30 Takeaways from the 1st Week of 2014-15 NBA Training Camp
That excitement you feel? That's knowing the offseason and media day are over, preseason games are underway and training camps for all 30 NBA teams are in full swing.
Every squad is brimming with optimism. That's the beauty of this time of year. Even teams that missed the playoffs, even ones that won fewer than 20 games, are giving their fans reasons to smile.
For some, the excitement will inevitably be tempered as regular-season losses pile up. But for now, everyone should be allowed to just enjoy the good signs coming out of camp.
This slideshow is a collection of such signs, a positive takeaway for each of the NBA's 30 teams following the first week of training camps, organized alphabetically.
Atlanta Hawks: Moving On
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The Atlanta Hawks have been forced to answer scores of questions concerning the dumpster fire's worth of controversy that surrounded owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry this summer.
With training camp underway, the players are finally getting to do what they want: play basketball.
The media may continue to stir up the story of Ferry's disparaging remarks about Luol Deng and Levenson's now-infamous email on his desire to see more white fans in the building, but guys like Elton Brand just want to get to work.
According to ESPN.com's Michael Wallace, Brand said:
"I talked to Luol and asked if he was making a statement and how he felt about it. He said he was ready to move on. And that helped me kind of move on, also. Actually, as strange as it sounds, we are looking forward to this. We don't want to think about this summer and all of the things that went down. You kind of want to get back into the flow of basketball, being together and building that camaraderie and having fun, because that's why we do this.
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In sports, it's often the games that help us forget the unpleasant things that happen off the court or field.
Boston Celtics: Evan Turner Getting Back to His Roots
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As an Ohio State Buckeye, Evan Turner could have easily been classified as a point forward, maybe even a point guard. He had the ball in his hands and initiated the offense on most possessions.
In 2008, following Turner's freshman season, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress wrote, "Turner shows some flashes of point guard ability with drive-and-dishes and pick-and-rolls." Then, as a junior, Turner was second in the Big 10 in assists during the 2009-10 season.
The Philadelphia 76ers jumped on Turner and his unique combination of size (6'7") and playmaking ability with the No. 2 pick in 2010, and over the past four years, he's somehow morphed into an unapologetic gunner.
In his new home with the Boston Celtics, Turner could be reversing course and returning to what made him so special as a prospect.
According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE:
"The race to replace an injured Rajon Rondo in the Boston Celtics starting lineup is just beginning, but the early leader appears to be Evan Turner.
The 6-foot-7 Turner is firmly entrenched in the mix for the job, along with rookie Marcus Smart and second-year guard Phil Pressey.
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Rondo recently went down with a broken hand, and Turner appears to be seizing the opportunity borne of that misfortune.
Turner talked about making the adjustment back to distributor, telling Blakely:
"It's how I grew up playing for the most part. I'm more comfortable with that as opposed to being a catch and shoot guy which I've done in the past. I think it's advantageous to what I like, too...
I'm not overwhelmed in learning new things. It's my fifth year in the league. I know at the end of the day it's all about making plays.
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Turner becoming a more well-rounded player will not only benefit Boston while Rondo rehabs his injured hand, but it will also help the team adjust to the post-Rondo era, something that seems more and more like an eventuality rather than a possibility.
Brooklyn Nets: Markel Brown's Turning Heads
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Marcus Smart got most of the attention at Oklahoma State last season, but you could argue that Markel Brown was the Cowboys' best player.
He shot a better percentage from the field and from three-point range than Smart, and he led the team in win shares with 5.7 and player efficiency rating at 26.9.
| 1 | Markel Brown | 190 | 402 | .473 | 135 | 257 | .525 | 55 | 145 | .379 | 149 | 194 | .768 |
| 2 | Marcus Smart | 163 | 386 | .422 | 114 | 222 | .514 | 49 | 164 | .299 | 182 | 250 | .728 |
Smart still emerged as the hotter prospect because of age (20, compared to 22 for Brown) and his combination of size and athleticism for a point guard. He went No. 6 to the Celtics. Brown had to wait till pick No. 44 to hear his name.
Since then, Brown's impressed fans and teammates. He averaged 10 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26 minutes during the NBA Summer League.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News detailed one particular practice:
"The rookie guard ended practice with a soaring one-handed jam over Mason Plumlee, exhibiting the type of youth and athleticism that was missing from the Nets last season.
'Shut the practice down,' Deron Williams said. 'Shut it down. We have seen a couple [of his jams], but not like this.'
The Nets are carrying 17 players in training camp and will have to cut two by the start of the season. Brown, 6-3, is expected to make the final roster after being picked in the second round out of Oklahoma State.
Williams was full of praise for Brown, saying the 22-year-old was stroking so well Thursday 'he shot the lights out the ball, he shot the peel off the ball.' But the dunk was the lasting impression, occurring at the team’s first full scrimmage of training camp.
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If the athletic, 6'4" combo guard continues to impress against Brooklyn's veterans, he could work his way into a rotation that lost Shaun Livingston and Paul Pierce to free agency this summer.
Charlotte Hornets: A Reserved Lance Stephenson?
4 of 30In the video above (via Slam Magazine), Lance Stephenson is asked, "Do you feel like sometimes your antics on the court and your attitude kind of overshadows your talent, at all?"
Stephenson's response was a bit surprising. "Sometimes it does," he said. "That's why I'm going to cut it down this year."
Whether a more reserved Stephenson is positive or negative is up for debate. Either way, it would certainly be a big change for a guy whose career highlights may have as many "antics" as buckets.
Chicago Bulls: The Knees Are Still Intact
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Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott are the key new faces. There's debate about a frontcourt rotation that will include Gasol, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Jimmy Butler's up against the deadline to get a contract extension.
But the story that will always take the cake is that of Derrick Rose, he of the two surgically repaired knees and 2011 MVP trophy.
After one week of practice, Rose is still walking without crutches, and it sounds like the rust is finally starting to shake off.
ESPNChicago.com's Nick Friedell shared coach Tom Thibodeau's thoughts following Saturday's practice:
"I think for Derrick today was probably his best day thus far. There was a lot of 5-on-5 and stuff like that. We scrimmaged a little bit more so I think that was good for him. We played one-on-one type stuff. It was good and he's got to get used to that again. That's why you could run on a treadmill, you could run on a track, you can do all that stuff, but that's not going to prepare you for what you're going to be doing in an NBA game.
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The ultimate test will obviously come during the regular season, when opponents are attacking Rose at full speed and sending their best perimeter defenders at him. But for now, no news is great news.
Cleveland Cavaliers: It Might Not Take Long After All
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I'm sure you all remember when LeBron James said:
"We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head.
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Since that now-famous letter was published in Sports Illustrated, the Cavaliers have added Kevin Love and Shawn Marion, and Kyrie Irving proved he's no young pup by winning the MVP of the FIBA World Cup.
As for getting used to that new head coach? An early report is suggesting James has already mastered David Blatt's offense, and he's been giving his teammates pointers at camp.
CBS Sports' Ken Berger shared the story:
"At the end of the evening practice, Blatt blew his whistle and told the players to clear the court and get off their feet; it was a long day, with many more ahead in this team's drive for the city of Cleveland's first major pro sports championship in 50 years. (The NFL's Browns are the city's most recent title celebrants, in 1964.)
The coaching staff retreated to their evening meeting, which lasted 30 minutes or so. When they emerged, what they saw was heartening, if not particularly surprising: There was James on the practice floor with four teammates, marching them through the intricacies of Blatt's offensive system from the perspective of each position, one through five. James had already mastered them all.
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An NBA player would have to be the Tin Man to not feel a little trepidation in his heart after reading that.
Dallas Mavericks: The Point Guard Debate Is Almost Settled
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The Dallas Mavericks' starting lineup is obvious at four spots. Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler are locked in, with Jameer Nelson, Devin Harris and Raymond Felton fighting for the point guard job.
| Raymond Felton | .395 | .318 | 1.9 | .721 | 3.0 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 9.7 |
| Devin Harris | .378 | .307 | 2.9 | .800 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 7.9 |
| Jameer Nelson | .394 | .348 | 1.6 | .857 | 3.4 | 7.0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 12.1 |
| Raymond Felton | 12.9 | .476 | .201 | .321 | 28.1 | 16.3 | 18.2 | 103 | 111 |
| Devin Harris | 14.6 | .517 | .453 | .398 | 31.0 | 16.2 | 20.2 | 109 | 111 |
| Jameer Nelson | 13.9 | .515 | .150 | .523 | 35.1 | 17.3 | 20.1 | 104 | 111 |
Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson talked about the battle after Dallas' open scrimmage Sunday. According to ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon, Nelson said:
"When we were recruiting him this summer, I told him we were looking for the best guy to be a starter for us. I really like Harris off the bench. That said, I think Harris is one of our three or four best players. But we’ve had a history here of bringing some of our better guys off the bench.
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At this point, Devin and I have talked about it and continue to talk about it. He’s willing to do anything. He wants to be a Maverick and wants to win.
I like Jameer in that spot and Felton, he’s going to be out the first four games. So if there were some tea leaves here, that’s what it may look like. But it’s early to commit to anything. We got to see how it goes in games.
If Nelson starts the first four games and plays well, it's hard to imagine Felton taking the job from him after he returns from a suspension stemming from gun charges in New York.
Denver Nuggets: Changing the Culture
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For years, the Denver Nuggets have been a team that's all about running and gunning, playing fast and loose on both ends of the floor.
The goal for Brian Shaw, entering his second year as Denver's head coach, is to turn the Nuggets into a solid defensive bunch.
The Denver Post's Christopher Dempsey reported on practice last week, saying:
"The Nuggets allowed the third-most points in the NBA last season, a robust average of 106.1 per game. Opponents shot 45.7 percent, tied for 15th in the league.
But there was Ty Lawson on Wednesday, hustling and taking a charge on a play near the end of practice. Near the end of a defensive-oriented practice, it should be noted. Shaw has taken time in the first week of camp to hammer home the notion that defense must be a Denver priority.
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To get everyone's priorities in line will be no small task for Shaw. He's dealing with a roster that has few players who could be seen as defensive specialists.
Guys like Arron Afflalo, Wilson Chandler and JaVale McGee certainly have the physical tools, but a complete team defense is going to take time to develop.
Detroit Pistons: Stan Van Gundy Means Business
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The Detroit Pistons invested five years and $35 million in Stan Van Gundy, who obviously takes his new job seriously.
Two-a-day practices under the new head coach have been tough on the young Pistons. "I go home and I don't even say nothing to my mom. I just sit down and go to sleep. I'm too tired to use words. I just flop down and pass out," Andre Drummond said, per MLive.com's David Mayo.
Mayo notes that Detroit's practices have lasted just under three hours on average, and that Drummond feels this team will be in the best shape of any in the league.
If that's the case, the players should be prepared to improve on transition defense, one of their many weaknesses from last season. They gave up 14.1 fast-break points per game in 2013-14, good for 24th in the league.
As a no-nonsense, defense-first coach, Van Gundy's surely aware of that problem and is already taking steps to rectify it.
Golden State Warriors: Taking Care of the Ball
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The Golden State Warriors are one of the most talented teams in the NBA, but they're still a little bit of fine-tuning away from contender status.
One of the wrinkles that needs to be ironed out is the team's struggle to take care of the ball. Last season, the Warriors were ninth in the league in total turnovers. New coach Steve Kerr is working to fix that.
According to Rusty Simmons of The San Francisco Chronicle, Kerr said:
"I showed them clips from last night where we were flinging the ball around with no value on it. I’m lucky. I come from a background as a player where I was coached constantly on the importance of details, including simple, two-handed chest passes. I used to watch Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in Chicago do two-handed chest passes back and forth for 10 minutes with Tex Winter barking in their ears. That’s what it takes. If we’re going to cut down on our turnovers, we have to practice our passing and our execution.
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Taking care of the ball will mean more possessions ending in shots for the Warriors. And more shots on a team that includes prolific three-point shooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson is clearly a good thing.
Houston Rockets: Superman Returns
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Ever since he demanded a trade from the Orlando Magic, it's been a tough run for Dwight Howard.
Public opinion turned sour when he demanded to be moved to another team, and we all know how catastrophically his Los Angeles Lakers team failed.
Now entering his second year with the Houston Rockets, a fully healthy Howard may finally be on the verge of returning to his old self.
Reports from training camp make it sound like he's already there.
Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote about the newly dedicated Howard, sharing some thoughts from people within the organization who've seen him during training camp.
Trevor Ariza, who played with Howard in Orlando, said, "To be honest, he looks more athletic to me now. He's always been big and strong, but he seems stronger to me, looks like he's jumping higher than he did."
Legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon is also impressed, telling Yahoo, "He's a different animal this year. His physique, his spirit coming together with his talent and skills and health; he has an aura about him here. It's like he's gotten his youth back."
All of this sounds good now, but nothing can be proved until the regular season. If the Superman of old really is back, though, Houston could take another step forward in 2014-15.
Indiana Pacers: A Glimmer of Hope
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From Lance Stephenson's departure to Paul George's gruesome broken leg, it's been a very rough offseason for the Indiana Pacers.
But at media day, fans and reporters were treated to a welcome surprise, one that instilled some hope for the future. Indiana's star wing, who suffered a broken leg in September, was already walking without crutches.
Then came the report from Pacers.com's Mark Montieth:
"George said he will not travel with the Pacers early in the season, but is likely to do so on most of the road trips later. He reiterated his hope that he might come back at the end of the upcoming season, although the Pacers as an organization are operating under the assumption he won't.
'It's very possible that I can play (this season),' George said. 'I've talked to all the guys and said, 'Man, you guys have to get in the playoffs. That's the best chance I've got of coming back and playing this year.' I've already got it in mind that I could miss this whole year. I'm come to peace with that, but I'd love to be able to come back and play again.'
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The outlook on the regular season is still fairly bleak, hence the biggest story being about an injured player, but any bit of hope is a relief for an organization that took a beating this summer.
Los Angeles Clippers: Growing Together
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Familiarity is an underrated ingredient in the formula for chemistry in the NBA.
In a league that's become obsessed with player movement, the San Antonio Spurs have dominated with a "Big Three" of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili that's been together since the 2002-03 season. Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich have been together since 1997.
During this training camp, the Los Angeles Clippers are getting to know the benefits of having more than one season together.
The Orange County Register's Dan Woike relayed Blake Griffin's thoughts on the matter:
"Last year was a good training camp, but everybody was so new. Players were getting used to each other. We were getting used to the coaches and the coaches were getting used to us.
Now, we have a pretty solid group of guys who know the offense, know how we run things here. We were just efficient.
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Not having to worry about implementing big things like entire schemes and systems allows the Clippers to work on fine-tuning during this training camp.
As the players continue to grow more familiar with each other, ball movement and knowing each other's tendencies will become natural. Chemistry will follow.
Los Angeles Lakers: Byron Scott's Camp Is Old School
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Kobe Bryant is about to kick off his 19th season in the NBA. He's been through training camps with Del Harris, Phil Jackson, Rudy Tomjanovich, Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni, but no one's pushed him as hard as new coach Byron Scott.
Bryant took to Instagram Friday, saying, "In 18 years this has been the most challenging camp by far!!"
"Early reports out of training camp at the team’s practice facility have Scott not holding anything back. Kobe and company are put through rigorous drills on a daily basis with an emphasis on running and defense.
Although some are concerned about Scott potentially pushing the team too hard, Kobe has loved every minute of it while seeing teammates develop around him.
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After a 27-55 season in 2013-14, this kind of approach may be exactly what the Lakers need.
Memphis Grizzlies: Michael Beasley, the Stoic
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Michael Beasley was a dominant player in college at Kansas State, gifted with physical abilities most guys will never approach. And yet, for the second year in a row, he's in training camp on a make-good, non-guaranteed contract.
He's one of sports' most obvious examples of the old cliche, "It takes more than talent."
This season, he finds himself effectively trying out for the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that could desperately use his scoring ability.
Even still, he finds himself practicing with the third-teamers, according to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal, and approaching camp with a different attitude:
"I’m just trying to take full advantage of my opportunity. I’m trying to get to know the team and have them get to know me. I want them to know that I’m here for the long run. I’m here for hard work.
I’m a little more stress-free. I know it’s backwards. It’s supposed to be the other way around. Honestly, at this point, I’m just so in tuned with myself mentally and basketball-wise that whatever happens, happens. I’m going to take it day-by-day.
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Beasley's career is on a respirator. Hopefully he's in tune to the point that he can fully resuscitate it.
Miami Heat: A New Lease on Basketball
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In an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick, Dwyane Wade admitted the Miami Heat's LeBron James era wasn't always roses:
"It was great, you know, we went to the Finals four years in a row, and it was everything we wanted from that standpoint, but sometimes throughout that run, at certain times, it just wasn't fun. Individually, it was great having certain relationships and having my best friend here with me, but all of us didn't have fun all the time.
I think now I'm at the point where I want to enjoy the game. Because once I've won three championships and been so successful, you've got to have something to play for. And I want to be able to play for my teammates and just the joy of the game.
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At all levels of sports, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that it's a game, that it's supposed to be fun. If it can happen to a middle-schooler, imagine how easily it could happen to someone who does it for a living.
If Wade can recapture a motivation driven by love of the game, there could be a little more magic left in his career. Simply saying he wants to have fun again won't translate to wins, though. There has to be some practical application.
During training camp, Wade has been working on a three-point shot, according Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. It's a weapon Wade's never seriously possessed, but as Lieser says, "...the Heat need everything he can give them now that James is gone."
Milwaukee Bucks: Jabari Parker Looks Ready
17 of 30Leading an NBA franchise is a lot to ask of a rookie, but Jabari Parker certainly appears to be up to the task.
Parker led all scorers in the Milwaukee Bucks' open scrimmage (video above) and looked generally quicker and more explosive than he did during the NBA Summer League.
Commenting on Parker's apparent weight loss, Dime Magazine's Jack Winter said:
"The result is an extra touch of quickness and explosiveness that will make Parker so difficult to guard even in his rookie season. He’ll be matched-up with opposing power forwards most often under Jason Kidd, after all, and will gain more space to get off his jumper if defenders fear penetration. It’s that combination of skills, size, and all-around athleticism that have had scouts drooling over Parker since he was midway through high school. And if his play in Milwaukee’s scrimmage is any indication, Parker will finally prove such praise prophetic during his NBA debut.
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The matchup problems Winter touched on above will be magnified by the presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, another positional enigma.
After a brutal 2013-14 campaign that resulted in the league's worst record, the Bucks now have plenty of reason for optimism with Parker and Antetokounmpo on board.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Land of 10,000 Lobs
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Forget the lakes, for as long as Minnesota is home to these Timberwolves, the place is going to be all about dunks, particularly alley-oops.
With a team this young, it's fitting the season was kicked off with a Midnight Madness-style event coined "Dunks After Dark."
The title proved appropriate, as we got a good glimpse of what's to come from these Timberwolves pups. Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine have bounce for days, and Ricky Rubio might be the most willing passer in the league.
The combination is just so natural, and during Dunks After Dark, it looked like they'd already been playing together for a while.
New Orleans Pelicans: So You're Saying There's a Chance
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Much like Beasley, Jimmer Fredette has learned during his career that the NBA is a much different animal than the NCAA.
After dominating in college at BYU, Fredette has been unable to find a consistent role during any portion of his three seasons in the league.
His new team, the New Orleans Pelicans, has an extremely crowded backcourt. So it makes sense to expect more of the same. However, the NBA's first preseason game offered an indication that Fredette's natural scoring ability may have finally found a home.
New Orleans lost its best shooter this offseason when Anthony Morrow went to the Oklahoma City Thunder. So there's a need Fredette can fill.
| Jimmer Fredette | .471 | .476 | .905 |
| Anthony Morrow | .458 | .451 | .828 |
He led the Pelicans with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting in a 98-86 victory over the Miami Heat.
New York Knicks: The Triangle Is on Its Way
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The writing was automatically on the wall when the New York Knicks hired legendary coach Phil Jackson as their new president of basketball operations. It was out with the old, and in with the triangle.
Jackson's motion offense, passed on to him by Tex Winter, will be a far cry from the isolations and contested jump shots Knicks fans are used to.
The players will have to adjust too, which is something that will take some time.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Jackson addressed the press following practice Thursday, saying:
"Sitting there a couple of hours, you attentively stay in tune with what’s going on out there. But there are times you want to get up and want to say something and you resist. Let them feel their way out there.
I didn’t fight it. At times I actually got up. I just got up and walked it out [without talking].
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As the players and coaches become more familiar and comfortable with the system, there will surely be longer periods between Jackson's walks.
So far, the returns on the floor have been positive.
Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNew York.com shared Carmelo Anthony's thought's on the system. The Knicks star said, "I wanted some nights when somebody else can pick up the load. Right now, with the way we're playing [in training camp], I don't have to do everything."
Oklahoma City Thunder: Scott Brooks May Be Waking Up
21 of 30For three years, there's been almost no statistical argument that would support playing Kendrick Perkins in an NBA basketball game. And yet, he's started all 222 games in which he's suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This season, coach Scott Brooks may finally be catching a glimpse of reality.
According to Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman:
"Scotty Brooks says there are starting positions to fight for with the Thunder. Positions. Plural. That's at least some headway in the ultimate switch of Thunder centers from Kendrick Perkins to Steven Adams. We know it's coming, we just don't know when.
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A side-by-side comparison of Adams and Perkins from last season is laughable, and Adams' numbers aren't even that good offensively.
| Steven Adams | 20 | 11.2 | .541 | .735 | 14.1 | 17.1 | 15.6 | 3.9 | 22.5 | 0.9 | 1.9 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 29 | 6.3 | .474 | .347 | 8.0 | 19.9 | 14.2 | 2.2 | 28.8 | -0.9 | 1.7 |
If common sense prevails and Adams starts, the Thunder will be even more dangerous.
Orlando Magic: Orlando May Have Found a Gem
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Like Damian Lillard before him, Elfrid Payton possessed all of the physical tools necessary to succeed in the NBA but avoided top-five draft status thanks in large part to where he played in college.
Lillard came from mid-major Weber State and proved the level-of-competition argument didn't apply to him. Payton starred at Louisiana-Lafayette and is now looking to do the same.
After one week of training camp, it looks like he's on track to do just that.
"Payton has impressed his coaches and teammates throughout training camp with his all-out competitiveness, grit and, of course, his innate skills as a playmaking point guard. He’s gone at Oladipo – and vice versa – in drill work and fiery scrimmage sessions and neither has given an inch – much to the delight of a coaching staff that wanted to see competition in every position in this training camp...
Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn, who knows a thing or two about the point guard position from his 12 years in the league as a player, has already fallen in love with Payton’s willingness to fight through every drill. And what has also been eye-opening to Vaughn is the fearlessness that Payton shows when splitting the defense and attacking the rim regardless of what 7-footer might be lurking to splatter him on the floor.
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Payton's fearless attitude could help him land the starting gig at point guard, giving Orlando a backcourt combo that also includes Victor Oladipo.
The athleticism, toughness and potential of that duo should have Magic fans on the edge of their seats throughout the 2014-15 season.
Philadelphia 76ers: The Fragility of Youth
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Young players are typically associated with excitement, zeal, athleticism and boundless energy. For the Philadelphia 76ers, the most appropriate adjective might be fragile.
In his training camp report for Sixers.com, Max Rappaport detailed the walking wounded:
"McDaniels’ fellow rookie runningmate, Jerami Grant (39th overall), missed his third straight practice while dealing with a right ankle sprain and issues with dehydration that forced him to spend a night in an area hospital for evaluation. With Grant joined by Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder), Joel Embiid (foot), Jason Richardson (foot), Jarvis Varnado (Achilles), and Alexey Shved (back) on the sidelines Saturday, the team began the day with just 13 healthy bodies. After forward Luc Mbah a Moute suffered a right ankle sprain two-thirds of the way through practice, that number was reduced to 12.
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Wait, this was supposed to be about positive takeaways, right? Well, there is a silver lining. Scan over the names above again and you'll notice that Nerlens Noel is thankfully absent.
The big man missed all of last season rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered in college, but he is now healthy and looking forward to the first preseason action of his career. He told Marc Narducci of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "This is the best shape I have been in in a long time and I am really looking forward to the Boston game."
Phoenix Suns: Forget Conventional
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The Phoenix Suns have a glut of guards, particularly point guards, on the roster. That means Phoenix will feature some small backcourts, and reports out of training camp have the team thinking about doing the same up front.
Dime Magazine's Spencer Lund, who referred to Suns coach Jeff Hornacek as "a Don Nelson-esque paradigm shifter," talked about one of the possible lineups, featuring Marcus and Markieff Morris, Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe:
"Just think of the recently re-signed Morris twins in the frontcourt with a three-headed Cerberus hellhound of Zeke, Goran Dragic and Bledsoe taking the remaining three-pronged guard positions. They’ll be super small, super fast and a nightmare for opponents hoping to match up. That goes double if Kieff turns into a more reliable three-point shooter.
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It's hard to imagine that group being effective on defense, but in short bursts the lineup could wreak havoc on teams scrambling to figure out how to slow it down.
Portland Trail Blazers: Finally, a Bench
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The Portland Trail Blazers' stellar starting lineup has only taken them as far as the second round of the postseason. They'll need help from the reserves to be anything more than a playoff team, and they may finally be getting it.
Internal growth among players like Will Barton, C.J. McCollum and Thomas Robinson, along with the additions of Chris Kaman and Steve Blake, could lead to, dare we say, a good bench.
Following an open scrimmage during training camp, The Oregonian's Mike Tokito said:
"Blake, a true pass-first point guard, showed how valuable he could be in bolstering bench scoring – arguably the Blazers' biggest weak spot the last two seasons – as he had six assists and showed a knack for getting teammates the ball in places where they can get good shots.
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The leadership and playmaking ability of Blake will help accelerate the growth process of Portland's other reserves as the Blazers make another push to the playoffs.
Sacramento Kings: The Last True Center
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For decades, big men dominated the game of basketball on both ends of the floor. Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal and others put up numbers that look astronomical by today's standards.
The modern center is required to do little more than protect the rim on defense and collect garbage points on the other end.
DeMarcus Cousins is somewhere between those two extremes.
He has the talent and demeanor to completely dominate for an entire season, but he's trapped in a basketball world dominated by guards. The whole culture of the game is friendlier to the little man these days.
Enter Darren Collison, the Sacramento Kings' new point guard, who may be looking to help Cousins buck the trend.
Collison has been rewarding his big man during training camp, and the center appreciates it. According to The Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones, Cousins had this to say on the transition at point guard, "It’s been incredible. It’s been a smooth transition. The ball is moving a lot better. It’s not stuck in one place."
More touches and shots for Cousins could lead to numbers that look like something out of a different era.
Toronto Raptors: Return of a Familiar Face
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The Toronto Raptors had an issue with depth last season.
According to HoopsStats.com, they were sixth in the NBA in points per game from starters (74.8) and 27th in bench scoring (26.1).
The return of veteran combo forward James Johnson, who's impressed so far at camp, should be a boost to the second unit.
From Raptors.com:
"The head coach spoke glowingly about returning Raptor's play on Friday and took note of James' ability to make smart decisions with the basketball whether he was playing at the three or four spots. Undoubtedly a great early sign for a player that could play a pivotal role off the pine for the Raptors this season.
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The positive reviews from Dwane Casey say a lot about the relationship between player and coach that was contentious the first time they were together.
With two years of maturity under Johnson's belt and two more years of coaching experience under Casey's, the two should be better prepared to make it work this time.
San Antonio Spurs: A Foundation of Trust
28 of 30One of the reasons the San Antonio Spurs are so successful is that everyone has been around each other long enough to build real relationships.
One example of this was Gregg Popovich granting Boris Diaw permission to miss the first week of training camp.
Dan McCarney wrote about the agreement at MySanAntonio.com:
"'We’ve been told that there’s a chance we might see Boris in Berlin,' Popovich said after Friday’s practice, hours before the Spurs were slated to fly overseas for the first of two exhibition games in Germany and Istanbul. 'We got a picture the other day with a beret and a glass of wine. Boris is in a relaxed, peaceful mode at a French bistro not to be named because we don’t know exactly where the picture was taken.'
As for Diaw’s pledge of daily exercise and minimal excess, Popovich said he’s not worried.'Of course (I trust Diaw),' he said. 'He’s a man of his word.'
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The ribbing and the back and forth between Popovich and Diaw is a sign of camaraderie and trust that's been developed over years. And for the coach to be in on that, not just the players, speaks volumes.
If a coach can get players to genuinely like him while still demanding respect, it inspires them to play harder and with a desire to win for someone they actually care about.
Utah Jazz: Play with Pace. Play with the Pass. Play with a Purpose.
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New Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder's "Three P's" have been talked about ad nauseam by fans, media and the man himself during training camp.
The one that should excite the most is "pace." Last season, Utah played one of the slowest games in the league, averaging a 26th-ranked 93.6 possessions per 48 minutes.
Things already look noticeably faster in practices, as Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune said on Twitter: "Jazz fans are gonna be shocked at how much their team pushes the rock this season. Will be complete 180."
And it's not just how many times they go up and down the floor. Salt City Hoops' Dan Clayton points out that Snyder also wants increased pace in the half court, with his players making quicker, more efficient decisions all of the time.
It's a style that seems perfectly tailored to the youngest roster in the NBA.
Washington Wizards: Not Leading Anyone On
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Most training camp invitees get more than a week to prove themselves, but that wasn't the case for David Stockton and Vander Blue at Washington Wizards camp.
Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com shared the news:
"Guards Vander Blue and David Stockton have been released by the Washington Wizards, the team announced on Friday night...
Neither Blue nor Stockton had any realistic shot at making the opening day roster. Joining the Wizards for workouts at the Verizon Center helped the team get through these early practices while also providing the guards with an opportunity to showcase their skills for possible opportunities in the future.
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Already cutting the non-guaranteed contracts shows that the Wizards are comfortable with where their roster is. With the exception of Trevor Ariza, all of the principal players are back, and some might argue that Paul Pierce is an upgrade at small forward in terms of offense, leadership and experience.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats and salary figures are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
Andy Bailey covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him @AndrewDBailey.
