Andrew Bynum can’t be helped by Kareem

Kareem and Bynum (Getty)

Andrew Bynum no longer feels that he needs the services of Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Bynum unilaterally ended the relationship this past week. Instead of training Bynum, Kareem will now spend much of the season in his home in New York. For a player that has only started 128 career games, Bynum is excessively confident. Around the same time last year, Bynum was proclaiming that he was going to be a 20 and 10 player. When all was said and done, Bynum averaged just 14 and 8 and was a minor piece on a Laker team that played better with a Odom and Gasol front court.  Bynum’s cocky, I’m better than Kareem attitude, may add to the Lakers’ brewing personality problems as they try to repeat as champions.  When Bynum started speaking out of turn last season, Phil Jackson put him in his place.  Phil is lucky that they only let Bynum fire his assistant coaches.

Europe Gets Dunked On

The NBA tries to build basketball’s international appeal by sending a few teams into Europe for training camp.  While in Europe, the teams compete against local franchises like the Nuggets did yesterday against Partisan Belgrade.  For members of teams like Partisan Belgrade it’s an opportunity to gain NBA experience.  However, by taking part in the NBA’s experiment, they run the risk of being enshrined in Nene’s line of 18 by 36 inch color glossy wall hangings.

Kevin Garnett has No Knee Problems

Garnett playing in Saturday's Scrimmage (Getty)

Good news for Celtics fans. Here’s KG’s quote from the Boston Globe Celtics Blog

“I don’t have any knee problems. I don’t have any knee problems. I’m not trying to get in depth with my injury and all that but the things are bothering me are secondary and not even primary. So I’m excited about that because it’s nothing be strengthening the knee and playing again. You gotta remember, I have been out since what, March? I haven’t done anything since then. I have just been rehabbing, strengthing. Nothing simulates basketball play. The pounding, the churning, the reactions, the stuff you have to react to in games you can’t get that in trying to that with the rehab and the trainers and all that other stuff.

“I feel really good, I wouldn’t (BS) you guys if I was hurting I would tell you. I’m pretty straight up with everything that’s going on with me. I feel good. I’m excited about how we are and I’m just trying to get my part together to make sure I’m ready for when we need to be like we need to be.”

Some NBA fans were concerned after this video of a limping Garnett appeared online two days ago, but according to Garnett there is no need to worry.

Practice Footage Oct.2, 2009- Kevin Garnett Limping from xiehaorong on Vimeo.

The Celtics also broadcast an open scrimmage yesterday on nba.com and Garnett seemed to be moving smoothly.  Unfortunately, the NBAtv camera crew concentrated their cameras on commentators and players on the bench instead of the actual game, so fans will now have to wait until preseason to see if Garnett’s knee is truly better.

What’s up Doc? Injury Updates

AP Photo

Earlier today I wrote about Delonte missing practice.  Well he’s back so I guess the chicken trick worked.  Good job Z!  SI

Of course, there now are more injury reports that I missed out on.

76ers – Dalembert’s shoulder problems from last year have returned in the first few days of practice, but he says it’s not as bad as it was last year.  Of course it’s not as bad, it’s the first week of practice!

Celtics – Bill Walker has officially torn his meniscus.  He will miss 6-8 weeks.  On the bright side, I don’t think he’s torn that one before, and he’ll have time to explore some new pain medications.

Rockets – Shane Battier, perhaps the Rockets’ best player this year, has pulled a muscle.  But don’t worry it’s not ‘severe.’

Hornets – Emeka Okafor could miss the rest of the Hornets training camp with a sore knee.  Trading the oft-injured Okafor may not have been a bad idea after-all.

Can Mark Price help Rondo?

Rondo Fires Up A Shot (Photo by Lisa Hornak)

Comcast SportsNet New England reported last night that Rajon Rondo has been working with former Cavaliers guard Mark Price, on fixing his shooting mechanics.

This is an important change. In the past, Rondo stated that he believed  that practice alone would improve his shot and that he could keep his awkward mechanics.   In the first day of camp, Rondo’s shot has already wowed Doc Rivers:

“I’m impressed with the way he played,” Rivers said after practice yesterday. “He shot the ball really well. He ran the team well.”Providence Journal

Price’s talent that may help Rondo the most is Free Throw Shooting.  Rondo is a  poor FT shooter, but has the talent to draw fouls at a very high rate.   If Rondo is able to convert his FTs, he will become even more confident playing inside, and instead of avoiding contact as much as possible, he may actually begin to complete some And-1 opportunities.