CNOTES 2019 NBA PRESEASON NEWS AND NOTES !

[Cnotes53]

Curry, Green eager to lead Warriors
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Stephen Curry knows how different this season will be.

He realizes many aren't considering the Golden State Warriors a clear contender even following five straight trips to the NBA Finals.

No Kevin Durant. No Andre Iguodala. No Shaun Livingston. And that's just to name a few of the departed players who had made such key contributions to the franchise's recent runs of success.

Klay Thompson is recovering from surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee and likely will be sidelined well into next year.

There's also a new arena. In another city, no less, with the Warriors moving from Oakland across San Francisco Bay to sparkling new Chase Center.

Not that Curry is expending too much energy on these potential distractions. The two-time MVP plans to keep the Warriors a consistent winner even with all the change.

At age 31, Curry is the old guy around Golden State, and new backcourt mate D'Angelo Russell can't wait to learn from the two-time MVP.

''Stop reminding me!'' Curry said emphatically of his senior status.

''Just hearing it is weird, but I'm still young. I wake up every day with a smile on my face, with the opportunity I have in front of me, being in my prime, being able to play basketball at the highest level and do it with this team and in front of our fan base, and I know I have a lot, a lot of years left at this level,'' he said. ''It doesn't change anything but just makes me laugh, and for people to notice some gray hairs that might pop out every once in a while. But other than that, it's kind of business as usual.''

Still, general manager Bob Myers acknowledges it's not realistic for any team to remain elite all the time.

''It's a new dawn for us, but it's OK,'' Myers said. ''We haven't been in this position for five years. It's going to be fun. It doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Because when you have young players there's a learning curve to their growth, to their NBA experience.''

Here are some things to watch for as the Warriors begin a new era of sorts:

FAMILIAR FACES

Draymond Green, who received a $100 million, four-year extension, said all along he would like to retire with the Warriors, and committing to playing with Curry and Thompson for the immediate future means a lot. Thompson stayed put on a $190 million deal spanning the next five years.

Not having to think about what's next allows Green to focus just on basketball.

''I didn't want to come into this season dealing with all of that stuff. It kind of becomes a headache,'' he said. ''It definitely played a little part in it, and just understanding what was best for myself and my family and for this organization. You know, I think I've said a million times now, I want to be here for my entire career. What makes that possible? What makes that more realistic? I think this did.''

KLAY'S KNEE

Thompson was injured June 13 in the deciding Game 6 of the Warriors' NBA Finals loss to the Toronto Raptors. The Warriors don't expect him back until at least after the All-Star break.

Thompson plans to be smart about his return from a July 2 surgery, even though he is someone who never likes to miss time.

''I've become much more sympathetic to all athletes at all levels who go through a major injury or surgery. It's not fun, and it really tests your patience,'' Thompson said. ''But it's our job to come back even stronger, and the team has faith in me to do that.''

NEW FACES

Losing two-time NBA Finals MVP Durant leaves a huge void.

Russell is ready to take on a large role, while also learning from Curry, Green and Thompson about how things work with Golden State.

Other new faces include Willie Cauley-Stein and Glenn Robinson III.

''For any young player coming into the league, I think it's a luxury to have guys of that caliber to just learn from, kind of just to watch and just pick their brains any time,'' Russell said. ''It's a luxury to have because you can easily come into the league and not have that.''

NEW DIGS

Moving to Chase Center will be a big adjustment, too.

''It's still always bittersweet for sure, because I've spent 10 years here,'' Curry said. ''I remember my first training camp with Don Nelson and Kelenna Azubuike and that whole roster and now 10 years later all that we've been able to accomplish. A lot of guys that have come through this organization and help us win championships, a lot of memories. ... It's still kind of down the road where you can't really understand what it's going to look like, what it's going to feel like to go to a different building.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Beilein leaves college to teach Cavs
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) John Beilein stood at midcourt with his arms folded and watched as the Cavaliers pushed through practice drills that the former Michigan coach developed and perfected during 37 years at the college level.

With each bounce of the ball, every pass and shot, Beilein's head bobbed ever so slightly, his eyes fixated on details - foot work, hand placement, balance, follow-through.

He smiled knowingly, and it's clear the 66-year-old grandfather is in his element.

''He's a gym rat,'' said Cavs rookie guard Darius Garland.

And, an NBA rookie coach picked to rebuild the Cavaliers.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Cavs ended their coaching search in May with the surprising hire of Beilein, a self-professed basketball lifer with a sterling reputation and sparkling track record for developing players.

He was not thought to be on Cleveland's radar, but the Cavs knew they needed an experienced coach to oversee their massive rebuilding project. Once owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Koby Altman sat down with Beilein, it didn't take long for them to realize he was the person they needed.

Beilein appears to be an ideal fit.

''With young guys you need a culture first and you can't just build that,'' said forward Larry Nance, who expanded his game last season. ''You can't just throw a culture in and hope it works. You have to start from the bottom. I don't want to say he's starting from the bottom, but within the league, he's fresh. He's starting new. We're starting new. It's good that nobody is really above the other.''

Beilein inherits a team that went 19-63 last season, the inevitable freefall sealed when LeBron James packed up and left Cleveland for the second time as a free agent. It didn't help that All-Star forward Kevin Love was limited to just 22 games after undergoing toe surgery.

From the start of training camp, Beilein has gone old school with the Cavs, who were more than a little stunned when he had them doing elementary-level movements normally seen in grade school practices.

''I hadn't done the Mikan drill in like 12 years,'' said Nance, referring to the time-tested exercise for basketball big men.

Beilein's firmly believes even pros need to brush up on the basics.

''The veterans understand that there is slippage in the fundamentals, especially over a summer,'' Beilein said. ''There's just incredible slippage and you have to remind them of that. It's not their fault. ... For the good veterans it's like riding a bike, it's like, `Oh, yeah, I should have boxed out there.' But you have to train them and keep it going.''

Beilein's next challenge is to keep the Cavs from going in reverse.

LOVE STATUS

Without fail, Love begins another season encircled in trade talk.

It's been that way since he arrived in Cleveland, where he's gone from having a supporting role alongside James and Kyrie Irving on title contenders to being the Cavs' unquestioned top player and most important leader on a sub-.500 squad.

Love doesn't want to go anywhere, and he's committed to nurturing his young teammates. However, the Cavs could be tempted to trade him for a package of players and/or picks that could hasten their turnaround.

DYNAMITE DUO

The Cavs are counting on Garland, the No. 5 overall pick this season, and Collin Sexton to blossom into one of the league's best backcourts. Based purely on skill level and upside, the pair is already drawing comparisons to Portland's Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

Garland played only five games at Vanderbilt before a left knee injury ended his college career. He's got all the tools, the right makeup and has an NBA pedigree as his father, Winston, played eight seasons in the league. Durability seems to be the only question mark about Garland.

SECOND SEASON

Sexton's rookie season went from poor to polished.

Stung by being left off the NBA's rising stars team at the break, the speedy guard kicked his game into overdrive. He improved in all areas and wound up averaging 16.7 points on 43% shooting - 21 points and 48% in the second half. He's got a scorer's mentality, but the Cavs need him to do other things and he added some muscle during the offseason to prevent other guards from pushing him around.

OTHER ROOKIES

The Cavs added two other interesting rookies with first-round picks - swingman Dylan Windler and Kevin Porter Jr.

Windler averaged 21.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and carried tiny Belmont to its first NCAA Tournament win. The Cavs like Windler's versatility and shooting range. He's been slowed by a leg injury so far.

A five-star high school recruit, Porter was suspended from USC's team for bad behavior. The slim 6-foot-6 left-hander has all the moves, and he could provide Cleveland with scoring punch off the bench.

GOLDEN YEAR

The Cavs are celebrating their 50th season, which began with two unfortunate incidents - owner Dan Gilbert's stroke and longtime broadcaster Fred McLeod's death.

 

[Cnotes53]

Knicks vow to show toughness
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Knicks were playing their first preseason game when Marcus Morris delivered some postseason-type toughness.

His first appearance in his new uniform ended early when he was ejected for banging the ball off Justin Anderson's head as the Washington Wizards forward closely defended him. Morris apologized afterward, but he also made it clear the Knicks weren't going to be pushed around.

He had a similar message on the eve of training camp, saying the Knicks have a lot of ''dogs'' on the roster, a term he defined as players like him.

''Guys that's not going to back down,'' Morris said. ''Guys that are going to go out there and compete every night.''

That would be a welcome change in New York, where the Knicks didn't compete much at all last season.

They had the NBA's worst record at 17-65, matching the poorest performance in franchise history. They were last in the league in field goal percentage and at one point dropped 18 straight games, a franchise-worst within one season.

That futility during a sixth straight season out of the playoffs certainly hurt when the Knicks went into free agency, where they couldn't land any of the All-Star players available. They came away with a seven-player class that aims to back up Morris' boasts.

''Guys are just hungry going out there,'' new forward Taj Gibson said. ''You look at the makeup of a team, a bunch of guys who are underdogs, highly skilled, highly talented guys, but they bring a mentality that just wants to win and wants to prove people wrong.''

Joining Morris and Gibson were Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington and Reggie Bullock. There are no stars there, but the Knicks see that as a strength.

''I think the best thing about our team is that we have a lot of guys that's always picked second,'' Portis said. ''We have a lot of guys that are underdogs in a sense that nobody really believes in, nobody's really talking about, and I think when you put a full roster of guys like that on the same team you build a great basketball team.''

Perhaps the Knicks will surprise, though they don't appear to have enough firepower to play their way back into postseason contention. But just playing hard would be an improvement and endear the team to fans who appreciated the hard-nosed style of the Knicks of the 1990s, before they became one of the NBA's worst franchises.

''The first thing most guys talked about in the offseason before I came here is that this city will love you if you go out and just play hard and do whatever you can do for just five minutes,'' Gibson said. ''You can just become a special person in this city.''

Other things to know about the Knicks:

RJ'S ROLE

The Knicks took RJ Barrett with the No. 3 pick, their highest since drafting Patrick Ewing first in 1985, and need the ACC scoring leader from Duke to quickly find his stroke after they averaged just 104.6 points, 28th in the league.

RISING RANDLE

Randle signed with the Knicks following what was probably his best NBA season, ranking in the league's top 20 in both scoring (career-high 21.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.7) for the New Orleans Pelicans.

HOME-COURT DISADVANTAGE

The Knicks need to play better at Madison Square Garden after going 9-32 with an 18-game losing streak that was one shy of an NBA record. They ranked ninth in attendance, but their 13 sellouts were their fewest since 1990-91.

MITCHELL IN THE MIDDLE

Mitchell Robinson was second in the NBA in blocked shots as a rookie but prone to fouls while trying too hard for blocks. The Knicks hope he can clean up that aspect of his game while expanding his offensive repertoire after shooting 69.4% to lead first-year players.

TV TIME

With a dismal 2018-19 behind them and the potential for more struggles ahead, the Knicks were not deemed to be must-see TV this season. They didn't get their customary spot on the Christmas schedule and landed only three national TV appearances at all. The first is Nov. 14 on TNT against Dallas, when New York welcomes Kristaps Porzingis back for the first time since trading its former All-Star midway through last season.

 

[Cnotes53]

Wizards focus on Beal, development
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Now Bradley Beal finally gets his chance to be the focal point for the Washington Wizards from the get-go, on and off the court.

The main issues of interest with this club at the moment are whether Beal's play takes another step up and whether his future with the franchise will be definitively determined.

Wins? Playoffs? Those are really afterthoughts as new general manager Tommy Sheppard and the rest of an overhauled front office stress the importance of player development while attempting to begin the reconstruction of a roster for a club that was hoping to get to 50 victories a year ago and instead ended up with 50 losses.

''I know a lot of people are down on us. Questioning: How are they going to be? What's their identity? What am I going to do? There's a million questions,'' said Beal, an All-Star shooting guard. ''But I'm all about proving people wrong. We have a hungry team. I'm a hungry individual. I believe in myself. I believe in my teammates.''

With so many new faces, so many young faces and so many injuries - most prominently, point guard John Wall is sidelined for most, and possibly all, of the coming season after rupturing his Achilles tendon - setting goals is not easy.

Accomplishing goals will be difficult, too.

''I don't know how good we're going to be,'' coach Scott Brooks said, ''but I know we're going to be scrappy, and we're going to be tough. We're going to play together and we're going to play hard.''

Two-thirds of last season's players are gone, but it wasn't as if Sheppard, who replaced the fired Ernie Grunfeld, had a lot to work with in terms of draft capital or salary-cap space as he was beginning his overhaul.

So he had to make smaller moves, stress patience and let everyone know this is about the long haul, not the short term.

''Every player on our roster,'' Sheppard said, ''we want to see him get better.''

Some other things to know about the Wizards, who open the regular season at Dallas on Oct. 23:

WALL'S ROLE

Wall is starting a four-year deal worth $170 million, but there's really no way to know what the Wizards will get for that. The expectation is he will not see the court much, if at all, in 2019-20. ''He's not going to play until he's ready,'' Brooks said. In the meantime, Brooks, Sheppard and Wall all have spoken about the guard's role as a sort of assistant to Brooks, helping players, especially the team's youngest, with what his veteran eyes see.

''My job is to try to help as much as possible,'' Wall said. ''I'm basically like a coach this year.''

MYSTERY LINEUP

All sorts of other players were hurt in the offseason, including backup point guard Isaiah Thomas, potential starter C.J. Miles, second-year guard-forward Troy Brown Jr., and backup center Ian Mahinmi. That means only two of five starting spots - Beal and center Thomas Bryant - were solidified heading into training camp. Brooks definitely has his work cut out for him.

ROOKIE RUI

Sheppard's initial draft pick was forward Rui Hachimura of Gonzaga, who already is a big deal in his native Japan. His progress as a rookie will be monitored closely back home - and by the Wizards, of course, as they try to determine how best to take advantage of his versatility.

''That's kind of the best thing about him, because now we can mold him into what we need him to be,'' Beal said. ''He can shoot the ball. He can rebound the ball. He can put the ball on the floor. He can defend most of the positions.''

SHEPPARD'S SHOT

After more than 15 years with the Wizards, Sheppard finally gets a chance to run the team as its GM.

''Let's revitalize. Let's really get people here that we're proud of, that we feel we can grow,'' he said. ''And it's not just here with the players, right? It's the staff; it's all the support staff.'' Wall's been around Sheppard his entire NBA career. ''Let's see what he can do with it. What adjustments can he make for the team? What can he do for the organization to change things around?''

BEAL'S BOUNCE

Beal averaged 25.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds last season, all career highs. He, and his team, expect even more this season in Wall's absence. ''Me and John have sort of shared the spotlight the last few years,'' Beal said. Now the Wizards are all about him - and what happens next, too, because Beal has been offered an extension that would keep him in Washington beyond the two years remaining on his current deal. ''Really excited to see what Bradley Beal does this season,'' Sheppard said. He's a tremendous cornerstone of this franchise. We're very blessed to have him.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Thunder starts over without Westbrook
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

No one knew.

Russell Westbrook had a chance to put the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead in the final moments of Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series against Portland. He tried a layup with 18 seconds left. It missed.

No one knew that was the 17,350th and final shot he would take as a Thunder player, the last time he would touch the ball in an Oklahoma City uniform, the end of an storied 11-year run that - when factoring in both regular-season and postseason games - saw him score more points than anyone else in franchise history.

A new day has arrived in Oklahoma City. The Thunder - one of only two teams to have a better-than-.500 record in each of the last 10 seasons, San Antonio being the other - have pushed the reset button. Westbrook is gone to rejoin James Harden in Houston, Paul George has taken his still-unfulfilled pursuit of a championship to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Oklahoma City is thinking about the future.

''We're still 100 percent focused on building the most sustainable path for an elite team in Oklahoma City, realizing that that's something that eventually we're going to embark on, but we're not at that point yet,'' Thunder general manager Sam Presti said. ''And we think that this season is one that we should really dive into and experience.''

The cupboard is far from bare. Chris Paul - whose first NBA ''home'' game was 14 years ago in Oklahoma City, back when the New Orleans Hornets had to temporarily relocate there in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - is back in the city, just now as part of the Thunder. He was the big piece the Thunder got back in the trade that sent Westbrook to the Rockets.

Paul was the subject of more trade speculation after the deal between the Rockets and Thunder went down. But he insisted that he's happy to be back in Oklahoma City.

''I think that's the thing that fuels me is competition and always trying to get better, always trying to pay attention, seeing how I can improve,'' Paul said. ''I've got an unbelievable team around me, people who try to help me day in and day out.''

That night against Portland in April, Westbrook missed the go-ahead layup, and Damian Lillard made a 37-footer at the buzzer to give the Trail Blazers a 118-115 win - ending the Thunder's season, ultimately ending Westbrook's tenure with the team as well.

''I think our focus right now is on the team that we have,'' Presti said. ''It's going to be a different iteration of Thunder team than we've seen over the last several years. But I would just say that we're going to take a very long view to make sure that we're putting ourselves in position to have a long run of success in Oklahoma City as we possibly can and not shortcut that process.''

Here are some things to know about the Thunder this season:

NEW FIVE

Paul will likely be joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari, two of the pieces in the George trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, as new starters for Oklahoma City. The faces will change, but the team's mission will not, said returning center Steven Adams. ''The one thing this organization does really well is you keep consistent with the values. Doesn't really matter who the players are,'' Adams said.

ALMOST 200

The first Thunder win this season will be a milestone for coach Billy Donovan. He enters the year 199-129 in his four seasons with the club. In Donovan's first 25 seasons as a head coach - counting his college stints at Marshall and Florida - he's finished with a winning record 22 times.

GALLINARI RISING

For Gallinari, this era of pace-and-space NBA basketball seems to work wonders. He set career bests last season for points per game (19.8) and in field-goal percentage (46.3%). He likely would have set another career high for 3-pointers made in a season if he had more appearances; he had 161 3s in 68 games last season, 25 shy of his personal-best 186 in 81 games for New York in 2009-10.

FACING RUSS

The Thunder won't have to wait long before facing Westbrook as an opponent for the first time - Oklahoma City goes to Houston on Oct. 28. But the Rockets and Thunder play only three times this season, and that means Houston's trip to OKC on Jan. 9 will be Westbrook's lone appearance as a visitor on his former home floor during the 2019-20 campaign.

ELDER MOVEMENT

The Thunder are revamped, but certainly didn't bring in a bunch of inexperience. The three oldest players on their roster this season - the 34-year-old Paul, 31-year-old Gallinari and 28-year-old Mike Muscala - are all newly acquired.

 

[Cnotes53]

Zion makes new-look Pels compelling
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Zion Williamson celebrated a recent alley-oop dunk with an ebullient smile and a flexed left bicep as an energized crowd roared approvingly.

The NBA preseason has provided a tantalizing taste of the excitement the league's top overall draft choice - a charismatic, 6-foot-6, 285-pound force of nature - could bring to New Orleans' long moribund small-market franchise.

Energetic crowds well in excess of 10,000 showed up for the Pelicans' first few exhibition contests, whether at home or on the road, rumbling with anticipation when Williamson had the ball and erupting when he launched his massive frame skyward to throw down rim-rattling dunks.

''We would have loved to have crowds like this for any game last year,'' Pelicans fifth-year coach Alvin Gentry said following his club's lone home exhibition game. ''In the years I've been here, I've never seen this much interest in the start of a basketball season.''

The Pelicans look primed to play entertaining and compelling basketball, whether or not they emerge as playoff contenders this season.

Williamson has shown no fear against established NBA big men, routinely scoring 20-plus points during exhibition games.

The former Duke star also doesn't seem fazed by the enormous expectations or hype surrounding his highly anticipated first pro season. He's familiar with fame, having been an internet sensation since high school.

''I feel like when he dunks and does all that, you've seen that since he was like 16 years old,'' Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday said. ''One thing that surprised me was his maturity - his maturity level off the court, being able to handle these types of situations and come in with so much hype and still be able to go out there and perform.''

Or as Williamson puts it: ''I'm just playing a game I love.''

Here are some other things to know about the New Orleans' 2019-20 campaign:

NEW ERA

The Pelicans, who've missed the playoffs three off the past four seasons, have been looking forward to a fresh start since six-time All-Star and 2012 No.1 overall draft choice Anthony Davis requested a trade in late January.

They started by replacing former general manager Dell Demps with new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin, who'd led Cleveland's front office during the Cavaliers' 2016 NBA championship.

Griffin arrived looking to bring in a bounty of promising young players in exchange for Davis. He gained more leverage than expected when the Pelicans won the NBA's draft lottery - and the right to select Williamson.

New Orleans ultimately dealt Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a major haul: 2016 second overall draft pick Brandon Ingram, 2017 No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball, 2017 late first-round pick Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks. Those picks include the fourth overall this year, which Griffin trade so he could select Texas center Jaxson Hayes eighth overall and Virginia Tech guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker 17th.

Having accumulated all that youth, Griffin made a trade with Utah for veteran center Derrick Favors and signed free-agent guard J.J. Redick.

LINEUP CHANGES

Holiday, whom Griffin calls the Pelicans' ''best player,'' is expected to be the only returning player in the starting lineup.

''Jrue is a perfect conduit for us between the young guys and some of our veteran leaders,'' Griffin said.

The 29-year old guard, who has been among the club's top scorers and defenders in recent seasons, is expected to be joined by Ball at point guard, along with Ingram, Williamson and Favors in the front court.

How that lineup stacks up in the Western Conference remains to be seen. In the meantime, Griffin is preaching patience.

''We're in an unbelievably difficult conference. We're going to take some lumps,'' Griffin said. ''What we do after that is all that really matters.''

REDICK'S ROLE

Redick looks likely to be a top reserve in his 14th season. A 41 percent career 3-point shooter, he should draw defenders to the perimeter and give players like Williamson more space to operate inside.

Griffin said he also values Redick's veteran presence in the locker room.

''Our style of play lends itself very well to the way he plays the game, but our roster lends itself to the leadership component he brings,'' Griffin said.

ZION'S ZEAL

While Williamson is bound to find NBA defenses more nuanced and challenging during the regular season, he doesn't downplay his ability to contribute.

''I can see myself being a big play-maker for this team, like attacking the basket, making open passes and just improving on my jumper,'' Williamson said, adding that he believes his perimeter shooting is underestimated.

''People kind of over exaggerate the whole `can't shoot' thing,'' Williamson said after hitting a 3-pointer in his third preseason game. ''If they want to leave me open, I'm going to shoot every time.''

Pelicans executives, coaches and players have effusively praised Williamson for an unselfish, team-first approach that they find refreshing for a player who has been such a magnet for attention.

''He wants to win,'' Holiday said. ''I feel like that's the main thing for him. He doesn't care about exposure.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Nuggets set sights much higher this season
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

DENVER (AP) The Nuggets didn't make major upgrades over the summer like so many of their Western Conference opponents, and they're fine with that - they figure Denver will turn into a desired destination soon enough.

The Nuggets return a young corps that won 54 games last season and came within four points of reaching the conference championship. Eight of their top 12 players are 25 years old or younger, including All-Star center Nikola Jokic, power forward Jerami Grant and fascinating forward Michael Porter Jr., the No. 14 selection in 2018 who sat out last season as he recovered from back surgery.

Although they didn't make any splashy moves in the offseason, the Nuggets were busy over the summer, acquiring Grant from Oklahoma City, picking up Paul Millsap's $30 million option and signing point guard Jamal Murray to a $170 million extension.

Five months later and coach Michael Malone is still blown away by The Joker's playoff performance that put him in some pretty elite company.

In 14 games, the Nuggets' unpretentious 24-year-old superstar averaged 25.1 points, 13 rebounds and 8.4 assists. The only other players to post averages of at least 20 points, 10 boards and eight assists while playing at least 10 games in the postseason are Oscar Robertson in 1963, Wilt Chamberlin in 1967 and LeBron James in 2015.

''Going into the year I don't know how you can even have an MVP discussion without mentioning his name because of what he did last year, for a guy that is supposedly unathletic and out of shape,'' Malone said. ''I think he proved a lot of people wrong.''

So did the Nuggets, who ended a six-year playoff drought by going 54-28 and becoming the youngest No. 2 seed ever. They won their first playoff series since 2009 with a seven-game ouster of Gregg Popovich and the Spurs in the opening round before falling at home in Game 7 to the Trail Blazers.

''We saw our young players grow up,'' Malone said. ''You can't replicate those 14 games in the postseason. You can't replicate two Game 7s. And I think all of our players have grown from that experience. They're coming back more confident.''

COACH'S CAUTION

Now that the Nuggets have broken through and tasted playoff success, Malone's main goal is to make sure his team guards against letting up. ''That's going to be our greatest challenge,'' he said. ''It's not the Lakers, the Clippers, the Warriors, the Jazz or Rockets. It's us. Fighting ourselves and fighting human nature and not thinking that we've arrived, because we haven't done a damn thing yet.''

NO JOKE

Malone wants more AND less out of Jokic . ''We became so reliant upon Nikola in the postseason,'' he said. ''I go back to Game 7, when we lost to Portland and he came to my office he's crying and apologizing for missing a big free throw. He missed the free throw because he was dead tired. The guy was playing 40 minutes a night. Hopefully this year in the playoffs - if we get back to the playoffs - we don't have to be so reliant on him.''

MOTIVATED MURRAY

Murray cringes when he hears someone say the Nuggets can end Golden State's reign out West and reach the NBA Finals. ''We need to have the mentality that we're going to win it,'' he said. Murray figures the Nuggets have all the ingredients: ''a passing center, shooters all around, the deepest bench.'' What they need is more consistency, starting with his own. ''I can't go 4 for 18 or whatever I was in Game 7'' against Portland, he said.

GRATEFUL GRANT

The Nuggets acquired Grant from the Thunder for a 2020 first-round pick. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward is coming off a breakout season that saw him set career highs in points (13.6) and rebounds (5.2). He also blocked 100 shots and collected 61 steals. ''It's good to get off a sinking ship,'' said Grant, the son of longtime NBA player Harvey Grant. ''I couldn't really ask for a better situation.''

PERSISTENT PORTER

''I have no pain. All my flexibility is back and I feel pretty good out there,'' said Porter, who has only played in three games since high school because of his bad back (and a knee injury that scuttled his Summer League plans). ''No matter how many times you fall it's up to you if you're going to get back up, even if you fall a million times,'' Porter said. ''Eventually my time will come when I'm meant to be a basketball player.''

 

[Cnotes53]

T'Wolves take nice chemistry into '19-'20
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The featured attraction of this latest fresh start for the Minnesota Timberwolves is Karl-Anthony Towns, the two-time All-Star center who finished in the top 20 in the NBA last season in more than a dozen major statistical categories.

After a tumultuous start to 2018-19 that led to a revamped front office, a new head coach, Ryan Saunders, and several changes to the roster, Towns in year five has the reins of this team both on and off the court. That's where the next step in his development began to take place during the offseason, encouraging teammates to spend more time in town for workouts and with each other away from the facility.

''That's different than what I've been used to here in Minnesota,'' Towns said, ''and it's going to show.''

The youngest head coach in the NBA at age 33, yet still a decade older than Towns, Saunders has taken over the position his beloved father held for 10 seasons with the Wolves plus a one-year return in 2014-15 before he died of cancer.

Saunders will run a faster offense with greater emphasis on 3-point shooting than his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau. Starting halfway through last season when he took over as interim coach, Saunders has also helped usher in a more upbeat environment, a power-of-positivity approach that's a clear contrast from Thibodeau's throwback style. Still, don't mistake such a young, affable authority for a pushover.

''He also has a side where he's a dog, you know?'' Towns said. ''He's a dog, especially when it comes to getting things right, doing what he commands and asks.''

Culture and process have become just as prominent of concepts around the Timberwolves as perimeter shooting.

''I'm just going to continue doing what I've been doing, and that is holding players accountable in my own way and making sure that we're getting better every day,'' Saunders said. ''We can't skip days.''

Minnesota opens the season Oct. 23 at Brooklyn.

WHAT'S THE POINT?

The Wolves are counting on a return to full strength by point guard Jeff Teague, who was limited to a career-low 42 games due to a left ankle injury that lingered throughout the second half of the season and required a cleanup surgery. That was the first of his 10 years in the NBA in which Teague did not reach the playoffs.

''It's like a blank canvas. We can do anything we want to do. Our team could be really good. No one's expecting much, and that's the beauty of it,'' said Teague, who's in the final season of a three-year, $57 million contract.

With Tyus Jones now playing for Memphis, Shabazz Napier will be the primary backup. Rookie Jarrett Culver could be groomed for an eventual takeover.

HIGH HOPES

The Timberwolves moved up in the draft for the sixth overall pick to take Culver, the 6-foot-5 sparkplug from national runner-up Texas Tech. He's long and quick, with defensive ability on the perimeter the Wolves have badly needed for years.

With Towns, Robert Covington, Andrew Wiggins and Teague locked in to the lineup, there's a starting spot on the wing that could be rotated depending on matchups and health. Culver will likely be in that mix with Jake Layman, Josh Okogie and Treveon Graham.

MOVING PARTS

The strategy under Saunders has also shifted on defense, where the Timberwolves finished 23rd in the NBA last season with an average of 114 points allowed per game. In keeping with a league trend, they'll employ more switching to better head off pick-and-rolls and other problematic plays and lean heavily on the long arms and court instinct of Covington.

''It's just going to give me more freedom to be able to see things on a different scale depending on how and where I am,'' Covington said.

THE FACILITATOR

Towns can not only shoot the 3-pointer as well as any big man in the league, but he can be a deft distributor, a skill new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas and Saunders have urged him to use more. One quick flick of the ball out of the post is all it takes to set up a wide-open 3-pointer for a teammate.

''It's really fun to have the ball in my hands where I am able to do things I've been doing since high school, which is be an elite passer,'' Towns said. ''That's really where my comfortability in my game comes if I'm not able to score.''

STILL HERE

The longest-tenured player on the team is backup center Gorgui Dieng, who has played for five head coaches in six years and still has two more seasons and more than $35 million remaining on a contract he signed three years ago. With newcomers Jordan Bell and Noah Vonleh in the mix as big men off the bench, playing time for Dieng could be sporadic. But over the last eight games of last season, Dieng averaged 14.5 points in 21.5 minutes while shooting 55.2% from the floor.

''When you look at numbers and the way that guys are looking, I'm very consistent since I've been in this league,'' Dieng said.

 

[Cnotes53]

Butler arrives in Miami, Heat hopes soar
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) Jimmy Butler wants this made clear: He is not in Miami to be the next Dwyane Wade.

He wanted to be in Miami to honor his retired friend's legacy - and pick up where Wade left off.

Wade's ''one last dance'' is over, his retirement has come after 16 seasons and now Butler has arrived to become the Heat's go-to guy in winning time. Adding Butler on a four-year contract was the centerpiece of the Heat's offseason, and even in a year of transition - learning to play without Wade, again - Miami believes a return to the playoffs is well within reach.

''Seeing what he helped build here - and I never want to compare myself to him, but I think that what they have going on here and the way they go about everything here is the right way,'' said Butler, who went to Marquette (as did Wade) and was Wade's teammate in Chicago in 2016-17 after the three-time champion left Miami the first time. ''That's what I'm banking on, that we continue to do that.''

Wade's last home game as a Heat player was against Philadelphia, with Butler one of the opponents that night. The scene, the way the Miami crowd feted Wade, it all made an impact on Butler's thinking as far as where he wanted to play this season and beyond.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra compared Miami's move to bring Butler in to one of the other seismic moves in franchise history - the one, early in Pat Riley's tenure with the team, that landed Alonzo Mourning.

''We bring in a super, like-minded player to our culture,'' Spoelstra said. ''In my mind, Jimmy is having the same impact Zo had when he joined the team.''

Butler thought one of the adjustments he'd have to make with the move to Miami was the process of getting to know what makes his new teammates tick. Turns out, that's almost been seamless - a good sign for a team going into a season with Miami's traditional high expectations.

''I'm just happy to be able to hoop,'' Butler said. ''We've got a great group of guys. We like being around each other. Everyone's laughing and smiling. It's going to be a long year and a long great year. Everyone around here is looking forward to it.''

Here are some other things to know about the Heat entering the season:

BUTLER'S MOVES

The Heat are Butler's fourth team - fourth team since 2017, too - and he says he wants Miami to be the final stop in his career.

Butler has been to the postseason seven times, including with Philadelphia last year, yet still hasn't gotten past the second round. Miami also hasn't been past the second round since its last NBA Finals trip in 2014, yet it believes adding Butler is the first huge footstep toward reversing those recent fortunes.

FREE THROWS

Miami was awful from the foul line last year. The Heat shot 60% or less from the free-throw stripe a league-worst 17 times last season - and went 2-15 in those games. Look no further than that as the reason why Miami wasted a chance at a postseason berth. Of those 15 losses, five came in games where Miami wound up losing by five points or fewer; the Heat wound up missing the playoffs by two games.

DEFEND HOME

Another key area where the Heat must get better this season is defending home court.

Miami was 19-22 at home last season - actually a game worse than its 20-21 record on the road. Last season marked the first time since 1996-97 that the Heat had a better record away from Miami; that team was 32-9 on the road, 29-12 at home.

THE ROOKIE

No. 13 pick Tyler Herro is loaded with confidence, and the Heat aren't holding him back. The rookie from Kentucky quickly has earned the trust of teammates, not just because of his strong summer league and preseason performances but because of his practice habits as well.

''We are trying to prepare Tyler as much as we can to be ready to help us win,'' Spoelstra said.

THE VETERAN

Udonis Haslem is back for his 17th season, all with Miami.

The Heat offered Haslem a chance to become a coach this season instead; he decided to remain as a player, even with the knowledge that he likely won't get much court time.

With Wade retired, he's the last remaining player from any of Miami's three championship teams still on the roster.

 

[Cnotes53]

Raptors experimenting after departures
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse expects he'll be experimenting with lineups a lot in the early part of the season.

That's the challenge when you lose two starters from any team, let alone an NBA champion.

Nurse's tinkering became a necessity after free agent forward Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. Toronto also lost guard Danny Green, who joined LeBron James and the Lakers.

''With the two guys missing, that kind of throws us into experimenting mode,'' Nurse said.

The plus side? Nurse has plenty of talented players eager to pick up the offensive slack created by the two high-profile departures.

''There's plenty of shots to spread around,'' he said.

Five-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, whose contract extension was made official Tuesday, will see some time at shooting guard this season, Nurse said, playing alongside point guard Fred VanVleet.

''I've got to be a lot more of a scorer,'' Lowry said of his new responsibilities. ''It's going to be interesting how we play.''

Center Marc Gasol, the defensive standout acquired from Memphis in a deadline move last season, will also figure more prominently, Nurse said. So will Pascal Siakam, whose huge leap forward last year earned him the NBA's Most Improved Player Award.

''I'm really looking forward to seeing Pascal, Serge (Ibaka) and Marc as soon as possible, because I think that's something we could end up using a lot,'' Nurse said. ''I'm always trying to get my best players on the floor and those guys are three of our best players.''

Still, it's the loss of Leonard, Toronto's best player last season, that's likely to have the biggest impact on how the Raptors fare in their quest for repeat title after beating the Golden State Warriors in six games.

KEEPING KYLE

Toronto's longest-tenured player, Lowry is beginning his eighth season with the Raptors and 14th in the NBA. He had one year remaining on a three-year, $100 million contract. His new deal is for one year and $31 million.

''It's a place I wanted to be and it's the place I've been the most successful in my career,'' Lowry said Tuesday in his first public comment on the extension.

Lowry had left thumb surgery this offseason and missed the first two weeks of training camp and preseason. Even so, Toronto's front office wasn't worried about any decline in their star guard's abilities.

''He has a chance to go down as best Raptor ever,'' general manager Bobby Webster said. ''Obviously he's playing at a high level, he's continued to play at a high level. We have no reason to expect him not to.''

Nurse certainly appreciates Lowry's trademark tenacity.

''He's an influential guy from a lot of standpoints,'' Nurse said. ''Nobody plays harder. To me, he just keeps getting better and better.''

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

The Raptors don't have to wait long for their first look at Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clipper: the teams meet in California on Nov. 11. It's the second game of a back-to-back at Staples Center for the Raptors, who face the Lakers one night prior. Leonard and the Clippers come north of the border to face the Raptors in Toronto on Dec. 11

NEW IN TOWN

After losing out on Leonard and Green, the Raptors beefed up their wing options by signing forwards Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson. Both are first-round picks from 2015 who bring defense-first reputations but not big scoring totals.

SHARPSHOOTER

Toronto also added an outside-shooting threat by signing guard Matt Thomas to a three-year contract. Thomas made 254 3-pointers in four seasons with the Iowa State Cyclones, the third-highest total in school history, but went undrafted in 2017 and ended up playing in Spain. Last season, Thomas shot .481 (116 for 241) from 3-point range to help Valencia Basket win the EuroCup.

FINGER FURNITURE

The Raptors will receive their championship rings before they tip off the regular season at home to rookie star Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 22.

''It's going to be cool,'' Nurse said. ''Obviously it's kind of a last moment to celebrate and it's a big one.''

The only thing bigger might Toronto's new rings.

''Those things, they're like pieces of furniture,'' Nurse said. ''They're not really rings they're so big these days.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Sixers primed for championship run
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Charles Barkley had a statue dedicated in his honor outside the 76ers' complex, the franchise for which he played the bulk of his Hall of Fame career - and later poked fun at as an analyst when the team tanked.

Billy Cunningham was Barkley's first NBA coach and joked the Sixers may never have drafted Sir Charles had Houston not tanked at the tail end of 1984 to increase the odds it could select Hakeem Olajuwon with the No. 1 pick. Sixers coach Brett Brown, trying to become the first coach to win the championship in Philadelphia since Cunningham in 1983, had some fun at Barkley's expense with the revelation.

''I can't believe (Houston) dumped games to get high draft picks,'' Brown said to laughter. ''Can you believe that? Somebody trying to get high draft picks dumping games? I don't know what you're talking about.''

From tanking to title contention, Brown has lived through it all in Philly since he was hired in 2013 and finally has his best roster and shot at winning a championship. The sting of last season's elimination, when Kawhi Leonard sank the first Game 7-ending buzzer-beater in NBA history to lead Toronto past the 76ers, still lingers for the holdovers.

Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid & Co. have 7-1 odds to win the NBA title and believe the best is at last ahead for a team that has lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals each of the last two seasons.

''I've already picked the 76ers to win the championship next year,'' Barkley said. ''So, no pressure. I mean that, sincerely. I did call you all a stupid organization.''

Much like the 60-loss seasons, that's all in the past for Philadelphia.

Simmons and Embiid are proven All-Stars and have the long-term, big-money deals that will keep them franchise cornerstones for years in their prime. Al Horford was signed away from rival Boston to start at power forward and, perhaps more importantly, provide needed relief to Embiid as backup center.

Embiid says the 76ers have a ''chance to win it all'' and the excitement around the team grows with each season.

Here's what else to know about the 76ers:

SIMMONS FOR 3

Simmons was cheered in a preseason game like he was a scrub off the JV bench who scored a basket in mop-up time when he buried a 3-pointer.

The reason the crowd went wild? The 3 was the first for Simmons in the NBA.

Simmons is 0 for 17 from 3-point range in two seasons and spent his summer trying to improve his jumper. Defenses sagged on Simmons, daring him to shoot because the point guard can't do much outside the paint. Simmons' ability to expand his game is needed for the Sixers to go deep in the postseason as much as a healthy Embiid.

''I work every day and to me, it shows,'' Simmons said. ''I'm in the gym every day and I feel like it is paying off.''

Simmons has 50-1 odds to win NBA MVP.

The 23-year-old signed a $170 million, five-year contract extension in the offseason. He made his NBA debut in the 2017-18 season and was Rookie of the Year. He was an All-Star for the first time last season but vowed to do more.

''I think I was just too worried about what people were saying and what was going on around me. Too many outside noises,'' Simmons said. ''I was really able to block them out this summer and not focus on what people were saying.''

NEED FOR EMBIID

The Sixers will go only as far as their franchise center takes them.

They were willing to wait two years for him to sit out with injuries because they knew the tantalizing talent ahead. But Embiid has yet to play more than 64 games a season, one reason why the Sixers played Game 7 on the road instead of home. He missed a playoff game against Brooklyn with a bad left knee and had multiple digestive issues that made his starting status unknown for other games.

Embiid said he wants to play more than 64 games, though the Sixers are weary of his workload. He has 13-1 odds to win NBA MVP.

''I knew I had to be in better shape,'' Embiid said. ''Meaning that, I had to do a better job. You can't coach sickness, you can't go and get sick. All I can do is just make sure I do the right thing and eat the right things. I just try to do what I can do best.''

Embiid said at the start of training camp that he lost 20 pounds over the offseason and aimed for at least five more before opening night by eating right and working with team officials to get in better condition. Embiid didn't say how much he weighs but is listed as 250 pounds on the depth chart.

HORFORD HELPS

Horford just might prove the most valuable pickup for the Sixers. When he played for the Celtics, Horford often gave Embiid fits defensively and now can give spell at center, when needed. A five-time All-Star, Horford averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season.

Horford said he didn't necessarily spill any secrets to Embiid on how to solve rugged defensive matchups.

''We are going to talk, but he is going to be fine,'' Horford said. ''If you look at the stat line, he is just doing his thing. I'm here to help him and I am here to help the team.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Pistons hoping to show progress
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) In a league with so many teams either contending or rebuilding, the Detroit Pistons haven't been doing much of either.

What they did do last season was make a playoff appearance, a rarity in recent years. Now the challenge is to build on that.

''Not saying we're ready for a championship, but we're taking some big steps,'' coach Dwane Casey said. ''This is a bridge. We're going across it, to continue to improve offensively, defensively, to get to our ultimate goal, which is to win a championship.''

The Pistons have resisted the win big-or-tank model that seems to be all the rage in the NBA. Two seasons ago, they gave up a first-round draft pick in a trade for Blake Griffin. That wasn't enough to put them in the playoffs in 2018, but they made it a season ago and were immediately swept by Milwaukee. There's still a clear gap between Detroit and the top teams in the league, but there's also enough talent on hand that the Pistons could rise a bit in the Eastern Conference.

Last season was only the second playoff appearance in 10 seasons for this franchise. Winning a round would be another step forward.

''We're not here just to get by, or just to get into the playoffs,'' said Casey, who is entering his second season at the helm. ''We want to do big things, and we're building that foundation.''

With Griffin and center Andre Drummond under big contracts, the Pistons haven't had much roster flexibility and Detroit hasn't been a prime destination for free agents. If the Pistons are going to make anything more than mild improvement, they'll probably need some unexpected contributions, perhaps from a recent draft pick like Sekou Doumbouya, a first-rounder this year who doesn't turn 19 until December.

Detroit also brought in Derrick Rose, the former MVP who has battled injury problems but may still have some upside at age 31.

''Just to be completely candid, there are teams on paper who are more talented, or have more guys that are regarded as more talented, I guess,'' Griffin said. ''But I think we have the mindset to come in and compete every night, and if we do that - I said this last year - I think the fans, the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan, will get behind us.''

HEALTH

Griffin managed to play in 75 games last season, a good number given his spotty injury history, but he began having knee problems at the very end and missed two playoff games. That obviously wasn't ideal, so keep an eye on his minutes this season as the Pistons try to keep him as fresh as possible.

POINT GUARD

Reggie Jackson has had an erratic tenure with the Pistons. He averaged 18.8 points per game in 2015-16 but hasn't reached that level since. His assist and turnover rates both dropped slightly last season, with Detroit able to run its offense through Griffin if need be. Now Rose has arrived, and although his minutes will probably need to be managed, it will be interesting to see who Casey trusts in crunch time.

YOUNG PLAYERS

Luke Kennard is the only one of Detroit's recent first-round picks still making a significant contribution for the team. He can give the Pistons 3-point shooting and some offensive punch off the bench. Bruce Brown, a second-round pick in 2018, played 20 minutes a game last season, averaging 4.3 points.

OTHER ADDITIONS

Aside from Rose, the Pistons also added a potential contributor in Tony Snell, who averaged 6.0 points for Milwaukee a season ago. Joe Johnson is also with Detroit now, but after not playing in the NBA at all last season, he'd likely be at the end of the roster if he makes the team.

TEAR IT DOWN?

The Pistons have been loath to give up on their current path, sticking with the trio of Griffin, Drummond and Jackson, but a poor start this season could bring about a tipping point. Owner Tom Gores indicated he wants to keep Drummond, but there's been no agreement yet on an extension. It may now be a bit easier for the Pistons to move on from Drummond and/or Jackson if things are clearly going south.

 

[Cnotes53]

Pacers lean on Turner with Oladipo out
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Myles Turner looks around the Indiana Pacers locker room and sees a whole new team.

Paul George and Lance Stephenson left long ago. Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic and Darren Collison said goodbye during the summer and two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo is still recovering from an injury.

So as the Pacers prepare for their Oct. 23 season opener against Detroit, the 23-year-old center and Indiana's longest-tenured player suddenly finds himself as the team leader.

''I expect the same thing he expects out of himself - big things,'' Oladipo said. ''He just has go out there and be Myles Turner.''

Through four pro seasons, Turner has steadily improved. He went from part-time starter as a rookie to full-time starter in his second season, finished among the league's top 10 in blocks in 2017-18 and won the NBA blocks title last season despite missing eight games because of injuries.

He spent a few days this summer working out with former Boston Celtics star Kevin McHale before representing the U.S. in Beijing at the FIBA World Cup. And now the Pacers believe Turner can become the league's top defensive center.

''It's something I want to keep building on and get better with year in and year out,'' Turner aid. ''I've still got a ways to go.''

The question, of course, is how Turner fits with all these new faces.

President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard traded for guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward T.J. Warren. Pritchard signed free agent guards Jeremy Lamb, T.J. McConnell and Justin Holiday and gave guard C.J. Wilcox a second chance.

And all of it was built around Turner, the man in the middle.

''We've added offensive players to the roster and it's going to take chemistry,'' coach Nate McMillan said. ''I think this can work with the players we brought in but it's going to take each guy playing for the next guy and trusting that we're going to have one common goal and that's to win.''

OLADIPO TIMETABLE

The Pacers have been measured in their expectations for Oladipo, who ruptured the quad tendon in his right knee in January. Oladipo has repeatedly said he intends to come back a better player. But the only hint of a possible return date came when Pritchard said this summer it could be December or January.

''I know he will not start the season,'' McMillan said. ''I haven't had any information given to me that he will be practicing with the team anytime soon. So I don't anticipate Victor being available for a while and I don't know what a while is.''

BROGDON'S ROLE

Brogdon, like Turner, has steadily improved over each of his first three seasons in the league. His scoring average and shooting percentages have gone each season. What the Pacers value is Brogdon's ability to play both guard spots and his ability to defend. And that, they believe makes him the perfect complement to Oladipo when he does return.

''He's going to be our starting point guard,'' McMillan said. ''I love his leadership. He chose us, I've had a few players that wanted to play for me but this guy said he had really been eyeballing us since he came out of the draft. I think he's a throwback with how he plays the game, how he thinks the game. He understands that position.''

GOING BIG

Turner isn't the only Pacers' big man in a new role. Forward Domantas Sabonis will likely go from super sub to full-time starter, giving the Pacers a more traditional look with two 6-foot-11 players in the starting lineup. McMillan believes it soon could become a league-wide trend.

''You look at what Philadelphia has done. You look at what Detroit has done. You look at what Denver has done,'' McMillan said. ''So not everyone is playing the spread basketball that has been adopted over the past 10 years. I think you're going to see the game turn back to a power forward and a center and we really feel like we can play big or play small.''

ONE-AND-DONE?

McMillan has seen the Pacers make first-round playoff exits in three straight seasons. His goal is to change that legacy this season.

''The last three years we had decent seasons and were able to get to the playoffs but it was first round and out,'' McMillan said. ''The first year we were a little young and we get swept by Cleveland. The second year, we lose 4-3 so we got close and last season we were missing Victor and we get swept. So I think it's a year to prove ourselves.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Celtics move on after Irving's departure
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) Expectations are nothing new for the Boston Celtics.

Not living up to them despite having such a stacked roster the past two seasons was a little tougher to digest.

The Celtics took a chance trading for All-Star Kyrie Irving with no guarantee he would re-sign when he became a free agent.

The wager didn't pan out when after two years marred by injuries and disagreements with his teammates, Irving departed in the offseason to join Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.

Boston has turned the page, adding All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to replace Irving and Enes Kanter to fill the void created after Al Horford left for Philadelphia. The Celtics are also betting on their young core led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who without Irving helped Boston get within a game of the Finals two years ago.

Walker is embracing the newness that his ninth NBA season has brought.

''It's just different. I feel like the new kid in school,'' Walker said. ''I think it's a lot of emotions all in one.''

Emotions were all over the place for the Celtics throughout last season.

Irving led the Celtics in scoring (23.8 points per game) and assists per game (6.9), but they finished with only the fourth-best record (49-33) in the Eastern Conference after coming off back-to-back 50-win seasons.

Part of it was chemistry issues that coach Brad Stevens couldn't figure out.

Another part was a divide between Irving and the younger players.

During a losing streak in January, Irving memorably called them out, saying in part that ''the young guys don't know what it takes to be a championship-level team.''

The reverberations of that were felt in the locker room for the remainder of the season.

Irving even noted at one point that he underestimated how tough it would be to establish himself as a leader.

It may be why Walker has taken a more measured approach as he tries to integrate himself into his new environment. Though he said he still hopes he can provide veteran leadership.

''Some enthusiasm. Some positive energy. That's what I'm here for. I'm just kind of here to be myself,'' Walker said.

Guard Marcus Smart said Walker has a self-awareness that should bode well for the team jelling.

''He's like every last one of us - we all had to fight to get where we are and get where we're going,'' Smart said. ''And when you're a competitor and a guy like that, that's willing to come here and know that and not just come in here thinking he deserves it because he was an All-Star or anything like that - that just helps the younger guys, myself included. Because we see that, and it makes us go out there and give everything we have for him.''

A NEW MAN

Another player who has vowed to put his all into this season is Gordon Hayward. Just a year removed from the catastrophic ankle injury that caused him to miss the entire 2017-18 season, Hayward struggled when he returned to action last season.

He averaged just 11.5 points, his lowest average since his second season in the league in 2011-12.

Part of it, he said, was that he didn't fully trust his body. But after a full summer in the gym he's rediscovered that confidence.

''I think health-wise, mentally I feel a lot better going into this year,'' Hayward said. ''Not only because I was able to train and kind of build some confidence ... but also just having a year with the guys.''

Hayward was built up as part of a dynamic duo when he joined the team along with Irving. That excitement, he said, remains high as he prepares to play alongside Walker.

''He's definitely a game-changer,'' Hayward said. ''I think that the pace that he plays at changes games.''

EARLY TESTS

Boston won't have to wait long to test itself against good competition.

Eight of the Celtics' first 18 games are against teams that qualified for the playoffs last season.

ALL ABOUT DEFENSE

Changes aside, Stevens said defense must be the crux of this team.

The Celtics have been at their best under Stevens when they ranked in the top five in defense. Boston finished last season ranked sixth in the league on the defensive end.

''We'll make sure from Day 1 that we're the best version of ourselves defensively,'' Stevens said.

 

[Cnotes53]

Nets now cool team; chance for more success with new players
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) What was apparent in July became clearer to Nets coach Kenny Atkinson in September.

With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on board, things are looking up in Brooklyn.

''People showed up to our press conference. My press conference the first year, it was like crickets,'' said Atkinson, joking about the team's media day last month.

Nearly 200 media were credentialed for the first public glimpse of Durant and Irving wearing their Brooklyn black uniforms. The next morning, there were so many fans outside the practice facility for the first day of training camp that Atkinson had to drive around in the other direction, only to find more fans. One held up the coach's picture.

The team that had trouble attracting attention while based in New Jersey until 2012 is suddenly the cool team in New York.

''It's a different excitement with the fans,'' Atkinson said.

Though Durant is not expected to play this season while he recovers from surgery to repair the Achilles tendon he ruptured in the NBA Finals, Irving is set to take control of a team that won 42 games last season and reached the playoffs.

Caris LeVert could be even better this year, after returning from a dislocated right foot last season to become Brooklyn's leading scorer in its first-round loss to Philadelphia. DeAndre Jordan signed along with Durant and Irving, his friends and 2016 U.S. Olympic teammates, and will rotate with Jarrett Allen in an upgraded center spot.

That should tighten up the defense and rebounding, and the Nets' versatility and creativity on offense means there may be plenty of firepower even without Durant.

''We know how much we have,'' forward Taurean Prince said. ''I think that's why the front office did a great job of putting a great team together and we know what we can do. We know what we're capable of.''

The real results may not be seen until 2020-21, when Durant expects to return at full strength. Even if the Nets have to wait, they can maintain the ascent of the last few seasons with the other talent assembled in Brooklyn.

''Obviously, Kevin got hurt, but you think about adding him again next year and how much better we'll be with us just jelling together and guys getting better over the course of the season,'' Jordan said, ''and you don't really get opportunities like this. So we wanted to take advantage of it.''

Other things to know about the Nets:

IRVING'S INJURY

Irving was sidelined for much of his first preseason with the Nets after sustaining a facial fracture shortly before camp, then aggravating the injury barely a minute after making his debut during an exhibition game in China. He's had to wear a mask for a similar injury in the past.

PRINCE'S POSITION

Prince, a former first-round pick of Atlanta who was acquired in an offseason trade, is the likely starter at the forward spot that would have been manned by Durant. He averaged 13.5 points and shot 39 percent from 3-point range last season.

LEVERT LOOKS FOR A LEAP

LeVert was averaging 18.4 points when he was hurt on Nov. 12, missed 42 games and then got back into top form in time for the postseason, where he averaged 21 points in the five games. The Nets are betting on him staying at that level, signing the fourth-year guard to a contract extension this summer.

HARRIS' HOT HAND

Joe Harris will probably be a marked man by Nets opponents after producing his best NBA season in 2018-19, averaging 13.7 points. He led the NBA in 3-point shooting at 47.4 percent and had eight 20-point games after scoring 20 just twice in his first four seasons.

PRESSURE'S ON

The Nets are slowly building, largely free of expectations and criticism - a rarity in New York - under Atkinson and general manager Sean Marks. But the spotlight will be upon them after their big summer acquisitions. Even without Durant, they'll likely hear about it if they struggle.

 

[Cnotes53]

MVP Giannis looks to improve as Bucks' leader this season
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) Last season's loss to Toronto in the Eastern Conference finals stung Giannis Antetokounmpo.

So much so that the NBA MVP admitted it took several days for him to be able to sleep at night after he and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a 2-0 lead against the eventual NBA champion Raptors.

Antetokounmpo said his priority during the offseason was to become a better leader, both on and off the court.

''Mostly, you just gotta be more vocal,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''You gotta lead by example. You gotta be able to accept criticism by your coach, by your teammates, and be OK with it. That's what a leader does. I know that my team knows who I am. They trust me. They know I'm going to put my body and everything I have on the line for this team. By doing that, everything else will take care of itself.''

The Bucks won a league-best 60 games a season ago, and took home MVP, Coach of the Year (Mike Budenholzer) and Executive of the Year (general manager Jon Horst) honors. But their goal was to bring the city of Milwaukee its first NBA title since 1971. That didn't happen.

Now, with both Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James out west, Kevin Durant on the shelf in Brooklyn and the core of Antetokounmpo, fellow All-Star Khris Middleton, first-team all-defensive guard Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez back together, anything less than another deep playoff run for the Bucks will be deemed a failure.

''The message to the team won't be that different than what it was going into last season,'' said Budenholzer, who is entering his second season in Milwaukee. ''Really, our attack point is just what are we doing every day? How are we getting better every day? How are we competing every day? Are we playing unselfishly? Are we playing together? All those things that are just our core beliefs. If we're doing those on a day-in and day-out basis, the chips will fall where they may.''

The Bucks open the season Oct. 24 in Houston.

KYLE KORVER

Bucks guard Kyle Korver said his new team is like a ''more organized version'' of the Cleveland Cavaliers teams he played on with LeBron James.

''I think that there's a ton of freedom here for players to do what they do,'' he said. ''There's a lot of special talent - unique talent - on this team, and (Budenholzer) gives us a lot of freedom to kind of figure some things out, and we did that in Cleveland, too. Let the great players be great, and just kind of give them space, and we all find our spots to contribute and to be effective.''

Korver signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee in July. The 17-year veteran reunites with Budenholzer, who coached Korver in Atlanta in 2015, when Korver made his only NBA All-Star team and Budenholzer won his first NBA Coach of the Year award.

Korver ranks fourth in NBA history in 3-pointers made with 2,351.

BROGDON OUT, MATTHEWS IN

The Bucks lost former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon to Indiana in free agency. Budenholzer said he thinks the additions of sharpshooter Korver and veteran two-way wing Wes Matthews will help fill the void. Matthews was the 2005 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and played his college ball at nearby Marquette.

''Coming back home, it's a sentimental feeling and one you can't quite describe,'' Matthews said. ''To see the success, the growth of the city and the growth of the state, what this Bucks team and organization has done, I come back and I don't even recognize some of this stuff around here. I'm excited to be a part of it.''

BAND OF BROTHERS

Milwaukee will start the season with two pairs of brothers, as Robin Lopez joins twin brother Brook, and Giannis will have his older brother, Thanasis, on the roster. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who last played in the NBA in 2016 for the Knicks, signed a two-year contract in July.

''What a great story for Giannis and Thanasis and Brook and Robin to play together,'' Budenholzer said. ''There's probably a few little things that we've got to be conscientious of: Make sure that they're not always together, so on so forth. And Robin and Brook, there's been a lot of comments about how we're going to manage them in the locker room.''

DONTE'S PEAK

Milwaukee's 2018 first-round pick Donte DiVincenzo will look to re-establish himself after dealing with a heel injury last season. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 4.9 points on 40.3% shooting in 27 games a season ago.

''(I just want to) keep getting better,'' DiVincenzo said. ''Keep getting better every day, keep building my confidence, figure my spots because it's a long year.''

LOOMING QUESTION

How much longer will Giannis Antetokounmpo be in Milwaukee?

Antetokounmpo can be an unrestricted free agent next summer. At that point, the Bucks can offer him a five-year supermax extension. Horst told a crowd at an offseason fan event that he intends to offer the extension to the three-time All-Star (and was fined for saying so by the NBA).

''I'm not going to talk about it a lot,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''I think it's disrespectful toward my teammates talking about my free agency and what I'm going to do. So when the time is right, we're all going to talk about it.''

 

[Cnotes53]

In Orlando, everyone's back and expectations are high
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Aaron Gordon doesn't put much credence in outside expectations.

The Orlando Magic weren't widely picked to be a playoff team last season, and then not only did the Magic make the postseason but wound up winning the Southeast Division. It's an accomplishment worth noting since the Magic had finished last in the division for five of the previous six years.

''We're trending in the right direction,'' Gordon said.

And that's the task for the Magic this year: Continue that trend. For Steve Clifford's second year at the helm in Orlando, the Magic - 42-40 last season after winning 22 of their final 31 games - brought back virtually the entire roster.

That's an unusual perk for any NBA team, especially after an offseason where well over 100 players switched uniforms. It also means the Magic could essentially pick up where they left off last spring with the same group and two new potentially key additions, former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz (acquired in a trade last season but who didn't play for Orlando after the deal) and veteran Al-Farouq Aminu.

''It's going to help out a lot, just the chemistry alone,'' Gordon said. ''But we've still got to work hard, every day. There's nothing given in this league but that camaraderie, that continuity, that's going to help out a lot.''

The Magic used the same starting lineup in 40 of their last 41 games, including playoffs - the only exception being the last game of the regular season, when All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and Jonathan Issac got the night off to rest.

Orlando had nine different starting lineups all year, one fewer than Sacramento for the league low. On average, teams had 21 different lineups; Miami had 29, New York had 30, New Orleans had 31 and Cleveland a league-high 32.

''We have a base and we can build on it,'' Vucevic said. ''Last year, it took us some time to figure all that out.''

Clifford said if the Magic handle the continuity correctly, it should be a considerable advantage. But he also warns that it doesn't guarantee anything.

''Last year, it wasn't a coaching thing - it was their approach,'' Clifford said. ''It was a group that had not had a lot of success obviously in the last few years and they badly wanted to win. It was important to them. We have to have that again.''

Some other things to know about the Magic going into the season:

INJURY MATTERS

Orlando's practice court is sponsored by AdventHealth, and maybe being tied to a health care corporation was the secret last season. Orlando's five leading scorers last season combined to play in 401 of a possible 410 games, remarkable durability in a league where only 4% of players appeared in all 82 regular-season contests.

100 OR LESS

Even as scoring soared last season, the Magic were better than most at keeping opponents in some sort of offensive check. Orlando had 26 games where it held opponents to 100 points or less (tied with Memphis and Miami for fourth-most in the NBA behind Denver's 29, Indiana's 29 and Utah's 28). The Magic were 22-4 in those games, 20-36 otherwise.

THE SCHEDULE

Orlando opens with nine of its first 13 games at home, which in theory would provide the Magic a chance to get off to a solid start. Problem is, five of those first nine home games against teams likely to contend for big things next spring - with Milwaukee, Denver, Indiana, Philadelphia and San Antonio among the early visitors to Amway Center.

GEOGRAPHIC RIVALRY

Here's an oddity - the Magic and geographic rival Miami Heat are playing only once in 2019. The teams had three of their four 2018-19 meetings before the calendar flipped to 2019, and won't meet for the first time this season until Jan. 3, 2020.

EXPECTATIONS

For the first time in seven years, the Magic are entering a season with oddsmakers expecting them to have a winning record - which, more often than not in the East, comes with a playoff berth. The biggest key of all this season for Orlando may be how a team that took some big-time leaps forward last year handles the expectation of continuing that momentum.

 

[Cnotes53]

With promising core, Bulls set sights on playoff position
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine would love to showcase their skills before the home crowd when the All-Star Game returns to Chicago this season for the first time since Michael Jordan stole the spotlight in 1988.

It would mean the Bulls' promising young stars have taken their games to a higher level. And that would likely mean the team is starting to win again.

''Everything comes with winning,'' said Markkanen, entering his third season. ''We haven't been to the playoffs, haven't won at home a lot of games. I know that's one thing that I know (ticks) both of us off. We want to get to that winning record first. Obviously, that comes from us playing well and the whole team playing well.''

Winning a championship for the first time since Jordan and Scottie Pippen led a pair of three-peats in the 1990s would be a massive stretch. But the Bulls believe an Eastern Conference playoff spot is in reach for the first time since an opening-round exit in 2017.

''If we're in that position where we're winning and we're playing the right way, we can make the playoffs,'' said LaVine, who averaged a career-high 23.7 points last season. ''I don't think we have to validate to anybody. I know how we play on the court. I know, to be realistic, we're the main scouting report on the other team. I draw double-teams, he draws double-teams. I don't think it's as much validation; it's just goals you have for yourself and your team.''

The Bulls open the season at Charlotte on Oct. 23.

THE RISING

The Bulls took a head-first dive into rebuilding when they acquired Markkanen and LaVine along with Kris Dunn in the 2017 draft-night deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Though they're a combined 49-115 the past two years, management believes they're ready to rise.

Markkanen, LaVine, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. are part of a core that has the front office thinking the team is positioned to make a jump coming off a 22-60 season that ranked among the worst in franchise history. The Bulls changed coaches early on, firing Fred Hoiberg and promoting Jim Boylen, and finished with their lowest win total since 2002 (21-61). A 9-32 mark at the United Center tied New York for the league's worst home record.

POINTING OUT

The Bulls brought in some competition at point guard after Dunn took a step back by drafting Coby White with the No. 7 overall pick and acquiring Tomas Satoransk� from Washington. That was hardly a surprise after Dunn went from averaging 13.4 points to 11.3 in 46 games.

White helped North Carolina reach the Sweet 16 in his lone college season, averaging 16.1 points and 4.1 assists in 35 games. He became the first Tar Heel drafted in the opening round by the Bulls since they took Michael Jordan with the No. 3 pick in 1984. Satoransk� set career highs by averaging 8.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 80 games with Washington.

LEADING OFF

The Bulls got a veteran leader by signing Thaddeus Young to a $41 million, three-year contract. They expect the 31-year-old forward to help install a winning culture and contribute on the court. Entering his 13th season, Young has averaged 13.4 points and 6 rebounds with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Brooklyn and Indiana.

HEALTHY OUTLOOK

Markkanen was limited to 52 games due to an elbow injury and heart problem, while LaVine played in 63 games last year. Denzel Valentine is back after missing last season because of reconstructive left ankle surgery, and the 6-10 Carter Jr. had his promising rookie campaign end at 44 games due to a left thumb injury.

STAMP FROM START

Boylen came into camp with a contract extension and an opportunity to put his stamp on the team right from the start after the longtime assistant landed his first NBA head coaching job early last year.

He wants the team to play faster and tighten up a defense that ranked among the worst. The Bulls finished near the bottom in rebounding, defensive rating and opponents' field-goal percentage. A healthy Carter down low should help. But Boylen also challenged LaVine and Markkanen to improve on defense. And he wants Markkanen, who averaged 18.7 points and 9 rebounds, to become more consistent on the glass.

 

[Cnotes53]

Kings hope to take next step to playoffs in upcoming season
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The winningest season in 13 years only whetted the appetite in Sacramento.

Nothing short of ending the NBA's longest active playoff drought will be enough to consider the upcoming season a success for the Kings.

A roster led by emerging young stars like point guard De'Aaron Fox and forward Marvin Bagley III, and fortified by the addition of some key veterans in the offseason, gives first-year coach Luke Walton the most complete Kings team since the last postseason berth back in 2006 in coach Rick Adelman's final season.

''Some positives came from last season, especially in the summer,'' said Bagley, who averaged 14.9 points per game last season. ''But not making the playoffs was something I thought about all summer. I just had that in the back of my mind that we still got to get to the playoffs and show everybody what we can do.''

The Kings finished ninth in the Western Conference with 39 wins last season, a 12-game improvement from the previous season and the most since a 44-38 campaign in 2005-06.

But they still finished nine games out of the last playoff spot in a conference that only got tougher with Anthony Davis joining the Lakers and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining the Clippers.

''Everybody knows the Western Conference got extremely tough and it was tough before this,'' Fox said. ''It's gotten a lot tougher. At the same time, we feel like we've gotten better as a team. It would be a lot more disappointing to miss the playoffs.''

Here are some things to watch:

DEVELOP A DEFENSE

The top task for Walton after arriving in Sacramento was to build a better defense than the team had last season when the Kings allowed 115.3 points per game. The Kings were good at forcing turnovers with 15.9 per game to fuel the transition game but weren't as effective in the half court. It's an issue the players recognize.

''Last year our problem wasn't putting the ball in the basket,'' Fox said. ''We scored with the best of them. We know what we have to get better at. It's on the defensive end.''

FIRE AWAY

The biggest change on the offensive end that Walton plans to implement is a heavier reliance on 3-pointers. The Kings were an efficient team from long range, ranking fourth in the league by making 37.8% of 3-pointers. But Walton wants to see them use that strategy more often, increasing from about 30 shots from long range a game to 35 this season.

''I'll shoot as much as they want me to,'' said guard Buddy Hield, who led the team with 278 made 3s. ''My confidence is high. Whenever the opportunity presents, I'll take advantage of it.''

EMERGING STARS

The Kings are building the team around two young potential stars in Fox and Bagley. Fox took a big leap in his second season, making big improvements in his shooting, scoring, passing and defense. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 assists per game, up from 11.6 and 4.4 as a rookie. Sacramento is hoping for a similar boost in year two from Bagley, who averaged 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a rookie.

''When you work hard, are talented and have some of the gifts they have, good things happen,'' Walton said. ''I'm excited to see what they bring to the court this year.''

GOING DEEP

The moves in the offseason to add veterans gives Sacramento a roster that can go 12 deep in the rotation this season. Dewayne Dedmon and Richaun Holmes add a defensive presence in the front court to take pressure off Bagley and the other young big men. Trevor Ariza gives Walton another strong defensive wing player who can also make 3s. Cory Joseph provides a proven backup up at point guard to ease the load on Fox and even play with him at times. Managing that many players could be one of Walton's biggest challenges.

FREQUENT FLYERS

The Kings will spend plenty of time on planes early in the season. They traveled to India in the preseason and play 18 of their first 29 games on the road. They will play nine of their 13 games in the Eastern time zone before Christmas, making getting off to a fast start challenging.

 

[Cnotes53]

Suns push for improvement, build around Booker-Ayton core
October 15, 2019
By The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) Devin Booker says a busy offseason for the Phoenix Suns is proof the franchise is serious about ending a playoff drought that's approaching a decade.

Booker and last year's No. 1 overall pick, Deandre Ayton, comprise the team's promising young core and the Suns hope they can grow into a pair of perennial All-Stars. They were very good last year - Booker averaged 26.6 points per game and Ayton averaged a double-double - but it was obvious they needed help after the Suns finished with a 19-63 record.

In Booker's mind, that mission has been accomplished: The Suns signed veteran point guard Ricky Rubio and big men Dario Saric, Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky III. They re-signed the emerging Kelly Oubre Jr. They also acquired seasoned young shooters like Cameron Johnson and Ty Jerome.

''Even our young players are guys that know the game, high-IQ players, well-coached guys who are ready to work,'' Booker said. ''The additions we made with Ricky, Dario and Aron Baynes - re-signing Kelly - I think we have NBA guys that know who they are in the NBA and know how to take it to the next level. That's making a playoff push.''

The new players will help, but it's the Booker-Ayton combo that everyone is watching.

A fifth-year guard, Booker still doesn't turn 23 for a couple weeks. His relative youth - combined with ample NBA seasoning - have the Suns excited that he can turn into one of the NBA's elite scorers.

The 7-foot-1 Ayton is another intriguing young player. He recently turned 21 and averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds last season despite being very raw in portions of his game.

''I'm super excited to watch him dominate the NBA,'' Oubre said.

The 6-foot-7 Oubre was a pleasant surprise after being dealt from Washington to Phoenix in the middle of last season. He averaged about 17 points and five rebounds after the trade and provided consistent defense on the perimeter.

Like a lot of the Suns, youth is on his side. He won't turn 24 until December.

''I haven't played my best ball,'' Oubre said. ''I've been working relentlessly.''

The Suns also made a change on the bench, bringing in Monty Williams. He was the head coach in New Orleans for five seasons from 2010 to '15, finishing with a 173-221 record, including two trips to the playoffs. He was an assistant with the 76ers last season.

''I can't say enough about how excited I am about the challenge,'' Williams said. ''Not just this season but going forward.''

Here are a few more things to watch with the Suns this season:

WELCOME RUBIO

Arguably the most important offseason addition was Rubio, a 6-foot-4 point guard who is in his ninth NBA season. He was with the Utah Jazz the past two years and they made the playoffs both seasons.

The Spaniard gives the Suns the true pass-first point guard they lacked for most of last season. He's averaged nearly eight assists per game over his career.

VETERAN BIGS

The 6-foot-10 Saric is still just 25 years old and has shown promise with the 76ers and Timberwolves. The Suns hope he can find a home in the desert, providing an inside-outside threat next to Ayton.

The wide-bodied 6-foot-10 Baynes should provide useful minutes for the Suns in the paint. He has lots of experience on winning teams, including winning an NBA title as a backup with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.

The 7-foot Kaminsky can stretch the floor. He shot about 35% from 3-point range during his four seasons with Charlotte before coming the Suns in the offseason.

PROMISING ROOKIES

Compared to many NBA rookies, Johnson and Jerome are old guys. Both should provide depth on the perimeter.

The 6-foot-9 Johnson was the No. 11 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves before coming to the Suns in a trade. He averaged 17 points per game and shot 46% from 3-point range for North Carolina as a fifth-year senior.

The 6-foot-5 Jerome won an NCAA championship with the Virginia Cavaliers last season. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 assists and shot 40% on 3-pointers in his junior season.

OPENING STRETCH

The Suns should get a good gauge on their early progress before Halloween.

Phoenix opens at home against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 23 before a brutal three-game, four-day stretch that includes a road game against the Denver Nuggets before home games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz.

All three teams are expected to be among the Western Conference elite this year.