Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Wednesday, October 22
Updated: October 22
9:06 AM ET
Houston Rockets: Rumor had it Steve Francis wasn't listening to Jeff Van Gundy and Eddie Griffin wanted nothing to do with him and the Rockets were ready to fold because they couldn't relate to their new coach. Hogwash. "Communication is the most overblown thing in all of sports," Van Gundy said in the Houston Chronicle. "I'm so sick of hearing about communication. If they're playing right, my communication with them is good -- if we're doing what I think we should do. That doesn't mean we should sit down and sing Kumbayah together. It really is meaningless. Results tell you about communication, truly, and I mean that honestly. I've seen some of the most stoic personalities have great communication with their teams, and the team plays right. Then I've seen other coaches, whatever, they seem like they're talking, and their (team) seems disorganized. I would say my communication was poor early, because we were the most disorganized team I've ever seen. Then lately we looked like a professional basketball team, so communication is better."
MartinNew Jersey Nets: Kenyon Martin thought he deserved a hefty raise. Byron Scott thought he deserved, at least, an extension. The Nets thought otherwise. "Guess we're in the same boat. I guess what we've done around here, it hasn't been what people expected," Martin said in the N.Y. Post. "Making it to the Finals twice, winning the East, winning the division twice, I guess that hasn't been good enough. Guess we'll both see at the end of the year whether we did our jobs well enough or not." Martin requested a max deal this year before becoming a restricted free agent but was rejected. "That's the way it is sometimes," Martin said. "I'm fine. My kids don't miss meals. My family appreciates me. I know what I can do, I know what I mean to this team. My team, they know the same thing."
New York Knicks: If Keith Van Horn so much as winces at practice, coach Don Chaney is going to sit him on the bench and have him rest his sore groin. "If it's still bothering him he should shut down and heal. I don't see where he should practice [today]," Chaney said in the New York Post also noting that Allan Houston has yet to heal completely. "Those two guys are still trying to learn each other. It could be devastating, to a degree."
Cleveland Cavaliers: Dajuan Wagner has a busted knee, but before doctors can do anything about that, they've got to wait until the swelling in his liver and pancreas go down. "If we can get him for the second half of the year, that's when we'll need him," coach Paul Silas said in the News-Herald. "We'll battle up until then without all of our main weapons, and he's certainly one of them. Once he fits in, I expect good things from our club. It's unfortunate he's going through this. He wants to play so awfully bad. The Lord works in mysterious ways."
RiceLos Angeles Clippers: The Orange County Register is reporting that Glen Rice did not completely blow out his right knee and will return in two weeks. "I'm glad it's only two weeks," Rice said. "It was good news to hear that it's not completely torn. And it's feeling a lot better . . . It was really sore and really tight. I knew something was wrong, I just didn't know what."
Miami Heat: Heat owner Mickey Arison is absolutely giddy over the acquisition of Lamar Odom, the idea that coach Pat Riley may coach beyond his current contract and the overall look of his team on the court and on the balance sheet. "I think it's the most athletic team we've had maybe ever," Arison said in the Miami Herald. "Dwayne Wade's going to be a tremendously exciting talent. Lamar Odom looks great. Eddie Jones looks rejuvenated. We've sold more season tickets this summer than in many, many years, and that is very encouraging. I'm excited. They're fun to watch, even in practice. . . . And I rarely enjoyed'' watching practice in the past."
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Wednesday, October 22
Updated: October 22
9:06 AM ET
Houston Rockets: Rumor had it Steve Francis wasn't listening to Jeff Van Gundy and Eddie Griffin wanted nothing to do with him and the Rockets were ready to fold because they couldn't relate to their new coach. Hogwash. "Communication is the most overblown thing in all of sports," Van Gundy said in the Houston Chronicle. "I'm so sick of hearing about communication. If they're playing right, my communication with them is good -- if we're doing what I think we should do. That doesn't mean we should sit down and sing Kumbayah together. It really is meaningless. Results tell you about communication, truly, and I mean that honestly. I've seen some of the most stoic personalities have great communication with their teams, and the team plays right. Then I've seen other coaches, whatever, they seem like they're talking, and their (team) seems disorganized. I would say my communication was poor early, because we were the most disorganized team I've ever seen. Then lately we looked like a professional basketball team, so communication is better."
MartinNew Jersey Nets: Kenyon Martin thought he deserved a hefty raise. Byron Scott thought he deserved, at least, an extension. The Nets thought otherwise. "Guess we're in the same boat. I guess what we've done around here, it hasn't been what people expected," Martin said in the N.Y. Post. "Making it to the Finals twice, winning the East, winning the division twice, I guess that hasn't been good enough. Guess we'll both see at the end of the year whether we did our jobs well enough or not." Martin requested a max deal this year before becoming a restricted free agent but was rejected. "That's the way it is sometimes," Martin said. "I'm fine. My kids don't miss meals. My family appreciates me. I know what I can do, I know what I mean to this team. My team, they know the same thing."
New York Knicks: If Keith Van Horn so much as winces at practice, coach Don Chaney is going to sit him on the bench and have him rest his sore groin. "If it's still bothering him he should shut down and heal. I don't see where he should practice [today]," Chaney said in the New York Post also noting that Allan Houston has yet to heal completely. "Those two guys are still trying to learn each other. It could be devastating, to a degree."
Cleveland Cavaliers: Dajuan Wagner has a busted knee, but before doctors can do anything about that, they've got to wait until the swelling in his liver and pancreas go down. "If we can get him for the second half of the year, that's when we'll need him," coach Paul Silas said in the News-Herald. "We'll battle up until then without all of our main weapons, and he's certainly one of them. Once he fits in, I expect good things from our club. It's unfortunate he's going through this. He wants to play so awfully bad. The Lord works in mysterious ways."
RiceLos Angeles Clippers: The Orange County Register is reporting that Glen Rice did not completely blow out his right knee and will return in two weeks. "I'm glad it's only two weeks," Rice said. "It was good news to hear that it's not completely torn. And it's feeling a lot better . . . It was really sore and really tight. I knew something was wrong, I just didn't know what."
Miami Heat: Heat owner Mickey Arison is absolutely giddy over the acquisition of Lamar Odom, the idea that coach Pat Riley may coach beyond his current contract and the overall look of his team on the court and on the balance sheet. "I think it's the most athletic team we've had maybe ever," Arison said in the Miami Herald. "Dwayne Wade's going to be a tremendously exciting talent. Lamar Odom looks great. Eddie Jones looks rejuvenated. We've sold more season tickets this summer than in many, many years, and that is very encouraging. I'm excited. They're fun to watch, even in practice. . . . And I rarely enjoyed'' watching practice in the past."
