AMS Performance’s version of Godzilla is back and still dressed up in the Agent Orange garbs found on their previous model - the Nissan GTR Alpha 9. The Alpha 9 was packing over 900 HP and could complete the quarter mile in the mid-9 second range, but a change of ownership and a new Alpha 10 package later and the GTR can now boast of 1,000HP!
The new Alpha 10 conversion kit features an AMS Alpha 10 Turbo System, a balanced and blueprinted VR38 AMS Race Engine, and an AMS Alpha 10 transmission by Sheptrans, among other things. These additions take the sports car to 1,000 HP and 679 lb-ft of torque running on 93 octane fuel. AMS Performance has already tested this monster and has earned an official quarter mile time of 9.1 seconds at 163 mph.
The Nissan GTR Agent Orange’s fiery growl can now be heard from miles away with a new AMS 90mm downpipes (catalytic converters available), an AMS 90mm resonated mid-pipe (race version available), and an AMS 90mm race exhaust upgrade.
There’s enough additions to the Nissan GTR Agent Orange to make any car enthusiast drool. Check out the full list after the jump, as well as a walk-around video taken by an admirer.
We're treated to a forward-facing shot, as well as footage trained on Millen's mug. The strain of pushing his rig up the mountain is evident, as is the frustration with his replacement transmission and terror supplied by his lack of brakes. Apparently the original video was switched to private, so we found a clip that features the forward-facing shot only.
Click past the jump to watch Rhys Millen battle both the mountain and his machine for just over 10 minutes.
Press Release: Never a brand content to rest on its laurels, Infiniti has kept its best-selling model, the G Sedan, fresh throughout the years with continuous refinement and enhancements. Just last year, the G Sedan was refreshed with revised exterior styling, an enhanced interior treatment and upgraded technology features ? resulting in renewed consumer interest and record sales. Yet up until now, Infiniti has been competing as one of the only luxury brands offering just one engine in the G Sedan?s class. That changes in the 2011 model year with the ...
Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post: "The Nuggets and Nene are playing a dangerous game of chicken that needs to end before both parties get hurt. Nene would be dumb to walk out those arena doors as a free agent. The Nuggets would be stupid to let him go. So why let a little thing like $50 million stand in the way of a beautiful relationship? Do the deal already. The last great act of labor peace in the NBA before all heck breaks loose between players and owners should be Nene signing a contract extension with the Nuggets before the clock strikes midnight at the end of Thursday. When I asked Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri how the nature of negotiations would change should the team be unable to reach an agreement with Nene this week, his response was telling. 'I don't even want to go there,' Ujiri said. 'Nene is very important to us. So we want to attack it the best way we can this week.' ... It might be too strong to suggest it's now or never for Nene to remain with the team. The need for urgency from both sides in negotiations, however, must be underlined."
Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press: "The Timberwolves' signing of Ricky Rubio and his subsequent appearance at Target Center last week resulted in sales of almost 200 replica No. 9 Wolves jerseys at $65 each, leaving the organization with smiles. The Wolves also sold about 540 full season tickets since signing the 20-year-old point guard from Spain, the team said Monday, bringing their total full season-ticket equivalent to about 7,100. Many of the new season-ticket purchases were part of a $9-per-game upper-level-seat promotion that runs through Friday. The Wolves said about one-third of the new season-ticket purchases, ranging from $20 to $750 (courtside) per game, were in the lower level of Target Center. Rubio, meanwhile, was to work out informally with some of his new Wolves teammates Monday in pickup games at Target Center, then return home to Barcelona that evening. ... By the way, a portion of Rubio's No. 9 jersey sales -- like revenue from all NBA jersey sales -- is shared equally by members of the NBA Players Association, regardless of the amount sold individually."
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle: "I found Kevin McHale lying on a training table getting his left ankle and hip worked on Monday afternoon. Is this guy making an effort to fit in or what? 'Arthritic ankle,' he said. Been there, done that, buddy. Torn this. Broken that. We've had our share. Besides, McHale's new team will be perfectly happy if he's the only guy using those training tables at Toyota Center next season. 'Too many sprained ankles,' he said. 'I played on it a couple of times when I shouldn't have. It's nothing really major -- just an inconvenience.' McHale had spent the morning on the practice court with his new team, beginning very gradually to evaluate what he has. That he's back in this position at all is a surprise to plenty of people who never thought he'd coach again after the Timberwolves gave him the boot two years ago. McHale probably thought the same thing, but after about six months, the only life he'd ever known began to tug at him. ... McHale is likely to have an odd first season with the Rockets. He's around his players only until the lockout begins, which probably will be Friday. After that, it could be months before the NBA is back in business. But McHale is back in the arena, back where he wanted to be and where he feels the most comfortable."
Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star: "In a more cynical world, it could be said that George Hill's public introduction was a bit over-the-top for a 30-minute-per-game player. It's not like Dwight Howard or Eric Gordon just walked through the door. And yet ... why not? Why not celebrate what's right now about the Indiana Pacers? Hill represents what the Pacers are becoming, a civically responsible organization that will no longer embarrass the city on the floor or off. Hill is not a star, not even close, and yet, he's the embodiment of a franchise that has finally shed the yoke of 'The Brawl' and all the other nonsense that had Pacers beat writers on 24-hour police-beat alert. 'I grew up a Pacers fan,' said Hill, who grew up on the city's Northside and graduated from Broad Ripple High School. 'I was heartbroken when things went bad for them. I hated seeing what happened here. But give the organization credit: They moved out a lot of those guys and they've rebuilt. And I'm glad to be a part of that.' Hill is a building block. Not a game-changer, but a building block. He's a building block on the floor, where he can play both guard positions and has the length to defend the other team's best backcourt player. The next time the Pacers face the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs, Hill will get to defend Derrick Rose, instead of having Paul George exhaust himself in the process."
Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Is Joe Johnson’s contract worse than Jon Koncak’s notorious deal? Yes. Koncak re-upped for $13 million over six seasons, which was big money in 1989. Johnson stayed for $123 million over six seasons, which is huge money now. Koncak was 26 when he signed his new contract; Johnson had just turned 29. The Hawks will have little wiggle room so long as Johnson is a Hawk, and he’s under contract through 2016. Whoa. ... Is there any hope here? Sure. Horford and Smith and Johnson are good-to-excellent players, and Teague shows promise. If the Hawks make the right trade involving Smith, they could remain one of the better teams in the East. But the core, which has existed since 2007, needs to change. They didn’t sink from 53 victories in 2009-2010 to 44 last season because a bunch of guys got hurt; they got worse because the guys on hand stopped playing as well together. It’s up to general manager Rick Sund to rearrange the elements."
Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel "Brandon Jennings has a new supporting cast in the Milwaukee Bucks' backcourt. Bucks general manager John Hammond made some big changes in a draft-day shakeup last week as he traded away veterans John Salmons and Corey Maggette. And Hammond brought in wing player Stephen Jackson and combo guard Shaun Livingston from Charlotte and point guard Beno Udrih from Sacramento. If all goes according to the Bucks' plan, the changes will relieve some of the ball-handling pressure on Jennings and give the team more playmaking options on the floor. Say Jackson and Jennings are in the backcourt, with Carlos Delfino at small forward, Drew Gooden or Ersan Ilyasova at power forward and Andrew Bogut at center. That would be a conventional lineup. Or maybe put the 6-foot-7 Livingston in the lineup with Udrih, Jackson, Delfino and Bogut. There are plenty of options for Bucks coach Scott Skiles."
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: "There are myriad reasons general manager Gar Forman sounded confident the Bulls eventually will sign Nikola Mirotic, whose rights were acquired Thursday from the Timberwolves when the Bulls moved up in a draft-day trade. Two of them are Omer Asik and Ivica Dukan. Mirotic is under contract with Real Madrid through 2015 with a buyout of roughly $2 million Euros, according to sources. The Bulls' plan is to let him develop overseas for at least two to three seasons before negotiating a buyout. They took a similar approach with Asik, who just finished his rookie season after the Bulls acquired him in a draft-day trade in 2008. Dukan is the Bulls' longtime international scout who has a longstanding professional relationship with Real Madrid officials. 'We can't say for sure when he'll be able to come over, but we're hopeful he'll be a big part of what we're doing,' Forman said Monday at the Berto Center. 'In our speaking with him, his desire and dream is to play in the NBA at some point.' Monday marked Forman's first public comments about Mirotic, whom the Bulls projected as a lottery talent whose contract status scared off teams."
Scott Souza of the MetroWest Daily News: "Given the chance to pick a more celebrated player in Texas forward Jordan Hamilton or Providence guard Marshon Brooks, Ainge traded down two spots in the first round and went with Johnson at No. 27. Late in the second round, when it became all the rage for NBA teams to draft foreign players they could stash away for a season or two, Ainge went with a player he felt could contend for playing time immediately in Moore at No. 55. Some might call them the safe choices in a weak draft with few, if any, sure things. But together they are determined to show betting on a pair of four-year college players was the smart choice as well. ... 'I would say it was a great choice,' Johnson said of returning to Purdue. 'That extra year really helped us develop our games. We matured and we won.' Yet, for all they achieved as seniors, they hit the draft circuit with a bit of a stigma. In the era of the one-and-done college phenom, there is a feeling among many that if a player were that good he would never have made it to graduation day. 'We both thought it was better to go back and get our NBA game ready,' Moore countered. 'That way we'd have a better chance to come in and play right away.' Ainge and the Celtics agreed. While other teams have spent the last few days touting the tremendous upside of their picks, Ainge has happily touted his picks' degrees in organizational leadership and supervision. 'That's not very common in this day and age,' Ainge said of the diplomas. 'These guys improved a lot over the course of their college careers. They played in a lot of big games in hostile environments.' "
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News: "Jeremy Tyler was the natural center of attention Monday, with a large emphasis on the 'natural' part of the entire event. We had questions, he had answers. The cameras and lights pointed his way, and he never flinched. Tyler wasn't aloof or distracted; he looked you in the eye, listened and was engaging, thoughtful and incredibly, incredibly patient. And at the tail end of the Warriors' introductory news conference for their three-player draft haul (along with Klay Thompson and Charles Jenkins), Tyler even helpfully pointed out one last raised hand after a team official got ready to end the session. He can, in a news conference environment, do it all, apparently. 'I knew I belonged,' Tyler said of his odd road to the NBA, 'I just knew I needed to find my place.' Of course, this scene had zero to do with running the right play, listening to his coach or battling in the low post. Some horrendous NBA big men have been particularly friendly to coaches, teammates and the media -- and so what? Some great ones have had no time or tolerance for most humans on earth. Yet they won. But because this was Tyler's first moment as a Warrior -- after a tour through Israel and Japan -- it was fairly significant. First impression: If Tyler is immature and tough to coach, it did not come across Monday."
Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News: "NBA owners could give the go-ahead for a Friday lockout when they meet Tuesday in Dallas. During the Board of Governors meeting, owners will receive an update on the stalemated negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement from commissioner David Stern and Spurs owner Peter Holt, head of the owners' labor relations committee. Currently at an impasse over major economic issues, the two sides have no plans to meet in Dallas, and Stern has said that an owners' vote could be done electronically at any time before the CBA expires on Thursday at midnight. Seeking major changes in the way money is divided with the players, along with securing a more favorable split for its side, a majority of owners is said to be in favor of shutting down the league. Owners and players have made almost no progress during the last 18 months of talks. They're scheduled to meet Wednesday and possibly Thursday in Manhattan, but neither side is hopeful of an 11th-hour breakthrough."
One final bit of housekeeping: Beginning this afternoon, I will be traveling in Ireland and various other parts of Europe for about 10 days. In the meantime, Diamond will see you through to the other side. Oh, and I'll be sure to send you a postcard. Cheers.
Because media availability was limited at this weekend's camp to a quick 10 minutes after the workouts were over -- campers were almost immediately shuffled onto a bus and driven back to their hotel -- the opportunity to spend individual time with more than a handful of players was pretty limited. (Not that I'm complaining. Seriously! These events are for the players and NBA scouts; media availability is almost a bonus.) But I did have the ol' notebook and pen handy. Here are a few things I noticed from the sidelines in my two days at Attack Athletics. For the second straight year, we go ... to the bullet points! (That's your cue to cheer wildly. No? Let's just move on.)
Kevin Durant remains the coolest camp counselor ever. I talked about this last year, and made copious mention of it in Tuesday's post on Jeffery Taylor, so I won't dwell on it too much here. But just for good measure, here are a couple more amateurish videos I made of Durant participating with his campers in some the structured five-on-five games that ended Sunday's activity. They're nothing special -- there were no high-flying dunks of this magnitude to offer -- but hopefully they offer a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at the environment the campers participated in. Also, you know: Kevin Durant. A year later, that's still really cool. (If you want a roster to refer to, here you go.)
Look out, world. Jared Sullinger just keeps getting better. In an April interview with the New York Times, Satch Sullinger, Jared's father, cited his son's desire to expand his game and adopt more of a true power forward role as a collegian as one of the reasons Sullinger turned down a likely top-five spot in the 2011 draft. This process is already underway. On Saturday, Sullinger caught the ball in unusual spots -- he was often 10 or 15 feet away from the rim, as opposed to the low block spot he dominated in 2010-11 -- and, rather than back his defender down for an easy interior bucket, pivoted away from pressure, squared up and knocked down silky face-up jumpers from the wing.
At one point, Sullinger even drained a 3-pointer, and it came with the sort of panache (and mechanical solidity) that exceeded some of the better point guards in the gym. Sully could continue to dominate the college game as a low-post force, but he seems determined to move away from the hoop and become what he'll have to be at the next level: a power forward. So far, so good. (And, if you have to guard him, so, so scary.)
Can Connecticut's supporting cast step up? We're a long way from knowing the answer to that question -- which could be rephrased as "Can Connecticut compete for a national title with Kemba Walker in a Bobcats jersey?" -- but early signs are positive. Two key pieces from UConn's run, guard Shabazz Napier and forward Alex Oriakhi, were impressive in their own rights Saturday. Napier said he was working on slowing his game down and making better decisions. Oriakhi said he was looking to expand his offensive game outside the immediate rim area. Both displayed such improvements this weekend, something UConn fans, drunk on the program's suddenly revived success, will very much like to hear.
Jordan Taylor's ill-timed struggles. If you're like me, you tend to think that an incredibly efficient (if undersized) point guard like Wisconsin star Jordan Taylor deserves a chance to prove his worth to the NBA over some marginal foreign prospect with a silly contract buyout and a 4.5 points per game average in Latvia. Call me crazy, I know. But if you're rooting for Taylor -- one of the smarter, funnier, down-to-Earth college players in the game today -- to catapult into the NBA draft stratosphere, well, maybe there's a reason why that hasn't happened.
To be frank, Taylor didn't impress many scouts Saturday. The quickness of opposing defenders (Kentucky freshman Marquis Teague especially) gave him fits bringing the ball up the floor, he often found himself fighting merely to get the ball to a teammate on the wing, and he was never able to free himself up for that patented 3-point jumper he hit so often in Wisconsin's brutally slow swing system. If I've said it once, I've said it, like, five other times: It was just two hours on a random Saturday in June. Small sample size. All that. Still, against some of the better point guard prospects in the land -- guys who will set the standard for NBA backcourt riches in 2012 -- Taylor had a decidedly disappointing outing.
Yep, these guys are good. I don't do recruiting stuff -- better to leave that to the experts -- and it's hard for me to tell how good players are when they're playing against overmatched high school opponents anyway, so this weekend was really my first look at a handful of freshmen that could have major impacts for their teams and the college hoops landscape at large in the coming season. (Last year, such freshmen included Jared Sullinger and Harrison Barnes. That went pretty well, especially the Sullinger thing. And yes, I'm still patting myself on the back for that one.) So: What did this year's freshmen have to offer?
The answer is, well, a lot.
Kentucky freshman Marquis Teague has been hailed as the latest in Kentucky coach John Calipari's long list of successful freshman point guards, a legacy that includes Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall and, most recently, Brandon Knight. There's no reason to think Teague can't live up to that billing. During Saturday's full court five-on-five session -- in which guards from the Deron Williams Skills Academy played with forwards from the Amar'e Stoudamire camp -- Teague sliced and diced opposing defenders, found his way into the lane with relative ease, and showcased an intuitive understanding of the various ways to attack off a ball screen. One play in particular stood out: About 30 feet from the hoop in the corner of the court -- picture where Duke ran its spread high-screen sets for Kyrie Irving and Nolan Smith this season -- Teague got a screen from fellow Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis. The guard split the two defenders, took off toward the rim, saw help arrive and dished a nifty little bounce pass to Davis, who crashed toward the basket and finished with a ferocious dunk. The play was as impression a piece of team basketball as I saw all weekend, and Teague deserved the credit for its creation.
Speaking of Davis, well, it's not hard to see why college recruiting services (including our own) have named him the best prospect in the class. Nor is it difficult to see why pro scouts are already drooling. To use a once-banished draft term, Davis is incredibly long. He's also very athletic. That combination allows him to rise above other tall and athletic defenders to snatch rebounds, challenge shots and finish at the rim. But there's also a reason Davis didn't become a highly touted prospect until this year: He's still pretty soft. That's not really a knock -- we're talking about a 6-foot-10 college freshman with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, after all -- but it is something that could hamper Davis' production in his first full season as a college hoopster. Davis has the height to play center at the college level -- with Terrence Jones back in the fold, it seems likely that's where Kentucky will opt to play him -- but can he stand toe-to-toe with big, physical upperclassmen? Won't Festus Ezeli, to name one example, be able to impose his will on this kid through strength and positioning? For that reason, it's easy to see a few growing pains for Davis, who might draw a lot of comparisons to Baylor's Perry Jones: Both are insanely talented, versatile, athletic stretch forwards who don't quite have the frame to bang in the low block. Jones struggled somewhat during his first season in Waco and decided to return for a second. Could Davis do the same?
Florida freshman-to-be Bradley Beal was also on hand at the Deron Williams camp. The No. 4-ranked prospect in the 2011 class, Beal has been touted as a pure shooter, and he showcased a bit of that ability Saturday afternoon. But he was arguably most impressive off the ball. Beal crashed the glass from the weak side for a series of offensive rebounds and putbacks, using his 6-foot-7 wingspan (which is sort of crazy for a guy measured by camp staff at 6-foot-3.5) to rise to the rim and finish plays against taller defenders. Billy Donovan's team desperately needs a more consistent outside shooting presence. Beal should easily provide that. But he may also bring some bonus abilities to the floor, too.
Washington guard Tony Wroten, Jr. might have been the most impressive player during scrimmages Saturday. He hit outside shots. He beat defenders off the dribble. He ran the fast break with impressive ease, and on several occasions -- including one lightning-quick, no-look pass perfectly placed in the arms of a rim-running forward -- he got the NBA scouts in the audience murmuring about his court vision and decision-making.
Duke guard Austin Rivers, meanwhile, did not do as much to impress. The son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers is obviously talented, and he might already be the quickest player in the country with the ball in his hands. But he didn't have much success breaking down defenders and creating his own shot, his main calling-card as a player to date. Of course, Rivers didn't have much opportunity; the only time he faced actual defenders Sunday was during those structured five-on-five scrimmages. Still, it will be interesting to see if Rivers suffers some early struggles adjusting to the strength and speed of the college game.
And last but not least ... everybody loves the Euro Step. Are you familiar with the Euro Step? You know, the move Manu Ginobili patented? The move Dwyane Wade used to eviscerate Kevin Garnett in the NBA playoffs? It really is all the rage. One station in Sunday's skills camp drills circuit was designed to show players a variety of useful moves, including step-back dribbles, crossovers, hesitations and the like. But nearly every drill required its campers to finish with a carefully calibrated Euro Step: One foot goes here, the fake comes next, the other foot falls, and you finish with the opposite hand. (It was almost exactly like the Ginobili video above.)
Is this the new hotness? Are young players going to start Euro-Steppin' to the beat? Three reasons the answer may be yes:
For one, coaches (or at least skills trainers) seem to love the move. Players want to please their coaches. Over time, that stuff sticks. When I was in high school, I remember being relentlessly drilled on the two-footed jump stop by camp coaches. I still bust that thing out at pickup games. Why wouldn't the nation's best young stars do the same?
It works. For proof, please see Exhibit A at the Wade-Garnett link above.
It's easily the single most unstoppable move in NBA2K11 to the point that it's borderline unfair: Once you master the Euro Step, your ability to score around the rim in an otherwise realistic, difficult game skyrockets. How many young, basketball-obsessed gamers are executing pixelated Euro Steps this very second? How many of them will go on to play college basketball?
Yes, I'm afraid the Euro Step, once a nifty little Ginobilism, is on its way to global hoops domination.
Alas, as with any transformational revolution, there are dissenters. When Sunday's Durant Skills Camp participants lined up for another round of "do this, then Euro Step," one of the NBA scouts within earshot half-jokingly cracked: "Remember when that used to be a travel? How is that not a travel?!"
To be honest, I don't know. But you can bet I'll be trying out my own Euro Step the next time I'm at the gym. As the old saying goes, if you can't beat 'em ... break your ankle trying to join them. Something like that, anyway.
BMW is readying yet another X1 variant for this year’s Fall lineup with the new X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition. This new model will be powered by a four cylinder engine that delivers a total of 163 HP and delivers an average fuel consumption of 4.5 liters/100 km with a CO2 emission of only 119 grams per kilometer. With these numbers, the new model will become the most fuel efficient X model yet.
The engine for the new X1 has been optimized with a centrifugal force pendulum in the dual-mass flywheel, which compensates vibration experienced at low engine speeds, thus providing more riding comfort when the vehicle is driven within the economic low engine speed range. The gear-shift point indicator fitted as standard has been adapted to suit the new engine characteristics.
The new engine will also be combined with brake energy regeneration, Auto Start Stop function, electromechanical power steering, a disengageable air-conditioning compressor, and tires with reduced rolling resistance.
All told, the BMW X1 lineup will include three petrol and four diesel power units with power ranging from 143 to 245 HP.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up contract options for swingman Wes Johnson, guard Wayne Ellington and forward Lazar Hayward. The moves Wednesday include third-year options for Johnson and Hayward and the fourth year for Ellington. Johnson averaged nine points, three rebounds and almost two assists as a rookie last year.
Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: "The NBA ticks toward a lockout. Friday is the deadline. The day pro basketball's business halts. It's a little disconcerting for us here in Oklahoma. Just when this NBA stuff is really getting good, there's talk of a shortened season. Or no season at all. I know how to insure an NBA season. I know how the players can scare the owners into settlement. I know how to make the owners want no part of hardball. The players union should hire Marvin Miller. Yes, he's still alive and kicking, 94 years old, 29 years retired from leading the baseball union. Still alive and kicking and undefeated in sports labor negotiating. I have no idea who has tried to hire Miller over the years. But the NBA players should give it another go. Appeal to Miller to sign up for what he obviously already sees as an attack on player freedom. Miller stressed unity in his 16 years leading the baseball union. When he took over the association in 1966, baseball players had a $6,000 minimum salary and an average salary of less than $20,000. By 1982, the minimum was $33,500; the average was $241,000. ... Miller still has the wisdom and fire to lead athletes at the negotiating table. Maybe not the energy, but that can be found elsewhere. Hire Miller, let the owners know you're taking your cues from him, and NBA ownership would sober up quickly. NBA commissioner David Stern casts an imposing shadow on his sport. But Stern would not overshadow Miller."
Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: "The reconstituted Timberwolves unofficially, incompletely convened at Target Center on Saturday, gathering for the first time on the court with newly added Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and Malcolm Lee running alongside Kevin Love, Wes Johnson, Anthony Randolph and Martell Webster in a pickup-game preview. By Friday, those gym doors very well could be padlocked to them in a NBA labor lockout for which Love has been preparing, hoping all along that it won't really come. That's why, three pro seasons into his rookie contract, he still hasn't gone and bought himself a house in Los Angeles, his offseason home. That's why he's joined the thoughtful crowd in anticipating what could be a lengthy interruption if seemingly united NBA owners get givebacks they seek from the players. 'The smart guys buried their cash and made sure they're ready for a lockout like this,' Love said. 'My cash is buried in the bank.' Maybe that's also why he has been lurking in strangers' showers. 'No,' he said, referring to a national commercial where he's scrubbing up in a couple's shower. 'That's why I'm trying to get those endorsements.' That's why Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley predicts the entire upcoming season will be lost."
Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News: "The coaching carousel in Minnesota took an unlikely turn as Kurt Rambis was being thrown off and Bernie Bickerstaff was preparing to jump on. The ride operator, Timberwolves GM David Kahn, made a run at Mike Krzyzewski. Talk about a waste of time. Coach K once turned down a chance to go to the Lakers and coach Kobe Bryant in his prime. Did Kahn really think that he could get Krzyzewski to leave his Duke kingdom? He did. 'He tried to get him,' said one Kahn confidante. Kahn was looking for a miracle or two. The other miracle is turning Ricky Rubio into a first-rate NBA point guard. As he showed over the last two seasons in Spain, the T-Wolves' No. 1 draft pick of 2009 can't shoot consistently or beat people off the dribble. That was versus inferior competition in Europe. Now he's supposed to be able to do those things against the top players in the world? No wonder Krzyzewski isn't running to the Twin Cities anytime soon."
Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: "A true championship contender can’t afford to waste much time on rookies. So rather than have Brooks, Shelvin Mack or Travis Leslie sit and watch next season, the Bulls went in a different direction. By doing nothing to address the shooting-guard spot, the Bulls made a clear statement that they will be aiming for bigger names whenever the presumed lockout ends and the real off-season begins. A trade always is possible, but the most obvious move is to chase Orlando’s Jason Richardson or Denver’s J.R. Smith in free agency. Both are expected to seek new homes, but until there’s a new collective-bargaining agreement, the Bulls won’t know if they’ll have money to spend. Richardson, 30, is a mature player who has made the playoffs just three times in 10 NBA seasons. Smith, 25, is talented but erratic. The Bulls probably believe a veteran team with championship aspirations could keep him in line."
Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal: "Sitting in the front row at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Friday smiling and chatting prior to a press conference were Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and Rich Paul. Nearly one year to the day of 'The Decision,' Paul and the Cavaliers have been reunited. Paul, of course, is close to LeBron James. He is also the first 'R' in LRMR -- James' marketing company. He is only loosely affiliated with it these days, however, since he is now working at Creative Arts Agency and breaking into the player-representation business. CAA has offices worldwide and is one of Hollywood's top talent agencies. It is also loaded with NBA megastars such as James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. One of its newest clients is Cavs rookie forward Tristan Thompson, which is what brought Paul back to the Cavaliers. Thompson does not have any ties to LRMR, but he is represented completely by CAA. Despite the falling out between James and the organization last summer, that never really trickled down to Paul. He has always maintained a good relationship with the Cavs, particularly General Manager Chris Grant. 'You have business and you have personal side,' Paul said. 'I never really got into the personal side of that [with James].' '
Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times: "Sacramento coach Paul Westhead reportedly lobbied hard for Sacramento to acquire John Salmons from the Bucks. ... If Klay Thompson was good enough for Jerry West and his Golden State colleagues to select at 11 in Thursday's draft, shouldn't he have been good enough for the Bucks to pick at 10? ... More than a few NBA officials were scratching their heads when Cleveland, with the fourth pick, chose Texas forward Tristan Thompson. Nobody was down on Thompson's considerable talents, but they thought the Cavs should have selected center Jonas Valanciunas. As one longtime NBA official noted, you can get good power forwards in every draft but not good centers."
Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Al Horford was by far the team's most efficient scorer last season but ranked just fourth in field-goal attempts per game. 'It will be interesting because I've always been very team-oriented,' Horford said at his camp. 'If coach [Larry Drew] comes and tells me, ‘Listen, I want you to develop more [in isolation] and I want you to create plays,' I could adjust my game to that.' ... Horford's production and efficiency plummeted during the playoffs. Bulls center Joakim Noah's physical defense seemed to disrupt Horford's rhythm and timing and Horford appeared hesitant to shoot the mid-range jumpers he'd made at a league-high clip during the season. Horford said he plans to focus on improving his post game by developing a counter-move to go along with his right-handed hook shot. But he said he doesn't think his limitations in the post explained his rough postseason. 'I'm sure it would have helped but I don't think that was the difference,' Horford said. 'My game is predicated on how my team is doing as a whole and how we are playing together. When we play together and we have high assists you see my production go up usually. We had a couple games where we started to play the right way and we got away from it and it affected the way that I play.' "
Marcus Thompson of The Oakland Tribune: "For Warriors fans, who have been hoping for Biedrins’ departure for some time, that means the Warriors just may be able to move Biedrins. That was once thought to be impossible considering the drastic decline in his production and the three years, $27 million he has left on his contract. But apparently, Houston is a taker. So why is Biedrins still a Warrior you ask? While this may seem the perfect answer to the Warriors’ ills, Golden State, according to multiple sources, are not at all enamored with the Rockets’ offer thus far. I’ve been told the Rockets have offered Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill. Haven’t confirmed if they were offered as a package, but the figures add up. Thabeet, a former No. 2 overall pick, is widely regarded as someone who simply not good enough to play in the NBA and probably won’t be. There is still some hope for Jordan Hill, but he’s got a Post-It note on his back that says 'stiff.' Bottom line for the Warriors: that’s not enough."
Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic: "The Suns did nothing special in the NBA draft. They stood pat. They debunked trade rumors. They made a safe, smart choice on a power forward that will bring much-needed toughness. Yet, after their debut draft performance, their unconventional management team seemed overly pleased. Lon Babby raved about Lance Blanks, who then gushed over John Treloar. Collectively, they sounded like a relieved teenager who returned the family car without hitting a tree. Sorry, but trust will require more than words and slaps on the back. ... The general manager is cut from a different cloth, preferring to be neither seen nor heard. Some inside the organization have noticed that Blanks is much more general than manager, and he frequently alarms media members with requests to repeat the question. 'I think he doesn't have a high profile in part because of the way we structured the organization,' Babby said. 'It's not because of any inability on his part. As time goes by, he'll have more and more of a public profile.' That sounds odd, especially with an organization as regal as the Suns. Compounding the problem, Treloar never has worked in the NBA before. In fact, none of the three had any experience at the jobs they are now performing, prompting many to accuse the owner of more reckless conduct. That's not to say the brass trio won't produce great results. But for a fan base that has seen a potential dynasty imploded from the inside due to systematic frugality and abuse, cynicism is more than warranted. It should be expected. It should be cheered. It means that people still care."
Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "Last Thursday night, however, Reggie Jackson's surprising selection sparked so much confusion that it clouded most of our minds and prevented many of us from being able to make sense of how Jackson fits. Jackson, the 6-foot-3 point guard out of Boston College, originally was viewed as a replacement to current backup Eric Maynor. That notion was quickly shot down by team management. And the more you think about it the more sense it makes. Because Jackson's game is much closer to Westbrook's than Maynor's. Call up any Internet clip of Jackson, and you'll see him soaring through the air for highlight dunks, flying through the lane for rebounds point guards have no business getting and virtually getting to any spot he wants on the court. Sound familiar? But even Thunder GM Sam Presti's stated motive for selecting Jackson seemed to be only a surface level explanation. Presti talked about how Jackson adds depth to the program. How his skills, given ample time and development, could really benefit the team. ... For four days, most of us have been blinded by what position Jackson plays. It's time for us to clean up that clouded judgment. It's time we realize, once and for all, that clearly defined, traditional positions are largely meaningless, especially on a team as versatile as the Thunder. Reggie Jackson is a fit, and it's perhaps taken most of us too long to see how."
Ronald Tillery of The Commercial-Appeal: "One of Josh Selby's lasting impressions proved to be his greatest highlight. The Grizzlies' lone pick in last week's NBA draft -- 49th overall -- went end to end, used a crossover dribble and scored at the rim while absorbing contact. Selby, a 6-3 combo guard, then darted back on defense and deflected the inbounds pass. The play resulted in a steal. Selby, 20, mostly excelled during the Grizzlies' free-agent weekend-long minicamp in FedExForum. Selby also proved that he is the 50-50 proposition that comes with being a late-second-round draft pick. He struggled to guard smaller, quicker opponents and confirmed a need to improve his decision-making and passing ability at point guard. Selby acknowledged his deficiencies while Griz executives left impressed with the former Kansas guard's work ethic and offensive skills. ... Selby will continue to work out with the Grizzlies' coaching staff through Thursday."
Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News: "Given a do-over, Cory Joseph certainly would have done something to change what became the unfortunate enduring moment of his one-season college career at Texas. Absent the ability to time-travel, Joseph has settled on the next-best option for dealing with crushing defeat. 'The Arizona game?' asked Joseph, the former UT point guard turned Spurs’ first-round draft choice. 'I can’t dwell on it. I put that one behind me.' With all that now lies ahead of Joseph, the 19-year-old taken by the Spurs with the 29th overall pick in last week’s draft, letting go and moving on seems to be as sound a strategy as any. Selected a little more than an hour after the Spurs dealt backup point George Hill to Indiana, Joseph arrives in San Antonio with what appears to be a clear shot at earning minutes behind Tony Parker. His ability to forget the infamous and controversial five-second call that all but ended UT’s NCAA tournament run in March will be almost as critical as his aptitude in picking up the complexities of a Spurs playbook notoriously hard on rookies. 'A game is a game,' Joseph said. 'You love to play, and you live and die by it. But after it’s over, you just have to let it go.' In tabbing Joseph the franchise’s first UT draftee in 24 years, the Spurs were willing to overlook his final collegiate moment and focus on others that had come before."
Tom Enlund of the Journal Sentinel: "The Milwaukee Bucks aren't altogether sure yet exactly what they have in second-round draft choice Jon Leuer, but they're working on it. Leuer comes advertised as a versatile and deceivingly athletic power forward who has a nice shooting touch from the perimeter, but he may be able to play center in some situations. What position is he best suited for in the pro ranks? 'That's a good question,' said coach Scott Skiles. 'That's something we've talked about a lot. I think probably both (power forward and center), with his size. He's mobile. He moves around well. So that's something we have to kind of figure out a little bit. But I think both.' Second-round draft choices generally have a difficult time breaking into the rotation, and that will probably be the case for Leuer. The Bucks are deep at center and power forward since Andrew Bogut, Jon Brockman, Larry Sanders, Drew Gooden, Ersan Ilyasova, free-agent-to-be Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and first-round draft choice Tobias Harris can all play either or both of the 'big' positions. Even so, the Bucks like getting the 6-foot-10 Leuer at selection No. 40. He was being projected as a first-round pick and is an intriguing big man who can shoot from the perimeter."
Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: "Nuggets assistant coach Adrian Dantley won't be back with the team next season, a source confirmed today. The Hall of Fame player had been with Denver for eight seasons and, most famously, became the fill-in head coach at the end of 2009-10, when George Karl left the team to battle throat and neck cancer. The Nuggets went 13-12 -- and still held on to win the division -- but lost in the first round to Utah. Karl now has two vacancies to fill on his staff, because assistant coach Stacey Augmon left to become an assistant at UNLV, his alma mater. The source confirmed that Dantley's contract was not renewed. Earlier this month, Karl brought in former players Ryan Bowen and Darvin Ham to work out with some of the draft prospects.' "
Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post: "The Nuggets and Nene are playing a dangerous game of chicken that needs to end before both parties get hurt. Nene would be dumb to walk out those arena doors as a free agent. The Nuggets would be stupid to let him go. So why let a little thing like $50 million stand in the way of a beautiful relationship? Do the deal already. The last great act of labor peace in the NBA before all heck breaks loose between players and owners should be Nene signing a contract extension with the Nuggets before the clock strikes midnight at the end of Thursday. When I asked Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri how the nature of negotiations would change should the team be unable to reach an agreement with Nene this week, his response was telling. 'I don't even want to go there,' Ujiri said. 'Nene is very important to us. So we want to attack it the best way we can this week.' ... It might be too strong to suggest it's now or never for Nene to remain with the team. The need for urgency from both sides in negotiations, however, must be underlined."
Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press: "The Timberwolves' signing of Ricky Rubio and his subsequent appearance at Target Center last week resulted in sales of almost 200 replica No. 9 Wolves jerseys at $65 each, leaving the organization with smiles. The Wolves also sold about 540 full season tickets since signing the 20-year-old point guard from Spain, the team said Monday, bringing their total full season-ticket equivalent to about 7,100. Many of the new season-ticket purchases were part of a $9-per-game upper-level-seat promotion that runs through Friday. The Wolves said about one-third of the new season-ticket purchases, ranging from $20 to $750 (courtside) per game, were in the lower level of Target Center. Rubio, meanwhile, was to work out informally with some of his new Wolves teammates Monday in pickup games at Target Center, then return home to Barcelona that evening. ... By the way, a portion of Rubio's No. 9 jersey sales -- like revenue from all NBA jersey sales -- is shared equally by members of the NBA Players Association, regardless of the amount sold individually."
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle: "I found Kevin McHale lying on a training table getting his left ankle and hip worked on Monday afternoon. Is this guy making an effort to fit in or what? 'Arthritic ankle,' he said. Been there, done that, buddy. Torn this. Broken that. We've had our share. Besides, McHale's new team will be perfectly happy if he's the only guy using those training tables at Toyota Center next season. 'Too many sprained ankles,' he said. 'I played on it a couple of times when I shouldn't have. It's nothing really major -- just an inconvenience.' McHale had spent the morning on the practice court with his new team, beginning very gradually to evaluate what he has. That he's back in this position at all is a surprise to plenty of people who never thought he'd coach again after the Timberwolves gave him the boot two years ago. McHale probably thought the same thing, but after about six months, the only life he'd ever known began to tug at him. ... McHale is likely to have an odd first season with the Rockets. He's around his players only until the lockout begins, which probably will be Friday. After that, it could be months before the NBA is back in business. But McHale is back in the arena, back where he wanted to be and where he feels the most comfortable."
Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star: "In a more cynical world, it could be said that George Hill's public introduction was a bit over-the-top for a 30-minute-per-game player. It's not like Dwight Howard or Eric Gordon just walked through the door. And yet ... why not? Why not celebrate what's right now about the Indiana Pacers? Hill represents what the Pacers are becoming, a civically responsible organization that will no longer embarrass the city on the floor or off. Hill is not a star, not even close, and yet, he's the embodiment of a franchise that has finally shed the yoke of 'The Brawl' and all the other nonsense that had Pacers beat writers on 24-hour police-beat alert. 'I grew up a Pacers fan,' said Hill, who grew up on the city's Northside and graduated from Broad Ripple High School. 'I was heartbroken when things went bad for them. I hated seeing what happened here. But give the organization credit: They moved out a lot of those guys and they've rebuilt. And I'm glad to be a part of that.' Hill is a building block. Not a game-changer, but a building block. He's a building block on the floor, where he can play both guard positions and has the length to defend the other team's best backcourt player. The next time the Pacers face the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs, Hill will get to defend Derrick Rose, instead of having Paul George exhaust himself in the process."
Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Is Joe Johnson’s contract worse than Jon Koncak’s notorious deal? Yes. Koncak re-upped for $13 million over six seasons, which was big money in 1989. Johnson stayed for $123 million over six seasons, which is huge money now. Koncak was 26 when he signed his new contract; Johnson had just turned 29. The Hawks will have little wiggle room so long as Johnson is a Hawk, and he’s under contract through 2016. Whoa. ... Is there any hope here? Sure. Horford and Smith and Johnson are good-to-excellent players, and Teague shows promise. If the Hawks make the right trade involving Smith, they could remain one of the better teams in the East. But the core, which has existed since 2007, needs to change. They didn’t sink from 53 victories in 2009-2010 to 44 last season because a bunch of guys got hurt; they got worse because the guys on hand stopped playing as well together. It’s up to general manager Rick Sund to rearrange the elements."
Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel "Brandon Jennings has a new supporting cast in the Milwaukee Bucks' backcourt. Bucks general manager John Hammond made some big changes in a draft-day shakeup last week as he traded away veterans John Salmons and Corey Maggette. And Hammond brought in wing player Stephen Jackson and combo guard Shaun Livingston from Charlotte and point guard Beno Udrih from Sacramento. If all goes according to the Bucks' plan, the changes will relieve some of the ball-handling pressure on Jennings and give the team more playmaking options on the floor. Say Jackson and Jennings are in the backcourt, with Carlos Delfino at small forward, Drew Gooden or Ersan Ilyasova at power forward and Andrew Bogut at center. That would be a conventional lineup. Or maybe put the 6-foot-7 Livingston in the lineup with Udrih, Jackson, Delfino and Bogut. There are plenty of options for Bucks coach Scott Skiles."
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: "There are myriad reasons general manager Gar Forman sounded confident the Bulls eventually will sign Nikola Mirotic, whose rights were acquired Thursday from the Timberwolves when the Bulls moved up in a draft-day trade. Two of them are Omer Asik and Ivica Dukan. Mirotic is under contract with Real Madrid through 2015 with a buyout of roughly $2 million Euros, according to sources. The Bulls' plan is to let him develop overseas for at least two to three seasons before negotiating a buyout. They took a similar approach with Asik, who just finished his rookie season after the Bulls acquired him in a draft-day trade in 2008. Dukan is the Bulls' longtime international scout who has a longstanding professional relationship with Real Madrid officials. 'We can't say for sure when he'll be able to come over, but we're hopeful he'll be a big part of what we're doing,' Forman said Monday at the Berto Center. 'In our speaking with him, his desire and dream is to play in the NBA at some point.' Monday marked Forman's first public comments about Mirotic, whom the Bulls projected as a lottery talent whose contract status scared off teams."
Scott Souza of the MetroWest Daily News: "Given the chance to pick a more celebrated player in Texas forward Jordan Hamilton or Providence guard Marshon Brooks, Ainge traded down two spots in the first round and went with Johnson at No. 27. Late in the second round, when it became all the rage for NBA teams to draft foreign players they could stash away for a season or two, Ainge went with a player he felt could contend for playing time immediately in Moore at No. 55. Some might call them the safe choices in a weak draft with few, if any, sure things. But together they are determined to show betting on a pair of four-year college players was the smart choice as well. ... 'I would say it was a great choice,' Johnson said of returning to Purdue. 'That extra year really helped us develop our games. We matured and we won.' Yet, for all they achieved as seniors, they hit the draft circuit with a bit of a stigma. In the era of the one-and-done college phenom, there is a feeling among many that if a player were that good he would never have made it to graduation day. 'We both thought it was better to go back and get our NBA game ready,' Moore countered. 'That way we'd have a better chance to come in and play right away.' Ainge and the Celtics agreed. While other teams have spent the last few days touting the tremendous upside of their picks, Ainge has happily touted his picks' degrees in organizational leadership and supervision. 'That's not very common in this day and age,' Ainge said of the diplomas. 'These guys improved a lot over the course of their college careers. They played in a lot of big games in hostile environments.' "
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News: "Jeremy Tyler was the natural center of attention Monday, with a large emphasis on the 'natural' part of the entire event. We had questions, he had answers. The cameras and lights pointed his way, and he never flinched. Tyler wasn't aloof or distracted; he looked you in the eye, listened and was engaging, thoughtful and incredibly, incredibly patient. And at the tail end of the Warriors' introductory news conference for their three-player draft haul (along with Klay Thompson and Charles Jenkins), Tyler even helpfully pointed out one last raised hand after a team official got ready to end the session. He can, in a news conference environment, do it all, apparently. 'I knew I belonged,' Tyler said of his odd road to the NBA, 'I just knew I needed to find my place.' Of course, this scene had zero to do with running the right play, listening to his coach or battling in the low post. Some horrendous NBA big men have been particularly friendly to coaches, teammates and the media -- and so what? Some great ones have had no time or tolerance for most humans on earth. Yet they won. But because this was Tyler's first moment as a Warrior -- after a tour through Israel and Japan -- it was fairly significant. First impression: If Tyler is immature and tough to coach, it did not come across Monday."
Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News: "NBA owners could give the go-ahead for a Friday lockout when they meet Tuesday in Dallas. During the Board of Governors meeting, owners will receive an update on the stalemated negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement from commissioner David Stern and Spurs owner Peter Holt, head of the owners' labor relations committee. Currently at an impasse over major economic issues, the two sides have no plans to meet in Dallas, and Stern has said that an owners' vote could be done electronically at any time before the CBA expires on Thursday at midnight. Seeking major changes in the way money is divided with the players, along with securing a more favorable split for its side, a majority of owners is said to be in favor of shutting down the league. Owners and players have made almost no progress during the last 18 months of talks. They're scheduled to meet Wednesday and possibly Thursday in Manhattan, but neither side is hopeful of an 11th-hour breakthrough."
Local Motors Rally Fighter takes flight - Click above to watch video after the jump
We've been itching to slide behind the wheel of the Local Motors Rally Fighter since we first got word of the off-road coupe. The $70,000 beast gets its power from a 430-horsepower, General Motors-sourced V8 engine, and it boasts enough ground clearance to tackle the Baja 1,000 on its way to the grocery store. We haven't gotten an invite to come play in the dirt with Local Motors just yet, so we'll just have to live vicariously through the crew at Translogic. The show recently spent some time in the cockpit of the Rally Fighter, took a quick tour of the Local Motors manufacturing facility and spoke with head honcho Jay Rogers.
Color us jealous.
Rogers took the time to speak about the development process behind the Rally Fighter, including the decision to use tail lamp housings from the Honda Civic Coupe, how the design came together and the huge role that crowd sourcing played in the vehicle's development. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.
To the casual sports fan -- like the helpful videographer sitting next to me at the Nike Elite Skills Camps at Attack Athletics this weekend -- Robinson's name immediately conjures the devastating image of him consoling his young sister at the funeral of his mother, who suffered a heart attack at the age of 43 in January. Lisa Robinson was the third member of Robinson's family, along with his grandfather and grandmother, to pass away in a three-week span in January, leaving Robinson and his 7-year-old sister without any family they had ever been close to.
"Oh, that's the kid from Kansas," the videographer said. "Lost his mom this season, right? Awful story."
It's safe to say Thomas Robinson wants to be known for more than heartache. Who wouldn't?
The good news: If Robinson plays his junior season at Kansas the way he played at the Amar'e Stoudamire Skills Academy on Saturday, that increased recognition -- and a cherished lottery spot in the jam-packed 2012 NBA draft -- is sure to follow.
It's hard to learn much from these camps, which are largely designed with NBA scouts in mind. But on Saturday, as some of the nation's best collegiate forwards (with Jared Sullinger, Alex Oriakhi and Mouphtaou Yarou among them) ran two hours of five-on-five scrimmages with some of the nation's best guards, it was impossible to ignore Robinson's play. The Jayhawk flew down the court, challenged shots at the rim, finished inside rebounds and low-post moves with strength and athleticism, and threw down the indisputable dunk of the day -- a cocked one-handed fast break alley-oop that caused plenty of stone-faced NBA scouts in attendance to cast each other knowingly excited glances.
Those scouts had no doubt seen Robinson before. After all, the forward was a rebounding force as a sophomore. Robinson grabbed 18.8 percent of available boards on the offensive end in 2011, which is nearly as impressive as his 31.1 percent rebounding rate on the defensive end. Robinson didn't play the minimum number of minutes to qualify for Ken Pomeroy's individual player rankings in those statistics. If he did (assuming his rates would have stayed as high in a larger sample size), Robinson would have ranked No. 3 in the nation in OR% and No. 2 in DR%.
The reason -- or reasons -- Robinson didn't get those minutes begins with an "M" and ends with "Orii." Marcus and Markieff Morris lorded over the Kansas frontcourt in 2011, much like Cole Aldrich dominated the Jayhawks' interior in 2010. As Robinson said Saturday (as you can see in the above clip), he had only limited opportunities to showcase his skills.
Now, after the Morris twins' back-to-back selections in last Thursday's NBA draft -- and with no obvious incoming freshmen ready to step in just yet -- Robinson will move into a much larger role in the Kansas frontcourt. He's likely to be joined by 7-foot center junior Jeff Withey, the only other returning forward on the roster.
Whether Robinson will be able to maintain his gaudy efficiency numbers is yet to be seen. Withey won't quite attract the attention of defenses the way the Morris twins did. Robinson also needs to prove he can harness a true post game; in 2011, Robinson was a rim-runner, an athletic forward who saw a shot go up and attacked it with gusto, but not one who frequently initiated his own offense with his back to the basket. Those are among the changes Robinson said he was working on this weekend, in addition to his outside jumper and his passing. He's already anticipating the double-teams.
Still, it's not easy to step into a gym with Sullinger, Yarou, Oriakhi, Mason and Miles Plumlee and even touted Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis and look like the best player on the floor. That's what Robinson did Saturday. If all goes as planned, we'll remember that performance as a mere preview of what Kansas fans have to look forward to in 2011-12. By then, everyone will know Thomas Robinson's name. Only this time, it'll be on his terms.
EVO lines up the exotics - Click above to watch the video after the break
Americans seem to be uniquely obsessed with drag racing in a straight line as a means of measuring automotive performance, but when British magazine EVO decided to line up the latest set of ultra-fast exotic machinery, not a single piece of American iron was present.
Not that we have any complaints about EVO's chosen group of supercars. Representing Italy is the Ferrari 458, and from Germany hails the Porsche 911 Turbo S. These two traditional power players are matched up against the best Britain has to offer; namely the McLaren MP4-12C and Noble M600.
Now that the players have been established, naturally we all want to know which was the quickest. Not surprisingly, the results were dependent on the distance measured just as much as they were by the vehicles themselves. We won't spoil the ending for you, but we will say that it was close and that you should never count out the underdog. Check out the action in the video after the break.
the only guy using those training tables at Toyota Center next season. 'Too many sprained ankles,' he said. 'I played on it a couple of times when I shouldn't have. It's nothing really major -- just an inconvenience.' McHale had spent the morning on the practice court with his new team, beginning very gradually to evaluate what he has. That he's back in this position at all is a surprise to plenty of people who never thought he'd coach again after the Timberwolves gave him the boot two years ago. McHale probably thought the same thing, but after about six months, the only life he'd ever known began to tug at him. ... McHale is likely to have an odd first season with the Rockets. He's around his players only until the lockout begins, which probably will be Friday. After that, it could be months before the NBA is back in business. But McHale is back in the arena, back where he wanted to be and where he feels the most comfortable."
