Golden Nuggets: False alarm, J.R. Smith's knee is fine
by Nate Timmons on Nov 22, 2011 9:47 AM MST
in Denver Nuggets: Daily Links
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PrintSo, you're an NBA free agent, your league's owners have locked you out, and a payday overseas sounds like a nice option. But in your first game in China you come down awkwardly on your left knee and suddenly your career flashes before your eyes. Is a $3 million payday (or however much the actual amount is) really worth risking your NBA career over? Thankfully, J.R. Smith doesn't have to answer that question, as he announced on Twitter that nothing was torn on the MRI he underwent on his knee. But you have to think that the talented guard has to be re-thinking his CBA excursion.
Basketball fans should rejoice that Smith's knee is fine. He's a very entertaining player and one that the NBA would miss if the owners and players could ever get their acts together. And if you thought professional sports doctors in the United States were a little fishy in treating players, check out this Tweet:
@NiuBBallJon PastuszekJ.R. knee injury saga far from over though, team did not approve his trip to Beijing to get an MRI and are looking into disciplinary action
Did Smith's team expect him to just gut out a knee injury? Did they have their own MRI and he wanted a second opinion? How can we get these answers? Suddenly, I feel like an out of state Nuggets fan during the NBA season who is clamoring for more news!
This article right here has all the answers for us on the J.R. Swish front with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.
Something I've been thinking about during this lockout: how cool is it that these NBA players are getting a chance to spend some time traveling overseas? Sure, they have gobs of money and can travel wherever they like during the off-season, but to be a 22, 23, or 24-year-old and get an opportunity to see the world is a pretty sweet thing. While the courts now squabble over when basketball will return, some folks are getting a chance to experience something that, if not for the lockout, maybe they would not. As usual, my glass is half full.
What else is going on in basketball news?
The Problems With Austin Rivers - Sebastian Pruiti, Grantland.com
I can't stand the hype that comes with unproven talent. Whether it be high school or college kids jumping to professional sports or even worse, high school kids going into college. Was Austin Rivers really expected to go to Duke and take the college hoops world by storm? He is averaging double-digit figures in points scored, but do we really want to poke holes in an 18 year-old amateur's game? Especially after just a few games? Boo!
Hubbard column: In a thankless league, we still manage to, well, give thanks - Jan Hubbard, Sheridan Hoops
Need a little well-written humor in your life? I know I do, so I read this column. Go do the same! Post Script: Sheridan Hoops is becoming a must-check NBA site!
Sixers 86 their Hip Hop mascot - Rich Hofmann, Philly.com Sports
Did you know the Philadelphia 76ers mascot was some type of Hip Hop character that has been around since the Allen Iverson era? Neither did I. Long live the GREATEST MASCOT IN ALL OF SPORTS: YOUR SUPER MASCOT ROCKY!
NBA's 76ers snap up Julius Erving items at auction - The Times of India
"We spent some real money," (Adam) Aron said. While I'm glad team chief executive Adam Aron did the right thing and snatched up some Erving memorabilia at his personal auction, I'm also confused. I thought all these owners were losing their asses off and needed a way to save money, yet here is Philly dumping cash to buy up memorabilia during a lockout. Hmm ... haha.
Lingering NBA lockout makes Jon Gruden dream of LeBron James in Detroit Lions uniform - Philip Zaroo, MLive.com
Yes, I don't care about James much either, but Zaroo includes other players that Gruden mentioned he wanted to see in the NFL from the NBA ... Steve Nash taking over for injured Matt Schuab for the Texans? Uh ... Who would you want to see from the Nuggets take a shot at another professional sport, and which sport?
Nate_Timmons on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Nate_Timmons
ntimmons73@yahoo.com if you have a question, comment, or want to rant.
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I'M Shocked!
JR already having issues with his new club? And, George Karl or Byron Scott are not his coach?? How can it be? Once a knucklehead, always a knucklehead.
by ACEIII on Nov 22, 2011 11:42 AM MST via mobile reply actions
Wow.
An insider from the Golden Bulls reveals that the team was planning to waive Smith, who has been too demanding.
According to Zhao Bing, the club had provided Smith with a presidential suite at a cost of 6,880 yuan per day, arranged a special chef and spent 700,000 yuan in insurance as he requested. However, he wanted another villa in Shanghai or Hangzhou with a chauffeured car to commute for training in Yiwu.
Ding Wei, the team’s head coach, also disclosed that Smith has missed training three times with illness excuses. And the team discovered that once he was actually shopping in Shanghai.
by tknuckle on Nov 22, 2011 12:13 PM MST via mobile reply actions
That's our J.R.!
I don’t suspect that NBA players are taking their roles overseas too seriously. But being paid millions should demand a certain level of professionalism.
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by Nate Timmons on Nov 22, 2011 12:25 PM MST up reply actions
However, it doesn’t appear that the team will end up taking that route. Though Smith’s future with the club is uncertain at present, but the fact that he came back to help the team to a win tonight may point to him staying in China for now. After the game, Smith told reporters that his mistakes have been put behind him and starting tomorrow, he will come to practice with a renewed energy and seriousness.
"J.R. SMITH! WITH NO REGARD FOR COMMON SENSE!" - Future Kevin Harlan Quote
"They're two-deep at the crazy position!" - Kenny "The Jet" Smith.
How many times will J.R.'s mistakes have just been put behind him?
Thanks for that hilarious block quote. I flat out love the guy, but there are so many “buts” I hardly know where to begin. The man has problems on the court, off the court, on the bench, on the roadway. Where does it end? Do his troubles extend to his dreams? Does he have impure thoughts? Is he sometimes cruel to animals?
I’ll never forget J.R. nearly taking over a game with the Lakers a couple of years ago at the Can. It was toward the end of the season, and we had flown out to Denver from Washington state in an attempt to make up for the tens of thousands of Laker’s fans who would surely show up for the game. Purple and gold make me wanna vomit; how ’bout you?
Kobe took the night off, fuckwipe that he is, yet the Nuggets played down to their depleted opponent’s level (yeah, what a shocker), and could have easily lost the game. Then J.R. found his true combo-guard self in the second half, tossing in the bombs from way downtown and driving the lane to both score and dish. If I remember correctly, he even hit the boards pretty well.
Why can’t the man sustain that level of play? How is that some stellar NBA talents never get the news that they need to listen and adjust?
You heard it all here first. In other words, I’m well aware these are the questions posed by everyone who gives a shit about J.R. I just hope we get to see the guy in powder blue again as he figures it all out, though I doubt it’ll happen.
And let me be sure to utter a “whew” as regards his knee.
No. More. Stickyball.
by LongWindedHank on Nov 22, 2011 7:53 PM MST up reply actions
The Chinese team is enabling JR
And he is taking advantage of it. I know he is not going to act how fans want him to act, and thats what I like about him.
Can’t believe he still played right after that injury. Told you, he is very durable.
I still hope the Nuggets sign him, but he may fit better elsewhere a la Zach Randolph (who everyone criticized before he went to Memphis). The fans in Denver are not appreciative enough of him, it kinda makes me sad to see so many haters.
He will have way more fans in Chicago and I will jump on that bandwagon if he can mature into a great player next to D Rose.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
I can live with J.R. going to Chicago.
Anything’s better than seeing AAA head to Chi-town. Then we might as well shut the league down indefinitely, it’ll just be too ridiculous.
"J.R. SMITH! WITH NO REGARD FOR COMMON SENSE!" - Future Kevin Harlan Quote
"They're two-deep at the crazy position!" - Kenny "The Jet" Smith.
JR is a talented player who has more haterz than fans
He represents standing up against the man to me, thats why I have that man crush onhim.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
People thinking they know what is right and wring
And view the world in black and white are the yutzes. By being criticized so much and still playing well, JR is definitely standing up when others would have quit. Especially when so much emotionally crippling things have happened, like the loss of his best friend.
He paid his time in the eyes of the judicial system but he will never be free from that. The way he just fights back against hating “fans” and critics is what is special about him.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
Assuming JR and KMart don't come back
I still think the Nuggets will be good. I hear Mozgov has been doing well for his team and of course Chandler is dominating in China.
The main key is to re-sign Nene and the others will follow (Chandler, AAA and maybe JR).
Oh well, that dream may take a while. I think both sides stopped caring to get the NBA season started, so we have to hope we get one in 2012.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
I reaaly want Kmart back for a reasonable price. He’s out crazy enforcer dude.
Crouching moron, hidden smarta**
Optimism, pessimism, F*CK THAT; we're gonna make it happen. As God as my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.
"This team is going to win a Super Bowl at some point."
Masai Ujiri, Brian Cashman: Magnificent Bastards
by Kevin L on Nov 24, 2011 11:49 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
This.
Unlikely, sadly.
"All you fuckers who think we won't be good anymore, fuck you" - GK
Afflalo is Boss.
by love4nuggets on Nov 24, 2011 2:02 PM MST up reply actions
LOL private western cook
that sucks. i’ve got a funny ‘rush hour’ -like image in my head of these guys trying to adapt to eating chinese food. sadly that seems to not be reality. probably eating french fries and hamburgers as we speak.
Like I said
He’s too much of a knucklehead to be out long term.
Crouching moron, hidden smarta**
Optimism, pessimism, F*CK THAT; we're gonna make it happen. As God as my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.
"This team is going to win a Super Bowl at some point."
Masai Ujiri, Brian Cashman: Magnificent Bastards
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