Atlantic Notes: Nets, Celtics, Sixers

Andrea Bargnani said his attitude toward winning has changed and he’s no longer focused on individual achievements in an interview with RAI, Italy’s biggest broadcaster, relayed by Robert Windrem of NetsDaily.

Bargnani has been criticized by Knicks president Phil Jackson for not seeming to care enough about the team. In an interview last month, Jackson told ESPN’s Charlie Rosen that Bargnani “was and still is a big tease who seemed like a malingerer.” Jackson added that he didn’t like Bargnani’s lack of intensity on the court and did not like the way Bargnani refused to engage in non-contact activities while he was recovering from an injury. Bargnani, 29, inked a two-year deal with the Nets this offseason. Bargnani has said he will comment about Jackson’s remarks before the season.

Here’s more on the Atlantic Division:

  • Jared Sullinger, David Lee and James Young are the players on the Celtics who have the most riding on this season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Sullinger, who was challenged by Boston’s front office to get healthier this offseason, is a no-brainer for this list. Barring a contract extension before the start of this season, Sullinger will be a restricted free agent next summer. I recently examined his case for an extension. Lee has something to prove this season after he lost his starting job with the Warriors last season, Blakely adds. Similarly, Young also has more motivation than many other players entering this season because of the uneven season he had last year, Blakely writes.
  • Without Joel Embiid, who is expected to miss the entire 2015/16 campaign, the Sixers‘ season will be primarily used to develop Jahlil Okafor and see how he pairs with Nerlens Noel, Shaun Powell of NBA.com writes in a 30 teams in 30 days series.
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