Around the NBA.

[Greenbacks]

NBA coaches will wear a lapel pin this season to honor the memory of Flip Saunders, according to Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, president of the NBA coaches' association.

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[Greenbacks]

Marc Stein will be at Staples Center on Wednesday night for the beginning of Kobe Bryant's 20th season wearing Forum blue and gold. See where Stein ranks the Lakers coming off the worst season in franchise history
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[Greenbacks]

Carmelo Anthony talks about being an athlete in New York City in his web series with VICE Sports: "New York is the greatest city on the planet, I think. But you’re not a New Yorker if you don’t wake up some days and be like, '--- this place.' You know what I mean? Like I don’t care who you are…. Everybody wakes up some days and says ‘Man, --- New York.’ New York is known for being the best. With that being said, there’s no patience here in New York. So you kind of adapt to that mentality .... One day you’re the best thing since sliced bread and one day you’re the scum on the bottom of somebody’s shoe."

 

[Greenbacks]

Russell not a sure bet to make starting 5



Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell started five of the seven exhibition games he played in the preseason, but coach Byron Scott won't lock the rookie into the starting lineup for Wednesday's opener. "I don't know that yet," Scott said.

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[Greenbacks]

ESPN's #NBArank countdown gets into superstar territory with Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol, who checks in at No. 10. He improved his positioning by four spots from last year

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Thunder stars visit OK St. crash victims

[/h]

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were among the Thunder players who made a hospital visit to the victims of Saturday's tragic car crash at the Oklahoma State homecoming parade in Stillwater. Oklahoma State football players and cheerleaders were also in attendance.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Paul George a first-round fantasy pick?

[/h]The Pacers star is a little more than a year removed from his horrific leg injury, and now he's even back in the running to be a top fantasy option this season.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]LeBron to Cleveland: the first move

[/h]From The Mag: "On July 11, 2014, LeBron James places three calls—to Dwyane Wade, Heat owner Micky Arison and Heat president Pat Riley, telling each he’s leaving Miami. As his essay is being read by millions, he places another call, this time to Kevin Love... LeBron’s call ends with Love saying, 'I’m in,' and Love’s agent is on the phone with the Cavs within minutes

 

[Greenbacks]

LeBron James: I'm 'ready to go' for opener



James had been limited in practice since receiving an anti-inflammatory injection in his back Oct. 13, but he said he feels good and will be active for the Cavaliers' season opener Tuesday in Chicago.

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[Greenbacks]

Thabo Sefalosha said he will file a civil suit against the city of New York, the NYPD and the officers involved in an incident April 8 that left him with a broken leg. Sefolosha said Monday that he still hasn't fully healed from his injuries.

 

[Greenbacks]

Mavs, Carlisle close to 5-year deal

The Mavericks and head coach Rick Carlisle are in advanced negotiations on a contract extension that would keep him in Dallas for more than a decade, a league source told ESPN's Marc Stein

 

[Greenbacks]

Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who has been limited by a leg bruise that he suffered nearly two weeks ago, completed about three-fourths of Monday's practice. "He said he’s getting better," said Lakers coach Byron Scott. "We’ll see how he feels [Tuesday], but right now, I’m pretty happy and pretty excited that he’ll probably be able to play Wednesday." The Lakers open their regular season Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.

 

[Greenbacks]

With the season one day away, ESPN's Marc Stein ranks the NBA's very best (Warriors), the very worst (76ers) and everyone in between

 

[Greenbacks]

Metta World Peace on making the Lakers' regular-season roster after being out of the NBA last year: "It’s been interesting. [It's] the first time I’ve ever been in a situation where I was [on a] nonguaranteed [deal] and fighting for a spot...The only thing I can say is it’s harder than people think. It wasn’t easy a vet and trying to get back in the league. It was not easy. It was like working hard all over again. So I don’t want people to think that I just didn’t work and somehow got lucky."

 

[Greenbacks]

Here’s notorious Knicks critic and TNT analyst Charles Barkley on NYK: “The Knicks are one of my sleeper teams. I think they will make the playoffs. I think Phil Jackson’s done a good job getting quality NBA players. Porzingis, he’s obviously a young kid with tremendous upside … Lopez is a legitimate NBA player, Arron Afflalo is an NBA player, Grant is an NBA player, you got Derrick Williams -- they’ve got actual NBA players. I’m picking the Knicks to make the playoffs. I’m guaranteeing it!”

 

[Greenbacks]

Dirk Nowitzki was spot-on as a character from "The Addams Family," while Russell Westbrook perfectly captured the look of a current OKC teammate.

 

[Greenbacks]

With LeBron James dealing with back issues, ESPN's Brian Windhorst says he expects the Cavs to scale back LeBron's minutes and games played: "I wouldn't be surprised if he played less than 70 games this season."

 

[Greenbacks]

Kevin Durant was asked if he's looking forward to this season opener more than previous ones: "Actually this is the first time I'm like, 'I don't care.' I know what's important, I know where you win championships at. Obviously every game is important, you want to get better. So I'm not looking at it as our championship, I'm looking at it as another step in a direction we want to go to."

 

[Greenbacks]

Kevin McHale with some warm thoughts on the passing of Flip Saunders. "Sad day, really sad," McHale said. "Knew Flip since I was a high school kid."

 

[Greenbacks]

Among the last people on the floor after practice is James Harden and Marcus Thornton. Ty Lawson is also here taking extra shots.

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