Adam Silver is watching what is happening with the NFL. (USATSI)
Adam Silver spoke with reporters at a charity event Monday in Staten Island to open a refurbished court damaged in Hurricane Sandy. The commissioner was there to announce a series of community programs built around All-Star Weekend 2015 in New York which will impact some 500,000 kids in the five boroughs. He also discussed the recent events of controversy in sports, including saying the NBA would look to examine its domestic violence policy in light of the Ray Rice controversy that has plagued the NFL.
Adam Silver says NFLs high-profile domestic abuse cases have prompted the NBA to "take a fresh look" at its existing punishments & policies
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) September 22, 2014
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league will take a fresh look at its domestic violence policies in light of what's gone on in the NFL
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 22, 2014
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has come under fire for the league's investigation and response to Rice's recorded assault of his then-fiancée. The firestorm over the incident put Goodell under scrutiny from media and social critics, and the scandal of Adrian Peterson's alleged child abuse has further rocked the league.
Silver made it clear that the events have prompted a review of policies at the NBA's offices.
Adam Silver says the NBA learns "from other league's experiences. We're studying everything that's been happening with the NFL."
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 22, 2014
Meanwhile, Silver said in light of the NBA's own most recent controversy involving the leaked scouting report read by Hawks GM Danny Ferry that resulted in his leave of absence, and an internal investigation by the team that lead to owner Bruce Levensen pledging to sell the team, that the NBA isn't looking to go digging through the owners' "closets."
Silver says it's not his desire to go looking for old skeletons in owners' closets. He thinks Sterling put everyone on notice going forward
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) September 22, 2014
Sterling also said Ferry "wisely" stepped aside in light of the controversy, despite Silver having said his comments weren't a fireable offense.
Silver, on Ferry: "Danny wisely stepped aside to remove himself." Silver had previously said Ferry's comments shouldn't be fireable offense
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) September 22, 2014
So that's a little confusing. The NFL firestorm has allowed this issue to largely be swept under the rug, but given that the audio recording and leaked written report clearly show Ferry ad-libbing and discussing the comments about Luol Deng's heritage in a non-verbatim manner, and given the fact that the comments came from a (presumably) former member of the Cavaliers front office, it's a little surprising the league isn't investigating these issues with more interest, or at least not publicly stating so.
On the other hand, the idea of a widespread audit of emails and correspondence both internally with the teams and with the league office could result in a torrent of controversy for a league that is desperately trying to separate itself from that perception following the Donald Sterling scandal.
Basketball Hot News
Dirk Nowitzki developed quicker shot release. That’s just not fair.
The NBA mantra is becoming “do not take midrange shots, particularly long two pointers.”
But there is an exception to every rule — enter Dirk Nowitzki, the best midrange shooter in the NBA. He took 55.7 percent of his shot attempts last season in the midrange but he hit a very impressive 50.4 percent of them. Nowitzki’s one-legged fadeaway from the elbow is arguably the most indefensible shot in the NBA, but Nowitzki can score from anywhere (he shot 74 percent at the rim last season and 39.8 percent from three). He is a scoring machine (21.7 points a game at age 35) and the best shooting big man the league has ever seen.
And next season he will be tougher to defend — he has sped up his shot release.
That’s just not fair.
Marc Stein of ESPN spoke with Nowitzki and the stars lifelong shooting coach Holger Geschwindner.
“I don’t think, to the naked eye, you would see it,” Nowitzki told ESPN.com. “I don’t know if the [average] fan will see the difference. But I’m always trying to get better, and this is just a little tool for me to shoot a little quicker. We’ll see how it works during the season.”
Geschwindner has often referred to what he calls Nowitzki’s “toolbox” and the idea of adding one new specialty every offseason.
“We worked on a quicker release,” Geschwindner said, citing Golden State’s Steph Curry as the standard-setter for getting shots off rapid-fire and insisting that Nowitzki also can become adept at getting the ball to the release point faster “if he sticks with it.”
You know why Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest European player ever in the NBA? Because at age 36 he spent his summer working hard to improve an aspect of his game this much — making an existing strength that much stronger.
At 36 Nowitzki doesn’t get the lift he once did, he doesn’t create the space he once did to get off his shot — so now he’ll just get it off a little bit quicker. Making him that much harder to defend.
Keep an eye on the Mavericks — they made smart off-season additions (Chandler Parsons and Tyson Chandler, for example) and if Nowitzki is still vintage Nowitzki they are going to win a lot of games this season (I think they finish as the four seed in the West) and be a very tough out come the playoffs.
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