Nike Basketball News

Play With Heart Moments: November 18, 2009

jechee — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:04:05 GMT

A near triple-double and a rookie stepping up highlight Wednesday night's Play With Heart Moments.

Rashard Lewis made his on-court season debut for the Orlando Magic, and was one assist away from his first triple-double in the NBA. The Magic beat the Thunder 108-94, as Lewis rang up 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists - without playing the fourth quarter.

Eric Maynor chipped in 11 fourth-quarter points in a 104-91 Utah Jazz victory over the Toronto Raptors. With Ronnie Price inactive due to injury, Maynor logged 23 minutes, often as part of a backcourt with Deron Williams, with Maynor running the point, and Williams sliding to shooting guard. Maynor finished wih 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. Stepping up when your team needs you? That's Playing With Heart.

Don't just play. Play With Heart. See what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

Play With Heart Moments: November 12, 2009

jechee — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:10:16 GMT

Thursday night in the NBA. Two games on the schedule. LeBron. Kobe. The Cavaliers took on the resurgent Heat, while the Lakers played the Suns, who have gone back to their high-scoring ways.

In Miami, LeBron led Cleveland over the Heat, 111-104. While LeBron scored 34 points and dished out 7 assists, the difference makers were Mo Williams and J.J. Hickson. Williams hit 5-7 from behind the arc to finish with 25 points, while Hickson scored a career-high 18 points.

The Suns came into Staples Center to play its seventh game in ten days. The Lakers took advantage of having three days off, and charged ahead to a 121-102 victory. Kobe had another good day at the office, with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. He continued to demonstrate his new arsenal of post moves. Spending the summer in the gym adding weapons to your game, all after winning your fourth cookie? That's how you Play With Heart.

Don't just play. Play With Heart. See what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

Play With Heart Moments: November 8, 2009

jechee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:07:13 GMT

Over the weekend, two players - including one rookie - stepped up and Play With Heart.

In Sacramento, Tyreke Evans took his game to another level. With the team's leading scorer out for at least two months, Evans put up a a career-high 32 points in a 104-99 win in Utah on November 7. Evans was aggressive, getting to the line for 19 free throws, making 16 of them. He also got his teammates involved, dishing out 7 assists. The next day, he scored 18 of his 23 points in the second quarter to lead the Kings over Golden State, 120-107. Over the weekend, he totalled 55 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, and most importantly, two wins. That's Playing With Heart.

Kevin Durant continues to lead Oklahoma City to victories, this time against Orlando. Durant had 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist in the 102-74 victory. He also contributed on the defensive end, with 3 steals, including one that led to a breakaway dunk in the second quarter.

Don't just play. Play With Heart. See what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

Play With Heart Moments: November 5, 2009

jechee — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:04:40 GMT

Two stars in Utah scored 27 points each, as the Jazz beat the Spurs for the first time since April 2008, 113-99.

Along with his 27 points, Carlos Boozer had 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. One of those assists came on a pretty pass to rookie Wes Matthews in the second half. He also made two key hustle plays in the first quarter, causing two jump balls on the defensive end. That's Playing With Heart.

Deron Williams had 9 assists - with only two turnovers - and 7 rebounds to with his 27 points. His steady play running the offense led the Jazz to 53% shooting for the game.

Don't just play. Play With Heart. Check out what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

School Days: Paul Millsap

jechee — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:19:42 GMT

Four brothers born in Monroe, Louisiana.

"I think it made me who I am. Growing up was really competitive and I think that helped us out a lot."

One basketball.

"We always had one-on-one games with each other - and that brought us real close."

It's no wonder hooping became a family affair for Paul Millsap - it's actually a right of passage.

"I started playing organized basketball kind of late - so they would actually beat (up on) me. And that was really tough. I was kind of soft back then - and they knew that. So they were always picking on me, trying to take advantage of me and usually, they got the best of me."

But getting the best of him then started Paul on the path that brings the best out of him now.

"It just got really frustrating. Back then I just felt like everybody was just out to pick on me. But it made me grow up - I had to learn how to be tougher. So it turned out to be for my own good."

In part because they were the only basketball role models Paul even knew about.

"You know, I wasn't really into basketball when I was a kid - I didn't really have posters on my walls or anything like that. And because I was really just getting started, I didn't really understand the game. So basically, looking up to my brothers and the way that they played brought me closer to the game."

As the second-oldest, Paul followed in his big brother's footsteps, becoming a double-double machine in college.

"I didn't really feel like I had to live up to him. John has always been good. And he started playing really early so he knew everything about the game. Watching him, watching the things he did to progress in basketball - I learned a lot from that."

Paul's message to today's "little brothers and sisters"?

"Take their (older siblings') advice. These are the people who've been there - who paved the way for us. So anything that they say can help you - try to take it and run with it."

Before he stepped firmly into The Mailman's shadow at Louisiana Tech - becoming the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounding for three consecutive years - Paul muscled up at Grambling High School.

"Basketball was really big there - so I knew that night-in, night-out, I had to show up ready to play. Otherwise people around town were going to be saying something (bad) about my game. It was a lot of pressure, but through it all I had my family there supporting me. To look up in the stands and know that they were there to see me play, that meant a lot to me and helped keep me going."

After surviving his first high school season, Paul felt like he might just be alright.

"It got tough. The running was tough. Practices were tough. But I felt that if I survived all the things that we did, I could really play this game. And from then on, I just always tried to get better every day."

And take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself.

"It's always going to get tougher to get better - things are not going to always go your way. But it's how you bounce back from it. How you handle that tough situations. Most of us don't get too many opportunities, so when you do, you going to take advantage of them."

Displaying the toughness that would eventually lead to NBA All-Rookie honors, Paul led the Kittens to a 30-0 record. His hard-nosed play landed him on the Top 100 McDonald's All-American team and a fourth-team membership on the Parade All-American roster.

Hitting the boards seemed to become part of his every-second thinking.

"My thing was rebounding - it got me a long way. Rebounding was the thing that got me noticed and put me on the map. It's what got me in the door to start getting some opportunities to show that I could really play."

And when it came time to head off to college, Paul relished that chance.

"It didn't really bother me that some of the bigger schools didn't come after me. At the end of the day, maybe you look and try to compare yourself and see what you could've maybe done on another team. But my stats were always there. The work was always there. And getting it done at that level got me where I'm at today."

Even today in the NBA, Paul has never said much about those who've doubted his game.

"I just get on the court and play - I speak through how I play. And what I do on the court speaks for itself. After you get done doing the things that you know you can do, people start to see and realize how good you are. And when you play well, when the production speaks for itself, what can they say then?"

And when you do things that no one else has ever done before, nothing else needs to be said.

"Leading the country in rebounding for three straight years, it meant a lot. It means a lot. I accomplished something that nobody has ever done before and I'm proud of that. It's something I can take with me for the rest of my life."

It's something - that knowing what he's capable of - that helped him stay patient early in his pro career.

"Playing behind Carlos (Boozer) helped me out - I didn't jump into the fire too early. Instead of fighting with him, I watched the things that he did and learned from him. So if you're stuck behind an older kid on your high school team, the first thing you have to understand is that eventually, you're going to have a chance to step into that position. So learn as much as you can until you get there."

But that doesn't mean you sit around hoping and wishing for that time to come.

"I didn't wait for Carlos to get hurt (last year) to become a better player. You have to be ready at all times. And it starts the first day of training camp. It starts the first day of practice, getting yourself mentally and physically prepared for anything. You never know what can happen - so you've got to be ready at all times."

Play With Heart Moments: November 4, 2009

jechee — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:09:07 GMT

Wednesday was a busy night in the NBA, with 10 games on the schedule. Five players, including a pair of teammates, Played With Heart.

In Golden State, Anthony Morrow scored 24 points off the bench, including 4 for 4 from behind the arc, to lead the Warriors over Memphis, 113-105. In the third quarter, Morrow and Memphis' Rudy Gay matched basket for basket, dueling for four minutes, possession after possession. Gay would finish with a team-high 29 points, as well as 8 rebounds.

Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh led Toronto over Detroit, 110-99. Bosh contributed on both sides of the court, with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Bargnani recorded his first double-double of the season, with 22 points and 12 rebounds. On two consecutive possessions with five minutes left in the game, Bargnani was able to get the foul line, where he knocked down all four free throws.

And in Houston, Kobe Bryant had his 98th career 40-point game, scoring 41, as the Lakers beat the Rockets in overtime, 103-102. 16 of Kobe's points came in the fourth quarter and overtime. That's having the pure drive to win. That's Playing With Heart.

Don't just play. Play With Heart. Check out what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

Play With Heart Moments: November 3, 2009

jechee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:11:26 GMT

Three players Played With Heart, leading their teams to impressive victories on Tuesday night.

Dirk Nowitzki set a franchise record, scoring 29 points in the fourth quarter alone to lead Dallas on a furious comeback over Utah, 96-85. Dallas was trailing Utah 67-52 entering the fourth quarter before Dallas' offense started firing on all cylinders. Dirk would finish up with 40 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks. That's Playing With Heart

Rasheed Wallace had his best game of the season, coming off the bench to score 20 points, shooting a red-hot 6 of 8 from behind the arc. His play helped Boston stay undefeated, beating Philadelphia 105-74.

Dallas wasn't the only team coming back from a big deficit to get a W. Chicago's Luol Deng set a career high with 20 rebounds -- 7 on the offensive glass -- to go along his with 24 points as his team came back to beat Milwaukee, 83-81.

What Play With Heart moments did you see on Tuesday?

1-on-1: Mehmet Okur vs. Rasheed Wallace - Better Shooting Big

jechee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:19:55 GMT

This one's gotta be as simple as the shooting percentages, right?

In his career, Mehmet Okur has attempted 1289 threes. He's made 486 of them. Do the math: that's 37.7% over seven NBA seasons.

In his career, Rasheed Wallace has attempted 2869 threes. He's made 982. We got the calculator out: 34.2% over fourteen NBA seasons.

So it's gotta be that simple: in twice as many years, Rasheed's attempted more than twice as many triples as Mehmet. Yet he's made less than twice as many, so Mehmet has a better three-point shooting percentage.

Done deal, right?

Not so fast.

Overall, 'Sheed shoots .471 from the field while Mehmet shoots .461.

OK, case settled. Mehmet hits more often from behind the three-point line, but 'Sheed steps in a little closer sometimes and bangs ‘em home from 17 feet.

It's not that easy, either.

And it's not as simple as saying, "Well, Wallace is more of a high-flyer and Mehmet's just not quite as athletic so he doesn't get as many dunks."

That would be ignoring the fact that they stand 6'10" and 6'11", respectively: neither one of these guys has a problem getting above them tin. And it would also be ignoring the eloquence in 'Sheed's game: his back-to-the-basket ability is unparalleled among big men. Simply stated: his turnaround is almost unblockable. Has been - for more than a decade.

Beyond that, we'd be ignoring the difference in the offenses these guys ball in. And that's as fundamental as pick 'n roll vs. spot-up threes.

The issue is clouded further when you take in postseason play:

In five career trips to the playoffs, Mehmet shoots 41.2% from the floor and 35.8% from three. 'Sheed boasts career postseason averages 44.6% overall and 35.3% from long distance.

We tried to tell you: it's just not that easy.

Especially when you factor in all of 'Sheed’s dagger threes on those perennial Eastern Conference Finalist Detroit squads. And splitting hairs gets little clarity when you factor this in: they both contributed to the 2004 NBA Champion Pistons team.

So since we’re still arguing, we'd like to know what you think:

Who's the better-shooting big: Rasheed Wallace or Mehmet Okur?

Play With Heart Moments: November 2, 2009

jechee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:41:57 GMT

Aaron Brooks led his Houston team to a 113-96 victory over Utah and the passionate fans who give the Jazz one of the most formidable home court advantages in the NBA.

19 points and 9 assists on the road with two members of the starting line-up in street clothes? That's Playing With Heart.

Who else did you see Playing With Heart on Monday?

Play With Heart Moments: October 29, 2009

jechee — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:21:05 GMT

There were only two games on the NBA schedule on Thursday, but two players had Play With Heart moments in Chicago, as the Bulls beat the Spurs 92-85.

After missing the last 22 games of the 2008-2009 regular season as well as the playoffs with a leg injury, Luol Deng is healthy. He showed that he's ready to play, leading Chicago with 17 points and 9 rebounds.

Tyrus Thomas showed resilience in the struggle, as he scored 13 second-half points and blocked 3 shots, after being held scoreless in the first half.

What was your favorite Play With Heart moment from last night?

Play With Heart Moments: October 28, 2009

jechee — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:59 GMT

Check out Play With Heart moments from Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, and Al Horford.

Oklahoma City made a statement in its first game of the season, beating Sacramento 102-89. Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook had the pure drive to win. Durant had a double-double, with 25 points and 11 rebounds, two of which came on a baseline-to-baseline finish in the first quarter. Northwestern High School alumnus Jeff Green chipped in 24 points, going 4-5 from behind the arc, along with 8 rebounds. Russell Westbrook ran the offense to perfection, finishing with 14 points and a career-high 13 assists, including a pretty thread of the needle to Durant in the second quarter.

Steve Nash was clutch in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 24 points--including 7 straight Suns points--in the final stanza, as Phoenix beat the Clippers 109-107. With 5 seconds to go, Nash hit a circus layup in traffic, which would be the deciding points in the Suns victory.

Atlanta's Al Horford had 24 points, 16 rebounds to lead his team over Indiana 120-109, with two of those points coming on a follow-up dunk in the middle of the fourth quarter. But he also showed up in the box score with 4 assists, including two in the third quarter on consecutive possessions.

What was your favorite Play With Heart moment from Wednesday?

School Days: Ronnie Brewer

jechee — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:09:47 GMT

His father, Ron, set the bar pretty high, teaming up with a couple other college all-stars to form the fabled "Triplets" - and they led Arkansas to the 1978 Final Four. So Ronnie Brewer was staring history directly in the mirror when he signed to play college ball for the Razorbacks.

"My dad didn’t push me too hard - he didn't want to burn me out on basketball. And it really just made me grow to love it. He saw that I was passionate about the game and to this day he still gives me advice about things on the court - and off the court, too. Not everybody's fortunate enough to have a mom and a dad that’s still in their life and I was blessed to be in that situation."

But blessings didn't stop the comparisons.

"Fayetteville's a small town, so you're always going to get compared to somebody. I was compared to my sister Candice - a two-time all-state basketball player - first, and then once I improved my game I was compared to my dad. Then I went off to the same college where he had an extraordinary career, and I think I was just OK. It was tough, but I think it made me mature a lot faster and deal with stuff a lot better."

Ronnie even wore his father’s uniform number: 10.

"He didn't put any extra pressure on me. And the newspapers or the media didn't really get to me, either. When they compared us, I just thought it was awkward. I mean, I was playing in the 2000s - he played in the 70s. That's 30 years ago. So every time I stepped on the court at Arkansas - even though we wore the same number - I just played my game."

And Ronnie was more than up to the task, earning 1st Team All-SEC (the first Razorback to do so in more than a decade) and Honorable Mention All-America honors while leading Arkansas back to the NCAA Tournament.

"In high school, I was just thinking about maintaining and improving my game to take it to the college level. So around my freshman and sophomore year in college, I realized that if I really put in the work and focused on school, gave that 110 percent and gave athletics that same amount, I might be able to play basketball for a living."

Putting in the work resulted in a lot of extra hours.

"I was in the gym lifting weights, getting shots up, doing extra conditioning work. And I continue to do that today back at Arkansas, because I feel like that pretty much put me over the hump to put me where I'm at today."

For Ronnie, this was really nothing new. He's been living up to his family name for as long as he can remember. And it all started at Fayetteville High School.

"We don’t have professional sports in Arkansas, so high school and college athletics are huge. Fayetteville High School is right down the street from the University of Arkansas. We played right on the hill and had sellout crowds every night. It was a blast. My sister went there and she was a great player, had all the scoring records. I enjoyed it a lot - if I could do it again, I would.”

Before Ronnie became a Fayetteville Bulldog, he was looking directly uphill at a basketball career that didn't seem likely to happen.

"I'm a product of not coming from a (nationally-known) basketball hotbed type of place. Fayetteville, Arkansas didn’t produce any NBA players until I came. So I knew I had to put in the work and do something every single day. Ball-handling, shooting, defense, one-on-ones, if you can work on something every day it's going to make you better in the long run. A lot of hard work will pay off in the end.”

But even with that hard-working mindset, the odds were still really long.

"I would never have thought when I was in junior high or high school that one day I would be playing in the NBA."

And short.

"I was 5'7 1/2" all the way up to the 9th grade. And I grew to a whopping 5'9" and thought maybe I could start at point guard. I didn't hit my growth spurt until my sophomore year, and then my body started developing. But at the same time, when I was small I was already working on my jump shot, working on my ball-handling, working on my defense, just trying to get myself ready and prepare myself to be a better basketball player."

As a senior, Ronnie busted out for 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Fayetteville finished 24-5 and reached the Class 5A semifinals. For his efforts, Ronnie was named the Arkansas Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Parade put him on their All-America team.

"My motto is - and always was - you can't really determine how many shots you're going to make in a game. Or if you're going to have a beautiful (shooting) stroke like some of the best guys in the NBA. Or if you can play the best defense or dish out the most assists. The only thing you can control is playing hard all the time. And that's what I try to do. So if you're not gifted to be able to jump and dunk or dribble and shoot better than somebody else, if you go out there and play as hard as you possibly can, well, that’s something you can control every night."

And three years later - after leading the Razorbacks to the front of the SEC pack - Ronnie was a first-round draft pick of the Utah Jazz.

"I always just tried to go out there and relax and remember that it's just a game. Just play hard and have fun. You're not out there to really impress anybody or force anything. Bottom line: however many years you've been playing the game, if a college coach or an NBA scout is coming to watch you, the ball's going to bounce the same way it always has and the rim is always going to be 10-feet high."

Play With Heart Moments: October 27, 2009

jechee — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:39:14 GMT

Check out Play With Heart moments from opening night in the NBA from LeBron, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Lamar Odom, and Greg Oden.

LeBron played like the MVP he is, scoring 38 points and dishing out 8 assists. But his Play With Heart moments came on the defensive end: two transition blocks to stop Boston from scoring easy points.

Cleveland didn't get the W, as Paul Pierce was clutch in the fourth quarter. In the final 1:03, Pierce hit two jumpers, and knocked in two free throws to ice the 95-89 victory.

On ring night in Los Angeles, the Lakers beat the hometown rival Clippers, 99-92. Kobe Bryant played a complete game, with 33 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 4 steals. Lamar Odom was ready to play, finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists--including two highlight passes in the first half.

In Portland, Greg Oden showed how to Play With Heart in other ways than scoring points. He had 12 rebounds and 5 blocks as he helped Portland beat Houston, 96-87.

What was your favorite Play With Heart moment from Tuesday?

The Family: David West

Hotnix — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:17:06 GMT

New Orleans is locked in a playoff race as exciting as Bourbon Street itself. Leading the charge for the city’s hoopsters is David West.

There is a rumble in the Western Conference, with several teams battling for that higher seed and the home playoff games that come with it. The beefy forward is tearing it up even more than usual, playing head and shoulders above even his lofty standards.

Last Sunday night Utah came to town, and got the win. But D-West did all he could to avert the outcome, pouring in 23 points, and hauling down 19 rebounds. He put up 20 Tuesday night in their victory over Miami and dropped a hot 28 points Wednesday in their tough loss against Phoenix.

His stat lines are, in a word, jawdropping. 31 points and 14 boards against Golden State was astounding, but it wasn’t even West’s best of the week. In Sacramento, West wowed Governor Terminator and the rest of California’s capital. Check this—an even forty points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Sniffing distance of a triple double, with forty points! Over his last five games, West is averaging a stellar 26.8 PPG with 10.4 rebounds per outing.

It will take some effort, but West is doing all he can to bring the home court advantage to New Orleans when the playoffs begin.

The Family: Versus

Hotnix — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:42:42 GMT

Heading into the final stretch it’s clear who the top teams are. But one of the toughest battles will be fought for that 8th and final position in the West. Sunday Dallas and Phoenix make their last drive for the post season.

Phoenix is a team in search of an identity. Formerly known the fastest team in the league, the Suns have slowed their pace this season as they’ve struggled to reshape their offense around their new big man. And even though the future hall-of-fame center has had some big nights, the team has yet to settle into a groove and return to dominance in the West. Led by their fleet-footed floor general Steve Nash, they have 40 wins and 34 losses and sit just 3 ½ games out of that final seat in the Western conference playoffs.

A short time ago the Dallas Mavericks seemed unstoppable. In 2006 they brought home the conference title and in ’07 they locked up the Division title. But as the Lakers have taken over the crown in the West, the Mavs have struggled this year to regain their footing. With the return of their legendary point guard came a hope that the team would quickly improve, but as they continue to work out the kinks they’ve landed a record of 43 wins and 30 losses. Dirk Nowitzki, the 2007 league MVP, has been the team’s rock for years and their playoff run rests squarely on his shoulders.

These two Western powerhouses go head-to-head Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm ET.

NBA Regular Season

Monday, March 30

Orlando vs. Miami @ 7:30pm ET

Wednesday, April 1

Detroit vs. Cleveland @ 7:00pm ET

Thursday, April 2

Utah vs. Denver @ 10:30pm ET

Friday, April 3

Denver vs. Dallas @ 8:30pm ET

Sunday, April 5

Phoenix vs. Dallas @ 3:30pm ET