Insider: Stephen Curry makes sure the shoe fits
After missing nine games with multiple ankle sprains, Stephen Curry has taken extra care with his basketball shoes to protect his ankles.
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Why Michigan Basketball Will Never Trump Michigan State’s Program
Three consecutive losses to rival Michigan apparently had little effect on the confidence of Spartan senior leader Draymond Green.
Even after an ugly one-point loss to Big Ten rival Illinois and a knee sprain, Green declared that only “death” could keep him from suiting up against the Wolverines.
Michigan State’s do-it-all forward even possessed the brashness to guarantee a win for his team last Sunday. He then proceeded to back it up with one of the gutsiest performances in Spartan history. His 14-point, 16 rebound, 4 assist effort helped lead his team past Michigan 64-54.
For Michigan State basketball players though, this insatiable will to win exhibited Sunday by Green is expected, not applauded, primarily thanks to one man.
Spartan’s head coach Tom Izzo is a Michigan man himself, hailing from a town called Iron Mountain.
Not only does Iron Mountain signify Coach Izzo’s birthplace, but also his uncompromising coaching style.
One of Coach Izzo’s favorite practice drills, imitated in hundreds of high school gyms across the country, is called “war.” The idea of the drill is fairly simplistic: five players starting on the interior try to collect a rebound against five players spaced out along the three-point line.
Nearly every basketball rule is tossed out the window during war. Fellow teammates crash into each other like linemen, until the drill eventually resembles a scene from Fight Club. Izzo’s motto, that “players play, but tough players win” is never more evident than during a competitive game of war.
The physicality that Izzo demands has been a calling card for the program since 1995, when he assumed head coaching responsibilities.
Since that time, Spartan fans have witnessed a remarkable stretch of sustained excellence: One NCAA national championship, 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, six Big Ten championships, six Final Four appearances and a 19-11 record against Michigan.
For Izzo, the formula for success always goes back to his team’s ability to out-work any opponent they face. Year after year, Michigan State excels in rebounding and team defense—two areas of basketball dictated more by will than skill.
From the recruiting process on up, State keys in on team-first players who set their personal agendas aside for the team’s benefit.
During MSU’s remarkable 15-year run, Coach Izzo has continually proven that he doesn’t need North Carolina or Kentucky talent to make a deep run in March; only the right group of guys.
This culture of toughness has paved the way for one of college basketball’s elite programs and will always place them a cut above the neighboring basketball program in Ann Arbor. Whether it’s head-to-head matchups (19-11 in the Izzo era) or postseason success, the Spartans remain superior to Michigan in almost every way.
Unlike the Spartans who pride themselves on this aforementioned effort, Michigan’s basketball program has never been about out-working opponents. Even during its golden days of the high-flying, trend-setting “Fab Five,” Michigan relied mostly on unbridled athleticism and raw talent. Since that time, the Wolverines have struggled mightily.
While Michigan has failed to discover an NCAA Tournament bid identity this side of the new millennium, Tom Izzo has been hard at work cultivating one of the finest basketball programs around.
From the 2000 NCAA Championship “Flintstones” team, whose nickname even oozes an element of ruggedness, to this year’s squad lead by battle-tested senior Draymond Green and a collection of younger players, each squad has been expected to physically and mentally strain immeasurably.
Michigan State will continue to re-load their arsenal with talented recruits intent on doing things the “Spartan way.” It doesn’t appear that Coach Tom Izzo’s impressive run will fizzle out anytime soon.
With all of his astounding MSU basketball records in mind, perhaps Izzo’s greatest accomplishment will be the indelible, rugged mark of expectation left on the Michigan State’s basketball program.
Toughness will forever be synonymous with Michigan State basketball. And until Michigan can overcome this either through tremendous talent or similar fortitude, they will never be considered the Spartan’s equals.
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Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari Latest Player to Catch Injury Bug
The NBA season is a tough test for teams mentally, emotionally and of course, physically.
For the Denver Nuggets, the injury bug has bitten hard, and numerous times, as of late.
Monday night it was Danilo Gallinari, Denver’s leading scorer and blossoming star in the making who rolled his ankle during the 99-90 loss to Houston while attempting a shot.
The long and lanky Gallinari limped off the court and into the locker room where X-rays revealed a fractured bone chip in his ankle. CT scans will be taken Tuesday to examine whether or not further damage was done to the ankle, but the news is at the least bad, and at the worst, catastrophic for Nuggets fans.
Gallo has turned into the Nuggets’ go-to-guy when they must have a bucket and developing into the man to take the last-second shots at the end of games.
His loss didn’t necessarily lead to Denver losing to the Rockets, but without Nene, Timofey Mozgov, Arron Afflalo and Corey Brewer, the Nuggets’ ship was sunk when Gallo went down.
Mozgov rolled his left ankle in the 117-97 loss to Portland and he could miss up to one to two weeks.
Afflalo’s gone through many injuries this year, the latest an ankle that has him listed as day-to-day.
Nene’s dealing with a bum heel while Brewer missed Monday’s game due to personal reasons.
And Lawson missed two games 10 days ago due to an ankle roll of his own leaving even the casual observer to ask, are the Nuggets cursed?
Denver was cruising through the NBA, running their record to a second-best in the West 14-5 mark.
But after winning six straight games, the Nuggets have dropped the last three straight and have gone 1-5 over their last six, plummeting in the standings to fourth (15-10) and at risk of falling out of the running.
Yes, it’s still early in the season, but it turns out Denver’s demonstrative depth will be tested, right now.
The Nuggets haven’t been playing their unselfish, uptempo, fun brand of basketball as of late, and it shows in the stats.
Denver’s No. 1 in scoring (104 PPG), fast break points (21.2), points in the paint (51.6), assists (21.4) and third in steals (9.1) and they’ve only done well in one of those categories—paint points—in their last three losses.
They’ve averaged 92 points, 17 fast break points, 47.2 points in the paint, 16.7 APG and 6.7 SPG over the last three games, as every one of their noteworthy numbers are significantly down compared to season averages that made them one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.
The Nuggets must get back to ball and player movement, which leads to open looks at the rim and high-percentage shots. Running the floor is also in their favor as the young team in the Mile High City can run any team out of any gym they find themselves playing in.
And as for right now, the Nuggs can stop the bleeding by sustaining through this rash of injuries that threatens to sink the team’s hopes for competing deep into the playoffs this season.
That being said, if Gallinari has to miss a majority of the remainder of the season, it will definitely hurt Denver as he’s their most potent scorer and his reckless abandon to the rim often draws fouls in his favor.
But this team was never billed as one revolving around one star, and if any team can keep their collective heads above water, it’s these Nuggets.
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being your Denver Nuggets Featured Columnist, Rich is the Denver Broncos and CSU Rams Examiner and Kurtzman also writes for Blake Street Bulletin, Stadium Journey and Mile High Hoops.
Follow Rich on Twitter for breaking news, need-to-know retweets and interesting insight on the Rams and everything Colorado sports related.
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Paul Pierce caught in Tony Allen cross fire (again)
Tony Allen has a knack for saying and doing… eh, why sugarcoat it… stupid things. Not all are intentional.
During an interview with CSNNE’s Jessica Camerato, TA spoke about his time in Boston and how he was able to earn minutes while playing with the Big 3.
“When I was over here, that was the only way that I could get on the court,“ Allen told CSNNE.com prior to the Celtics 98-80 win. “I couldn’t come out here and jack up 20 shots knowing Paul Pierce is alongside of me. So I had to do what Paul Pierce wasn’t doing — he wasn’t defending as well as I was, he wasn’t diving for the 50/50 loose balls as well I was, he wasn’t hitting the offensive glass as hard as I was. Doc saw that and I was able to get on the court.”
Before we jump to chastise Tony, let’s remember he played with Pierce for three seasons (2004- 07) before Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett arrived in town.
Pierce wasn’t always the team-first, defensive minded player he is now. It’s possible Tony…
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Purdue Boilmakers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes: A Win Isn’t the Only Goal for Purdue
The last time Purdue and Ohio State met, it was on February 20, 2011. Purdue was ranked 11th in the nation, while the Buckeyes were ranked second.
It was a great matchup where Purdue ended up winning in style. Mackey Arena was on fire, as was E’Twaun Moore who had 38 points. Purdue fans in attendance likely have this game at the top of their list of Purdue games. It was simply unbelievable, but the tides have turned.
After losing JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore to graduation, the Boilermakers have yet to rediscover the key to success.
While the Buckeyes are still one of the best in the nation, the Boilermakers are struggling to make the tournament.
Matt Painter summed up the issue with this squad in an interview after the loss to Indiana at home:
We’re inconsistent, we don’t have a balance. That’s the actual issue. We’re an inconsistent basketball team on both ends of the court.
In a loss that seemed to be gut-wrenching for both players and fans alike, it seemed like the Boilermakers lacked intensity, effort and focus.
This is scary for a Purdue program that prides itself upon making the extra play to save the ball or get the steal on defense.
In the same interview, Matt Painter said his team lacked intensity and Indiana wanted it more.
With the lack of NBA talent on this squad, they are going to have to do those extra things to be successful in conference play and beyond.
The only player that seemed to really care was D.J. Byrd.
Byrd was 5-of-10 from the field for 15 points, two rebounds and a block before fouling out. Byrd was diving for loose balls, hustling up and down the court—all while keeping Christian Watford in check for most of the game. The issue is that it’s going to take more than Byrd.
With the shooting woes this team is having, it’s going to take some serious luck to get out of Columbus with a respectable performance.
If Purdue comes out like they have in the last four or five games, this one is going to be over before it starts.
This game isn’t necessarily a complete loss if Purdue doesn’t win, however. Sure it goes as an “L” in the loss column, if it’s a loss. But the heart of this team will really show in Columbus.
With Purdue likely to be a 10-point underdog in Columbus, where the Buckeyes haven’t lost since 2010 to the Boilers, it will show how much fight this team has left in it.
Matt Painter put this pretty well:
I don’t mind the struggle, I just want to fight. You are going to struggle. I just want guys to stay together and fight.
Struggling is fine, but giving up is unacceptable.
Following Purdue for a while now, it isn’t unforeseeable to see them surprising a few people tomorrow night.
If the Boilermakers can get out of this shooting slump, it could be a huge momentum swing for the season.
Against Indiana, the starting lineup for Purdue shot just 22 percent from the field. As a team, they were outrebounded by 14.
Purdue has a lot to work out against Ohio State. Win or lose, something positive can come out of this game.
We’re going to see if this team is ready to give up, or if there is still hope for the rest of the season.
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Jeremy Lin: 5 Reasons He Is the Point Guard of the Future in New York
Jeremy Lin‘s spectacular play in the last two games is no fluke, and the second-year man is the Knicks’ long-term solution at point guard.
The former Harvard standout scored 25 points against the Nets on Saturday night, then followed up his breakout performance with a 28-point game in his first career start.
Lin has massive appeal because he is the first Asian-American basketball player to ever make it to the NBA.
His ethnicity is not the only reason he has received so much attention, and Lin has showed in the last two games that he is a force to be reckoned with.
Here are five reasons why Lin will be in the Knicks‘ starting lineup for years to come.
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Cleveland ready to move on from LeBron
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — When the media showed up to the Cavaliers practice facility Monday, all but one question was about the Cavaliers.
The other one came late in the interview session and was directed toward rookie point guard Kyrie Irving. It had something to do with the Miami Heat.
That’s the team the Cavs face Tuesday night (7:30 p.m., FOX Sports Ohio). It’s also the team for which LeBron James plays.
You remember James, don’t you? The Akron native whom the Cavs selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2003?
Sounds like a silly question, but there’s a point behind it. Namely, that most folks in these parts finally seem ready to focus on their own town and their own team — as well as Irving, their most recent No. 1 overall pick.
Really, that has to be considered good news.
It appears the Cavs and their fans are over James and his departure in the summer of 2010.
Now, the Cavs vs. Heat is about the actual game.
It’s about the Cavs’ win over world champion Dallas this past weekend, and over Boston six days before that.
It’s about Irving’s strong fourth quarters, the Cavs’ recent ability to overcome large deficits and make a game of things, and whether Irving and Anderson Varejao will make the All-Star team.
What it’s not about is James and the Heat. At least, not any more than it would be about Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers.
“It’s just another game to us,” Irving said in answering the lone Heat-based question. “The Miami Heat have a lot of talented players. (But) it’s not one person vs. another. It’s two teams.”
Clearly, Irving meant no disrespect to James or Miami. Just the opposite actually.
Irving was just stating the obvious. After all, only four players remain from James’ last team in Cleveland — Varejao, Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison. And Jamison was only teammates with James for less than half a season.
The Cavs have a whole new image now, a different mission. Unlike the LeBron era, nobody in Cleveland will be overly heartbroken if the Cavs don’t win the championship.
Instead, the Cavs want to see Irving continue to dazzle, Varejao continue to hustle and Alonzo Gee and others continue to energize off the bench.
The playoffs would be great, for sure. But not getting there would be OK, too — as the Cavs would be back in the lottery. That’s where they found Irving and rookie forward Tristan Thompson, two huge pieces to their future. And postseason or not, the Cavs could certainly use another young piece or three.
As for James and the Heat, well, you know the story.
Actually, the fact James’ decision to team up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh is hardly even a story these days. The Heat’s realistic quest for a title still makes headlines — but James’ decision sure doesn’t. Not in Cleveland, not anymore.
Now, don’t misunderstand.
Most Cavs fans are still angry with James. Most still root feverishly for the Heat to fail. Most still check James’ statistics in the box scores and the Heat’s progress in the standings.
The difference today, it seems, is they check to see what Irving and the Cavs are doing first.
In most cities, that may not be news. Free-agent superstars leave all the time in every sport. Heck, even Bosh did it in Toronto.
But in Cleveland, trying to forget the memory of James and conquer the concept of What Could Have Been has taken some real effort.
Unquestionably, that pain remains. Not like it once did, but it’s there.
But the Cavs and their fans have made big strides, bigger than a lot of folks thought they would, especially this soon. To them, James is just a member of the Heat. And Irving and Varejao and coach Byron Scott are members of the Cavs.
It’s the latter that feeds this city’s passion, and that tells you a lot about how far this city has come.
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4 Potential Moves Los Angeles Lakers Must Make to Help Kobe Bryant
After another disappointing road loss, it’s time for the Lake Show to make a move. Point guard play has been by far the most inconsistent (or nonexistent) position for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, and they would do well to address such an issue before it’s too late.
Despite leading the NBA in scoring, Kobe Bryant has been largely unsuccessful in winning games for the Lakers. With a 3-9 away record, they simply have not been able to produce enough to take teams down in their own buildings.
On a night when Kobe became the NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer, rest assured he would’ve liked to win the game. Acquiring a point guard may be just the thing that gets them a few more wins this season.
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Gallinari rolls ankle in Nuggets loss (AP)
The Denver Nuggets began the night without three starters and a backup. They ended it by watching rising star forward Danilo Gallinari hobble out of the Pepsi Center on crutches in a walking boot after a dispiriting 99-90 loss to the Houston Rockets. “Nervous. Nervous that I’m going to be out for a while,” Gallinari said of his reaction to getting hurt in the third quarter, when he…
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Gallinari rolls ankle in Nuggets loss (AP)
The Denver Nuggets began the night without three starters and a backup. They ended it by watching rising star forward Danilo Gallinari hobble out of the Pepsi Center on crutches in a walking boot after a dispiriting 99-90 loss to the Houston Rockets. “Nervous. Nervous that I’m going to be out for a while,” Gallinari said of his reaction to getting hurt in the third quarter, when he…
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