What’s being said in the NBA

Memphis opened the New Year by getting walloped last Sunday by Chicago, 104-64, in the Bulls’ home opener. Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo didn’t help, missing seven of nine shots.

“The crazy thing about [Chicago], we didn’t even do any partying or anything the night before to celebrate the New Year,” Mayo said. “We tried to keep it professional, and still came out and got beat by 40.”

San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich was asked about Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Ricky Rubio, who was born in Spain, and his adjustment to American culture.

“These guys, they travel around the world,” Popovich said of foreign-born players. “They’re more cultured than we are. Americans ... we have sort of an arrogance about us. Like we’re the cultured ones? Are you serious? Have you watched TV lately?”

Veteran Shane Battier got off to an erratic start with Miami, going scoreless in three of his first four games. “I don’t get too high or too low with the Dow’s peaks and valleys. I’m not a day trader,” Battier said.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant missed 18 of 26 shots in a loss to Portland at home. Afterward, Durant tweeted: “Couldn’t throw a Rock in the ocean standing on the beach!”

Richard Hamilton played nine seasons for the Detroit Pistons, but the former All-Star was nervous before his return to The Palace to face his former team. Hamilton scored 14 points as his new team, Chicago, easily beat the Pistons, 99-83, Wednesday.

“I was just like, ‘Man, please don’t start crying or anything crazy like that — just hurry up and let the ball get thrown up so I can go out there and play,’ ” Hamilton said.