NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

[Shinyhubcaps]

I recently found out that the Bucks will be hosting their annual open scrimmage this Saturday and that I will, hopefully, be in attendance. It occurs to me that other teams are gearing up for this as well.

So, first look at the teams for 2009-10... who's going?

If we have enough people going to these types of events, hopefully we can get some reports from the camps on how new players look, injured players coming back, etc.

[rockchisler]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Pistons open practice is the 10th, been before, Kinda cool

[o_capone]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

i'm going to the Sonics open practice at the Furtado center... wait, nevermind....

[Kruza]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Pistons open practice is the 10th, been before, Kinda cool

I plan on seeing the Pistons open practice at The Palace next Saturday, rockchisler. Hopefully nothing comes up at the last minute that'll force me to change those plans.

Kruza

[OSUFan_88]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Cavaliers practice is close to the public and their scrimmage is about as easy to get to as the Super Bowl since the Wine and Gold scrimmage is at the University of Akron. Would love to go and will hate all the extra people on campus tonight, tomorrow and definitely Saturday.

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Pistons open practice is the 10th, been before, Kinda cool

Yeah I'm kind of bummed it's all the way up in Auburn Hills. I'm thinking about giving it a look. I went just before the 2003-2004 season when it was held at UDM's Calihan Hall. Isiah Thomas made an appearance (and was subsequently mobbed by fans). Also, Darko looked impressive.

Anyway, I can't remember if we have to pay to get in or not. Do you guys have an idea?

[Checmate101]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Going to the Grizzles @ Wizards game at VCU on Tuesday. Cant wait to see my boys in action.

[ZB9]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

day 3 of Mavs practice (interview with JKidd)

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=144305747734

[Kruza]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Yeah I'm kind of bummed it's all the way up in Auburn Hills. I'm thinking about giving it a look. I went just before the 2003-2004 season when it was held at UDM's Calihan Hall. Isiah Thomas made an appearance (and was subsequently mobbed by fans). Also, Darko looked impressive.

Anyway, I can't remember if we have to pay to get in or not. Do you guys have an idea?

The Pistons open practice is free.

Kruza

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

The Pistons open practice is free.

Kruza

Thank You.

[Eton Rifles]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

I don't think Celtics have them open to the public. Sucks because there just a few miles away.

[Shinyhubcaps]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Just got back from the Bucks open scrimmage. Here are my thoughts:

THE EVENT
+They had a tailgate prior to the game, but we got there late, so we had concessions inside instead. Nice atmosphere, though.
-I went two years ago, and then, there were a lot of side events, such as a "Shooting Stars" competition, some memory-match game, and a lot of scoreboard videos during the gamebreaks and between quarters. The players would actually participate in a side event during the scrimmage. These things, and other shenanigans, have been largely cut out.
+Fans and players got a chance to shoot half-court shots after the game for a chance to win free tickets. Most of the fans didn't get within a few feet of the basket, and no one made it or even hit rim. For the players, Kurt Thomas and Charlie Bell made theirs (everyone had only one attempt except for Bango, the mascot).
+Fans could sit anywhere they wanted in the 200-level. Great for potential ticket-holders looking at their expected seat selections.

Overall, I think all organizations should do these. A lot of them do, and some have already begun playing against other teams and charging money to see those, but overall, a lot of fun and a good boost for the organization.

THE TEAM
-Joe Alexander did not play. Dominic James and Charles Gaines did not attend. Mark Tyndale and Marcus Hubbard were not listed on the roster. All of those last 4 are on the training camp roster only.
-It was black team vs. white team (summer league jerseys). Brandon Jennings played the first quarter for the black team and the final three for the white team. The final score was about 62-57 (six minute quarters); with Jennings on the black team, the white team really outscored them, and with Jennings on the white team, the black team outscored them. Jennings' +/- for time on the floor was probably -35 or so.
+The good news, though, is Jennings made an absolutely great assist to, I believe, Francisco Elson. It was over-the-shoulder blind with Elson trailing... it's too awesome for words.
+Ersan Ilyasova came on strong. Charlie Bell scored more than anyone, and Roko Ukic was surprisingly good.
+Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd looked healthy, though each played less than a half.
-Dan Gadzuric must have bumped his head or something because he was taking some stupidly difficult jump shots. He scored 11 points on like 5-20 shooting.
-Jodie Meeks scored 4 points and did not hit any jump shots, though he had some good looks.

Anyway, in all, it was fun to go. If anyone has a chance to see a practice, scrimmage, or preseason game, I would suggest doing it if it won't break the bank or anything. A lot of these are free, but maybe not so much for the upper-echelon teams (Cavaliers and Celtics had been mentioned).

[Eton Rifles]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

I believe James and Tyndale have both been cut.

[Kruza]

Re: NBA Team Practices and Scrimmages - Anyone Going?

Just got back from watching the Pistons open practice. First, the team did some 5-on-5 team drills where Charlie Villanueva, Kwame Brown and Chris Wilcox took turns catching the basketball while posted up on the lower left block. The post guy anticipates a double team and kicked the ball out to a teammate on the perimeter. And then the ball is swing around the horn for a 3-pt shot at the opposite (right) corner. Next, they Pistons did a few individual dribbling drills followed by running some simulated 3-man fast breaks. Then they ran a 5-on-5 scrimmage for two 10-minute periods. And finally, after the scrimmage was over Ben Gordon, Will Bynum and Deron Washington stayed on the court a little while longer to take turns doing show-off dunks for a few minutes.

The team passed out free tickets to preseason games vs. the Hawks tomorrow and vs. the Timberwolves on October 22.

Kruza