Rockets Owner: ‘We have the competitive fire’

(Rockets’ owner Leslie) Alexander sounded upbeat about the Rockets’ chances against the Warriors, adding, “They’re a great shooting team. But we have the competitive fire, we have the competitive spirit. We have two superstars. We play really good defense. We hit the boards. We’ve got a good chance.” via David Barron of the Houston Chronicle

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Steve Kerr Says Speights Won’t Play in Game 1

There was no official update from the Warriors on Marreese Speights (right calf), but (Steve) Kerr said the reserve forward won’t play in Game 1 on Tuesday. via Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Real Madrid Captures Ninth Euroleague Title

Real Madrid pulled away in the last four minutes to beat Olympiakos 78-59 Sunday to end its 20-year wait for a ninth Euroleague title. via ESPN

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Report: He TianJu Joining Pelicans’ Summer League

Chinese forward He Tianju will attend the NBA summer league with the New Orleans Pelicans. via E. Trapani of Sportando

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Celtics Have Sights Set on Drafting Cauley-Stein?

Two league sources told CSNNE.com Friday that the Boston Celtics are “very open” to moving up in next month’s NBA draft. And while the sources did not indicate which player Boston was targeting, there are growing signs that they have their sights set on trying to draft Kentucky big man Willie Cauley-Stein. via A. Sherrod […]

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
D’Angelo Russell: My Game is Like Stephen Curry’s

The two words spilled out of D’Angelo Russell’s mouth. The Ohio State guard then realized the implications over voluntarily comparing himself to Golden State’s Stephen Curry. “I don’t want to sound like I’m overdoing it since he’s the MVP of the league,” Russell said on Friday at the NBA pre-draft combine. “But when I watch […]

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Spurs Only Real Threat to Lure Gasol in Free Agency?

There is confidence among (Memphis Grizzlies Marc) Gasol’s teammates that he won’t want to leave their Grit & Grind core, but that Spurs possibility worries them. via Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports on Twitter

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Donovan Eyeing Williams, Greer, Tibbets for Coaching Staff?

After locking in three members of his new coaching staff, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan is pursuing an ambitious list of ex-NBA head coaches and assistant coaches for the two most prominent roles on his bench, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Donovan has a targeted interest in several potential candidates, including ex-New Orleans Pelicans […]

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021
Cavs’ Irving Sits out Practice; Status Uncertain for Game 1

(Cleveland Cavaliers) Kyrie Irving sat out of Saturday’s practice session to rest and receive treatment on his sore left knee and his right foot strain, coach David Blatt said. Of Irving’s status for Wednesday’s Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, Blatt doesn’t know. “For sure? No,” he said of Irving’s availability. “But we […]

Basketball Insiders  •  15 Oct 2021