Owners Budge on Their Hard Cap Demand

September 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

That glimmer of optimism we had a few weeks ago when we thought talks were heating up, quickly died. The news then was that while the players made concessions on the amount of basketball related income (BRI) they would be willing to take, the owners reportedly wouldn’t budge on their demand for a had cap. Translation: a stalemate. But it looks like that has changes as result of yesterday’s meeting.

NBA commissioner David Stern offered a new proposal to the players’ union in Tuesday’s labor talks that modestly budged from the owners’ long-held position on establishing a hard cap, according to league sources familiar with the negotiations.

Sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher that the owners did not offer players a finite annual team limit on salaries but as of Tuesday night were willing to relax the cap only if the following conditions are met:

• The “Larry Bird exception,” which allows teams to exceed the cap to retain their own free agents regardless of their other committed salaries, is limited to one player per team per season.

• The mid-level exception, which the league valued at $7.4 million last season and could be extended by as many as five years, is reduced in length and size.

• The current luxury tax, the $1-for-$1 penalty a team must pay to the league for the amount it exceeds the salary cap, is to be severely increased

Source: ESPN.com.

Blazers Legend Arvydas Sabonis Suffers Heart Attack

September 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

Portland Trailblazers nation received some very sad news yesterday that legendary center Arvydas Sabonis suffered a heart attack while playing basketball on Tuesday night. At first reports stated Sabonis was in critical condition, but the latest reports on Blazersedge.com are stating Sabonis is stable and will be spending a week in hospital with a non-life threatening condition at this point.

Lithuanian news site Delfi.lt reports that former Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis suffered a heart attack while playing basketball Tuesday night.

Spanish website CadenaSer.com reported soon after that Sabonis did suffer a heart attack but quoted Arturo Ortega, a representative for Sabonis, who said the center was “out of danger.” Lrytas.lt reports that Sabonis has “stabilized.” LTBasket.com reports that Sabonis’ life is not in danger but that he “will still spend the night in [the] hospital.”

Updates: Sportalas.com reports that Sabonis will “spend at least one week in the hospital.”

The Blazers issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon: The Portland Trail Blazers have confirmed that Arvydas Sabonis has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack in his native Lithuania. His condition is believed to be non-life threatening. Our thoughts are with Arvydas and his family at this time. We wish him well in a speedy recovery.”

Will the Facebook Timeline Feature Benefit the NBA?

September 28, 2011 – Dane Carbaugh

Long ago, way back before most of you started seeing David Stern and Adam Silver as Statler and Waldorf, the NBA was a league that fully embraced social media as a part of its marketing plan. As clips were amiably put up on YouTube, Twitter accounts were created and Facebook fan pages were managed and encouraged, the NBA cleverly cornered their target demographic while capitalizing on an increasingly compelling product on the court.

While the NBA lockout is going on, it may be easy to forget this obvious fact: the NBA is good at using social media marketing. The threats of over-zealous punishment for mention of athletes may seem anything but cutting edge but after the two sides are finished the Association will be back on the horse of social media marketing. More than ever, they’re going to need it.

On Thursday Facebook held their annual f8 conference, where they announced new changes and a new direction for Facebook. The biggest change to the platform is the new Timeline function, which stands not just as a new feature and layout change but a fundamental change to the idea of social media and Facebook. The Timeline function will allow users to add in every detail of their life, essentially creating a living online scrapbook.

The idea is much different than what we’ve imagined in social media before, where items you chose to share were carefully crafted to create an online version of yourself that may or may not be entirely truthful. Now, with a new “frictionless” interface — essentially where anything you do online can be automatically set to post to your Facebook wall — it’s a more in-depth experience. And often, a weird one.

How and if companies will be able to use Timeline on their pages isn’t yet clear, but there will most certainly be some kind of integration or feature that mimics the timeline for companies. For the NBA, the Timeline could be an incredibly powerful tool. Not only can items from the past be added to your timeline — we’re talking Naismith and peaches here — but running dialogues can be recorded, especially important photos and videos can be recorded by historians and added to the NBA timeline. Really, if an entity could benefit from using the Timeline function, who better to use it than the NBA? (That and Nike/Apple I guess)

By the time the NBA allows itself to again utter unto themselves the surnames of their players a feature set for Facebook pages and Timeline will have been resolved. If they’re smart, they’ll start organizing with new media directors and historians (ahem) in order to gameplan for what would go on a prospective NBA timeline. Think The Book of Basketball except without the smarmy Bostonian asides. Stern, Silver and the rest of the crew in the NBA offices have a lot on their plate but I hope they’ve got something brewing for events like this because the marketing push come the end of lockout time is going to have to be drastic and swift.

Dane Carbaugh is a published research author and can be found writing about the NBA all over the Internet. He can be found on Twitter at @DaneCarbaugh

Miami’s Big Three Planning an All-Star Game in Miami Next Week

September 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

With the lockout still looming over the heads of NBA fans, Lebron James and the Miami Heat’s ‘Big Three’ want to give fans what they are craving. James, Wade, and Bosh are apparently planning An All-star game of players from various NBA franchises. And if NBA action isn’t enough to entertain you, apparently Kevin Hart and Rick Ross are set to be the two teams coaches:

The game will be held on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. ET at Florida International University, where Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is coach. All proceeds will go toward a charity supporting the educational community of South Florida.

A number of NBA players are slated to join the Miami trio on the court, including fellow Heat teammate Mario Chalmers, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul, the Washington Wizards’ John Wall, the Atlanta Hawks’ Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson, the Houston Rockets’ Jonny Flynn, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Eric Bledsoe, the Dallas Mavericks’ Caron Butler, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay, the Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Lou Williams, the Golden State Warriors’ Dorell Wright, and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Wesley Matthews and free agent Eddy Curry.

Cleveland Cavaliers first-round picks Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson also are possible participants in the game.

Irving and Thompson are waiting to see if a spot opens up, a source told ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst. Other rookies, the source said, were interested but there’s no room in the game for other first-year players. There’s no interest in 15-player rosters because players want to be able to play in the game and not sit on the bench.

The source told ESPN.com’s Windhorst that there could have been two games played because there was so much interest from NBA players.

Via Source ESPN.com

Kyrie Irving’s Foot Needs 3 Months To Heal

September 28, 2011 – Allen Moll

What we all speculated during last year’s NCAA Tournament, that Duke’s fab freshman PG Kyrie Irving wasn’t playing at 100%, was apparently true. Per a story at the Cleveland Plains Dealer, doctors have told Irving that his injured right foot won’t be completely healed for another 3 months.

Would this information have made a difference in the Cavaliers possibly selecting Arizona forward Derrick Williams instead of Irving in the 2011 NBA Draft? Anything is possible, but word was that Irving was always Cleveland’s top choice, based on team need. After all, incumbent PG Baron Davis is like 45 years old by now…right?

Irving claims he “feels 150%” but also admitted that the Lockout may be a blessing in disguise since he intends to hit the ground running once league play officially begins. Still only age 19, Kyrie has decided to concentrate on education rather than attempting to play overseas. That should be a smart decision considering he has a guaranteed deal on this side of the pond.

If you remember, Irving was selected as the #1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, even though he played only 11 games at Duke. In those games, he did showcase an elite level ability that should translate well to the next level, but many questioned Cleveland selecting the former McDonald’s All American with the top pick, especially after appearing a bit tentative and showing some obvious effects from the lingering toe injury upon returning to action during the NCAA Tournament.

During March Madness Irving cited the reason for attempting to return earlier than anticipated was that he “wanted to play with his teammates” and obviously help win a national championship.

Kyrie is taking 4 courses this semester, African American Studies, Theater, and 2 Psychology classes, in an attempt to finish his sophomore year at Duke before playing in his first NBA game.

Check out Kyrie Irving’s Duke Highlights:

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

Air Jordan III ‘Denim’ and ‘Khaki’

September 27, 2011 – Ben Berry

Without a doubt the Air Jordan III is one of the most iconic silhouettes in the sneaker world. After seeing an onslaught of Jordan III colorways since the release of the Doernbecher edition last November there was bound to be pairs that didn’t receive a barcode and these two samples are the perfect example of that.

Air Jordan III ‘Denim’

The first Jordan III that we look at is a pair has come to be simply known as the Air Jordan III ‘Denim’. This pair has an upper constructed completely from dark blue denim very similar to the denim used on the Levi x Air Jordan collaboration that dropped back in 2008. The midsole is entirely white as are the laces and top eyelets while a khaki color is seen on the stitching, inside the elephant print, and on the Jumpman branding seen on the front and back of the sneaker.

Air Jordan III ‘Khaki’

Pictured above is the Air Jordan III ‘Khaki’. On this sneaker monochromatic khaki-colored suede is used in place of the traditional leather upper which most people are used to seeing on this shoe. The Khaki Jordan III bears the same elephant print and midsole coloring as the Denim pair right down to the gum bottom.

Ohio State Recruit LaQuinton Ross Ruled Ineligible

September 27, 2011 – Allen Moll

Not too many coaches in the college ranks can recruit as well as Ohio State Buckeye head man Thad Matta. He annually reels in one of the Top 10 recruiting classes in the country and has seen many of his players move on to the professional ranks like most recently Greg Oden, Mike Conley, and Evan Turner.

Just last season, Matta relied heavily on the nation’s 2nd ranked class, led by All American Jared Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas. With upwards of 3 starters leaving via graduation from last year’s Big Ten title team, Matta and staff will be forced to rely even more on yet another highly touted freshman class.

For the upcoming season, he Buckeyes have secured the #8 ranked class, led by PG Shannon Scott, C Amir Williams, and SF LaQuinton Ross. With the returning Aaron Craft, Jared Sullinger, and William Buford probably already penciled in as starters, any number of the elite level incoming freshmen could be vying for significant playing time.

But this year’s prized crop of youngsters will unfortunately be without one of it’s key members with news that 6‘8 and 195lb SF LaQuinton Ross has been ruled academically ineligible because of a sliding scale used to attain grades at a former school in Mississippi prior to his arrival at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. Ross is rated as the #53 ranked recruit in the 2011 Class by ESPN.

Apparently the plan is to return home to Mississippi to retake a Math and English class, in addition to the SAT or ACT to improve his cumulative scores, re-qualify and attend Ohio State in January.

Ross has been an elite level prospect as early as his 9th grade year, since he was the lone freshman invited to the prestigious Lebron James Skills Camp back in 2007. If he returns this Winter, the prized recruit probably will come off the bench to spell sophomore forward DeShaun Thomas.

Check out Ross vs Georgetown recruit Dom Pointer:

Izzo and Williams Share Thoughts on Carrier Classic

September 27, 2011 – Joshua Sexton

On Veterans Day, the Michigan State Spartans will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the inaugural Carrier Classic. The game between the two storied college basketball programs will be played on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson.

I can’t think of a more patriotic, unique way of kicking off the 2011-12 college basketball season. But what do Tom Izzo and Roy Williams think about playing on the aircraft carrier? Check out the videos after the jump to listen to the two legendary coaches.

Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.

Sixers Replace Autistic Boy’s Stolen Hoop

September 27, 2011 – Allen Moll

In one of the feel good stories during the NBA Lockout, the Philadelphia 76ers are in the news for something other than bloated contracts(Elton Brand), disappointing rookies(Evan Turner), or star players that are continually on the trading block(Iguodala). The Sixers public relations staff is amongst the best in the business and they proved just that this past week by coming to the aid of an autistic boy from the Philly suburbs who had his basketball hoop stolen by thieves.

Earlier in the week, eleven year old Ojay Harris was devastated when he discovered his only outlet for enjoyment, shooting hoops on his favorite backyard basketball hoop, was taken away from him, stolen during the night, probably sold for pennies on the dollar for scrap metal.

In an interview with CBS Philly, Ojay’s father admitted his son was brought to tears upon first learning his prized possession was missing and even pleaded for the thieves to return the hoop, with no questions asked. Anyone who has a family member with autism knows that for Ojay, the incident meant much more than a replaceable recreational item, but had the potential to be a gut wrenching loss, with devastating emotional effects.

The news story touched hearts all across the Philadelphia region with tons of local families pledging to help replace the stolen hoop. But it was the Philadelphia 76ers who were the first to step into action by making a phone call to Ojay’s father and making a subsequent surprise visit to the Harris residence.

Headed by former Sixer standout World B. Free, the team surprised Ojay with a brand new official 76ers hoop and giant banner, prominently hung on the side of the Ojay household, along with tons of Sixers gear, new shoes, and and impromptu game of one-on-one with Sixers mascot Hip-Hop.

While the new hoop and gear are a nice touch to help out a young boy who’s life was turned upside down this past week, the Sixers should be commended for helping make little Ojay feel like an official member of the Sixers family, even if it is for one day.