Good morning, Kobe and LeBron are very different leaders
That and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
ARE THE LAKERS THE WORST TEAM IN THE NBA? If you acknowledge that the Sixers are not really an NBA team at this juncture, I think there’s a case that L.A. will be the worst team in the league.
TODAY IN LUNATIC KOBE: Captain Kobe said that if Julius Randle effs up the situation he’s been put in, then he’s a big effing idiot. Okay!
AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT IN CLEVELAND: LeBron James called a players’ only meeting to outline what he expects from each of his teammates. Dion Waiters was impressed, which is something.
PRESEASON FIGHT! Blake Griffin and Trevor Booker do not like each other. At all.
ROOKIE REPORT: Which rookies are standing out so far? Kevin Zimmerman takes a look.
WELPVILLE, POPULATION 1: The Spurs rested a bunch of stars for a preseason game in Phoenix. Gregg Popovich didn’t even travel. So in the fourth quarter Suns franchisee Robert Sarver got on the mic to apologize to the Phoenicians in attendance for the Spurs’ selfishness. The next day, Pop cuts down Sarver in like two sentences, one of which refers to a chicken suit. POP.
NBA BLOG PREVIEWS: The Kings at Sactown Royalty and Toronto at Raptors HQ.
EXTENSION RUMORS: Marc Stein has the latest on the Class of 2011 candidates, with just 11 days to go before the deadline.
GOOD POINT: Lionel Hollins says it’s the pace of the NBA schedule, not the overall length of the season or games, that should be looked at. In theory, decreasing the number of games would ease the schedule.
KERR’S IMPACT: Interesting piece by the great Howard Beck on what the Warriors were missing under Mark Jackson and what Steve Kerr hopes to bring.
WHEN THE GARDEN WAS EDEN: The doc based on Harvey Araton’s ‘70s Knicks tome airs 9 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN. Here’s a preview.
PLAYING WITH FIRE: “Did #NBArank overrate Kobe?“
ALSO PLAYING WITH FIRE: Alec Burks crosses the hell out of Kobe in broad daylight. Bold man.
Happy Monday. See you next time.
