thankful that I have a group of guys with character. They put their egos aside every night, every practice, and they do the work. I’m thankful that I’ve got a good group of guys to coach and who want to be coached. You can have the greatest talent in the world, but if they’re not willing to work together, you’re not going to win like you should.” I’m thankful for Danny (Ainge, president of basketball operations) probably more than anybody because he believed in me in times when it was very tough to, when we were struggling. That took a lot on his part, and it’s because of him that I was able to be here when all those tough years started to pay off.” “I’m thankful for Paul (Pierce) because Paul hung in there with our organization, he hung in there with the city and he hung in there with me. He knew what we were all going through. You know, we had many late-night conversations, and I thought his perseverance was as good as anybody. Most players in the league would have asked to be traded. Paul never did.” “I’m thankful for Kevin (Garnett) because of his energy. That’s in practice and on bus rides. I’m thankful that when I’m tired and watching film on airplanes and want to go to sleep, I can’t because Kevin is so loud he keeps me up. And that allows me to finish my work.” “I’m thankful to Ray (Allen) for wanting to fit in. I thought especially last year he had the toughest role of the Big Three, and he never complained. He just did his job. That says a lot about him, not only as a basketball player but as a person.” “I’m thankful to (Rajon) Rondo for letting us in. He’s a kid with great basketball knowledge that is still allowing us to impart knowledge and share knowledge. You could always see his talent, but now he’s taking that to another level because of the work he’s put in.” “I’m thankful for everyone else because they understand that they have a role on this team and they do it. We have a lot of guys who are capable of doing more than they do for us, but they understand what we need from them to win. That’s how a team gets successful. “When you have a guy like Perk (Kendrick Perkins [stats]), who’s willing to get inside and play that tough defense, it has an effect on everyone else. And the guys who come off the bench work so hard in practice and then they come in and give us what we need.” “And I’m thankful to the fans for sticking with us. We were getting great crowds who really supported us even when we weren’t winning. But I think they trusted that we were building something, and it was great to see them get rewarded, too, last season.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:33:55 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1135417&format=textAllen Iverson takes a holiday By Herald Wire Services | Friday, November 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP Pistons coach Michael Curry held practice on Thanksgiving because his newest player, Allen Iverson [stats], wasn’t part of the team during training camp and has had less than a month to get familiar with the system and develop chemistry with the rest of the players. “Some things you have to do,” Curry said, “to pay the price to get to where we need to be.” But Iverson skipped the session yesterday. And there will be consequences. Iverson will not start tonight when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Palace, and the coaches will decide during the game whether he plays at all. He also will be fined. Curry wouldn’t disclose the amount, but said it would be heavy. “I expected everybody to be here,” said Curry, who did not lash out and spoke in calm, even tones. “I’m surprised when guys are late. I’m surprised when they don’t show. It’s a pretty hefty fine to be late, or to miss.” No players spoke to the media yesterday. Magic 105, Wizards 90 - Dwight Howard had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu added 20 points and a season-high 10 rebounds to help visiting Orlando beat Washington. Orlando has won eight of its last nine games and six in a row on the road. Caron Butler scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half for Washington, and Antawn Jamison had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Howard had 14 points and nine rebounds in the first 8:45. JaVale McGee started at center for Washington, and he picked up two fouls in 2:16. Andray Blatche was the next to try to stop Howard, and he had two fouls in 1:47.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:34:56 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1135431&format=textKnicks and Stephon Marbury expected to part ways By Alan Hahn / Newsday | Friday, November 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP (File) Stephon Marbury has met the literal sense of the phrase "All Alone," which he infamously wrote on his sneakers in 2001 when he played for the Nets. That status is expected to be made official on Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The Knicks will practice without Marbury, and it is likely that he will be exiled with pay while the team mulls its options on how to part ways with him. After Marbury refused to play in Wednesday’s loss to the Pistons — the second time in six days he declined to play for a shorthanded team — he lost whatever shreds of empathy remained from his teammates. Quentin Richardson blasted him after the game, saying, "I don’t consider him a teammate." Chris Duhon, whom the Knicks brought in to specifically replace Marbury as the starting point guard, said the players are thinking only about those who want to play, not those who don’t. "If you’re a competitor, you’re always going to compete no matter what the situation is," Duhon said. "You like to have guys on your side that will do the same thing." This has mostly been a battle of wills between Marbury and — who else — his coach, which has been a common theme throughout his tenure in New York. He battled Lenny Wilkens and Larry Brown and eventually even turned on his former mentor, Isiah Thomas. This time around, Mike D’Antoni decided to be proactive when he made the decision to put Marbury on lockdown from the first game of the season. The players remained quiet about the situation until Marbury turned down the chance to step in and play 30 to 35 minutes last Friday in Milwaukee, when the team was down to seven players as a result of two trades and injuries. Marbury reportedly disputed D’Antoni’s assertion that he declined to play. So when injuries had the Knicks shorthanded again — they were down to two guards against the Pistons on Wednesday — D’Antoni went back to Marbury with the offer to play and, again, Marbury said no. D’Antoni sought the opinion of several veteran players about whether the team should give Marbury a second chance. According to multiple sources, the response from the players was a consistent negative. "I wasn’t for having him play on Friday," Richardson said. "I didn’t know he turned it down like you guys told me after the game. I never knew that. But, I mean, I wasn’t for it then." With team president Donnie Walsh in Indiana with his family for the Thanksgiving holiday, nothing was officially done yesterday regarding Marbury’s status with the team. The Knicks — who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday — are expected to send Marbury away while they decide what action to take. One option includes fining him for refusing to play, which would cost him 1/110th of his $21,937,500 salary, or $199,431. This move would get the NBA Players Association involved and an appeal would be made. The Knicks could decide to send Marbury on a paid vacation for the rest of the season until his contract runs out. But that, too, could wind up as something union executive director Billy Hunter would challenge if Marbury contends that the Knicks are not allowing him to earn his wage and maintain his value as he becomes a free agent next summer. NBA commissioner David Stern might have to step in to arbitrate a buyout — a fruitless endeavor thus far, partially because Marbury does not have an agent and is being advised by the union — to free the Knicks of the roster spot commitment and make Marbury a free agent. He then could sign with any NBA team, but after the latest episode, it is doubtful that any team would be interested in adding him to their locker room at midseason.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:35:07 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1135418&format=textJames Posey’s big 3 lifts Hornets past Nuggets By Associated Press | Friday, November 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP DENVER — James Posey made a 3-pointer with 19.1 seconds left Thursday night to lift the New Orleans Hornets to their fourth straight victory, 105-101 over the Denver Nuggets, one of his former teams. Chris Paul led the Hornets with 22 points and 10 assists but came up six rebounds short of recording his third straight triple-double. Still, he took the game over late, scoring seven straight points for his team, including a 3-pointer to tie the game at 92 with 2:07 left. A bit later, the Hornets took a four-point lead on Peja Stojakovic’s 3 and a subsequent free throw after Kenyon Martin got a technical. The Nuggets, led by J.R. Smith with 32 points, tied it at 98 with 37 seconds left, but the Hornets worked the ball to Posey, who made the 3 to give them the lead for good. Chauncey Billups missed his own 3 on the next possession and the Hornets made four free throws down the stretch to ice the win. Denver fell to 9-3 since Billups arrived. He struggled in this one, finishing with only 12 points and never taking over the game. Carmelo Anthony had 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting for Denver, showing more signs of coming out of a slump that had him making only 39 percent of his shots coming into the game. Smith’s season high came a night after George Karl benched him for being late to practice earlier in the week. He made a 3-pointer and had a steal and dunk to give the Nuggets the lead midway through the fourth quarter after they had trailed by as many as 14. It looked like it would be his night, but instead it belonged to Paul, who dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points, including the late streak that tied the game at 92. The Hornets played without Mo Peterson (back) and Tyson Chandler, whose wife gave birth Tuesday. They had something of an advantage, though, having arrived in Denver for this Thanksgiving night game well before the Nuggets, who toughed out a 1-point win at the Clippers on Wednesday. New Orleans hadn’t played since Monday. Rasual Butler made his first seven shots for New Orleans and finished with 19 points. Stojakovic had 17 and David West had 15, including a stick back of Paul’s near air ball that gave the Hornets a 98-94 lead with 52 seconds left.< Notes:@ Melvin Ely returned for the Hornets after missing three games because of a tooth infection. He had eight points. ... Chris Andersen scored six points for the Nuggets in his return after missing nine games because of fractured ribs.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:36:44 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/28/release_point_allen_needed_a_lift_last_year?mode=PFRelease point: Allen needed a lift last year By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | November 28, 2008 The allure of being part of every second of his rejuvenated NBA life with the Celtics and "The Big Three" was so strong that it kept Ray Allen from following his doctor's orders regarding his ailing ankles last season. Allen, while playing for Seattle, had surgery by Dr. Richard Ferkel April 7, 2007, to remove bone spurs in both ankles. Before the Celtics began training camp last season, Allen said the Los Angeles doctor recommended he refrain from practice in training camp and sit out early back-to-back regular-season games to rehab his ankles. Allen, however, opted for the pain that, in turn, changed his trademark shooting stroke rather than miss the start of what would be the Celtics' run to their first NBA title in 22 years. "When I got here, I didn't even talk about [my ankles]," Allen said after scoring 25 points and nailing five 3-pointers in a 119-111 win over Golden State Wednesday. "There is no way I'm not going to practice. There is no way I'm not going to play. [Ferkel] was even going as far as telling me not to play in back-to-backs. He said . . . 'Your body needs a chance to rest. It needs to get used to the pounding and then give it the rest . . .' "There was so much great stuff going on here that I wasn't going to make an excuse on what was going on with me. I just had to work. I knew I had to work doubly hard to be ready to play in games, to be in practice, to make this team better. Winning a championship was our goal. That's what I was focused on." Ferkel, an ankle specialist, also operated on Allen's right ankle in 2003. Following his last surgery, Allen said he had a strong rehab regimen with a Sonics physical therapist that had him on the road to recovery. But following the trade to Boston on draft night last year, his rehab was sidetracked as he and his family adapted to the cross-country move and a new team. Once he got settled, the ex-University of Connecticut star said he worked occasionally on his rehab with a trainer from UConn. Allen also began rehabbing with Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte. But because of missed time, Allen quickly realized his ankles were far from recovered when the Celtics began training camp and played two preseason games in Rome and London. And with the lack of strength, he spent a lot of time taking part in "body management," which included stretching his calves and keeping his ankles warm. "My ankles needed to be warmed up because there was so much soreness," Allen said. "The pounding was brutal. Making moves, getting to the hole. Once I really got warm, it was great. But when I went to the sidelines, I had to work on getting them going and it works its way up through the rest of the body."I was playing body management all [season]. Offdays I was trying to figure it out. There were days that were worse than others. There were days that were better than others. Every day was a day I had to figure out what they felt like." The ingredients of Allen's trademark jumper include getting high off the floor and gently flicking his right wrist while shooting. But with his ankles aching, he could only get up about "40 percent" as high as usual and had to use much more arm strength while shooting. The result was a lot of jumpers hitting the front rim. "My lift was already short and lower," Allen said. "I adjusted to that shot with that lower lift. I know where my lift needs to be and how I'm shooting at the top of my lift. That's what I'm trying to get back to. All last [season] I was a lot shorter." Allen missed consecutive games because of a sore right ankle last Dec. 14-16. The 6-foot-5-inch, 205-pounder also missed three games from March 15-18 after aggravating his ankles during a slip on the floor in a loss to Utah March 14 in which he played only 12 minutes. While playing with fellow All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce surely dropped his shots per game, Allen's average of 17.4 points in 35.9 minutes was his lowest since the 1998-99 season (17.1 with Milwaukee). He also averaged a career-playoff-low 15.6 points, but said great defense (not his ankle injury) was the reason for Cleveland's success defending him in the second round.Allen, however, quickly said he had no regrets about disobeying the doctor's orders. "We were playing for deep June," Allen said. "It was a matter of me learning how to manage my body . . . finding out how my body was going to respond over the course of the season because I didn't know. Back-to-back-to-backs, travel up and down out of airplanes, last year was all new to me. I didn't know how my body was going to respond. "The greatest thing about it was I wasn't playing a lot of minutes. I wasn't doing a lot of running around. The pounding was a lot less based on how we were playing. We were playing in such a great fashion winning games that we were taking fourth quarters off. My minutes were down. Shots were down. I just kind of fell into that role." Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers: "No one ever said a word about [Allen's ankles]. I just thought he was a third [scorer] on a new team. "It's tough to fit in that way." Although his ankles are a lot stronger now, Allen doesn't feel completely back to his old sharpshooting self just yet. Even so, he is second on the team in scoring, averaging 17.4 points while playing in all 16 contests. The 33-year-old also has made a team-best 31 3-pointers on .352 shooting. "I feel fine, but I still want more," Allen said. "There is still more out of my body that I can get. Even if I make a shot and I just shot it with my hands, I get mad about it. I want my lift to be there because I don't want my release point changing. "That's the thing about my shot, it has to be the same every time. When I get up to that point and I shoot and it doesn't feel like anything, that's when I know I'm right back."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:40:19 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/28/celtics_energize_ceo_grousbeck?mode=PFCeltics energize CEO Grousbeck By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff | November 28, 2008 As much as the fans are enjoying the success of the Celtics, few people are as thrilled with the start of the 2008-09 season as the team's managing partner, governor, and chief executive officer Wyc Grousbeck. Grousbeck - who will appear on "Celtics Now" on Comcast SportsNet tonight at 6 on a panel with Chris Mannix, the national NBA writer for Sports Illustrated, and Super Fan Marty Joyce prior to the game against Philadelphia at TD Banknorth Garden - said the players have picked up right where they left off from their 2008 NBA championship. "What has struck me the most is that the guys are focused in and bringing a lot of energy," said Grousbeck. "And they have to because everybody is coming after us so hard this year. I'm just amazed by how pumped teams are to play us and how badly they want to beat us. "It feels like a playoff game almost every single game. It's exhausting, quite honestly. I think the team has gotten tired, but they've made it through with a [remarkable] record, but it's been tiring and exhausting and I'm amazed at how well they've done." The trick will be sustaining it over the long haul. They were able to do it last season, but Grousbeck said there is even more pressure this time around. "It was 116 games we played last year, which was an NBA record," said Grousbeck. "So to come off a year with that many games and be required to play at this intensity level right off the bat, opening the season against LeBron [James] and moving on from there, I'm not complaining, but I am worried." The saving grace has been the Celtics' bench. Grousbeck said if the bench can continue to step up, the starters will be able to stay fresher. "That's the only way we get through this thing," said Grousbeck. Grousbeck is impressed with the early play of Tony Allen. "For the fan who really follows the team, that fan is going to know that Tony is the key because he's probably our best defender," Grousbeck said. "He can be a huge part of the offense and he's been doing both, so that's a real key for us. He was a free agent, we re-signed him, and for him to have this kind of start to the season [is impressive]." One of the strengths of the squad is that the star trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen shares the workload. "The Big Three have made it about everybody else," said Grousbeck. "If you're not paying attention, you're going to get hit with the ball in your nose because it's coming to you. The Big Three is all about passing and rebounding and team defense as much as their own scoring." Grousbeck has heard from fans around the world who have thanked him for the style the team plays. "They said, 'The way you guys won, it's the way basketball is supposed to be played and you brought the NBA back where it used to be,' " he said. "I've heard that from a lot of people and it really makes me proud." The Celtics' broadcast partner, CSN, has done a strong job of educating fans about the players on and off the court. "The new management and the new approach to the games has been really phenomenal," said Grousbeck. "They are always open to our suggestions and ideas. They come up with ideas as well. The whole key is the fans know everybody on our roster now and that's what makes it work." Starting something NESN debuts an original show entitled, "The Instigators," Thursday at 6 p.m. The format will have Mike Milbury, Andy Brickley, and Jack Edwards debating the NHL's issues of the day. All three are knowledgeable, opinionated, and not afraid of stirring things up . . . The Bruins take on the Islanders today at noon at TD Banknorth Garden, unveiling their third jersey, then host the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings tomorrow at 7 p.m. Both games are on NESN . . . On Sunday in men's basketball, NESN has No. 1-ranked North Carolina hosting UNC-Asheville at 6:30 p.m. . . . Tonight at 9, the NFL Network will rebroadcast last year's meeting between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings in anticipation of Sunday night's matchup (Channel 7, 8:15). Last year, Adrian Peterson of the Vikings rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns, setting a franchise record for rushing yards in a game. The Bears tied the score in the fourth quarter on an 81-yard touchdown by wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester, but Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell won it with a 55-yard field goal as time expired, giving Minnesota a 34-31 victory at Soldier Field.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 8:59:36 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/pros/x279861589/Elton-Brand-adds-concern-for-Celtics?view=printElton Brand adds concern for Celtics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mike Fine The Patriot Ledger Posted Nov 28, 2008 @ 01:35 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — After losing three of four games to the Philadelphia 76ers two seasons ago, the Boston Celtics seemed to right themselves last season, winning three of four. But they approach the Sixers with an increased wariness this season. When the Sixers come to the Garden tonight, they’ll be arriving with their prized new acquisition, Elton Brand, who gives them a new dimension on the post and out on the floor, and with point guard Andre Miller having settled in, the 7-8 Sixers present some unique challenges. Brand, the former Clipper who signed a five-year, $79.8 million free agent contract last summer, still doesn’t seem to have hit his stride – he’s averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds – but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t instill fear. “He’s not only a 4 that can score but a 4 that can be defensive,” said Kevin Garnett, who’ll likely be matched up with the 6-8, 275-pounder. “He gives them a different dimension.” It’s safe to say that Brand, with Miller getting him the ball, has changed the face of the Sixers. “Philly’s more power ball,” coach Doc Rivers said. “They’re athletic as heck. They have Elton Brand now, and they’re going to go down low and play pick and roll. The problems we’ve had with Philly in the past … last year we struggled with them because of the Andre Miller problem … at the point, with his size. I think (Rajon) Rondo’s better suited to handle that this year, and so he’s going to have to.” Rondo, of course, is coming off one of his best games of the season, 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, against Golden State Wednesday, but he could cancel out Miller, the veteran who’s averaging 14.4 points and 5.8 assists. What the Celtics have to do is cancel out the Sixers running game, in which players such as Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Samuel Dalembert can streak up court. “A lot of people don’t talk about it, but Thaddeus Young is having an exceptional year,” Garnett said. “He’s hitting 3s (17-for-46), he’s been able to come off picks and they give him shots and he’s aggressive. In some of the games I’ve seen where they win, it’s because he’s playing really well. Andre Miller’s Andre Miller but they’re gonna play hard. They’re going to crash the boards, but having that range from 4 makes them a little more multi-dimensional. They’re able to pick and pop, and Andre Miller can string out the defense a little bit and Elton can hit up to 19-foot jumpers. So our work’s cut out for us.” “I’ve had a chance to watch Philly,” Paul Pierce said. “I think they ran a lot more last year than this year. I just think they’re good in transition when you’ve got Iguodala, but I think they added Brand to the dimension and they’re more built for the playoffs. They have early struggles. I think they’re a better team than their record has really shown. Definitely, they’re capable of scoring a hundred points. We got our work cut out for us again defensively. I don’t think they’re quite the team Golden State is, but definitely talented and they have a couple of All-Stars that we have to be concerned about.” The Sixers are coming off a narrow loss to Orlando, not to mention a disappointing loss at Charlotte, but they’d won five of six prior to that, but at this time last year they were 5-10. Last season, the Celtics dominated, Before their March 24 loss, they averaged 109.7 points in their first three victories, while Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen shot 57.8 percent from the floor. The Celtics outshot the Sixers, 55.0-43.6 percent, but the Sixers weren’t exactly overpowered. Iguodala averaged a series-high 21.5 points on 48.5 percent shooting, Miller averaged 20.0 points and Dalembert averaged 10.3 rebounds. Only three teams have outrebounded the Sixers, who have gone with the same starting lineup in every game: Brand, Young, Dalembert, Iguodala, Miller.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 9:04:02 GMT -5
www.heraldextra.com/content/view/290298/3/Flash season opener advance Neil K. Warner - Daily Herald There is no Las Vegas line on the over/under for the number of wins the Utah Flash will come up with in the team's second season. Predicting winners in the D-League is about as accurate as trying to guess which free throw Shaquille O'Neal will make. But while the Utah Flash staff and players are hesitant to make any predictions, there is a feeling as the season tips off today in Austin that this team will be better than last year's 24-26 team. "I was encouraged by the preseason win. I was encouraged how we were able to translate what we were trying to do in practice to what we do in a game," said Flash coach Brad Jones. "We were a little bit like that last year. We would practice pretty well but then it wouldn't translate all the time in a game. For our preseason game I thought we translated pretty well. Obviously there's a lot of things we need to work on." The Flash have already been assigned two players from the Boston Celtics in J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker. Giddens was Boston' first-round pick this year and Walker was a second-round pick by Washington and acquired by the Celtics. Giddens will be a familiar face to those who follow the Mountain West Conference. He averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season at New Mexico -- good enough to earn him MWC Co-Player of the Year honors along with BYU's Lee Cummard. He was 30th overall pick by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Draft. "I see good things coming from our team. I'm not predicting a league championship, I'm not saying we're not. I'm not familiar with the other teams. I just have confidence in us that we can perform at a high level every night," Gideons said. "I think we could be a good team. We've got to stay disciplined and stick to our game plan every night and get better at executing. We have a lot of athletes and everybody seems comfortable with their roles for the most part." Both Giddens and Walker recorded 16 points in Utah's preseason 91-65 victory over the Idaho Stampede in Burley, Idaho, last week. The Flash have not yet been assigned any players from their other affiliate, the Utah Jazz, but last year both Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko were assigned to the team. This year both players could be back as well as this year's first-round pick, Kosta Koufos, at some time during the season. Like most D-League teams, the Flash don't have a lot of returning players, but they do have Andre Ingram, who averaged 6.1 points per game last year and finished second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at 44.8 percent. Another returning player is Brian Jackson, who averaged 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists last year. "Most teams will have teams that have three or four guys back from the year before. Teams that have that definitely have an advantage," Jones said. "It's like Brian Jackson and Andre Ingram, they've had had great camps. I know they've worked hard over the summer, but they are that much more comfortable and they're ahead of the game. These other guys are trying to get used to the surroundings. They're trying to get used to me and my staff. They're still trying to make the team." Another plus for the Flash is the coaching staff returns intact. "With our staff coming back again, we have a better comfort level and we'll be able to be better teachers." Jones said. "Everything was brand new last year. I was teaching my staff, and we were trying to get a feel for each other." The Flash addressed their most pressing need with a trade. Utah believed Kevin Kruger, last year's starting point guard, would return to the team, but his plans changed and the Flash had to scramble to fill the hole at the point. The Flash drafted Denham Brown in the first round of the draft, and then promptly traded Brown to the Dakota Wizards for point guard Dontell Jefferson. Jefferson averaged 17 points, five assists, and five rebounds in 33 games last season with Dakota. Utah is hoping he can help improve the team's turnover tendency. Last year the Flash led the D-League in turnovers at 18.8 per game. Fewer turnovers, coupled with additional talent and some returning experince, and its easy to see why optimisim is high. "We're extremely athletic this year. We have a great defense and are probably, overall, more talented than last year." Jackson said. "We have a lot of potential and can be very good this season." No one is quite sure just what that means yet, but we are about to find out.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 28, 2008 9:17:31 GMT -5
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