Steve Ballmer is Microsoft at heart, as the Clippers have just found out. Whenever we see Ricky Rubio take a jump shot, big men are primed, and even the guards get ready for the inevitable rebound. Minnesota aim to change all that.
SHOOTING COACH HIRED FOR RUBIO
Ricky Rubio has desperately tried to improve his shooting, but a career 37 percent for a guard isn’t good enough, and so, the Minnesota Timberwolves have hired former Los Angeles Laker, Mike Penberthy to improve his technique.
Via The Star Tribune:
Penberthy played in 53 games with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-01, averaging 5.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and shooting 39.6 percent (55-for-139) from three-point range as the Lakers won the NBA Championship. He also played in three games for the Lakers in 2001-02 before being waived. Penberthy’ professional playing career spanned from 1997–2008, including numerous stints overseas and in the NBA and ABA.
One of his biggest priorities will be helping Rubio improve his shooting. The point guard is a career 37-percent shooter and has been working hard to improve that number to take the next step in his career.
Penberthy worked with Rubio for a week this summer in California.
NO APPLE PRODUCTS IN CLIPPER LAND
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is a businessman at heart, and the former CEO of Microsoft is still fighting the competition.
So any Clippers player or member of staff caught using an Apple product is in trouble.
Via Reuters
I think people understand we are a different kind of team,” Ballmer said Wednesday, sitting on the Clippers practice court. “We are born in a funny way, and the guys have all had to live through something not only on the court but off the court together that requires a deeper kind of commitment.”
Ballmer promises that whether the fan comes to the arena, or cheers from the couch, or follows on a smartphone or tablet “you are going to have the best experience and that is not just the best in L.A.”
“Most of the Clippers on are Windows, some of the players and coaches are not,” Ballmer said. “And Doc kind of knows that’s a project. It’s one of the first things he said to me: ‘We are probably going to get rid of these iPads, aren’t we?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, we probably are.’ But I promised we would do it during the off season.”
LAVRINOVIC UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL HAND OP
Lithuanian international Darjus Lavrinovic has had successful hand surgery, but will still be out of action for 5 weeks.
While the Reggio Emila forward is out of action, the club will seek a temporary replacement on a two-month contract.
