|
- Posts:
- 651
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #4
- Joined:
- Oct 5, 2012
|
HOUSTON - Royce White finally got to focus on basketball Monday, joining the Houston Rockets after he missed the first week of training camp to form a long-term plan for his anxiety issues. Mark Sanchez Jersey . White, the 16th overall pick in the draft, has a deal with the team to travel by bus to some games this season, a compromise he says will help him cope with his anxiety, fear of flying and obsessive compulsive disorder over the long term. He was happy to just be back on the court after the swell of national media attention sparked by his request to the team. "Trying to get back in the swing of things," White said. "It went as good as it could go." Houston held its first week of practice in McAllen, home of its developmental league affiliate. The Rockets were back at the Toyota Center on Monday, and coach Kevin McHale said White was noticeably behind in his conditioning and his familiarity with Houstons plays. "Hes got to catch up on what were doing," McHale said. "Its always hard when youre a young guy and you miss early camp practice, when youre trying to establish your principles and what youre doing. But hell be fine." Whites off-the-court issues were no secret. NBA teams still wanted to talk to him after his one spectacular season at Iowa State. White was the only Division I player to lead his team in scoring (13.4 points per game), rebounds (9.3 per game), assists (five per game), steals (1.2 per game) and blocks (0.9 per game) and led the Cyclones to their first NCAA tournament appearance in seven years. The Rockets decided he was too good to pass up. And over the summer, White flew with the team to Las Vegas and to the rookie orientation in New York City, suggesting that he had a handle on his aerophobia. As training camp approached, though, White felt apprehensive about starting his first NBA season without a plan to cope with his disorder. He contacted the Rockets through his agent and the two sides negotiated their arrangement. "Im excited," White said. "Its a different plan than Ive ever had going into a season. Im happy that the Rockets are willing to work with me, and Im excited to see what I can do under new circumstances." McHale, who played 13 seasons in a Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics, acknowledged concern for how White was going to navigate through the travel demands of the league schedule. "Royce is going to have a little bit of a different path in the NBA," McHale said. "If your choice is to have a 10-hour bus ride, or an hour flight, everyone would want to take an hour flight. Hes just going to have to work his way through all that stuff. "Were here to help him and support him as much as we can," McHale said, "but he eventually has to be responsible to your team and your teammates. Thats the biggest thing." On Monday, White easily answered questions in front of a throng of media. If anything, White said going public with his personal struggle has been cathartic. "In a lot of areas, were actors," White said with a smile. "The camera doesnt frighten me. Planes do." He hopes the attention his situation has generated creates more awareness for mental-health issues and treatment. "It helps for me, just to be honest," he said. "One of the things that comes with anxiety is trying to hide from what youre scared of and oftentimes, that is the spotlight. Being honest and having good feedback obviously helps me out." His teammates seemed happy to have White back, greeting him with high-fives and encouragement when practice began. If White can blossom, the Rockets think he can provide a strong — and much-needed — inside presence. "He has a unique skill set," point guard Jeremy Lin said. "We dont really have anybody who can do what he can do. More importantly, were thankful that hes healthy and with the team. He learned a lot today. He didnt look like he missed too much." White seems willing to do whatever is necessary to get up to speed on the court. "I just stay goal-oriented," White said. "I want to be a good teammate, and I want to be a part of this organization. I have other goals and aspirations and I just stick to those, focus on those. Im just ready to do whatever they ask me to do." Tim Tebow Jersey Elite . Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson ("They obviously blew the call"), third baseman Ryan Zimmerman ("You cant just give out free runs in the big leagues") and catcher Jesus Flores ("Terrible call") were much more blunt about it. Tim Tebow Jersey . With hooligans fighting one another and police away from the stadium, Russia and Poland played out a 1-1 draw Tuesday. The result left Russia at the top of Group A, but all four teams still have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals. http://www.jetsprostore.com/tim-tebow-jersey?women=18 . "I love being here, I love the city, I love the fans," Harding said. "It was really important for me to stay here and work towards my goal (of being a starting goaltender in the NHL). Shonn Greene Jersey .Y. - The anchor of the Dallas Mavericks defence now centres one of the leagues best frontcourts. LaRon Landry Jersey . As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Coker is going into his second season in the Canadian Football League after playing five regular-season games and the West Division semifinal for the Stamps in 2011.BOSTON - The abdominal strain that sidelined Kevin Garnett for nine games at mid-season was probably the best chance for the rest of the NBA to catch the Celtics. Now Garnetts back, and playing as well as he did before his injury. "Hes all the way back," Boston forward Paul Pierce said Sunday night after Garnett had his best game since returning, scoring 20 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 98-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. "Did yall watch the game tonight? "When hes going to the basket, inside and outside, dominating the rebounds: Thats the Kevin Garnett I like to see." Garnett never looked up. "I had a decent night," he said, deadpan. Pierce scored 30 points, 17 in the pivotal third quarter when Boston scored 13 straight points to take the lead for good. Ray Allen scored 17, and Kendrick Perkins had 11 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and a career-high six assists to help the Celtics win their fifth consecutive game. "In the third quarter, the difference was Paul Pierce. He just took over," Perkins said. "Im used to that now, but when I first got here, I was like, Man! Now, its just what Paul does." Point guard Rajon Rondo had six points and eight assists one day before the Celtics are expected to bring in backup Sam Cassell, who was waived last week by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Celtics play the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday in a matchup of the top two teams in the East. "People are expecting that to be the Eastern Conference finals matchup," Garnett said. "It should be a fun game." And more fun for Garnett now thats hes healthy. The Celtics big man strained a stomach muscle on Jan. 25 and returnned on Feb. Joe Namath Jersey. 19, eight games ago. His 20 points, 16 rebounds and 35 minutes were all his most since hes been back. "Im human, too, and I do have rust," he said. "Im coming along, slowly but surely." Josh Smith scored 20 points and added nine rebounds, and Al Horford had 14 and 11 for the Hawks, who missed a chance to move into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Mike Bibby, acquired at last weeks trading deadline for a playoff push, had 14 points and nine assists. "Theyre probably going to be a team that we see in the first round, a team that can play in the eight (seed) or the seventh spot," Pierce said. "Hes definitely an added dimension for that team, a veteran who can give them a boost, especially in these last 20-25 games." The Hawks led 46-41 after Bibbys alley-oop to Horford for the first basket of the second half. But Boston scored the next 13 points _ including nine in a row from Pierce _ before Smith hit a free throw with 8:42 left in the quarter. Pierce added a jumper that gave him 11 consecutive Boston points and gave the Celtics a 58-47 lead. "In the third quarter, we started to turn it over, Paul got a hot hand and our defence went the other way," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "This is a good ball club they have here in Boston." Atlanta came within three points several times, the last at 73-70, before Eddie House hit a three-pointer with 9:05 to play. Notes: P.J. Brown did not dress again for the Celtics. He has not played since being signed off the street on Wednesday. .. Cassell was bought out by the Clippers on Friday and is expected to clear waivers at 6 p.m. Monday. ' ' '
|