The Lakers opened training camp yesterday in Honolulu, marking "the end of an eight-year drought for NBA preseason basketball" in the region, according to Brian McInnis of the HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER. The team "opens its eight-game preseason exhibition schedule with two meetings" against the Jazz at the Univ. of Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6, both of which were "nearly sold out as of Monday." UH AD David Matlin said that the school "expects a combined cash windfall of 'high five figures to low six figures' for hosting the games." Matlin: "I know sales are brisk, which is great. It gets a lot of people going to basketball games and that can continue on to our season." He added that he would "try to sit down with Lakers executives in an attempt to map out a return to the days of visits every two or three years" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 9/30).
HOW ARE THE NEW DIGS? In Baton Rouge, Ted Lewis notes the Pelicans are holding their first training camp at The Greenbrier, and the team is "practicing on a pair of indoor tennis courts with a basketball court laid over them, with other hoops amenities such as the scoreboards and bleachers added." Instead of bringing their own weight equipment, the players are "using the ones in the area overlooking the courts, which includes the tennis pro shop." Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said, "The main thing was to get away to a completely different environment from where we would typically practice." Gentry said that he and GM Dell Demps "discussed doing a training camp away from the team’s Metairie headquarters when Gentry was hired in June, but that the deal with The Greenbrier developed only after Jim Justice, the resort’s owner, issued an invitation for them to check out the possibility of coming here during the Saints training camp in July" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 9/30).
MEET AND GREET: In Boston, Adam Himmelsbach notes when the Celtics held an "intrasquad scrimmage for season ticket-holders during coach Brad Stevens’s first season two years ago, some rookies were tasked with introducing their teammates to the crowd." Stevens said, "I’m not sure they knew everybody. So we decided that wasn’t the best idea.” Himmelsbach notes after last night's scrimmage, rookie G Terry Rozier "took a microphone and had a simpler message." Rozier "thanked the crowd of about 3,000 for being there." He said, "Hopefully y’all can cheer us on to another championship this year” (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/30).
