Editors:
To help you plan for the upcoming NBA season, here are some of AP's plans before games begin Oct. 16. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern. This advisory will be updated and is subject to change.
PRESEASON
The AP is providing a daily roundup of preseason games, leading with the top angle of the night.
UPCOMING STORIES:
BKN--Magic-Clifford
ORLANDO, Fla. — Steve Clifford is sleeping more every night now, part of his commitment to health after a huge scare last season. But he knows that taking over as coach of the Orlando Magic and starting a rebuilding job will be an enormous challenge nonetheless — no matter how much more sleep he gets. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 2 p.m. Oct. 8
BKN--NBA Diversity-Front Offices
The NBA usually gets high marks for its diversity efforts and is widely viewed as a leader on social issues. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes the league needs to be better, and he made his feelings known in a memo to teams in the wake of the Dallas Mavericks' embarrassing scandal. Several NBA teams tout statistics about women in their workforce, but beyond a handful — including Jeanie Buss and Gale Benson — the next step for the NBA seems to be more women CEOs and COOs. By Teresa Walker. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 4 a.m. Oct. 9
BKN--NBA Diversity-Coaches
A look at the increased diversity among NBA coaches around the league including new hires David Fizdale in New York, Memphis' J.B. Bickerstaff, Lloyd Pierce in Atlanta, Charlotte's James Borrego, Igor Kokoskov in Phoenix, Dwane Casey in Detroit— and Becky Hammon moved a step closer to a head job with a promotion in San Antonio. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 9
BKN--Big Men-Not Extinct
The narrative on the demise of the big man in the NBA may have been a bit premature. At the very least it has been misinterpreted. Their roles have been defined, but Steven Adams, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic, Clint Capela and others have shown teams still covet a dominant center. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 4 a.m. Oct. 10.
BKN--NBA-International Footprint
There was a game earlier this month where an Australian drove past a Slovenian and passed the ball to a man from Cameroon, and all that happened in China. This is what the NBA always envisioned when taking the game to different corners of the globe, and there's no end in sight to the international growth for basketball. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 4 a.m. Oct. 12
— With: BKN--NBA-International Footprint-Rising Stars. A look at the next wave of international players. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds.
BKN--International Footprint-Doncic
DALLAS — Luka Doncic is the latest international player to hit the NBA with All-Star expectations. The teenager is poised to become the next face of the Mavericks, who are looking to make a smooth transition from Dirk Nowitzki to Doncic. By Schuyler Dixon. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 12.
BKN--Technology-Player Fitness
The data is very real now. How much this player exerts in a first half, how much this player sweats in a second half, how it all affects their ability to put a ball through a hoop. It's an information age, and that most certainly applies to the NBA. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 13
BKN--Arena Wars
New arenas are popping up around the NBA, and several others are getting face-lifts including Bucks' new facility and Hawks upgrades this year, the Kings opened a new building two years ago, Pistons opened last year and Golden State will debut its new facility next year. A look at the impact of the new facilities, who's paying, etc. By Genaro Armas. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 14.
BKN--Sports Betting-Rockets Owner
HOUSTON — Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta may be in the most unique position to juggle the impact the Supreme Court's sports betting ruling will have on the NBA. The American billionaire is sole owner of Landry's, Inc., one of the largest restaurant corporations in the U.S. His business interests include Golden Nugget casinos around the country and as states get set to vote on legislation to implement laws governing sports betting and the NBA wanting to share in those profits, Fertitta talked with the AP about the tug of war at his team's training camp in Lake Charles, Louisiana — where the Rockets stayed at a casino. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos by 4 a.m. Oct. 15.
TEAM AND CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
Previews for all 30 teams will be sent Oct. 10, along with capsules for each team.
BKN--EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics are the popular favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but several teams could challenge for the conference title, including Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 11.
BKN--WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
Golden State has won three of the last four NBA championships, and at some point this season could have a lineup of five All-Stars on the floor once DeMarcus Cousins is cleared to start playing. So here's a shocking development: The Warriors are the team to beat out West again. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 11
BKN--Season Preview
LeBron James is in the West, where the road to the NBA title still goes through Golden State. The star-studded Western Conference has dominated the headlines heading into the season, but the East is no longer the JV conference with some heavy hitters of its own. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 1 p.m. Oct. 15.
BKN--NBA Season-Things to know.
Look at the story lines to watch throughout the NBA season, which tips off Tuesday night. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 4 a.m. Oct. 16.
