New to the blog will be a twice-monthly look at the NBA.  We’ll delve into injuries, news, the business side, fantasy hoops and other NBA entertainment. This Sunday, we debut with our first-ever rankings.
Yes, Miami is No. 1.

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At the end of practice Thursday, Warriors guard Nate Robinson entertained his new teammates by having a dunk off with rookie forward Chris Wright (whose hops are ridiculous, BTW). What was more impressive than any dunk he pulled off was the fact that he had the energy to attempt several dunks after his first NBA practice of the season.

MARK JACKSON: “Obviously, there’s no substitute for real live action, but he’s a heck of an athlete. And he’s in shape.”

That’s good news for the Warriors, because Nate Robinson will be needed. Jackson said he could see Robinson playing significant minutes. Rookie second-round pick Charles Jenkins will start, but expect Robinson – not Ish Smith, who seems to have fallen out of favor with Jackson – to be the back-up. It may be just a matter of time before Robinson is starting, especially if Stephen Curry is out for an elongated period.

Robinson said he looks forward to the challenge – especially proving people wrong about him. Since being waived by Oklahoma City, Robinson had gotten little bite from other NBA teams, concerned about his effect on team chemistry.

ROBINSON: “I don’t care what they say. Coach already said he’s not worried about the naysayers and my past. He’s talking about now and the future. We’re moving forward and that’s something I love about Coach. He sees me as a player. I have another start, a second chance and this is a great opportunity. God blessed me with the ability to go through these struggles in my life and overcome them. That’s something I’m trying to do again. Just trying to prove to the Warriors and the fans and to my friends and family and to God that I can do it.”

( Note: This Q&A with Nate Robinson by Matt Steinmetz is a must-read.)

Golden State will immediately need Robinson’s scoring. They will need his energy. They will need his ability to take over a game. That may be a lot to ask from Robinson. It’s doubtful he can provide all that. He hasn’t been a high-caliber player for a little over a year now.

But the Warriors need him. If he can’t take advantage of this opportunity – where he’s going to get minutes, the coach is vouching for him – redemption for Robinson may not be possible.

Here are some other things to watch for tonight.

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From Marcus Thompson’s story, which was just posted online:

Warriors pont guard Stephen Curry ruled himself out of Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers because his sprained right ankle “didn’t respond as well as I wanted.”

He said he doesn’t know yet how long he will be out. Curry said he will confer with all the doctors involved on Thursday — including Bob Anderson of OrthoCarolina, the foot and ankle specialist who did Curry’s surgery in May — to determine the next course of action.

He said he will “see if there is some kind of measurable level I need to be at before I return to play. It could be sooner than later. … Making sure there’s some kind of goal we need to get to.”

Stephen Curry sounded so depressed.

His head was covered with a towel, his chin resting in his palm, his foot stuffed into a bowl of ice. He started by saying he didn’t have much to say. But when he did talk, his pain was obvious.

Curry: “Just another re-aggravation of the same thing that’s been happening. … Just another frustrating incident I’ve got to deal with. … Just déjà vu all over again for me.”

In Wednesday’s loss at San Antonio, Curry sprained his ankle for the third time this season.

With 3:10 left in the third quarter, he scooped up a loose ball off an Ekpe Udoh deflection and was set to push it the other way. But when he planted his right foot, his toe jammed into the court and his right ankle rolled over. He immediately tried to get rid of the ball, throwing an errant pass before limping off to the side. After trying to walk it off, he was helped to the bench.

Eventually he went to the locker room for treatment. He said he tried to return, re-taping his ankle and re-lacing his shoes. But his ankle had already stiffened up too much. His night was over.

LEE: “When you come in here after the game, the reality sets in. More than anything, you feel bad for Steph. He works so hard and does all of the right things. He just has a little bit of misfortune. … He needs to get his ankle right, whether that’s coming back for the L.A. game or waiting six weeks.”

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The Warriors officially announced the signing of guard Nate Robinson before Wednesday’s tipoff atSan Antonio. He is expected to join the team in time for Thursday’s practice in Los Angeles.

Robinson, who took his physical Wednesday inOakland, gets a one-year deal worth about $1 million. He could be available for Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, depending on how coach Mark Jackson feels after seeing him in practice.

No doubt, Robinson will need to get in game shape. He’s been training in Seattle waiting to be signed.

Robinson, 27, played for Boston and Oklahoma City last season. With the Celtics, he appeared in 55 games, averaging 7.1 points in 17.9 minutes.  In 11 starts with Boston, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 33.2 minutes.

Robinson was traded to the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins deal on Feb. 24. He appeared in four regular season games and three postseason games for the Thunder, mostly garbage minutes. He was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Christmas Eve.

At about 5 a.m. Monday, David Lee woke up feeling miserable. He spent much of the next several hours hovered over a toilet as his body flushed out whatever the hell was inside him.

Eventually, at about 11 a.m., Lee decided it was time to get checked out. He wound up in the hospital. He had four bags of fluids pumped into him.

Lee said he’s never felt so terrible. 

Remember the ordeal he went through last season? The ink acetates elbow that got infected, causing excruciating pain and jeopardized his playing career? Yeah, Lee said this was 50 times worse.

LEE: “This  was crazy. I knew it wasn’t going to last that long, but oh my God.”

Fortunately for Lee and the Warriors, it didn’t last. You can expect Lee to play tonight against San Antonio. He participated in shootaround Wednesday morning. He said he watched the game Monday and was “frustrated to say the least.” 

Lee won’t be 100 percent, as his body is still recuperating. But he said whatever he can bring, he will bring it.

LEE: “I feel like just being out there puts more leadership on the floor, puts another veteran body out on the court. I think I’ll be able to contribute.”

Keep an eye on Lee’s energy level and minutes. Mark Jackson may have him on a short leash, playing in spurts. Here are other things to watch for tonight:

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The Warriors had been searching for a big man since the lockout ended. Having run out of desired options, they gave up and used their open roster spot to bolster their bench.

Everyone wants to know the same thing: why did the Warriors sign Nate Robinson? With two 6-foot-3 guards starting in the back court, in Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, what is the logic behind adding a 5-foot-9 combo guard?

The concerns are obvious. He’s another undersized guard. Not only is he undersized, but he’s a tweener. He’s a shooting guard in a point guard’s body.

Pehaps the biggest concern is how Robinson will effect team chemistry. Robinson is certainly a charismatic fella to say the least. Depending on the perspective, he’s either fun-loving or plays too much, passionate or selfish. Certainly, throwing him into the Warriors’ mellow and somewhat bland locker room will be interesting. Could be problematic.

With that said, I’ve talked to a few people about why they’ve signed Nate Robinson. Obviously, their analysis was laced with optimism if not utopia. But, nonetheless, here is the vision for bringing in Nate Robinson.

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Warriors are close to signing free agent guard Nate Robinson, multiple sources confirmed.

Robinson could sign as soon as Wednesday and join the team Friday in Los Angeles.

The sixth year guard started last season with Boston, appearing in 55 games and averaging 7.1 points in 17.9 minutes. But he was traded to Oklahoma City, where he totaled just 30 minutes in four appearances.

For his career, Robinson averages 11.3 points in 23 minutes. He gained national fame by winning two slam dunk contests at 5-foot-9.

It’s obvious — five games into the season, after two disappointing losses — that Mark Jackson is getting frustrated with his team. All his bold predictions and soaring rhetoric have clashed with usual Warriors basketball.

Golden State should have beaten Phoenix on Monday, if they are the team they claim to be, just like they should have beaten Philadelphia at home on Saturday. But, down the stretch, they did not play the defense they talk about. They could not score like they claim. They did not make the little plays they are now supposed to make.

Maybe Jackson sees the rough seas ahead – @ Spurs, @ Lakers, vs. Jazz, vs. Heat, vs. Magic then a four-game roadie – and knew the importance of winning Monday. Now 2-3, if the Warriors have to win 5 of the next 9 games just to come home .500.

JACKSON: “I understand it’s a process, but it’s a 66-game season and we need to speed up the process. I will find guys that are playing well, competing and executing the game plan. And if that means playing five guys 48 minutes, I will. They will tell me how many guys should play by their performance. Just a disappointing loss.”

More from Monday’s 102-91 loss to the host Suns …

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For the third straight game, Golden State will be missing a starter. Warriors forward David Lee will not only miss today’s game, he’s not even in attendance.

Lee is pretty ill. So ill, he was at a local hospital instead of warming up. They aren’t sure yet whether it’s food poisoning, the flu or some kind of virus.

Dominic McGuire will start in David Lee’s place. He has the responsibility of staying glued to Channing Frye, the Suns’ 3-point shooting big man. That might help the Warriors on the defensive end as McGuire may be better able to contest Frye.

Without Lee, Golden State will be without their leading rebounder (8.0) and second-leading scorer (18.8)