LeBron James makes big point as focus of Miami Heat's offense

Even with Carlos Arroyo and Mario Chalmers on the court, the Heat turned to LeBron James as its primary ball-handler after Dwyane Wade was injured.

Carlos Arroyo might have acted the part of point guard during the Heat's 105-89 preseason victory over the Pistons on Tuesday night, routinely dribbling down the court and running the offense.
But his presence couldn't disguise the truth. Although Arroyo was introduced as the Heat's starting point guard, the team's primary ball-handler turned out to be LeBron James.
Making his preseason debut for the Heat, James was the team's offensive catalyst, finishing with 18 points and four assists in 26 minutes, mostly in the first and second quarters.
``I can't defer,'' James said. ``I'm never in the defer mentality. I'm always in attack mode.''
But James didn't initially start the game in the playmaking role. In the first three minutes of the first quarter, he occasionally was the recipient of some passes that came from Arroyo and Dwyane Wade.
But once Wade sustained a strained right hamstring that ended his night, coach Erik Spoelstra had to alter his plans and make James the focal point of his offense.
``That's what we want,'' Spoelstra said of James' role. ``We want him to feel comfortable. He's a two-time MVP and we don't want to reinvent his game or make him do things that he wasn't comfortable with or wouldn't shot his greatness.''
As a result of that strategy, Arroyo continued to handle the ball but quickly passed it to James on most possessions.
And James rewarded Spoelstra and Arroyo for their confidence, getting 16 of the team's 24 points in the first quarter.
``I think he'll only be better with two guys that can do that particularly against a good defensive team,'' Spoelstra said. ``He wasn't necessarily the point guard when he was handling. On the break he is dynamic. That is a unique talent -- to be able to move that fast make decisions and handle the ball at that speed.''
James also showcased his pinpoint passing ability that was a trademark of his seven seasons in Cleveland. With three minutes left in the first quarter, James elicited cheers from the crowd at AmericanAirlines Arena when he faked a pass to the wing and sent a no-look pass inside to Chris Bosh, who finished with a dunk.
James also saw exclusive minutes as the team's primary ball-handler. During the waning possessions of the first two quarters, James manned the point, even with Arroyo and Mario Chalmers on the court.
Arroyo and Chalmers benefited from James' versatility. Toward the end of the first half, James drew attention while driving the lane before he passed back to Chalmers, who drained an open three-pointer.
Arroyo also converted his opportunities with James on the court, making 4 of 6 shots to finish with 10 points.
``It makes your focus a lot different [with James],'' Arroyo said. ``You have to know when that ball is coming and wait for your pass and make that open shot.
``He knows how to make the right play at the right time.'

-JAMES AND WADE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL COMING INTO THIS SEASON
THEY BOTH WANT THE BALL WHEN IT COMES TO CRUNCH TIME AND THEY BOTH PUT UP ALOT OF SHOTS SO THIS SEASON IS GOING TO BE A LONG SEASON BUT . IT COMES TIME WHEN BOTH SUPERSTARS HAVE TO SACRIFICE SOME OF THERE BALL HOGIN' AND WIN BALL GAMES FOR MIAMI ALOT OF RAPPERS SUCH AS RICK ROSS AND ALOT MORE RAPPERS ACTORS WILL BE FILLING UP THE MIAMI SEATS TO SEE SOME GOOD BASKETBALL FROM THE 2 ALL-STARS SO WELL SEE IF THEY GET-ALONG CUZ 82 GAMES WILL SEE IF THEY CAN PLAY TOGETHER IN THE PLAYOFFS..

Allen Iverson to Sign With Turkish Team

The Rumors appear to be true. With no interest from NBA squads, The Answer is reportedly taking his talents to turkey “Allen Iverson has agreed in principle to sign an incentive-laden, two-year, $4 million contract with Besiktas of the Turkish professional league, sources told Yahoo! Sports on Sunday night. Iverson plans to sign the contract this week, the sources said, and is expected to report to Besiktas the week of Oct. 31. Iverson’s contract will give him an opt-out clause after this season. There’s no escape clause during the season for Iverson to leave Turkey and return to the NBA. Iverson, 35, could make his debut for Besiktas on Nov. 6 in a game against Bornova. Besiktas played its first game of the season on Oct. 19 and is 1-1 in league standings.”

-ALLEN IVERSON GOING TO TURKEY IS DIFFERNT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD THINK HE WOULD LEAVE THE NBA AND GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO PLAY THE GAME HE LOVES AND PUT HIS HEART INTO..WELL I ANT KNOCKING IVERSON IT OPEN'S UP ALOT OF PLAYERS IN THE NBA AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS WHO LOOK UP TO IVERSON THAT THE NBA ANT ALWAYS FOR YOU IF U HAVE TO TAKE UR TALENT ESLE WHERE TO MAKE MONEY AND HAVE FUN THEN DO IT IVERSON WILL STILL GO DOWN AS THE TOP POINT GUARD TO EVER PLAY @ 6'FEET TALL...

             Wall, Reebok reach $25M deal

 

Kentucky guard John Wall, the projected No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft, has reached an endorsement agreement with Reebok worth $25 million over five years.Reebok made an immense investment with the charismatic and explosive guard, believing that Wall can replace Allen Iverson as the brand’s superstar. Wall’s reps, Dan Fegan of Lagardere Unlimited and Brian Clifton of Pindar Enterprises, negotiated a rare two guaranteed signature shoes for Wall. The deal exceeds what most industry insiders believed even Wall, a spectacular talent, could get in this marketplace. In the declining economy, shoe companies have become more judicious about handing out such big guaranteed deals to rookies.

- I THINK JOHN WALL IS A GOOD FIT FOR REEBOK' THEY NEED A NEW FACE FOR
THERE SHOE IVERSON DID HIS THING FOR 10 YEARS IN THE NBA AND TO ME
IVERSON IS HANDING THE TORCH TO THE NEW COMER SO WALL WILL BRING
THE BRAND BACK ON THE MAP. NIKE ADIDAS HAVE THERE NBA PLAYERS PUTTING 
OUT COMMERCIALS ITS TIME FOR JOHN WALL TO MAKE HIS NAME OTHER THAN
ON THE COURT BUT IN THE COMMERCIAL WORLD.

                  Lance Stephenson Arrested

 Innocent until proven guilty, but according to the New York Daily News, newly signed Indiana Pacer Lance Stephenson was arrested over the weekend: “Coney Island basketball star Lance Stephenson - a second-round Indiana Pacers pick in the June NBA draft - was busted Sunday for pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, cops said. Stephenson, 19, a legendary player at Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln High School, roughed up Jasmine Williams, 21, in the stairwell of her Brooklyn apartment building about 5 a.m., according to police. The 6-foot-5 rookie point guard’s blows sent Williams tumbling head-first down 10 steps, requiring her to be treated at a hospital for injuries to her head and neck, cops said.

”

- LANCE HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE SINCE HIGH SCHOOL DOING ALOT OF BAD THINGS BUT THIS IS THE WORST THAT LANCE DID AND I KNOW HE HAS LEARD HIS LESSON BUT ITS TIME FOR HIM TO SMARTING UP AND GET HIS MIND TOGETHER HES NOT GETTING YOUNGER... HES A NBA PLAYER THERES GOING TO BE ALOT OF FANS AND KIDS LOOKING UP TO HIM SO HE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER ROLE MODEL FOR UP COMING BALL PLAYERS IN THE NEW YORK AREA AND IN THE WORLD..HOPE HE GETS HIS MIND STRIGHT AND FOCUZ ON IS UP COMING CAREER IN THE NBA..