Today's Best NBA Reporting and Analysis 2/13/16
QOTN #1 (from Gregg Popovich, ESPN Radio Interview):
"I've spent more time thinking about Golden State than I have any other team I've ever thought about in my whole career. Because they are really fun. I'd go buy a ticket and go watch them play. And when I see them move the ball, I get very envious. When I see them shoot uncontested shots more than anybody else in the league, it's inspiring. It's just great basketball.
"So I'm actually enjoying them very much. You try to solve them, but they're in a sense unsolvable because it's a particular mix of talent that they have. It's not just that Steph can make shots or that Klay can make shots or that Draymond Green is versatile. Everybody on the court can pass, catch and shoot. And they all get it."
"They're for real. They're talented. But they're also very, very smart."
- QOTN #2 (from Stan Van Gundy on whether Andre Drummond will learn something valuable from one of the other stars at All-Star weekend):
"He ain't gonna pull anything from anybody on All-Star weekend, unless it's how to fool around, and how to party, and stuff like that, I think maybe when he's playing with Team USA, and stuff like that, in those kinds of situations, you may pick up something from somebody. But I've been part of two All-Star weekends, and I don't think anybody's learning anything valuable from anybody on those weekends."
- QOTN #3 (from Joshua Cornelissen, The Lottery Mafia):
"Rumors are floating around the Internet that the Knicks could hire coach Scott Brooks in hopes of attracting 2016 free agent Kevin Durant, or 2017 free agent Russell Westbrook (or perhaps 2017 free agent Nick Collison). Similar rumors have drifted in about hiring Lionel Hollins for a similar reason, attracting 2016 free agent Mike Conley. This is a poor idea. Not only are the odds of acquiring one of the few stars on the market slim, butthere are 14 other guys on the team that need the best coach for them. If that person is Brooks or Hollins, then great. But hiring a coach just to chase a player is a dumb idea. Similar to the Kings trading valuable draft assets for a chance at signing Wesley Matthews, or the Suns signing aging center Tyson Chandler to make a run at LaMarcus Aldridge. Incredibly short-sighted moves that are hurting both teams involved."
- Jimmy Butler (from Sam Smith, Bulls.com):
Read it here: http://blogs.bulls.com/2016/02/jimmy-butler-and-the-bulls-conundrum-considered/
- Colangelo: Don't Be Surprised If Sixers Add Voices To Front Office (from Kurt Helin, NBC Sports):
Read it here: Jerry Colangelo: Don't be surprised if Sixers add more voices, experience to front office
- LeBron James: " I Wish I Could Be Around (Popovich) Every Day" (from Michael Singer, USA Today):
- Trying To Make Sense Of Jimmy Butler's Knee Injury (from Jeff Stotts, In Street Clothes):
Read it here: Trying to Make Sense of Jimmy Butler's Knee Injury - In Street Clothes
- Marc Gasol's Injury (from Peter Edmiston, Commercial Appeal):
Read it here: http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/grizzlies/Marc-Gasols-injury-a-numbers-approach-368654921.html
- Recapping Thursday's Games (from SBNation):
Read it here: http://www.sbnation.com/nba-scores
Additional Player Notes, Updates, Profiles:
- Isaiah Thomas (from Mark Murphy, Boston Herald): http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2016/02/confidence_of_3_coaches_paved_isaiah_thomass_path_to_all_star_game
- Rashad Vaughn (from Jason Kezman, Hoops Habit): http://hoopshabit.com/2016/02/13/milwaukee-bucks-rashad-vaughn-milwaukees-february-phenom/
- Anthony Davis/ Kendrick Perkins (from Oleh Kosel, The Bird Writes): Anthony Davis routinely consulting Kendrick Perkins amid Pelicans disappointing season
- Andre Drummond (from Prava 88, Detroit Bad Boys): http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2016/2/13/10978656/pistons-links-andre-drummond-all-star-weekend
- Rodney Hood/Trey Lyles/Raul Neto (from Jody Genessy, Deseret News): http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865647650/Jazzs-trio-of-Rising-Stars-reflects-on-humble-beginnings-before-All-Star-Weekend.html
- Steph Curry (from Steve Simmons, Postmedia Network): http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nba/golden-state-warriors-stephen-curry-is-becoming-the-gretzky-of-the-nba
- Will Cummings (from Dennis Silva II, The Monitor): http://www.themonitor.com/sports/rio_grande_valley_vipers/success-is-in-the-makeup-of-vipers-all-star-cummings/article_5bcc3736-d1f7-11e5-89b7-1306d43a8e1c.html