- I’m not usually going to link to the huge stories that everyone reads, but David Aldridge wrote about Ricky Rubio in his massive weekly “The Morning Tip” column. I read Aldridge every week, I’m pumped about seeing Rubio in Toronto tonight, and I can’t recommend this enough. Great piece on teams adjusting to the condensed schedule in there, too.
- More on adjusting to the schedule, from a training and conditioning perspective: a video feature featuring Nuggets players and trainer Steve Hess.
- Sam Smith caught up with Phil Jackson. I love his answer to Smith’s question about becoming a GM: “GMs have to lie too much,” Jackson said with a laugh. “It’s one of the hardest things to do is to be a prevaricator, or whatever you want to call it, to equivocate all the time. It’s almost like being in political office. I’d prefer some behind the scenes type situation where you can actually have a difference in the character of the people coming to work both in coaching aspect and players. That make sense in that type of management.”
- Ted Leonsis did not have fun at the Wizards/Wolves game yesterday. Also, I cannot believe this Rashard Lewis thing or the fact that Andray Blatche is complaining about guys trying to do it their own way. What a mess. I really want to like watching this Washington team, but this year has been rough.
- Ian Mahinmi wore hipster glasses and a bowtie to meet the President. Mahinmi is the best. (Here is a better picture after leaving the White House.)
- Tyrone Corbin reflecting on Deron Williams’s time with the Jazz: “ He’s a tremendous competitor. I had him here — I was here when he first came in the league and could see his growth and his body and his game and his maturity from the time he first came. His understanding on how to be one of the best point guards; his desire to be the best point guard in the league was tremendous, man.”
- The D-League Showcase just tipped off in Reno. You should read Scott Schroeder and Rob Mahoney to learn more. Also, props to Mahoney for throwing a Jerome Randle mention in there.
- A nice story about the Sixers’ Nikola Vucevic and his father.
- Darnell Mayberry on Reggie Jackson, who is suddenly a very important player for the Thunder.
- Fans in Philly chanted Spencer Hawes’s name. Also, via Evan Dunlap, Hawes leads the league in defensive rating right now. This season is weird/awesome.
- Beneath the bit about Dwight Howard’s trade request, Josh Robbins notes that Otis Smith and Gilbert Arenas had lunch last week. We already know about Arenas and Smith’s close relationship — it must have been strange to use the amnesty provision on him.
- Via Eddie Sefko and Jeff Caplan: Rick Carlisle wants Rodrigue Beaubois to be better. I was high on him as a rookie and I think the Mavs are going to get a lot better as the season goes on. Hoping he’s a big part of that.
- Darius Soriano takes a look at how Andrew Bynum is developing and where he should go from here.
- At The Classical, Kate Perkins on Chauncey Billups, the Clipper.
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