Chris Paul To Pick Up Option

A defensive stop, an outlet pass and an easy bucket in transition.

But beyond quantity, there’s something else that the Miami HEAT fastbreak was missing: efficiency.

(Interestingly, the HEAT were the top team in the NBA in terms of opponent’s fastbreak efficiency, which might have to do with James and Wade’s ability to run down the court and block shots from behind)

But by tightening things up on the fastbreak, Spoelstra is significantly reducing opponents’ margin for error. Now other NBA teams have to do more than just hit a lot of 3-pointers to beat the HEAT. They’ll have to figure out a way to stop an offense that can beat you at the rim, beyond the arc and out on the fastbreak.

Assuming 70 games played in 2013; if Garnett averaged 15 points per night the veteran forward could land as high fourteenth on the all-time list passing not only Iverson, but Patrick Ewing, Jerry West and Reggie Miller by season’s end.

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
All-Time Rank: 25
Total Career Points: 22,591
Fact: 351 points behind the still active Ray Allen

Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers
All-Time Rank: 5
Total Career Assists: 9,916
Needs: 226 assists to move pass Magic Johnson into fourth place

Whiteside has been working out with former NBA guard John Lucas in Texas this summer and is set on trying to land a roster spot for the 2013 season.

The 2012-13 NBA season is rapidly approaching and there are plenty of early storylines emerging.

The former All-Star still winces when he's knocked to the floor, but he's been nothing but efficient and smooth offensively in the early going for the Wolves. Roy was 4 for 8 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3s, hit nine of his 10 free throws and grabbed four boards as well in 25 minutes.

Wade was even more popular than during his previous visit to China, when he was the leading scorer as Team USA won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It sure helped his Q rating, or whatever its called in China, that Wade last week joined Battier as a pitchman for Chinese shoes. He signed a deal with the company Li-Ning.

The key will be Roy, who is coming back after missing last season with chronic knee problems. He had a procedure this summer to try to relieve the bone-on-bone pain and signed with the Timberwolves in September after feeling much better in workouts.fgert343

“I just want to come in everyday and try and make everybody better. You have to take the game that much more serious,” Irving said. “Going forward, especially going into my sophomore year, I just need to slow my game down and just be mbdfore efficient.”

“Tonight, I looked at the stat line and I had no assists. It was crazy,” Irving said after the preseason game against Chicago. “We definitely have to get to that second side of the pick-and-roll where I can make my teammates better… we’ve just got to continue getting better at that.”bcfgsdf43w

“I think so,” Curry said as to if he can stick around with the frontcourt-depleted Mavericks. “I think time will tell, but I’m going to do everything I can possible and the ultimate decision will be theirs.”

The real story of Green’s return is about the Celtics remaining competitive. Age hasn’t significantly deteriorated the skills of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, but Ray Allen left for the Miami HEAT and Boston needs someone to step up.

“I think so,” Curry said as to if he can stick around with the frontcourt-depleted Mavericks. “I think time will tell, but I’m going to do everything I can possible and the ultimate decision will be theirs.”