LOS ANGELES (AP) — History was there for the Orlando Magic, but Courtney Lee blew his shot at it.
A shot that couldn't have been much easier.
Lee missed a layup that would have won Game 2 of the NBA finals at the fourth-quarter buzzer, and the Magic lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 in overtime Sunday night, falling into a 2-0 hole.
A perfectly executed play should have given the Magic their first finals victory. Instead, it joins Nick Anderson's botched free throws from the 1995 finals as the biggest heartbreaking moments in franchise history.
The Magic had the ball on the sideline with the game tied at 88 and 0.6 seconds left. Rashard Lewis set a pick on Kobe Bryant that freed Lee to cut to the basket, and Hedo Turkoglu lofted a pass that led Lee right under the basket.
Lee leaped to catch it, but perhaps bothered by Pau Gasol rushing over, threw it off the glass too hard as time expired.
The rookie guard immediately put his hands over his head in disbelief and walked toward the bench in that same pose as teammates came onto the court to console him. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy had a pained look on his face, perhaps aware his team had just blown the best chance it was going to get to seize home-court advantage before heading back to Florida.
The loss Sunday came on the 14th anniversary of Orlando's NBA finals debut — an equally painful one. Poised to beat the defending champion Houston Rockets in Game 1, the Magic watched Anderson brick four consecutive free throws and ended up losing 120-118 in overtime.
Same date, same painful June 7 ending for the Magic.
by the associated press
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Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
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Sunday, June 07, 2009
Friday, June 05, 2009
Three more wins and Kobe gets his 4th Ring
LOS ANGELES, June 5 -- A day after the best NBA Finals performance of his career, Kobe Bryant managed to crack a smile and laugh with his teammates during practice. But when he sat down to answer questions about scoring 40 points with eight rebounds and eight assists against the Orlando Magic in Game 1, Bryant was wearing an all-black jogging suit and steam was coming from his nostrils.
Asked about the serious, defiant approach he has taken to the Finals, Bryant said: "I'm just focused and just ready to go. The last two times we've been to the Finals, we came up short. This time around, we're really locked in."
In their championship run from 2000 to '02, the Lakers didn't always win the first game, but center Shaquille O'Neal set the tone for the series with intimidating outings. O'Neal had the previous two 40-point games in Finals openers: 43 points and 19 rebounds in a win over Indiana in 2000, and 44 points and 20 rebounds in a loss against Philadelphia in 2001. In the opening win against New Jersey in 2002, O'Neal had 36 points and 16 rebounds.
No Laker scored more than 34 in the Finals openers against Detroit or Boston, both losses, with Bryant only getting 24 last season against the Celtics.
Thursday night, Bryant became the tone setter.
"I think he just really took that aspect of it as a serious element of where you have to go with these playoffs," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "You have to stay driven and motivated, and I think it's really important that he takes that leadership role for this team."
Magic Mixed Up at Point
Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said he will continue to stick with Rafer Alston as the starting point guard, despite the return of all-star Jameer Nelson, who made his first appearance in more than four months on Thursday. Nelson injured his right shoulder on Feb. 2, but came back to score six points with four assists in 23 minutes.
Alston had six points and one assist in 25 minutes, but claimed that he was out of rhythm in the second half after sitting while Nelson played the entire second period. Van Gundy admitted that he made a mistake, and plans to use Nelson in six- to seven-minute spurts.
"I thought he played really well early in the second quarter, and so I continued to go with him. First game back in four months, it was too long," he said.
from the washington times
Asked about the serious, defiant approach he has taken to the Finals, Bryant said: "I'm just focused and just ready to go. The last two times we've been to the Finals, we came up short. This time around, we're really locked in."
In their championship run from 2000 to '02, the Lakers didn't always win the first game, but center Shaquille O'Neal set the tone for the series with intimidating outings. O'Neal had the previous two 40-point games in Finals openers: 43 points and 19 rebounds in a win over Indiana in 2000, and 44 points and 20 rebounds in a loss against Philadelphia in 2001. In the opening win against New Jersey in 2002, O'Neal had 36 points and 16 rebounds.
No Laker scored more than 34 in the Finals openers against Detroit or Boston, both losses, with Bryant only getting 24 last season against the Celtics.
Thursday night, Bryant became the tone setter.
"I think he just really took that aspect of it as a serious element of where you have to go with these playoffs," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "You have to stay driven and motivated, and I think it's really important that he takes that leadership role for this team."
Magic Mixed Up at Point
Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said he will continue to stick with Rafer Alston as the starting point guard, despite the return of all-star Jameer Nelson, who made his first appearance in more than four months on Thursday. Nelson injured his right shoulder on Feb. 2, but came back to score six points with four assists in 23 minutes.
Alston had six points and one assist in 25 minutes, but claimed that he was out of rhythm in the second half after sitting while Nelson played the entire second period. Van Gundy admitted that he made a mistake, and plans to use Nelson in six- to seven-minute spurts.
"I thought he played really well early in the second quarter, and so I continued to go with him. First game back in four months, it was too long," he said.
from the washington times
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Lakers take Game 1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — One step toward redemption, one step toward a ring.
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers began the NBA finals with power and purpose.
Bryant, playing like a man possessed, scored 40 points and the Lakers, who have waited nearly one year for a chance to erase bitter memories of a Boston beatdown and a championship they felt belonged to them, pounded the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 on Thursday night.
This year, nothing short of a 15th title will do for the Lakers.
And with the sensational Bryant out front, they may be on their way.
Game 2 is Sunday night at star-studded Staples Center, where actors Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and rapper Kanye West had front-row seats to see another virtuoso performance by Bryant, who scored 18 points in the third quarter as the Lakers opened a 26-point lead.
The last time the Lakers were seen in the finals, they were heading toward their locker room in Boston last June and summer break after being drubbed by 39 points in a series-ending Game 6 by the Celtics. The renewed rivalry between the league's superpowers never panned out.
Bryant and his teammates have used that humiliation to motivate them all season and throughout these playoffs.
They are on a mission.
The Magic, who went 2-0 against the Lakers in the regular season, appeared a touch overwhelmed in their first finals appearance since 1995. Not even the return of All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson from a four-month layoff following shoulder surgery could help the Eastern Conference champions.
Orlando center Dwight Howard was engulfed by two and three Lakers every time he touched the ball and scored 12 — 10 on free throws — on just 1-of-6 shooting. And the Magic's outside shooters, so deadly while eliminating MVP LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, were off the mark.
The Magic went just 8-of-23 on 3s and shot only 30 percent overall. They are facing some long odds, too.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, seeking a record 10th title, is 43-0 in series in which his team wins Game 1.
by the associated press
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers began the NBA finals with power and purpose.
Bryant, playing like a man possessed, scored 40 points and the Lakers, who have waited nearly one year for a chance to erase bitter memories of a Boston beatdown and a championship they felt belonged to them, pounded the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 on Thursday night.
This year, nothing short of a 15th title will do for the Lakers.
And with the sensational Bryant out front, they may be on their way.
Game 2 is Sunday night at star-studded Staples Center, where actors Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and rapper Kanye West had front-row seats to see another virtuoso performance by Bryant, who scored 18 points in the third quarter as the Lakers opened a 26-point lead.
The last time the Lakers were seen in the finals, they were heading toward their locker room in Boston last June and summer break after being drubbed by 39 points in a series-ending Game 6 by the Celtics. The renewed rivalry between the league's superpowers never panned out.
Bryant and his teammates have used that humiliation to motivate them all season and throughout these playoffs.
They are on a mission.
The Magic, who went 2-0 against the Lakers in the regular season, appeared a touch overwhelmed in their first finals appearance since 1995. Not even the return of All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson from a four-month layoff following shoulder surgery could help the Eastern Conference champions.
Orlando center Dwight Howard was engulfed by two and three Lakers every time he touched the ball and scored 12 — 10 on free throws — on just 1-of-6 shooting. And the Magic's outside shooters, so deadly while eliminating MVP LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, were off the mark.
The Magic went just 8-of-23 on 3s and shot only 30 percent overall. They are facing some long odds, too.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, seeking a record 10th title, is 43-0 in series in which his team wins Game 1.
by the associated press
Sunday, May 31, 2009
LeBron now speaks his mind
ORLANDO, Fla. – Head down and shoulders slumped, LeBron James(notes) headed off the court as the Orlando Magic streamers shot off above him.
Dwight Howard(notes) was hugging Hedo Turkoglu(notes), dreams of Beating L.A. dancing in their heads. James wasn’t bothering to stick around to shake hands, offer congratulations or pretend there was a bright side to the Magic ousting his Cleveland Cavaliers from the East finals with a 103-90 victory in Game 6.
James was off the floor before the confetti could hit his shoulders.
He later dressed in silence in a corner of the locker room then put on some gold, oversized headphones and headed for the door. Normally one of the last to leave, he was now one of the first. With anger and frustration evident in each step, he charged through the back halls of Amway Arena without greeting anyone, got on the team bus and soon was off to the airport.
There was no looking for his mother, Gloria. There was no talking with Nike executives. And forget addressing fans and media – Mo Williams(notes) was left to answer for the defeat.
LeBron was gone. The King was silent.
The fallout from this defeat will echo loudly all summer, though, the pressure mounting on Cavs general manager Danny Ferry.
Whether this was James’ ultra-competitiveness overwhelming his emotions or a sign of his frustration with a front office that in six seasons has failed to give him the supporting cast capable of winning a championship remains to be seen.
LeBron James, 24, is a free agent after next season and while he’s never said he would leave Cleveland, he’s never said he wouldn’t. As such, this move – his every move, actually – will be analyzed as the psyche of a championship-starved city hangs in the balance.
James doesn’t need a bigger market to be a global icon (a now-doomed Nike puppet advertising campaign is proof of that). And he doesn’t seem to possess the personality that covets the bright lights of New York or L.A. (he still lives near Akron and mostly hangs out with high school buddies or his longtime girlfriend and two young children).
He may need to leave to win a championship, though.
“Going into the playoffs we were confident that we were going to be in the NBA Finals and we were confident that we were going to win it,” Williams said. “I can understand [James’] disappointment because I’m feeling the same disappointment.”
There’s little sense in criticizing James for not speaking with the media Saturday – it’s the only thing he didn’t do in this series. He averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists. He offered leadership and defense. He saved Game 2 with an all-timer of a buzzer-beater.
And it wasn’t even close to enough.
Cleveland players said James did speak to them briefly in the stunned locker room and, according to Daniel Gibson(notes), said “we just need to keep working.” It was clear to everyone, however, he was taking this defeat hard.
A 66-win regular season left the Cavs optimistic they had found the parts for a championship, but deep in the playoffs, where intensity is matched and matchups get intense, the limitations are clear.
The Cavs were swept in the 2007 Finals and now have failed to get out of the East the last two seasons.
In this game, from the time the Magic trotted out the booming voice of 7-year-old Gina Marie Incandela for the national anthem to a fourth quarter filled with chants of “MVP” and “Beat L.A.,” it wasn’t so much a contest as a 2½-hour pep rally for the Finals.
All of Cleveland’s recurring problems kept accruing. Howard had 40 points and 14 rebounds as he tore through the not-prime-time frontcourt of Anderson Varejao(notes) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes). Williams had 17 point, but showed in this series he isn’t ready to be this generation’s Scottie Pippen.
The entire bench combined for just 10 points and five rebounds. Other than James, the roster lacked the size and athletic ability to deal with perimeter threats Rashard Lewis(notes) and Rafer Alston(notes).
Cleveland had the best player in this series. Orlando had the next four.
“I think this team is right there,” Williams said. “We just have to do a little bit more.”
What they have to do is get a little bit more. Despite boasting one of the highest payrolls in the league and having a half-dozen years to put together the roster, the Cavs are still a player or two away. Where Ferry finds them is the question.
He has only the midlevel salary-cap exception to spend on free agents. The Cavs discussed acquiring Shaquille O’Neal(notes) at the trade deadline, but the Phoenix Suns balked at taking back Ben Wallace(notes). The Cavs have some pieces, but no margin for error on anything less than the perfect move.
It begins with the need for a big man because it’s not like the 23-year-old Howard is going anywhere. The Magic are no fluke, they’re more than capable of beating the Lakers.
“How many games could [Cleveland] win without LeBron James?” Jerry West asked rhetorically to Reuters. By way of comparison, when Michael Jordan skipped the 1993-94 season to play baseball, the remaining Chicago Bulls won 55. West likely doubts the non-LeBron Cavs would get to 40.
In the same interview, West declared James a superior player to Kobe Bryant(notes).
Yet it is Kobe’s team, rebuilt on the fly after a stretch of mediocrity from 2005-07 that will host Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday. The Lakers will meet the Magic, who have surrounded their young star, Howard, with the perfect complementary parts.
Meanwhile LeBron waits. He’s never publicly criticized a teammate, coach or front-office decision. And he didn’t Saturday.
Maybe Gloria James taught him that if you don’t have anything nice to say, then it’s best to say nothing at all. Just head for the bus, the booming beats of the headphones droning out the questions about the immediate past and the long-term future.
from yahoo sports
Dwight Howard(notes) was hugging Hedo Turkoglu(notes), dreams of Beating L.A. dancing in their heads. James wasn’t bothering to stick around to shake hands, offer congratulations or pretend there was a bright side to the Magic ousting his Cleveland Cavaliers from the East finals with a 103-90 victory in Game 6.
James was off the floor before the confetti could hit his shoulders.
He later dressed in silence in a corner of the locker room then put on some gold, oversized headphones and headed for the door. Normally one of the last to leave, he was now one of the first. With anger and frustration evident in each step, he charged through the back halls of Amway Arena without greeting anyone, got on the team bus and soon was off to the airport.
There was no looking for his mother, Gloria. There was no talking with Nike executives. And forget addressing fans and media – Mo Williams(notes) was left to answer for the defeat.
LeBron was gone. The King was silent.
The fallout from this defeat will echo loudly all summer, though, the pressure mounting on Cavs general manager Danny Ferry.
Whether this was James’ ultra-competitiveness overwhelming his emotions or a sign of his frustration with a front office that in six seasons has failed to give him the supporting cast capable of winning a championship remains to be seen.
LeBron James, 24, is a free agent after next season and while he’s never said he would leave Cleveland, he’s never said he wouldn’t. As such, this move – his every move, actually – will be analyzed as the psyche of a championship-starved city hangs in the balance.
James doesn’t need a bigger market to be a global icon (a now-doomed Nike puppet advertising campaign is proof of that). And he doesn’t seem to possess the personality that covets the bright lights of New York or L.A. (he still lives near Akron and mostly hangs out with high school buddies or his longtime girlfriend and two young children).
He may need to leave to win a championship, though.
“Going into the playoffs we were confident that we were going to be in the NBA Finals and we were confident that we were going to win it,” Williams said. “I can understand [James’] disappointment because I’m feeling the same disappointment.”
There’s little sense in criticizing James for not speaking with the media Saturday – it’s the only thing he didn’t do in this series. He averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists. He offered leadership and defense. He saved Game 2 with an all-timer of a buzzer-beater.
And it wasn’t even close to enough.
Cleveland players said James did speak to them briefly in the stunned locker room and, according to Daniel Gibson(notes), said “we just need to keep working.” It was clear to everyone, however, he was taking this defeat hard.
A 66-win regular season left the Cavs optimistic they had found the parts for a championship, but deep in the playoffs, where intensity is matched and matchups get intense, the limitations are clear.
The Cavs were swept in the 2007 Finals and now have failed to get out of the East the last two seasons.
In this game, from the time the Magic trotted out the booming voice of 7-year-old Gina Marie Incandela for the national anthem to a fourth quarter filled with chants of “MVP” and “Beat L.A.,” it wasn’t so much a contest as a 2½-hour pep rally for the Finals.
All of Cleveland’s recurring problems kept accruing. Howard had 40 points and 14 rebounds as he tore through the not-prime-time frontcourt of Anderson Varejao(notes) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes). Williams had 17 point, but showed in this series he isn’t ready to be this generation’s Scottie Pippen.
The entire bench combined for just 10 points and five rebounds. Other than James, the roster lacked the size and athletic ability to deal with perimeter threats Rashard Lewis(notes) and Rafer Alston(notes).
Cleveland had the best player in this series. Orlando had the next four.
“I think this team is right there,” Williams said. “We just have to do a little bit more.”
What they have to do is get a little bit more. Despite boasting one of the highest payrolls in the league and having a half-dozen years to put together the roster, the Cavs are still a player or two away. Where Ferry finds them is the question.
He has only the midlevel salary-cap exception to spend on free agents. The Cavs discussed acquiring Shaquille O’Neal(notes) at the trade deadline, but the Phoenix Suns balked at taking back Ben Wallace(notes). The Cavs have some pieces, but no margin for error on anything less than the perfect move.
It begins with the need for a big man because it’s not like the 23-year-old Howard is going anywhere. The Magic are no fluke, they’re more than capable of beating the Lakers.
“How many games could [Cleveland] win without LeBron James?” Jerry West asked rhetorically to Reuters. By way of comparison, when Michael Jordan skipped the 1993-94 season to play baseball, the remaining Chicago Bulls won 55. West likely doubts the non-LeBron Cavs would get to 40.
In the same interview, West declared James a superior player to Kobe Bryant(notes).
Yet it is Kobe’s team, rebuilt on the fly after a stretch of mediocrity from 2005-07 that will host Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday. The Lakers will meet the Magic, who have surrounded their young star, Howard, with the perfect complementary parts.
Meanwhile LeBron waits. He’s never publicly criticized a teammate, coach or front-office decision. And he didn’t Saturday.
Maybe Gloria James taught him that if you don’t have anything nice to say, then it’s best to say nothing at all. Just head for the bus, the booming beats of the headphones droning out the questions about the immediate past and the long-term future.
from yahoo sports
Lakers home for the Championship
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's going to be Orlando, not Boston, in the NBA finals. Even though the opponent is different, the Los Angeles Lakers are still consumed with redeeming themselves after last year's abject failure.
Their humiliating 131-92 dismissal by the Celtics in Game 6 last year still stings.
"We know what it feels like to lose and we just want to come out there and amend that," coach Phil Jackson said Sunday.
A year ago, Pau Gasol had never played in the NBA finals, so he was excited just to be there.
Not this time.
"The team right now is hungry and focused," he said. "This year we have a mission. It's like, 'OK, we're in the finals, now let's go to work.' It's a big difference."
Another difference is that the Lakers have home-court advantage this year. Games 1 and 2 are Thursday and next Sunday at Staples Center before the best-of-7 series moves to Orlando for up to three games.
"It's nice to have home-court advantage, but it's still not something to rely on in this kind of a series," Jackson said. "Orlando is one of the better road teams in the league the last two years."
No doubt Jackson will remind his team that both Houston and Denver won at Staples in the past two rounds, costing the Lakers home-court advantage.
"That's something you don't want to do in the finals with this kind of 2-3-2 setup," he said. "It's just about trying to get a leg up right off the bat so you have advantage."
After taking Saturday off, the Lakers reconvened Sunday for a video session. Except for Gasol and Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant and the other starters departed without speaking to the media.
Having played 13 games in 26 days to reach the finals, the Lakers are taking advantage of the six-day break before making one last push at a 16th NBA championship.
"We got really banged up in these last two series," Jackson said. "There are a number of guys that physically could use the days off."
They include Lamar Odom (sore back), Trevor Ariza (sore hip and groin) and Luke Walton (ankle).
"We've been in situations where we had days of rest and then we were a little sluggish at the beginning of a series," Gasol said. "Now there's no slacking, no slipping or nothing. We're ready to start and we're ready to play."
Bryant admitted during the Western Conference finals that he's not sleeping much. He's been sending text messages to Gasol in the wee hours and getting responses.
"We exchanged a couple of text messages making sure we're on the same page," Gasol said. "It just brings us together."
The Lakers' immediate problem is how to contain Dwight Howard. He averaged 21.5 points and 16 rebounds when the Magic swept them in two regular-season games.
"I don't think there have been many players like him because of his physical gifts and attributes," Gasol said. "You have to be really focused on him, don't let him get any deep catches and don't let him get going or confident."
Howard does most of the damage inside, while Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Mickael Pietrus and Rafer Alston are threats from 3-point range.
"It's to your advantage not to double against this team," Jackson said. "They're going to threaten you with that (outside shooting), but really it's their inside game that you have to be concerned about."
Gasol believes the Lakers own an advantage that Cleveland lacked in losing the Eastern Conference finals to the Magic.
"They didn't have that balance of an inside-outside game and we do have that and we will be a tougher matchup," he said. "Let's see if we give them more of an outside shot or we let Dwight go to work a little more and see what he can do. He's becoming a pretty good passer off the post and making smart decisions."
With Orlando's quartet throwing up 3-pointers from all corners of the court, Fisher figures rebounding could be a key difference in the finals.
"There's going to be a lot of long rebounds from the 3-point shots, so for perimeter players especially, we'll have to make sure we're getting in there and grabbing a few extra ones," he said.
by the associated press
Their humiliating 131-92 dismissal by the Celtics in Game 6 last year still stings.
"We know what it feels like to lose and we just want to come out there and amend that," coach Phil Jackson said Sunday.
A year ago, Pau Gasol had never played in the NBA finals, so he was excited just to be there.
Not this time.
"The team right now is hungry and focused," he said. "This year we have a mission. It's like, 'OK, we're in the finals, now let's go to work.' It's a big difference."
Another difference is that the Lakers have home-court advantage this year. Games 1 and 2 are Thursday and next Sunday at Staples Center before the best-of-7 series moves to Orlando for up to three games.
"It's nice to have home-court advantage, but it's still not something to rely on in this kind of a series," Jackson said. "Orlando is one of the better road teams in the league the last two years."
No doubt Jackson will remind his team that both Houston and Denver won at Staples in the past two rounds, costing the Lakers home-court advantage.
"That's something you don't want to do in the finals with this kind of 2-3-2 setup," he said. "It's just about trying to get a leg up right off the bat so you have advantage."
After taking Saturday off, the Lakers reconvened Sunday for a video session. Except for Gasol and Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant and the other starters departed without speaking to the media.
Having played 13 games in 26 days to reach the finals, the Lakers are taking advantage of the six-day break before making one last push at a 16th NBA championship.
"We got really banged up in these last two series," Jackson said. "There are a number of guys that physically could use the days off."
They include Lamar Odom (sore back), Trevor Ariza (sore hip and groin) and Luke Walton (ankle).
"We've been in situations where we had days of rest and then we were a little sluggish at the beginning of a series," Gasol said. "Now there's no slacking, no slipping or nothing. We're ready to start and we're ready to play."
Bryant admitted during the Western Conference finals that he's not sleeping much. He's been sending text messages to Gasol in the wee hours and getting responses.
"We exchanged a couple of text messages making sure we're on the same page," Gasol said. "It just brings us together."
The Lakers' immediate problem is how to contain Dwight Howard. He averaged 21.5 points and 16 rebounds when the Magic swept them in two regular-season games.
"I don't think there have been many players like him because of his physical gifts and attributes," Gasol said. "You have to be really focused on him, don't let him get any deep catches and don't let him get going or confident."
Howard does most of the damage inside, while Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Mickael Pietrus and Rafer Alston are threats from 3-point range.
"It's to your advantage not to double against this team," Jackson said. "They're going to threaten you with that (outside shooting), but really it's their inside game that you have to be concerned about."
Gasol believes the Lakers own an advantage that Cleveland lacked in losing the Eastern Conference finals to the Magic.
"They didn't have that balance of an inside-outside game and we do have that and we will be a tougher matchup," he said. "Let's see if we give them more of an outside shot or we let Dwight go to work a little more and see what he can do. He's becoming a pretty good passer off the post and making smart decisions."
With Orlando's quartet throwing up 3-pointers from all corners of the court, Fisher figures rebounding could be a key difference in the finals.
"There's going to be a lot of long rebounds from the 3-point shots, so for perimeter players especially, we'll have to make sure we're getting in there and grabbing a few extra ones," he said.
by the associated press
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Superman will face-off with Kobe Bryant
There will be no Kobe-LeBron showdown in the NBA finals — and that could make things tougher for the Lakers.
Instead, Los Angeles will face Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, who swept the Western Conference champions during the regular season.
The Lakers will try to prove that means nothing when the finals begin Thursday on their home floor against Orlando, which upset Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavaliers had the NBA's best record, but lost both meetings with the Lakers. Had Cleveland made the finals, it would have set up a highly anticipated duel between Bryant and James, the last two NBA MVPs.
The Magic ruined that script, just as they wrecked Boston's hopes of a repeat by ousting the defending champions in the second round. Now they look to deny Phil Jackson his 10th coaching title, which would move him past Red Auerbach for most all-time.
Orlando finished off Cleveland 103-90 on Saturday behind 40 points from Howard and is in the finals for only the second time. The Magic can become the first first-time champion since another Florida team, the Miami Heat, won the 2006 title.
The Lakers clinched their 30th finals appearance, most in NBA history, by beating the Denver Nuggets 119-92 on Friday to win that series in six games. They remained stuck on 15 championships, second behind Boston, when the Celtics beat them last year in six games.
Los Angeles is in much better shape this year. Center Andrew Bynum is healthy after missing the 2008 postseason with a knee injury, and Trevor Ariza — a former Magic player — has become a key starter after missing most of last year's playoffs with a foot injury.
It didn't matter who the Lakers had against the Magic this season. Orlando won 106-103 at home in December despite 41 points from Bryant, then pulled out a 109-103 victory in Los Angeles about a month later behind 25 points and 20 rebounds from Howard.
Still, Jackson said he didn't care which team the Lakers faced.
"The only thing that makes a difference is if it's Orlando, we make one road trip in this setup," Jackson said after Friday's victory.
The Magic made 12 3-pointers in each game, a weapon they relied heavily on in their elimination of the Cavaliers. Los Angeles should be better equipped to deal with the matchup problems that Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu created against Cleveland by inserting Lamar Odom, who had strong performances in the final two games of the West finals after struggling through most of the series.
Looming over the series is the large shadow of Shaquille O'Neal, who led both teams to the finals. He took Orlando there in 1995, then left for Los Angeles the following year and the Magic struggled for years after.
He teamed with Bryant to lead the Lakers to three straight titles from 2000-02, but the Lakers haven't won another since they traded him in the summer of 2004.
Game 2 will also be at Staples Center before the series shifts to Central Florida for Games 3 and 4, and if necessary, Game 5.
by the associated press
Instead, Los Angeles will face Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, who swept the Western Conference champions during the regular season.
The Lakers will try to prove that means nothing when the finals begin Thursday on their home floor against Orlando, which upset Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavaliers had the NBA's best record, but lost both meetings with the Lakers. Had Cleveland made the finals, it would have set up a highly anticipated duel between Bryant and James, the last two NBA MVPs.
The Magic ruined that script, just as they wrecked Boston's hopes of a repeat by ousting the defending champions in the second round. Now they look to deny Phil Jackson his 10th coaching title, which would move him past Red Auerbach for most all-time.
Orlando finished off Cleveland 103-90 on Saturday behind 40 points from Howard and is in the finals for only the second time. The Magic can become the first first-time champion since another Florida team, the Miami Heat, won the 2006 title.
The Lakers clinched their 30th finals appearance, most in NBA history, by beating the Denver Nuggets 119-92 on Friday to win that series in six games. They remained stuck on 15 championships, second behind Boston, when the Celtics beat them last year in six games.
Los Angeles is in much better shape this year. Center Andrew Bynum is healthy after missing the 2008 postseason with a knee injury, and Trevor Ariza — a former Magic player — has become a key starter after missing most of last year's playoffs with a foot injury.
It didn't matter who the Lakers had against the Magic this season. Orlando won 106-103 at home in December despite 41 points from Bryant, then pulled out a 109-103 victory in Los Angeles about a month later behind 25 points and 20 rebounds from Howard.
Still, Jackson said he didn't care which team the Lakers faced.
"The only thing that makes a difference is if it's Orlando, we make one road trip in this setup," Jackson said after Friday's victory.
The Magic made 12 3-pointers in each game, a weapon they relied heavily on in their elimination of the Cavaliers. Los Angeles should be better equipped to deal with the matchup problems that Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu created against Cleveland by inserting Lamar Odom, who had strong performances in the final two games of the West finals after struggling through most of the series.
Looming over the series is the large shadow of Shaquille O'Neal, who led both teams to the finals. He took Orlando there in 1995, then left for Los Angeles the following year and the Magic struggled for years after.
He teamed with Bryant to lead the Lakers to three straight titles from 2000-02, but the Lakers haven't won another since they traded him in the summer of 2004.
Game 2 will also be at Staples Center before the series shifts to Central Florida for Games 3 and 4, and if necessary, Game 5.
by the associated press
Friday, May 29, 2009
Lakers going to The NBA Championship 2009
DENVER — This was no conspiracy.
The referees, the NBA and the networks didn't have a thing to do with knocking the Denver Nuggets out of the playoffs Friday night and setting up at least one half of the Kobe-LeBron dream matchup in the final.
Los Angeles beat the Nuggets and the Nuggets beat themselves in Game 6. The refs called a grand total of 22 fouls against the Nuggets in their 119-92 loss - and seven of those came in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand.
This one was simply a matter of one potentially great team finally hitting its stride against a good one that ran out of gas, patience and poise.
On offence, the Nuggets were never the aggressors in the decisive loss, rarely taking the ball to the hoop to create contact and get free throws. Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups - the heart of this team - were off target (a combined 8 for 24), Nene was invisible (eight points despite only four fouls) and the Birdman, Chris Andersen, never took off (two points, one rebound).
The Lakers, meanwhile, shot 57 per cent, led by Kobe Bryant's 12-for-20, 35-point, 10-assist night.
They get lots of credit for that, though Denver's inability to get in anyone's face on the perimeter or put a body on anyone inside made things way too easy on a team that doesn't need any help.
Even the Denver fans who had been booing everything in purple or a referee's shade of grey turned on their own team when Luke Walton spotted up for a wide-open 20-footer late in the third quarter that made it 75-59.
Before the game, Nuggets coach George Karl said all the talk about the officiating had obscured what was a pretty good series - at least until the finale.
"In a lot of ways, we've helped them put their pieces back together and they've helped us grow up faster," Karl said.
The Nuggets still have some growing to do.
The Lakers need to piece together a game plan for either the Orlando Magic - or LeBron (and the Cleveland Cavaliers).
The enticement of a Kobe-LeBron final has shaped so much of the debate about the officiating in this series, during which the losing coach has complained after Games 3, 4 and 5 but only Phil Jackson's protests were enough to draw a fine after Denver evened the series at 2.
The Nuggets felt they got an unfair whistle in their loss in Game 5 and wondered if the $50,000 in fines was enough to buy the officiating advantage.
Had Denver been able to guard Bryant, account for the suddenly resurgent Lamar Odom (20 points), neutralize Pau Gasol (20 points, 12 rebounds) or make a shot when it counted (41 per cent over the first three quarters), maybe that debate could have been continued to Sunday.
Instead, the Nuggets have to look back at squandered opportunities, not so much in Game 6 but earlier in the series.
Denver might have been the better team throughout Games 1, 2, 3 and 4 but couldn't make a key inbounds pass at the ends of Games 1 and 3, which ended up costing them in a pair of close losses.
The Nuggets also fell apart at the end of Game 5, getting outscored by 16 over the final 16 minutes, and all the old slams, the pre-Chauncey slams, on this team - lose their cool too easily, rush too many shots, don't commit on defence - came flooding back.
By the end of Game 6, calling the Nuggets unprepared for the big time only felt like piling on. They were losing by 27, fans were filing out of the Pepsi Center - a good season, maybe the best in franchise history, was coming to a sad end.
Meanwhile, the Lakers and Kobe move on.
And if there's a conspiracy in the NBA, it will have to play out in Orlando or Cleveland.
by The Canadian Press
The referees, the NBA and the networks didn't have a thing to do with knocking the Denver Nuggets out of the playoffs Friday night and setting up at least one half of the Kobe-LeBron dream matchup in the final.
Los Angeles beat the Nuggets and the Nuggets beat themselves in Game 6. The refs called a grand total of 22 fouls against the Nuggets in their 119-92 loss - and seven of those came in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand.
This one was simply a matter of one potentially great team finally hitting its stride against a good one that ran out of gas, patience and poise.
On offence, the Nuggets were never the aggressors in the decisive loss, rarely taking the ball to the hoop to create contact and get free throws. Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups - the heart of this team - were off target (a combined 8 for 24), Nene was invisible (eight points despite only four fouls) and the Birdman, Chris Andersen, never took off (two points, one rebound).
The Lakers, meanwhile, shot 57 per cent, led by Kobe Bryant's 12-for-20, 35-point, 10-assist night.
They get lots of credit for that, though Denver's inability to get in anyone's face on the perimeter or put a body on anyone inside made things way too easy on a team that doesn't need any help.
Even the Denver fans who had been booing everything in purple or a referee's shade of grey turned on their own team when Luke Walton spotted up for a wide-open 20-footer late in the third quarter that made it 75-59.
Before the game, Nuggets coach George Karl said all the talk about the officiating had obscured what was a pretty good series - at least until the finale.
"In a lot of ways, we've helped them put their pieces back together and they've helped us grow up faster," Karl said.
The Nuggets still have some growing to do.
The Lakers need to piece together a game plan for either the Orlando Magic - or LeBron (and the Cleveland Cavaliers).
The enticement of a Kobe-LeBron final has shaped so much of the debate about the officiating in this series, during which the losing coach has complained after Games 3, 4 and 5 but only Phil Jackson's protests were enough to draw a fine after Denver evened the series at 2.
The Nuggets felt they got an unfair whistle in their loss in Game 5 and wondered if the $50,000 in fines was enough to buy the officiating advantage.
Had Denver been able to guard Bryant, account for the suddenly resurgent Lamar Odom (20 points), neutralize Pau Gasol (20 points, 12 rebounds) or make a shot when it counted (41 per cent over the first three quarters), maybe that debate could have been continued to Sunday.
Instead, the Nuggets have to look back at squandered opportunities, not so much in Game 6 but earlier in the series.
Denver might have been the better team throughout Games 1, 2, 3 and 4 but couldn't make a key inbounds pass at the ends of Games 1 and 3, which ended up costing them in a pair of close losses.
The Nuggets also fell apart at the end of Game 5, getting outscored by 16 over the final 16 minutes, and all the old slams, the pre-Chauncey slams, on this team - lose their cool too easily, rush too many shots, don't commit on defence - came flooding back.
By the end of Game 6, calling the Nuggets unprepared for the big time only felt like piling on. They were losing by 27, fans were filing out of the Pepsi Center - a good season, maybe the best in franchise history, was coming to a sad end.
Meanwhile, the Lakers and Kobe move on.
And if there's a conspiracy in the NBA, it will have to play out in Orlando or Cleveland.
by The Canadian Press
Thursday, May 28, 2009
James drops 37 Cavs 112-102 over Magic
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James made a new guarantee: Game 6. With Cleveland's wondrous season on the line, James had 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, and Mo Williams, who boldly predicted his team would come back and win this tight-as-can-be series, added 24 points in the Cavaliers' 112-102 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 on Thursday night.
It's back to Florida for Game 6 on Saturday night at amped-up Amway Arena.
You expected anything else?
"I mean this was a big game for us," James said. "You never want to disappoint the home crowd by not coming out and play as hard as you can. It was win or go home."
The Magic overcame a 22-point deficit but missed their first opportunity to close out the Cavaliers, who are trying to become just the ninth team since 1947 to rally and win a series after being down 3-1. Orlando will have two more tries to reach the NBA finals for the first time since 1995.
For Cleveland, a city banking on James to deliver a championship after a 45-year drought, the MVP was again in a league of his own.
James scored 21 points in the second half — 17 in the fourth quarter — and had a hand in 29 of Cleveland's 34 points in the final 12 minutes.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 29 for Orlando, and Dwight Howard had 24 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 2:22 remaining when he was called for his sixth personal foul while trying to stop James on a drive.
Not even Superman was denying James.
And this time, Williams, his trusty sidekick all season, showed up to help him, as did Zydrunas Ilgauskas (16 points), Delonte West (13) and reserve Daniel Gibson (11), who made two huge 3-pointers in the fourth.
"We'll be back here for Game 7," Gibson told the crowd afterward.
The Magic have twice ended series on the road this postseason, winning a Game 6 in Philadelphia and a Game 7 in Boston to make the conference finals. For a while it looked like Orlando might do it again, taking a 79-78 lead into the fourth quarter.
James, though, had other plans.
He picked up his first assist of the period on 3-pointer by Williams and his second on a 3 by Gibson. Cleveland then turned to its superstar every time down on offense, spreading the floor and forcing the Magic to defend him. If he wasn't backing down the lane, he was getting to the line or setting his teammates up from the perimeter.
He also had four rebounds and four assists in the final quarter.
by the associated press
It's back to Florida for Game 6 on Saturday night at amped-up Amway Arena.
You expected anything else?
"I mean this was a big game for us," James said. "You never want to disappoint the home crowd by not coming out and play as hard as you can. It was win or go home."
The Magic overcame a 22-point deficit but missed their first opportunity to close out the Cavaliers, who are trying to become just the ninth team since 1947 to rally and win a series after being down 3-1. Orlando will have two more tries to reach the NBA finals for the first time since 1995.
For Cleveland, a city banking on James to deliver a championship after a 45-year drought, the MVP was again in a league of his own.
James scored 21 points in the second half — 17 in the fourth quarter — and had a hand in 29 of Cleveland's 34 points in the final 12 minutes.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 29 for Orlando, and Dwight Howard had 24 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 2:22 remaining when he was called for his sixth personal foul while trying to stop James on a drive.
Not even Superman was denying James.
And this time, Williams, his trusty sidekick all season, showed up to help him, as did Zydrunas Ilgauskas (16 points), Delonte West (13) and reserve Daniel Gibson (11), who made two huge 3-pointers in the fourth.
"We'll be back here for Game 7," Gibson told the crowd afterward.
The Magic have twice ended series on the road this postseason, winning a Game 6 in Philadelphia and a Game 7 in Boston to make the conference finals. For a while it looked like Orlando might do it again, taking a 79-78 lead into the fourth quarter.
James, though, had other plans.
He picked up his first assist of the period on 3-pointer by Williams and his second on a 3 by Gibson. Cleveland then turned to its superstar every time down on offense, spreading the floor and forcing the Magic to defend him. If he wasn't backing down the lane, he was getting to the line or setting his teammates up from the perimeter.
He also had four rebounds and four assists in the final quarter.
by the associated press
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Lakers take game 5 from Nuggets
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Lakers owned the fourth quarter against Denver. Now they have a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Lamar Odom had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Pau Gasol added 14 points and 10 rebounds in Los Angeles' 103-94 victory Wednesday night.
Game 6 is Friday in Denver, where the Lakers lost Game 4 by 19 points.
"Got to come ready to play," Bryant said. "We made a lot of mistakes the last time, the mistakes that took place were execution, and we didn't do things at the defensive end.
"We'll come ready to play."
Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points, hitting 12 of 13 free throws, and Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups added 12 points each for the Nuggets.
The teams were tied after the first, second and third quarters for just the fourth time in NBA playoff history.
So it all came down to the final 12 minutes.
Bryant, Odom and Gasol teamed for all but seven of the Lakers' points in the fourth. They opened on an 11-0 run for their first lead of the second half and it was capped by Shannon Brown's jumper that beat the shot clock.
The Nuggets used a 13-6 run to close to 93-89. Linas Kleiza scored seven straight and Anthony had six in the spurt.
But then the Lakers regained control and finished off the victory. They improved to 20-0 in Game 5s at home when a series is tied 2-2.
Bryant said he changed his role from the what it had been in the series.
"It was a big gamble for me coming in, but I wanted to change my approach this game and be more of a decoy," he said after adding eight assists, several out of double-teams in the fourth quarter. "The past couple games they really were loading to my side and I figured I could be a decoy and try to give chances to my teammates."
Anthony hit a jumper to get Denver to 96-91 with 1:24 remaining. But the Nuggets went cold from the field over the final 3:38, while the Lakers capitalized at the line. Los Angeles outscored Denver 10-5 in that span, including going 6 of 8 from the line.
Denver returns home needing a victory to send the series back to Los Angeles for a Game 7 on Sunday. The Nuggets have never won a best-of-7 series after losing Game 1.
The good kind of history is seemingly on the Lakers' side. They haven't lost a best-of-7 series that was tied 2-2 after winning Game 5 since the 1969 NBA finals against Boston.
Denver twice led by seven points in the third quarter only to see the Lakers tie it at 76 on a 3-pointer by Bryant to end the period. Los Angeles never led, but managed the two ties.
In a first half featuring 13 ties, the teams ended up even after both the first and second quarters. On the Lakers' final play, Bryant held the ball at midcourt as the clock ticked down before driving and kicking to Sasha Vujacic, who hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 56-all going into halftime. The Lakers were 0 for 7 from long range until then.
Notes:@ The Lakers were involved the other three playoff games were tied through the first three quarters, the last was in 1964 against St. Louis. ... Denver's Nene fouled out with 4:02 remaining, with four points and eight rebounds. He has fouled out of three game, ... Famous faces in the crowd: Hugh Hefner and his three girlfriends, Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington, Ron Artest of the Houston Rockets, Zac Efron and NBA centers past and present Bill Russell and Kevin Love.
by the associated press
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Lamar Odom had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Pau Gasol added 14 points and 10 rebounds in Los Angeles' 103-94 victory Wednesday night.
Game 6 is Friday in Denver, where the Lakers lost Game 4 by 19 points.
"Got to come ready to play," Bryant said. "We made a lot of mistakes the last time, the mistakes that took place were execution, and we didn't do things at the defensive end.
"We'll come ready to play."
Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points, hitting 12 of 13 free throws, and Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups added 12 points each for the Nuggets.
The teams were tied after the first, second and third quarters for just the fourth time in NBA playoff history.
So it all came down to the final 12 minutes.
Bryant, Odom and Gasol teamed for all but seven of the Lakers' points in the fourth. They opened on an 11-0 run for their first lead of the second half and it was capped by Shannon Brown's jumper that beat the shot clock.
The Nuggets used a 13-6 run to close to 93-89. Linas Kleiza scored seven straight and Anthony had six in the spurt.
But then the Lakers regained control and finished off the victory. They improved to 20-0 in Game 5s at home when a series is tied 2-2.
Bryant said he changed his role from the what it had been in the series.
"It was a big gamble for me coming in, but I wanted to change my approach this game and be more of a decoy," he said after adding eight assists, several out of double-teams in the fourth quarter. "The past couple games they really were loading to my side and I figured I could be a decoy and try to give chances to my teammates."
Anthony hit a jumper to get Denver to 96-91 with 1:24 remaining. But the Nuggets went cold from the field over the final 3:38, while the Lakers capitalized at the line. Los Angeles outscored Denver 10-5 in that span, including going 6 of 8 from the line.
Denver returns home needing a victory to send the series back to Los Angeles for a Game 7 on Sunday. The Nuggets have never won a best-of-7 series after losing Game 1.
The good kind of history is seemingly on the Lakers' side. They haven't lost a best-of-7 series that was tied 2-2 after winning Game 5 since the 1969 NBA finals against Boston.
Denver twice led by seven points in the third quarter only to see the Lakers tie it at 76 on a 3-pointer by Bryant to end the period. Los Angeles never led, but managed the two ties.
In a first half featuring 13 ties, the teams ended up even after both the first and second quarters. On the Lakers' final play, Bryant held the ball at midcourt as the clock ticked down before driving and kicking to Sasha Vujacic, who hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 56-all going into halftime. The Lakers were 0 for 7 from long range until then.
Notes:@ The Lakers were involved the other three playoff games were tied through the first three quarters, the last was in 1964 against St. Louis. ... Denver's Nene fouled out with 4:02 remaining, with four points and eight rebounds. He has fouled out of three game, ... Famous faces in the crowd: Hugh Hefner and his three girlfriends, Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington, Ron Artest of the Houston Rockets, Zac Efron and NBA centers past and present Bill Russell and Kevin Love.
by the associated press
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
LeBron James might not see his Dream , come true this season
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Mo Williams' Game 4 guarantee blew up like his swollen left eye.
Starting fast and fading late, Williams had 18 points but went scoreless in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Cleveland Cavaliers lost 116-114 Tuesday night to the Orlando Magic to go down 3-1 in the Eastern Conference finals.
"I'm a leader on this team. Whatever I can do to spark this team and give us confidence, I'll do," Williams said. "If I have to take the heat, so be it."
Cleveland's only other All-Star provided little help to LeBron James when it counted most. He deferred to the league MVP and clanked the few jumpers he took. Williams finished with five rebounds, two assists and one false proclamation.
"Guarantee we're going to win the series? Yeah, yeah," Williams said Monday.
Whoops.
His eye still swollen and stitches concealing the wound from the elbow he took in Game 3 from Orlando's Anthony Johnson, Williams had 12 points in the first half and then pretty much disappeared.
He finished 5 for 15 from the field, with eight of his points coming on free throws. Williams attempted only two shots after the third period, and like most of the Cavs, he leaned heavily on James.
"I put the ball in LeBron's hands," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "So he didn't defer. I went small. That's why he didn't get a ton of touches."
Magic point guard Rafer Alston said Williams' prediction was their biggest motivation.
"I had it in the back of my mind. I wanted to take it to him, and he wasn't even guarding me. LeBron was," Alston said.
It has been a rough series for Williams.
In the second quarter of Game 3, Johnson drove the lane and extended his elbow, knocking Williams to the floor bleeding. Williams was called for a blocking foul, and Johnson was whistled for a flagrant one foul after officials huddled. The flagrant, which Williams said was "most definitely" a cheap shot, was rescinded earlier Tuesday by the league.
His statistics are almost as painful.
Williams is 23 for 71 in the series and has been hardly as efficient as he was in the regular season, when he averaged a career-high 17.8 points. Game 5 is Thursday night in Cleveland, and now the Cavs must do what only eight teams in NBA history ever have: come back from a 3-1 hole.
The time for guarantees is almost up.
"Nobody would be asking about it, they'd be talking good about it, we would be 2-2 right now if we won," Williams said. "Our coach would look real good."
by the associated press
Starting fast and fading late, Williams had 18 points but went scoreless in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Cleveland Cavaliers lost 116-114 Tuesday night to the Orlando Magic to go down 3-1 in the Eastern Conference finals.
"I'm a leader on this team. Whatever I can do to spark this team and give us confidence, I'll do," Williams said. "If I have to take the heat, so be it."
Cleveland's only other All-Star provided little help to LeBron James when it counted most. He deferred to the league MVP and clanked the few jumpers he took. Williams finished with five rebounds, two assists and one false proclamation.
"Guarantee we're going to win the series? Yeah, yeah," Williams said Monday.
Whoops.
His eye still swollen and stitches concealing the wound from the elbow he took in Game 3 from Orlando's Anthony Johnson, Williams had 12 points in the first half and then pretty much disappeared.
He finished 5 for 15 from the field, with eight of his points coming on free throws. Williams attempted only two shots after the third period, and like most of the Cavs, he leaned heavily on James.
"I put the ball in LeBron's hands," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "So he didn't defer. I went small. That's why he didn't get a ton of touches."
Magic point guard Rafer Alston said Williams' prediction was their biggest motivation.
"I had it in the back of my mind. I wanted to take it to him, and he wasn't even guarding me. LeBron was," Alston said.
It has been a rough series for Williams.
In the second quarter of Game 3, Johnson drove the lane and extended his elbow, knocking Williams to the floor bleeding. Williams was called for a blocking foul, and Johnson was whistled for a flagrant one foul after officials huddled. The flagrant, which Williams said was "most definitely" a cheap shot, was rescinded earlier Tuesday by the league.
His statistics are almost as painful.
Williams is 23 for 71 in the series and has been hardly as efficient as he was in the regular season, when he averaged a career-high 17.8 points. Game 5 is Thursday night in Cleveland, and now the Cavs must do what only eight teams in NBA history ever have: come back from a 3-1 hole.
The time for guarantees is almost up.
"Nobody would be asking about it, they'd be talking good about it, we would be 2-2 right now if we won," Williams said. "Our coach would look real good."
by the associated press
Monday, May 25, 2009
Nugget's take game 4 from the Lakers
DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets evened the Western Conference finals Monday night, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 120-101 in Game 4 despite a hobbled Carmelo Anthony.
Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith scored 24 points and Kenyon Martin had a double-double as the Nuggets posted their eighth blowout of the postseason but first against Los Angeles following three games that came down to the final seconds.
The Nuggets didn't need to worry about a botched inbounds pass in the closing seconds like the ones that cost them wins in Games 1 and 3, although Kobe Bryant had another monster fourth quarter in an attempt to put a stranglehold on the series that shifts to Los Angeles for Game 5 Wednesday night.
Bryant, who is averaging 37 points in the series, scored 34.
by the associated press
Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith scored 24 points and Kenyon Martin had a double-double as the Nuggets posted their eighth blowout of the postseason but first against Los Angeles following three games that came down to the final seconds.
The Nuggets didn't need to worry about a botched inbounds pass in the closing seconds like the ones that cost them wins in Games 1 and 3, although Kobe Bryant had another monster fourth quarter in an attempt to put a stranglehold on the series that shifts to Los Angeles for Game 5 Wednesday night.
Bryant, who is averaging 37 points in the series, scored 34.
by the associated press
Saturday, May 23, 2009
No. 23 reigns in Cleveland
CLEVELAND – It was happening again. God, it was happening again here. Another championship season had come crashing down on Cleveland, cruel and criminal. The Cavaliers had unraveled and now there were some fans – speechless and ashen – marching up the stairs and disappearing to the exits. They weren’t thinking about the possibility of LeBron James(notes) getting one final shot for redemption, but Michael Jordan and John Elway and every damn dagger ever delivered to this city’s swollen sporting heart.
One second left, and a Cleveland sports season had come to die in Quicken Loans Arena. Shakespeare should’ve been a columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. No city does sports tragedy like this one.
Yes, somehow it was happening again to Cleveland.
“A second,” LeBron James countered, “is a long time for me.”
The Cavaliers’ Mo Williams(notes) had the job of passing the ball inbounds with the Magic still bursting over a 23-point comeback on Friday night, over a tough, twisting Hedo Turkoglu(notes) basket with one second left in Game 2. The loudest arena in the league had lost its voice, its breath, its bearings. It felt like it had lost this season. The Cleveland fan has been conditioned to believe something precious is destined to perish.
Yes, it was happening again, and suddenly the ball reached the hands of LeBron James and the course of NBA playoff history was transformed. He turned, shot over Turkoglu and a rapidly closing Rashard Lewis(notes). The shot lofted long and high and true across 24 feet, across the years of Cavs angst and anguish
When everyone expected the sky to fall in Cleveland, something else dropped down: Sweet salvation.
“It was like watching a movie,” Orlando’s Dwight Howard(notes) said. “The ball was just spinning. … It was like watching a real movie. … ”
“He hit the shot.”
He hit the shot?
LeBron James hit the shot.
Cleveland beat the Orlando Magic, 96-95, on James’ 3-pointer at the buzzer, and salvaged itself a 1-1 series tie in the Eastern Conference finals. Truth be told, they salvaged the season, too. The Cavs should’ve lost on Friday night, and they know it. They’re struggling with everything about these Magic, and LeBron will have to do more and more to keep the Cavs alive with the mismatches destroying them everywhere on the floor. They should’ve been on the way to Orlando with the once-unthinkable possibility of a Magic sweep looming like an anvil over this series.
So, yes, they stormed the court and tackled James, and you’ve never, ever heard such a spontaneous, primal scream of 20,000 people in an arena. Never, ever seen such a reaction, such joy and relief and sheer ecstacy. The arena shook, strangers hugged strangers, and yes, the Cavaliers rushed James like high school kids who won a sectional title.
Williams, the passer, collapsed to his knees and pounded the floor over and over and over. He hit it 10 times, maybe 11. He looked like he wanted to cry.
This was one of the greatest shots in NBA history, because of the circumstances and stakes and degree of difficulty. Twenty years ago, it was Jordan over Craig Ehlo to beat the Cavs in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
This time, it was James over Turkoglu. This time, it was James over long odds and the longer reach of NBA history.
“He was born to do that,” Cleveland’s Sasha Pavlovic(notes) marveled.
He was born to do that here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Across the fourth quarter, on the way to his 35 points, James had deferred to his teammates to take important shots. No more now. As the Cavs went into the timeout after Turkoglu’s shot, James made it clear: This was his shot, his story to finish. No decoys. This wasn’t time to be Magic, but Michael. Witness this
“Whatever happens,” James yelled to Williams in the huddle, “I’m going to come get the ball.” Whatever options fall apart, James insisted to his point guard that he would find a way to get open and promised him, “I’m going to knock down the shot.”
Turkoglu had made an immense shot over Pavlovic to take a 95-93 lead, but he made one grave mistake:
He left a second on the clock.
He left LeBron life.
Lewis, 6-foot-10, covered Williams on the inbounds pass. He’s long and angular and able to make it difficult for the Cavaliers point guard to get a clear-sighted passing lane. As Williams walked past midcourt, where an official waited to hand him the ball, he kept saying to himself, “Please God … please God … something … something.”
After that, Williams told the official: Please give me the five-second count out loud. Cleveland was out of timeouts. Williams had one chance to get the ball to James, where he could catch, turn and shoot. One second, one chance.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown had diagrammed a lob pass for James. He would fake back to the ball and turn hard toward the rim. “When I went to go for the lob, Hedo didn’t bite on it,” James said.
The ref’s count was climbing, “Two … Three … ”
Lewis had his back to the floor, his eyes burned into those of Williams. Everything told him the Magic had this inbounds play defended perfectly, that they had James bottled in the cluster of bodies behind him. “I could see [Williams] face scrunching up,” Lewis said. “He didn’t know who to throw the ball to. He double-pumped two, three times … ”
Finally, James stayed true to his word. He sprinted back beyond the 3-point line, and the referee’s count had reached four – one more second, and it would’ve been a violation – and Williams fired a perfect pass some 15 feet to James.
“Rashard played it perfect,” James said. “He stood tall and got in Mo’s way.”
Lewis turned over his shoulder, saw James catching the ball 25 feet out and used those long, loping strides to make a final, desperate run to contest the shot. Turkoglu was there, rising with LeBron.
“LeBron just jumps so high on his shot, you can’t get to the ball,” Lewis said. “The ball felt like it took forever to come down.”
Once Mo Williams let go of the pass, once he watched James catch and shoot, all he could think was: When will that ball ever come down? Once it dropped through the net, and a blurring, bum rush of Cavs toppled James, Williams’ knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor.
“I was punch drunk,” he said. “I just fell down. I just … fell … down.”
It was a shot, James says, he had made thousands and thousands of times 30 miles down the road in Akron. He was always Jordan, always No. 23. “That’s a shot that you will see for a long time,” James said. “You watch classic games and you see Jordan hit game-winners, and you go back and see Jerry West hitting game-winners and Magic Johnson going across the lane and hitting the hook against Boston.”
Mostly, LeBron James was thinking about Michael Jordan on Friday night. He’s the ghost who always haunted these Cavs, and the inspiration that drove James to basketball genius. He isn’t chasing Kobe Bryant(notes) as much as he’s chasing Michael. What Elway always did to the Browns, Jordan always did to the Cavs.
Past midnight, past one of the great finishes in NBA history, James told everyone: “That guy is not in the league anymore. The other ‘23’ is gone, so we don’t have to worry about that no more.”
“ … Twenty-three is on the good side now.”
James hadn’t had one of these shots in the playoffs, and he understood that history demands you deliver these bigger-than-life moments. Yes, he made this shot thousands of times growing up in Akron, in the shadow of a city going on 45 years without a professional championship. “The Shot” still belongs to No. 23 in Cleveland – just no longer Michael Jordan.
Yes, it was happening again here. But as it turned out, this wasn’t one more Cleveland sporting collapse. Twenty years later, it was “The Shot” reborn on the Cavs’ side, on Jordan’s anniversary.
“We are playing with history in the making,” Wally Szczerbiak(notes) said. “He’s going to be the best basketball player to ever touch a ball.”
Nearby, Mo Williams still wore his uniform, still a face flushed in delirium.
“What just happened out there?” he asked.
Outside his locker, his knees on ice, LeBron James looked up and offered a knowing nod and smile.
“Just say thank you to the basketball gods,” he said.
The basketball god, LeBron James means.
Once more, he wears No. 23.
from yahoo sports
One second left, and a Cleveland sports season had come to die in Quicken Loans Arena. Shakespeare should’ve been a columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. No city does sports tragedy like this one.
Yes, somehow it was happening again to Cleveland.
“A second,” LeBron James countered, “is a long time for me.”
The Cavaliers’ Mo Williams(notes) had the job of passing the ball inbounds with the Magic still bursting over a 23-point comeback on Friday night, over a tough, twisting Hedo Turkoglu(notes) basket with one second left in Game 2. The loudest arena in the league had lost its voice, its breath, its bearings. It felt like it had lost this season. The Cleveland fan has been conditioned to believe something precious is destined to perish.
Yes, it was happening again, and suddenly the ball reached the hands of LeBron James and the course of NBA playoff history was transformed. He turned, shot over Turkoglu and a rapidly closing Rashard Lewis(notes). The shot lofted long and high and true across 24 feet, across the years of Cavs angst and anguish
When everyone expected the sky to fall in Cleveland, something else dropped down: Sweet salvation.
“It was like watching a movie,” Orlando’s Dwight Howard(notes) said. “The ball was just spinning. … It was like watching a real movie. … ”
“He hit the shot.”
He hit the shot?
LeBron James hit the shot.
Cleveland beat the Orlando Magic, 96-95, on James’ 3-pointer at the buzzer, and salvaged itself a 1-1 series tie in the Eastern Conference finals. Truth be told, they salvaged the season, too. The Cavs should’ve lost on Friday night, and they know it. They’re struggling with everything about these Magic, and LeBron will have to do more and more to keep the Cavs alive with the mismatches destroying them everywhere on the floor. They should’ve been on the way to Orlando with the once-unthinkable possibility of a Magic sweep looming like an anvil over this series.
So, yes, they stormed the court and tackled James, and you’ve never, ever heard such a spontaneous, primal scream of 20,000 people in an arena. Never, ever seen such a reaction, such joy and relief and sheer ecstacy. The arena shook, strangers hugged strangers, and yes, the Cavaliers rushed James like high school kids who won a sectional title.
Williams, the passer, collapsed to his knees and pounded the floor over and over and over. He hit it 10 times, maybe 11. He looked like he wanted to cry.
This was one of the greatest shots in NBA history, because of the circumstances and stakes and degree of difficulty. Twenty years ago, it was Jordan over Craig Ehlo to beat the Cavs in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
This time, it was James over Turkoglu. This time, it was James over long odds and the longer reach of NBA history.
“He was born to do that,” Cleveland’s Sasha Pavlovic(notes) marveled.
He was born to do that here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Across the fourth quarter, on the way to his 35 points, James had deferred to his teammates to take important shots. No more now. As the Cavs went into the timeout after Turkoglu’s shot, James made it clear: This was his shot, his story to finish. No decoys. This wasn’t time to be Magic, but Michael. Witness this
“Whatever happens,” James yelled to Williams in the huddle, “I’m going to come get the ball.” Whatever options fall apart, James insisted to his point guard that he would find a way to get open and promised him, “I’m going to knock down the shot.”
Turkoglu had made an immense shot over Pavlovic to take a 95-93 lead, but he made one grave mistake:
He left a second on the clock.
He left LeBron life.
Lewis, 6-foot-10, covered Williams on the inbounds pass. He’s long and angular and able to make it difficult for the Cavaliers point guard to get a clear-sighted passing lane. As Williams walked past midcourt, where an official waited to hand him the ball, he kept saying to himself, “Please God … please God … something … something.”
After that, Williams told the official: Please give me the five-second count out loud. Cleveland was out of timeouts. Williams had one chance to get the ball to James, where he could catch, turn and shoot. One second, one chance.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown had diagrammed a lob pass for James. He would fake back to the ball and turn hard toward the rim. “When I went to go for the lob, Hedo didn’t bite on it,” James said.
The ref’s count was climbing, “Two … Three … ”
Lewis had his back to the floor, his eyes burned into those of Williams. Everything told him the Magic had this inbounds play defended perfectly, that they had James bottled in the cluster of bodies behind him. “I could see [Williams] face scrunching up,” Lewis said. “He didn’t know who to throw the ball to. He double-pumped two, three times … ”
Finally, James stayed true to his word. He sprinted back beyond the 3-point line, and the referee’s count had reached four – one more second, and it would’ve been a violation – and Williams fired a perfect pass some 15 feet to James.
“Rashard played it perfect,” James said. “He stood tall and got in Mo’s way.”
Lewis turned over his shoulder, saw James catching the ball 25 feet out and used those long, loping strides to make a final, desperate run to contest the shot. Turkoglu was there, rising with LeBron.
“LeBron just jumps so high on his shot, you can’t get to the ball,” Lewis said. “The ball felt like it took forever to come down.”
Once Mo Williams let go of the pass, once he watched James catch and shoot, all he could think was: When will that ball ever come down? Once it dropped through the net, and a blurring, bum rush of Cavs toppled James, Williams’ knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor.
“I was punch drunk,” he said. “I just fell down. I just … fell … down.”
It was a shot, James says, he had made thousands and thousands of times 30 miles down the road in Akron. He was always Jordan, always No. 23. “That’s a shot that you will see for a long time,” James said. “You watch classic games and you see Jordan hit game-winners, and you go back and see Jerry West hitting game-winners and Magic Johnson going across the lane and hitting the hook against Boston.”
Mostly, LeBron James was thinking about Michael Jordan on Friday night. He’s the ghost who always haunted these Cavs, and the inspiration that drove James to basketball genius. He isn’t chasing Kobe Bryant(notes) as much as he’s chasing Michael. What Elway always did to the Browns, Jordan always did to the Cavs.
Past midnight, past one of the great finishes in NBA history, James told everyone: “That guy is not in the league anymore. The other ‘23’ is gone, so we don’t have to worry about that no more.”
“ … Twenty-three is on the good side now.”
James hadn’t had one of these shots in the playoffs, and he understood that history demands you deliver these bigger-than-life moments. Yes, he made this shot thousands of times growing up in Akron, in the shadow of a city going on 45 years without a professional championship. “The Shot” still belongs to No. 23 in Cleveland – just no longer Michael Jordan.
Yes, it was happening again here. But as it turned out, this wasn’t one more Cleveland sporting collapse. Twenty years later, it was “The Shot” reborn on the Cavs’ side, on Jordan’s anniversary.
“We are playing with history in the making,” Wally Szczerbiak(notes) said. “He’s going to be the best basketball player to ever touch a ball.”
Nearby, Mo Williams still wore his uniform, still a face flushed in delirium.
“What just happened out there?” he asked.
Outside his locker, his knees on ice, LeBron James looked up and offered a knowing nod and smile.
“Just say thank you to the basketball gods,” he said.
The basketball god, LeBron James means.
Once more, he wears No. 23.
from yahoo sports
Monday, May 11, 2009
LeBron James can’t be stopped ?
ATLANTA — When LeBron James has one of those nights, everyone else turns into fans.
His teammates? Yep. Even his coach.
"I try as much as possible,” Cleveland’s Mike Brown said Sunday, "to stay out of the way.”
With one of his best performances ever, James carried the Cavaliers to the brink of another playoff sweep. The Atlanta Hawks sure know what they’re up against, having watched their most inspired showing of the series turned into just another loss by the MVP’s 47 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
"Right now, he’s playing at such a high level,” said Hawks coach Mike Woodson, sounding a bit disheartened as his team heads into Game 4 tonight. "Man, it’s crazy how good he’s playing. It really is.”
James has that look Michael Jordan used to bring out at playoff time, a steely eyed determination to win a championship no matter what’s in the way. If that means taking every big shot, so be it. If that means turning the game into me against them, well, that’s the way it has to be.
James has played 108 minutes in this series — and scored 108 points.
As Brown said, stay out of the way.
"He is making so many special plays,” teammate Mo Williams said, meeting with the media on a patio at the team’s luxury hotel on a warm, sunny off day. "We just try to give him some space.”
While James’ performance in a 97-82 victory Saturday night didn’t quite reach the level of his 48-point effort against Detroit in the 2007 Eastern Conference finals — that was the one where he scored his team’s last 25 points in a double-overtime victory, on the way to Cleveland’s first appearance in the NBA championship series — it certainly ranked in the top five.
James made 15 of 25 shots, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. He drew one foul after another, going 12 of 16 at the free-throw line (compared with Atlanta’s 7-of-11 showing as a team). He led all rebounders with 12, leading the Cavaliers to a mammoth 46-23 edge on the boards. On those rare occasions when he couldn’t create a shot of his own, he dished out eight assists. He also had a steal, as well as a blocked shot.
It sure looked like fun.
"I’m always having fun,” James said. "I love the game with a passion.”
Amazingly for someone who had the ball in his hands so much, he turned it over all of one time.
"Our guys did the best they could to guard him,” Atlanta’s Flip Murray said. "But when you’re hitting shots like that, it’s hard for anyone to guard.”
Murray is a former teammate, but this isn’t the King James he remembers.
"He’s matured a lot since I was there with him. He’s more vocal. He’s the leader of their team,” Murray said. "He’s definitely matured into the superstar he is today.”
The Hawks tried to guard James with two or three players, but it really didn’t matter. Once he pulled up at the top of the key, a good five feet shy of the 3-point line, and hoisted a shot before Atlanta had time to react.
Swish.
A couple of times, he dribbled past all five players on the home team, weaving as though he were a catch-me-if-you-can point guard — not a 6-foot-8, 250-pounder. The result was the same.
Swish.
"When he’s really got it going,” Williams said, "it doesn’t matter how many players are on him.”
While Brown complained that his team was a bit stagnant offensively, it was certainly easy to understand the way James was playing. After the Hawks went on a 13-0 run that gave them their first second-half lead of the series, the Cavaliers turned to their star to bale them out.
Boy, did he ever.
James scored five points in a 10-2 spurt that closed the third, sending Cleveland to the final period with a still tenuous 72-65 lead. Not to worry. He skipped his usual break at the start of the fourth and turned the quarter into his personal showcase, scoring 13 of Cleveland’s final 25 points before he left with 44 seconds to go.
"I knew how important this game was,” James said. "I didn’t want the momentum to shift again. I asked coach to leave me in, so he left me in, and we did what we had to do to win the game.”
by the associated press
His teammates? Yep. Even his coach.
"I try as much as possible,” Cleveland’s Mike Brown said Sunday, "to stay out of the way.”
With one of his best performances ever, James carried the Cavaliers to the brink of another playoff sweep. The Atlanta Hawks sure know what they’re up against, having watched their most inspired showing of the series turned into just another loss by the MVP’s 47 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
"Right now, he’s playing at such a high level,” said Hawks coach Mike Woodson, sounding a bit disheartened as his team heads into Game 4 tonight. "Man, it’s crazy how good he’s playing. It really is.”
James has that look Michael Jordan used to bring out at playoff time, a steely eyed determination to win a championship no matter what’s in the way. If that means taking every big shot, so be it. If that means turning the game into me against them, well, that’s the way it has to be.
James has played 108 minutes in this series — and scored 108 points.
As Brown said, stay out of the way.
"He is making so many special plays,” teammate Mo Williams said, meeting with the media on a patio at the team’s luxury hotel on a warm, sunny off day. "We just try to give him some space.”
While James’ performance in a 97-82 victory Saturday night didn’t quite reach the level of his 48-point effort against Detroit in the 2007 Eastern Conference finals — that was the one where he scored his team’s last 25 points in a double-overtime victory, on the way to Cleveland’s first appearance in the NBA championship series — it certainly ranked in the top five.
James made 15 of 25 shots, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. He drew one foul after another, going 12 of 16 at the free-throw line (compared with Atlanta’s 7-of-11 showing as a team). He led all rebounders with 12, leading the Cavaliers to a mammoth 46-23 edge on the boards. On those rare occasions when he couldn’t create a shot of his own, he dished out eight assists. He also had a steal, as well as a blocked shot.
It sure looked like fun.
"I’m always having fun,” James said. "I love the game with a passion.”
Amazingly for someone who had the ball in his hands so much, he turned it over all of one time.
"Our guys did the best they could to guard him,” Atlanta’s Flip Murray said. "But when you’re hitting shots like that, it’s hard for anyone to guard.”
Murray is a former teammate, but this isn’t the King James he remembers.
"He’s matured a lot since I was there with him. He’s more vocal. He’s the leader of their team,” Murray said. "He’s definitely matured into the superstar he is today.”
The Hawks tried to guard James with two or three players, but it really didn’t matter. Once he pulled up at the top of the key, a good five feet shy of the 3-point line, and hoisted a shot before Atlanta had time to react.
Swish.
A couple of times, he dribbled past all five players on the home team, weaving as though he were a catch-me-if-you-can point guard — not a 6-foot-8, 250-pounder. The result was the same.
Swish.
"When he’s really got it going,” Williams said, "it doesn’t matter how many players are on him.”
While Brown complained that his team was a bit stagnant offensively, it was certainly easy to understand the way James was playing. After the Hawks went on a 13-0 run that gave them their first second-half lead of the series, the Cavaliers turned to their star to bale them out.
Boy, did he ever.
James scored five points in a 10-2 spurt that closed the third, sending Cleveland to the final period with a still tenuous 72-65 lead. Not to worry. He skipped his usual break at the start of the fourth and turned the quarter into his personal showcase, scoring 13 of Cleveland’s final 25 points before he left with 44 seconds to go.
"I knew how important this game was,” James said. "I didn’t want the momentum to shift again. I asked coach to leave me in, so he left me in, and we did what we had to do to win the game.”
by the associated press
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Celtics will not give up
ORLANDO, Fla. — Before Dwight Howard stepped away from the postgame news conference podium after Orlando’s 117-96 win over Boston on Friday, he leaned in and whispered a final parting shot into the microphone.
"Black Magic," he said with a grin The moment was little more than the latest example of Howard enjoying the ride that the Magic have been on this season. But with a 2-1 series lead on the defending NBA champions, he could have just as easily been sending a subliminal basketball hex Boston’s way heading into a pivotal Game 4 on Sunday night at Amway Arena.
Win and the Magic would be in a 3-1 power chair with three chances (including one more at home) to win one game and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Lose and they would be back at square one against a Celtics [team stats] team that has already survived the stress of a seven-game series this postseason.
There is a blue-and-white lining to it all, though. After having to play with hybrid lineups the first three games of the series due to injury and a suspension, the Magic will enter Game 4 finally back at full strength.
For a team that has thrived this year on diversity, the question is whether they can
keep their momentum now that things are back to normal.
"We have to understand where we are," Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. "The first thing I put on the board was that we are exactly where Philadelphia was the last series — up 2-1 and playing at home. . . . You gotta feel good about (the win), but what you have to do is understand what it is you did to have success and make adjustments on things you had problems with. . . . Two wins is all we’ve got, we’re at halftime."
Still, even Van Gundy admitted halfway home is a good place to be.
Even with starting point guard Rafer Alston suspended and rookie Courtney Lee coming off the bench in his first action since sinus surgery Friday, the Magic had one of their best games of the postseason.
Anchoring Orlando’s fourth different starting lineup of the postseason, Howard established himself in the paint and got his Celtics counterparts in foul trouble.
His play and crisp ball movement opened up the court for both Hedo Turkoglu (24 points) and Rashard Lewis (28 points). Lee also showed uncanny poise coming back off the first major injury of his career.
And not to be outdone, Anthony Johnson proved he isn’t at all a step behind Rajon Rondo [stats] in relief of Alston, scoring 13 in 28 minutes of work.
It’s created a lot of options, but Van Gundy said he wouldn’t decide whether to tinker with re-inserting Lee into the lineup over J.J. Redick until this morning.
As good as things were Friday, though, it was clear that Van Gundy’s postgame message Friday night was sticking with the players after Saturday’s practice.
Much like Orlando responded big in Game 3 after a pasting from Boston, they are anticipating much the same bark from the Celtics today as they try to avoid the dreaded 3-1 hole
"(Friday night) is over with," Howard said. "We won, but this is a series. We have to understand that Boston is going to come out like they did in Game 2. We just have to be ready for it. And we know what they’re going to do. We have to just be able to withstand their push and not get frustrated."
Howard conceded that even with their successes this season there have been times when they have been prone to be up and down mentally.
He’s hoping that history will serve as a good reminder of what they don’t want to duplicate.
"Yeah, it’s real," Howard said. "It’s the playoffs and they’re the defending champions. So they will not go home without a fight. . . . We don’t want to be off and on. . . . That’s the main thing that we’ve been talking about. We don’t want to feel the way we felt (leaving) Boston."
from the Boston Herald
"Black Magic," he said with a grin The moment was little more than the latest example of Howard enjoying the ride that the Magic have been on this season. But with a 2-1 series lead on the defending NBA champions, he could have just as easily been sending a subliminal basketball hex Boston’s way heading into a pivotal Game 4 on Sunday night at Amway Arena.
Win and the Magic would be in a 3-1 power chair with three chances (including one more at home) to win one game and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Lose and they would be back at square one against a Celtics [team stats] team that has already survived the stress of a seven-game series this postseason.
There is a blue-and-white lining to it all, though. After having to play with hybrid lineups the first three games of the series due to injury and a suspension, the Magic will enter Game 4 finally back at full strength.
For a team that has thrived this year on diversity, the question is whether they can
keep their momentum now that things are back to normal.
"We have to understand where we are," Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. "The first thing I put on the board was that we are exactly where Philadelphia was the last series — up 2-1 and playing at home. . . . You gotta feel good about (the win), but what you have to do is understand what it is you did to have success and make adjustments on things you had problems with. . . . Two wins is all we’ve got, we’re at halftime."
Still, even Van Gundy admitted halfway home is a good place to be.
Even with starting point guard Rafer Alston suspended and rookie Courtney Lee coming off the bench in his first action since sinus surgery Friday, the Magic had one of their best games of the postseason.
Anchoring Orlando’s fourth different starting lineup of the postseason, Howard established himself in the paint and got his Celtics counterparts in foul trouble.
His play and crisp ball movement opened up the court for both Hedo Turkoglu (24 points) and Rashard Lewis (28 points). Lee also showed uncanny poise coming back off the first major injury of his career.
And not to be outdone, Anthony Johnson proved he isn’t at all a step behind Rajon Rondo [stats] in relief of Alston, scoring 13 in 28 minutes of work.
It’s created a lot of options, but Van Gundy said he wouldn’t decide whether to tinker with re-inserting Lee into the lineup over J.J. Redick until this morning.
As good as things were Friday, though, it was clear that Van Gundy’s postgame message Friday night was sticking with the players after Saturday’s practice.
Much like Orlando responded big in Game 3 after a pasting from Boston, they are anticipating much the same bark from the Celtics today as they try to avoid the dreaded 3-1 hole
"(Friday night) is over with," Howard said. "We won, but this is a series. We have to understand that Boston is going to come out like they did in Game 2. We just have to be ready for it. And we know what they’re going to do. We have to just be able to withstand their push and not get frustrated."
Howard conceded that even with their successes this season there have been times when they have been prone to be up and down mentally.
He’s hoping that history will serve as a good reminder of what they don’t want to duplicate.
"Yeah, it’s real," Howard said. "It’s the playoffs and they’re the defending champions. So they will not go home without a fight. . . . We don’t want to be off and on. . . . That’s the main thing that we’ve been talking about. We don’t want to feel the way we felt (leaving) Boston."
from the Boston Herald
Lakers 87 at Rockets 99
It seemed inconceivable that the Lakers could play any worse than they had in Game 1. But the Rockets made certain that they did.
LOS ANGELES
With Yao Ming out, it looked like the Lakers thought that all they had to was to show up and the Rockets would surely crash. But it turned to be the Lakers who never got off the ground.
Indeed, the tone was set on L.A.'s very first possession when Trevor Ariza fumbled the ball, wasn't sure whether to try and rescue it or not and wound up making a foolish, blind pass that turned into a Houston layup
After that miscue, Houston's blitzkrieg was relentless.
As ever, the Lakers' defense was virtually helpless in attempting to blunt the effectiveness of Houston's high screen-and-rolls. No matter what they did, the visitors couldn't prevent Aaron Brooks from turning the corner. And when the Lakers dropped the strong-side wing into the paint to help seal the basket, Brooks put on the jets and put up a layup or else kicked out an assist-pass to his abandoned teammate. On one occasion, Brooks foreswore penetrating in favor of simply stepping back and casting up another successful three-ball.
The Lakers' rotations were horrid every which way — in the lane, in failing to close out open shooters and in leaving the Rockets' bigs unattended under the rim. Overall, L.A. was alternately out-quicked, out-hustled and downright bullied by Houston's ferocious defense.
Not that L.A.'s offensive efforts were any better. They were pressured into poor passes, miserable shots, an almost complete absence of either ball or player movement and settling too quickly for jumpers. Missing seven layups didn't help either.
Late in the game, the Lakers tried to get the ball out of Brooks' hands by two-timing him (with Pau Gasol) just as he crossed the timeline with only minimal benefits accruing.
Early on, Gasol tried to attack Chuck Hayes in the pivot by bumping and grinding, but the much shorter Hayes proved to be immovable. Only when Gasol turned, faced and went did he put points on the scoreboard. A classic case of too little, too late, but an auger of what will surely be incorporated into L.A.'s game plan on Tuesday.
As in Game 3, Kobe had a hard time getting to the rim against Houston's swarming defense. That's why 14 of his 17 shots — and six of his seven buckets — were jumpers. And that's also why he failed to shoot a free throw.
Derek Fisher spent his playing time chasing Brooks.
Lamar Odom's daylight was limited by his suffering a bad fall, but while he was on the court, his contributions — especially on defense — were barely noticeable.
Luke Walton is supposed to be a superior passer, but included among his four turnovers were some incredibly errant passes.
Trevor Ariza was a non-factor.
Sasha Vujacic continued to hoist clunkers.
Andrew Bynum played like he was still in high school.
Jordan Farmar did hustle and put some juice into the Lakers' otherwise moribund efforts.
Led by Gasol's 18 fourth-quarter points (he totaled 30 for the game), the Lakers did win garbage time — and succeeded in cutting a 29-point deficit to 12.
Big deal.
Indeed, this game reprised the lack of physicality and almost total reliance on finesse that ultimately doomed L.A. in last year's Finals against the rough-and-tough Celtics.
In truth, the Lakers played with no heart, no hustle and no intensity. So the profound humiliation of being beaten so thoroughly was well deserved.
HOUSTON
Except for a bummer offensive performance by Ron Artest — he made only 2 of his 10 jumpers — the Rockets were individually and collectively awesome.
Brooks was a dynamo, scoring from near and far to the tune of 34 humongous points.
Shane Battier played his usual adhesive defense against Kobe but also took advantage of the Lakers' laissez-faire defense by dropping five treys and generally shooting the lights both out and on.
With Hayes inserted into the lineup in lieu of Yao, Houston's defense was much more active, Gasol didn't have to be doubled and the middle was unclogged on offense. That's why Brooks, Kyle Lowry and Von Wafer were able to zip hoopwards so often.
Artest, Hayes and Luis Scola dominated the rebounding department and also seemed to come up with every loose ball in the lane.
Moreover, the Rockets were totally unselfish — rarely missing an opportunity to make the extra passes that led to so many open shots.
In short, the Rockets displayed every characteristic that the Lakers lacked: hustle, toughness, passion and intelligence.
In Game 4, the Rockets demonstrated that they have the heart of champions. Game 5 will offer the Lakers their chance to ace the latest gut-check.
LOS ANGELES
With Yao Ming out, it looked like the Lakers thought that all they had to was to show up and the Rockets would surely crash. But it turned to be the Lakers who never got off the ground.
Indeed, the tone was set on L.A.'s very first possession when Trevor Ariza fumbled the ball, wasn't sure whether to try and rescue it or not and wound up making a foolish, blind pass that turned into a Houston layup
After that miscue, Houston's blitzkrieg was relentless.
As ever, the Lakers' defense was virtually helpless in attempting to blunt the effectiveness of Houston's high screen-and-rolls. No matter what they did, the visitors couldn't prevent Aaron Brooks from turning the corner. And when the Lakers dropped the strong-side wing into the paint to help seal the basket, Brooks put on the jets and put up a layup or else kicked out an assist-pass to his abandoned teammate. On one occasion, Brooks foreswore penetrating in favor of simply stepping back and casting up another successful three-ball.
The Lakers' rotations were horrid every which way — in the lane, in failing to close out open shooters and in leaving the Rockets' bigs unattended under the rim. Overall, L.A. was alternately out-quicked, out-hustled and downright bullied by Houston's ferocious defense.
Not that L.A.'s offensive efforts were any better. They were pressured into poor passes, miserable shots, an almost complete absence of either ball or player movement and settling too quickly for jumpers. Missing seven layups didn't help either.
Late in the game, the Lakers tried to get the ball out of Brooks' hands by two-timing him (with Pau Gasol) just as he crossed the timeline with only minimal benefits accruing.
Early on, Gasol tried to attack Chuck Hayes in the pivot by bumping and grinding, but the much shorter Hayes proved to be immovable. Only when Gasol turned, faced and went did he put points on the scoreboard. A classic case of too little, too late, but an auger of what will surely be incorporated into L.A.'s game plan on Tuesday.
As in Game 3, Kobe had a hard time getting to the rim against Houston's swarming defense. That's why 14 of his 17 shots — and six of his seven buckets — were jumpers. And that's also why he failed to shoot a free throw.
Derek Fisher spent his playing time chasing Brooks.
Lamar Odom's daylight was limited by his suffering a bad fall, but while he was on the court, his contributions — especially on defense — were barely noticeable.
Luke Walton is supposed to be a superior passer, but included among his four turnovers were some incredibly errant passes.
Trevor Ariza was a non-factor.
Sasha Vujacic continued to hoist clunkers.
Andrew Bynum played like he was still in high school.
Jordan Farmar did hustle and put some juice into the Lakers' otherwise moribund efforts.
Led by Gasol's 18 fourth-quarter points (he totaled 30 for the game), the Lakers did win garbage time — and succeeded in cutting a 29-point deficit to 12.
Big deal.
Indeed, this game reprised the lack of physicality and almost total reliance on finesse that ultimately doomed L.A. in last year's Finals against the rough-and-tough Celtics.
In truth, the Lakers played with no heart, no hustle and no intensity. So the profound humiliation of being beaten so thoroughly was well deserved.
HOUSTON
Except for a bummer offensive performance by Ron Artest — he made only 2 of his 10 jumpers — the Rockets were individually and collectively awesome.
Brooks was a dynamo, scoring from near and far to the tune of 34 humongous points.
Shane Battier played his usual adhesive defense against Kobe but also took advantage of the Lakers' laissez-faire defense by dropping five treys and generally shooting the lights both out and on.
With Hayes inserted into the lineup in lieu of Yao, Houston's defense was much more active, Gasol didn't have to be doubled and the middle was unclogged on offense. That's why Brooks, Kyle Lowry and Von Wafer were able to zip hoopwards so often.
Artest, Hayes and Luis Scola dominated the rebounding department and also seemed to come up with every loose ball in the lane.
Moreover, the Rockets were totally unselfish — rarely missing an opportunity to make the extra passes that led to so many open shots.
In short, the Rockets displayed every characteristic that the Lakers lacked: hustle, toughness, passion and intelligence.
In Game 4, the Rockets demonstrated that they have the heart of champions. Game 5 will offer the Lakers their chance to ace the latest gut-check.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Cavaliers to 97-82 win with King James with 47
ATLANTA (AP)—The Cleveland Cavaliers were actually being challenged.
Finally, LeBron James(notes) had seen enough.
James scored 47 points in his best game yet of these playoffs, leading the Cavaliers to the brink of their second straight postseason sweep with a 97-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
“He took the ball, put it in his hands and said he was going to score for us, so I told him, ‘OK,”’ Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “I just told everybody else, ‘Let’s defend.”’
Back home after two blowout losses in Cleveland, the Hawks put up their best fight of the series. It didn’t matter, not against King James. They now find themselves just one defeat away from calling it a season, the Cavaliers pushing out to another 3-0 lead after breezing past Detroit in the opening round.
Cleveland kept up its dominating run through the playoffs, setting an NBA record with its seventh straight double-figure win to eclipse the mark set by the 2004 Indiana Pacers. The only solace for the Hawks: They stopped Cleveland’s streak of 20-point playoff wins at three.
The Hawks were only down 47-46 at the halftime, and they surged back into their first second-half lead of the series with a 13-0 run in the third quarter. But Zaza Pachulia(notes) got ejected for arguing a foul call—acting as though he might attack the officials—and Atlanta faded away down the stretch.
James eclipsed his previous high in these playoffs of 38 points vs. the Pistons, and finished just one off his best playoff performance ever, a 48-point night against Detroit while leading Cleveland to its first trip ever to the NBA finals.
They appear to be on the way again, especially with the league’s MVP leading the way.
James hit a running 13-footer to send the Cavaliers to the final period with a 72-65 lead. If the Hawks had any thoughts of a comeback, James quickly erased them.
He hit a jumper near the courtside seat and slapped his hands in delight with just over 8 minutes remaining. On Cleveland’s next possession, James stood out near the half-court line, barking instructions at his teammates. Delonte West(notes) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) both popped out to set picks, and James weaved his way through the Atlanta defense before pulling up to launch a floater just off the foul lane.
Nothing but net.
James repeated the same drill from the opposite side, only this time he cut along the baseline, drawing virtually every Atlanta player his way, before dumping off to a wide-open Ilgauskas under the basket. The Hawks had no choice but to hack the big man as he went up to shoot, stopping the layup but sending him to the foul line.
“LeBron was just out of his mind tonight,” Atlanta’s Josh Smith(notes) said.
Indeed, while James was a virtual one-man show, he kept his teammates involved by dishing out eight assists. If that wasn’t enough, he led Cleveland to a dominant performance on the boards, 46-23, with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Finally, with 44 seconds remaining, James’ work was done. He went off to a big ovation from the smattering of Cleveland fans who hung around to chant, “MVP! MVP! MVP!”
James has been incredibly efficient in this series, playing 108 minutes and scoring 108 points.
Atlanta was hardly in position to challenge the Cavaliers, who had the league’s best record during the regular season (66-16). When factoring in that three starters—Joe Johnson(notes), Al Horford(notes) and Marvin Williams(notes)—were hurting, there seemed little chance of Atlanta challenging the Cavaliers.
But they did for nearly three quarters. Though Pachulia’s ejection seemed to take any life out of the raucous crowd—and the home team. The Hawks were outscored 31-17 after the emotional Georgian was tossed.
“I thought it was an offensive foul,” Pachulia said. “Maybe I overreacted.”
Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.
James was 15 of 25 from the field, went 5 of 10 outside the 3-point arc (even banking in one), and wound up making more free throws—12 of 16—than the entire Hawks’ team attempted (7 of 11).
“He’s not the MVP for nothing,” Pachulia said. “He’s the best player in the league. He knows when to push the gas. That’s what he did.”
Johnson, who didn’t decide until game time that he was healthy enough to play, led the Hawks with 21 points. Smith added 18 and Flip Murray(notes) 17.
Ilgauskas scored 14, West had 12 and Mo Williams(notes) 11 for the Cavaliers
by the associated press
Finally, LeBron James(notes) had seen enough.
James scored 47 points in his best game yet of these playoffs, leading the Cavaliers to the brink of their second straight postseason sweep with a 97-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
“He took the ball, put it in his hands and said he was going to score for us, so I told him, ‘OK,”’ Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “I just told everybody else, ‘Let’s defend.”’
Back home after two blowout losses in Cleveland, the Hawks put up their best fight of the series. It didn’t matter, not against King James. They now find themselves just one defeat away from calling it a season, the Cavaliers pushing out to another 3-0 lead after breezing past Detroit in the opening round.
Cleveland kept up its dominating run through the playoffs, setting an NBA record with its seventh straight double-figure win to eclipse the mark set by the 2004 Indiana Pacers. The only solace for the Hawks: They stopped Cleveland’s streak of 20-point playoff wins at three.
The Hawks were only down 47-46 at the halftime, and they surged back into their first second-half lead of the series with a 13-0 run in the third quarter. But Zaza Pachulia(notes) got ejected for arguing a foul call—acting as though he might attack the officials—and Atlanta faded away down the stretch.
James eclipsed his previous high in these playoffs of 38 points vs. the Pistons, and finished just one off his best playoff performance ever, a 48-point night against Detroit while leading Cleveland to its first trip ever to the NBA finals.
They appear to be on the way again, especially with the league’s MVP leading the way.
James hit a running 13-footer to send the Cavaliers to the final period with a 72-65 lead. If the Hawks had any thoughts of a comeback, James quickly erased them.
He hit a jumper near the courtside seat and slapped his hands in delight with just over 8 minutes remaining. On Cleveland’s next possession, James stood out near the half-court line, barking instructions at his teammates. Delonte West(notes) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) both popped out to set picks, and James weaved his way through the Atlanta defense before pulling up to launch a floater just off the foul lane.
Nothing but net.
James repeated the same drill from the opposite side, only this time he cut along the baseline, drawing virtually every Atlanta player his way, before dumping off to a wide-open Ilgauskas under the basket. The Hawks had no choice but to hack the big man as he went up to shoot, stopping the layup but sending him to the foul line.
“LeBron was just out of his mind tonight,” Atlanta’s Josh Smith(notes) said.
Indeed, while James was a virtual one-man show, he kept his teammates involved by dishing out eight assists. If that wasn’t enough, he led Cleveland to a dominant performance on the boards, 46-23, with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Finally, with 44 seconds remaining, James’ work was done. He went off to a big ovation from the smattering of Cleveland fans who hung around to chant, “MVP! MVP! MVP!”
James has been incredibly efficient in this series, playing 108 minutes and scoring 108 points.
Atlanta was hardly in position to challenge the Cavaliers, who had the league’s best record during the regular season (66-16). When factoring in that three starters—Joe Johnson(notes), Al Horford(notes) and Marvin Williams(notes)—were hurting, there seemed little chance of Atlanta challenging the Cavaliers.
But they did for nearly three quarters. Though Pachulia’s ejection seemed to take any life out of the raucous crowd—and the home team. The Hawks were outscored 31-17 after the emotional Georgian was tossed.
“I thought it was an offensive foul,” Pachulia said. “Maybe I overreacted.”
Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.
James was 15 of 25 from the field, went 5 of 10 outside the 3-point arc (even banking in one), and wound up making more free throws—12 of 16—than the entire Hawks’ team attempted (7 of 11).
“He’s not the MVP for nothing,” Pachulia said. “He’s the best player in the league. He knows when to push the gas. That’s what he did.”
Johnson, who didn’t decide until game time that he was healthy enough to play, led the Hawks with 21 points. Smith added 18 and Flip Murray(notes) 17.
Ilgauskas scored 14, West had 12 and Mo Williams(notes) 11 for the Cavaliers
by the associated press
NBA playoffs 2009 and Superman
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic seems to be at its best when it’s shorthanded.
Dwight Howard had 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks as Orlando beat Boston 117-96 on Friday night for a 2-1 series lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Rashard Lewis had 28 points, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 for Orlando, which played without starting point guard Rafer Alston. He was suspended by the NBA for slapping Eddie House in the back of the head in Game 2.
Paul Pierce broke out of his series slump to score 27 points, and Rajon Rondo added 15 for the defending champion Celtics, who trimmed a 20-point deficit to seven before the Magic regained control.
Game 4 is Sunday in Orlando.
It’s the second time this postseason the Magic won with a starter suspended.
Howard lost his cool and elbowed Samuel Dalembert in the head to draw a suspension for Game 6 of their first-round series against Philadelphia — but Orlando still eliminated the 76ers with a blowout.
This time, the Magic’s big man made sure a teammate wasn’t missed.
The defensive player of the year had four blocks in the first half to turn the Celtics into a jumpshooting team, much as the Magic did to win Game 1. On the first play of the second quarter, Howard soared so high he had to brace his left hand against the backboard so he wouldn’t smack his head, swatting Stephon Marbury’s layup into the stands.
It was no different on offense.
Howard sprinted down the middle of the lane; took a pass from the wing by J.J. Redick; and gripped the ball with two hands for a thunderous dunk and 43-31 lead. The Magic would eventually by 14 points in the period.
The Magic took a 20-point lead early in the third quarter before Howard picked up his fourth foul, and the Celtics ended the period on a 12-2 run capped by a breakaway dunk by Rondo.
After Boston trimmed the deficit to seven in the fourth, center Kendrick Perkins lost his cool. Perkins was called for a flagrant one foul with 10:15 to play for an elbow on Mickael Pietrus. Replays showed Perkins’ elbow hit Pietrus in the chin while the two battled for position away from the ball.
Pietrus made the free throws, and the Magic built another 20-point lead that put the game out of reach.
by the associated press
Dwight Howard had 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks as Orlando beat Boston 117-96 on Friday night for a 2-1 series lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Rashard Lewis had 28 points, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 for Orlando, which played without starting point guard Rafer Alston. He was suspended by the NBA for slapping Eddie House in the back of the head in Game 2.
Paul Pierce broke out of his series slump to score 27 points, and Rajon Rondo added 15 for the defending champion Celtics, who trimmed a 20-point deficit to seven before the Magic regained control.
Game 4 is Sunday in Orlando.
It’s the second time this postseason the Magic won with a starter suspended.
Howard lost his cool and elbowed Samuel Dalembert in the head to draw a suspension for Game 6 of their first-round series against Philadelphia — but Orlando still eliminated the 76ers with a blowout.
This time, the Magic’s big man made sure a teammate wasn’t missed.
The defensive player of the year had four blocks in the first half to turn the Celtics into a jumpshooting team, much as the Magic did to win Game 1. On the first play of the second quarter, Howard soared so high he had to brace his left hand against the backboard so he wouldn’t smack his head, swatting Stephon Marbury’s layup into the stands.
It was no different on offense.
Howard sprinted down the middle of the lane; took a pass from the wing by J.J. Redick; and gripped the ball with two hands for a thunderous dunk and 43-31 lead. The Magic would eventually by 14 points in the period.
The Magic took a 20-point lead early in the third quarter before Howard picked up his fourth foul, and the Celtics ended the period on a 12-2 run capped by a breakaway dunk by Rondo.
After Boston trimmed the deficit to seven in the fourth, center Kendrick Perkins lost his cool. Perkins was called for a flagrant one foul with 10:15 to play for an elbow on Mickael Pietrus. Replays showed Perkins’ elbow hit Pietrus in the chin while the two battled for position away from the ball.
Pietrus made the free throws, and the Magic built another 20-point lead that put the game out of reach.
by the associated press
Friday, May 08, 2009
Cavaliers 105, Hawks 85
CLEVELAND — From his corner cubicle in Cleveland’s locker room, LeBron James kept his eyes riveted on the flat-screen TV. He wanted to see every replay.
There was his no-look pass to Wally Szczerbiak. There was his reverse dunk in the final seconds of the first quarter. And then there was his majestic, step-back 3-pointer to beat the halftime horn.
Seeing it on tape for the first time, James smiled, stood and repeated his arm-swinging gesture.
It’s all easy. Maybe too easy.
James scored 27 points, ending the first and second quarters with last-second baskets, and Mo Williams added 15 points as the untested Cavaliers overpowered the Atlanta Hawks 105-85 on Thursday night to open a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
"I’m having fun,” James said. "I’m having a ball.”
Now a perfect 6-0 in the postseason, the Cavaliers tied a league record by winning their sixth consecutive playoff game by double digits. The only other team to do it was the 2004 Indiana Pacers. Cleveland also matched the 1986 Los Angeles Lakers by winning three straight games by at least 20 points in a postseason.
"I don’t want to say I’m surprised,” James said of Cleveland’s playoff dominance. "We’re just a really good team. We’re really confident and we believe in each other.”
Maurice Evans scored 16 points and Mike Bibby had 11 for the Hawks, who were missing center Al Horford and forward Marvin Williams because of injuries. If that wasn’t bad enough, leading scorer Joe Johnson rolled his right ankle in the third quarter and did not return.
His status for Game 3 on Saturday wasn’t known.
by the associated press
There was his no-look pass to Wally Szczerbiak. There was his reverse dunk in the final seconds of the first quarter. And then there was his majestic, step-back 3-pointer to beat the halftime horn.
Seeing it on tape for the first time, James smiled, stood and repeated his arm-swinging gesture.
It’s all easy. Maybe too easy.
James scored 27 points, ending the first and second quarters with last-second baskets, and Mo Williams added 15 points as the untested Cavaliers overpowered the Atlanta Hawks 105-85 on Thursday night to open a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
"I’m having fun,” James said. "I’m having a ball.”
Now a perfect 6-0 in the postseason, the Cavaliers tied a league record by winning their sixth consecutive playoff game by double digits. The only other team to do it was the 2004 Indiana Pacers. Cleveland also matched the 1986 Los Angeles Lakers by winning three straight games by at least 20 points in a postseason.
"I don’t want to say I’m surprised,” James said of Cleveland’s playoff dominance. "We’re just a really good team. We’re really confident and we believe in each other.”
Maurice Evans scored 16 points and Mike Bibby had 11 for the Hawks, who were missing center Al Horford and forward Marvin Williams because of injuries. If that wasn’t bad enough, leading scorer Joe Johnson rolled his right ankle in the third quarter and did not return.
His status for Game 3 on Saturday wasn’t known.
by the associated press
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Celtics 112, Magic 94
BOSTON — Rajon Rondo had 15 points, 18 assists and 11 rebounds for his third triple-double of the playoffs, and Eddie House scored a career high-shattering 31 points on Wednesday night to lead the Boston Celtics to a 112-94 victory over the Orlando Magic and even the Eastern Conference semifinalsDwight Howard had 12 points and 12 rebounds and Rashard Lewis had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who stole Game 1 and home-court advantage Monday night despite blowing almost all of a 28-point lead late in the game.
Game 3 is Friday night in Orlando.
Rondo had 12 assists without a turnover at the half and finished one assist short of his career high. The only time the 6-1 point guard has had more than 18 assists was the triple-overtime Game 6 of the first-round series against Chicago in which he played 57 1/2 minutes.
"He picked up where he left off last game,” House said of Rondo. "He had a lot of energy on both ends of the court.”
Ray Allen scored 22 points and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and nine rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who avoided heading to Orlando down 0-2 and assured themselves of at least one more game in Boston.
Paul Pierce of the Celtics scored three points in 16 minutes, hitting a 3-pointer for the first basket of the game, but he picked up two fouls in 50 seconds early in the first quarter and headed to the bench. He played just 2 more minutes in the second quarter before picking up his third foul, and lasted 4:07 into the third before drawing his fourth and sitting back down.
By the time he came back in — to give House a rest — Boston was nursing a double-digit lead in the last 4 minutes and the crowd was chanting "Eddie!” for the backup who helped them open a 26-point lead and coast to victory.
House went 11 for 14 from the field, making all four of his 3-point attempts and adding four 2-pointers from at least 20 feet in 27 minutes — the most he’s played in a playoff game since he was a rookie with Miami in 2001. In the last three games, House is 18 for 24 from the field and 10 for 12 from 3-point range.
Game 3 is Friday night in Orlando.
Rondo had 12 assists without a turnover at the half and finished one assist short of his career high. The only time the 6-1 point guard has had more than 18 assists was the triple-overtime Game 6 of the first-round series against Chicago in which he played 57 1/2 minutes.
"He picked up where he left off last game,” House said of Rondo. "He had a lot of energy on both ends of the court.”
Ray Allen scored 22 points and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and nine rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who avoided heading to Orlando down 0-2 and assured themselves of at least one more game in Boston.
Paul Pierce of the Celtics scored three points in 16 minutes, hitting a 3-pointer for the first basket of the game, but he picked up two fouls in 50 seconds early in the first quarter and headed to the bench. He played just 2 more minutes in the second quarter before picking up his third foul, and lasted 4:07 into the third before drawing his fourth and sitting back down.
By the time he came back in — to give House a rest — Boston was nursing a double-digit lead in the last 4 minutes and the crowd was chanting "Eddie!” for the backup who helped them open a 26-point lead and coast to victory.
House went 11 for 14 from the field, making all four of his 3-point attempts and adding four 2-pointers from at least 20 feet in 27 minutes — the most he’s played in a playoff game since he was a rookie with Miami in 2001. In the last three games, House is 18 for 24 from the field and 10 for 12 from 3-point range.
by the associated press
Monday, May 04, 2009
LeBron James is your MVP
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — On one of the biggest days of his life, LeBron James took the long way home. Once inside his hometown's city limits, James pulled his high-powered Ferrari off I-77 and drove the back roads to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.
Turning on Maple Street, he went past his first house on Hickory. Then, it was past the one on Silver Street, where his mother, Gloria, began raising him by herself. James visited The Boondocks, where he and his friends first dribbled on the playgrounds.
James retraced the steps on Monday. His path to NBA superstardom.
An unstoppable offensive force who became an elite defender this season, James claimed the league MVP, receiving the award in the gym where he first became a star.
"This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought they could become real," James said. "There's really not a better place."
The Ohio kid anointed King James as a teenager has a new crown.
An MVP vote some expected to be close was another slam dunk by James. He received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily outdistance Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totaled 1,172 points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.
Bryant, last year's winner, got two first-place votes and finished with 698 points. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was third with 680 points and was named first on seven ballots. Orlando center Dwight Howard (328) was fourth followed by New Orleans guard Chris Paul (192).
The race was never in doubt. It was James all along.
"I'm 24 years old and I'm receiving this award, I never thought it would happen this fast," he said, standing under three state title banners he helped win for the Fighting Irish. "I never dreamed about being MVP, but if I said I didn't enjoy this award I'd be lying. Hard work pays off and dreams do come true."
James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a pro. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the year, making him perhaps the league's most dominant two-way player since Michael Jordan.
Along with a trophy, James was given a new car, which he donated to a local charity.
After learning he won, James knew he wanted to share it with family and friends. He knew there was only one place to do it: At his beloved St. V., the school where he was a high school phenom.
As James — who got a police escort for the final miles — drove up about an hour before the ceremony in his metallic gray $225,000 car with W1TNES vanity license plates, a crowd chanting "M-V-P" rushed into the street outside the school.
The scene was more civil later when James took the stage and was serenaded by hundreds of students sitting in the same bleachers he used to.
The setting was fitting for James, who earlier this year had the words "Loyalty" and "Family" tattooed vertically along his rib cage.
In the past, the MVP trophy has been presented at team practice facilities or arenas. But James wanted a special location.
League spokesman Brian McIntyre said the intimate ceremony was unlike any before.
"When he heard what LeBron wanted to do, we gave it about a second's thought, and said that's a great idea," he said. "This was wonderful."
James credited his Cavaliers teammates, who attended the ceremony along with coach Mike Brown, for raising their games in Cleveland's best season ever. The Cavs went 66-16, 39-2 at home and earned the top seed in the playoffs — a franchise first.
"Individual accolades come when team success happens," James said. "You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them. They put in the work."
James invited his teammates to the podium and presented each with an expensive camera.
"This award is going to be like the both of ours, but I'm going to keep it at my house," he cracked.
At 24 years, 106 days on the final day of the regular season, James is the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69.
James vied all season for MVP honors with Bryant and Wade, his teammates on the U.S. gold medalist Olympic team last summer.
"He deserved it," Wade said. "I said all year, I thought LeBron was the MVP of this league. He's a guy who every year is going to be in that conversation. ... He showed it all year, especially with his team's success."
Focused from the start, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound James sharpened his already formidable skills this season.
He started a career-high 81 games and set personal bests in field-goal (49) and free-throw (79) percentages as well as blocks (93). James became the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. The other is Robertson, whose versatile game is the one to which James' is most often compared.
James nearly averaged a triple-double — 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists — as the top-seeded Cavaliers breezed through the first round of the playoffs, sweeping Detroit in four games. Cleveland hosts the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 on Tuesday.
"My mission hasn't been completed," James said. "I still I have a lot of things I want to do this season. I want to have another celebration in June."
With his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, and their two sons sitting up front, James thanked his family, friends and former teammates during a touching speech. Promising not to cry, he spoke fondly of his mom, who struggled to raise her only son.
"I don't know how you did it," James said.
Better than anyone, Gloria James understood her son's trip through his old neighborhoods.
"It didn't surprise me," she said. "He has never forgotten where he came from."
Soon, it was time for James to head home, a place he never left.
by the associated press
Turning on Maple Street, he went past his first house on Hickory. Then, it was past the one on Silver Street, where his mother, Gloria, began raising him by herself. James visited The Boondocks, where he and his friends first dribbled on the playgrounds.
James retraced the steps on Monday. His path to NBA superstardom.
An unstoppable offensive force who became an elite defender this season, James claimed the league MVP, receiving the award in the gym where he first became a star.
"This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought they could become real," James said. "There's really not a better place."
The Ohio kid anointed King James as a teenager has a new crown.
An MVP vote some expected to be close was another slam dunk by James. He received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily outdistance Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totaled 1,172 points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.
Bryant, last year's winner, got two first-place votes and finished with 698 points. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was third with 680 points and was named first on seven ballots. Orlando center Dwight Howard (328) was fourth followed by New Orleans guard Chris Paul (192).
The race was never in doubt. It was James all along.
"I'm 24 years old and I'm receiving this award, I never thought it would happen this fast," he said, standing under three state title banners he helped win for the Fighting Irish. "I never dreamed about being MVP, but if I said I didn't enjoy this award I'd be lying. Hard work pays off and dreams do come true."
James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a pro. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the year, making him perhaps the league's most dominant two-way player since Michael Jordan.
Along with a trophy, James was given a new car, which he donated to a local charity.
After learning he won, James knew he wanted to share it with family and friends. He knew there was only one place to do it: At his beloved St. V., the school where he was a high school phenom.
As James — who got a police escort for the final miles — drove up about an hour before the ceremony in his metallic gray $225,000 car with W1TNES vanity license plates, a crowd chanting "M-V-P" rushed into the street outside the school.
The scene was more civil later when James took the stage and was serenaded by hundreds of students sitting in the same bleachers he used to.
The setting was fitting for James, who earlier this year had the words "Loyalty" and "Family" tattooed vertically along his rib cage.
In the past, the MVP trophy has been presented at team practice facilities or arenas. But James wanted a special location.
League spokesman Brian McIntyre said the intimate ceremony was unlike any before.
"When he heard what LeBron wanted to do, we gave it about a second's thought, and said that's a great idea," he said. "This was wonderful."
James credited his Cavaliers teammates, who attended the ceremony along with coach Mike Brown, for raising their games in Cleveland's best season ever. The Cavs went 66-16, 39-2 at home and earned the top seed in the playoffs — a franchise first.
"Individual accolades come when team success happens," James said. "You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them. They put in the work."
James invited his teammates to the podium and presented each with an expensive camera.
"This award is going to be like the both of ours, but I'm going to keep it at my house," he cracked.
At 24 years, 106 days on the final day of the regular season, James is the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69.
James vied all season for MVP honors with Bryant and Wade, his teammates on the U.S. gold medalist Olympic team last summer.
"He deserved it," Wade said. "I said all year, I thought LeBron was the MVP of this league. He's a guy who every year is going to be in that conversation. ... He showed it all year, especially with his team's success."
Focused from the start, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound James sharpened his already formidable skills this season.
He started a career-high 81 games and set personal bests in field-goal (49) and free-throw (79) percentages as well as blocks (93). James became the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. The other is Robertson, whose versatile game is the one to which James' is most often compared.
James nearly averaged a triple-double — 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists — as the top-seeded Cavaliers breezed through the first round of the playoffs, sweeping Detroit in four games. Cleveland hosts the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 on Tuesday.
"My mission hasn't been completed," James said. "I still I have a lot of things I want to do this season. I want to have another celebration in June."
With his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, and their two sons sitting up front, James thanked his family, friends and former teammates during a touching speech. Promising not to cry, he spoke fondly of his mom, who struggled to raise her only son.
"I don't know how you did it," James said.
Better than anyone, Gloria James understood her son's trip through his old neighborhoods.
"It didn't surprise me," she said. "He has never forgotten where he came from."
Soon, it was time for James to head home, a place he never left.
by the associated press
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