Funkerstation » den is trying to shape the next phase of his life.

MIAMI -- Players have an open disdain for back-to-back games in the regular season, even while understanding theres no way around them when trying to wedge 82 games into 170 days.So some teams are spending part of this preseason trying to get ready.NBA teams get to largely dictate their own preseason schedule, and nine clubs opted to have at least one set of back-to-back games on their exhibition slate. Most are going on this weekend, with five teams -- Toronto, Cleveland, Miami, Golden State and Chicago -- playing either the first or second night of a back-to-back on Friday.Its good practice for us, Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. We want to approach it the way were going to approach it a few weeks from now, because theyre coming. And so the way we mentally approach back-to-backs ... weve got to get excited about it. Even though deep down we know its exhibition, weve got to get into a mindset of how do we prepare mentally, how do we prepare physically.Most teams around the league avoided them entirely. And Torontos isnt a true back-to-back, per se -- the Raptors were playing Cleveland on Thursday, then stepping out of the NBA realm to play the Argentinian club San Lorenzo on Friday.The Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers are subjecting themselves to preseason back-to-backs twice. And it could be argued the Heat are playing three of the dreaded sets, when factoring in their open scrimmage on Monday night that was the prequel to Tuesdays preseason game against Brooklyn.I want our guys to feel a lot of different situations, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he didnt mind them since they allow for more practice time, and he structured his schedule accordingly. Outside of his back-to-backs on Oct. 4 and 5 and Oct. 17 and 18, his team plays only twice during the 11-day span in between.I just think eight games is too many for guys, Rivers said. I think this is nice. You play guys minutes, almost all of them. You give some guys a rest in some of them. I think its good.The Heat, who open their first back-to-back in San Antonio on Friday, have two in the span of a week. That closely mirrors something that happens during the course of the regular season. The NBA has made strides in recent years to reduce how many times each club has to endure games on consecutive nights -- or the even-more-dreaded four-games-in-five-days, something thats now a rarity.Last year I hated it in the preseason, said Heat forward Justise Winslow, entering his second season. But now I realize the purpose of it, just so guys can feel it, feel what it feels like mentally and physically.Minnesota plays its preseason back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. The other two teams with them on their exhibition schedule are Charlotte and New York, clubs that decided put them toward the end of their preseason slate.Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said it provides him with a chance to evaluate some players whose roles might still be unclear -- and that, as one might expect, stars like Carmelo Anthony wont log big minutes like they would in the regular season.I dont really anticipate playing Carmelo 35 minutes one night and 35 minutes the next, Hornacek said. So it might give an opportunity to some of these other guys, especially there are some of these guys trying to make the roster. Give them a little more playing time in those back-to-back situations to see what would happen if they were on your team. So for evaluation purposes its good but playing wise, you try not to kill these guys early.---AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.Cheap San Francisco 49ers Jerseys .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Tom Rathman Jersey . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. http://www.cheap49ersjerseysauthentic.com/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Colin Kaepernick Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Ronnie Lott Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.Greg Oden, the 7-footer selected No. 1 overall in the 2007 NBA draft, has come full circle.Hes back with the Ohio State Buckeyes, helping head coach Thad Matta. This time, however, Oden is a student-coach instead of the unstoppable force on the floor that resulted in his being selected ahead of?Kevin Durant by the Portland Trail Blazers.I wanted to stay around basketball, and coach gave me a lifeline to be here, Oden told the Indianapolis Star on Thursday. To give me something to do with my afternoons.Im still trying to figure out my life. Since Ive been in fourth grade, all Ive known was basketball. Im just trying to better myself and work on my degree and set something up for the future of my family.Odens NBA career lasted all of 105 games because of multiple microfracture knee surgeries and other issues, including a plea deal with prosecutors to settle battery charges involving a former girlfriend.He averaged 8.00 points and 6.dddddddddddd2 rebounds, last playing for the Miami Heat in 2013-14, appearing in 23 games after a three-season layoff.Honestly, it was definitely unbelievable, Oden told the paper of his injuries. With the third injury in a row, I was like, Are you kidding me right now?Since then he has auditioned for the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets while also playing in China, where his one season was cut short by injury in January.The 28-year-old Oden is realistic in realizing hes done playing basketball.I wish, Oden told the Star. Its over.After recently becoming a father, Oden is trying to shape the next phase of his life. The Ohio State sophomore is majoring in sports industry.I wouldnt say I regret anything, Oden told the paper. I would say I just wish I did things better.den is trying to shape the next phase of his life.