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Los Angeles Lakers 2010 NBA Championship Videos

Watch how the Lakers reach the NBA Championship and How they battle it out with the Boston Celtics. A classic NBA Finals 2010 Game 7 between the most influential team in the NBA League. Relive it once again. Watch the Los Angeles Lakers 2010 NBA Championship highlights Now.

Jackson points to Gasol-Garnett as key

LOS ANGELES -- Phil Jackson loves the game within the game. Heading into Thursday's Game 1 of the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, one piques his curiosity more than the rest.

"I'm intrigued by the [Kevin] Garnett-Pau Gasol matchup. I think that's a really good one," he said Wednesday after the Lakers completed practice.

"Kevin is like the force of [Boston's] defense, he's really the glue that kind of holds their defense together with his activity level, his ability to help and recover on guys," Jackson continued. "Pau is the guy we have to have be a part of the scoring combo with Kobe. So he has to provide some of that for us in this series against probably one of the top defenders in the game."

Gasol's performance was generally seen as disappointing during the 2008 Finals, in which he averaged 14.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in six games, facing primarily Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. Like the rest of his teammates, Gasol had a subpar Game 6, making four field goals and turning the ball over five times in 32 minutes as the Lakers lost 131-92 and Boston clinched the title.

Garnett was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. Since, he's struggled with injuries, undergoing surgery to his right knee in May 2009.

Still, he's still a formidable opponent, says Gasol.

"I see a little bit of difference [since the surgery], but he's still very effective and he's still one of their team leaders," he said. "You've got to respect everything that he does and brings to the table. The leadership, the aggressiveness, and he's going to compete no matter what. He's proven that through the injury."

Continue reading here...

Reserves dominate Lakers, Suns win 115-106

By BOB BAUM (AP)

PHOENIX — The Phoenix bench finally delivered as advertised, and it could hardly have come at a better time.

Channing Frye broke out of a horrendous shooting slump by making four 3-pointers for 14 points, and the Suns pulled away in the fourth quarter for the second game in a row to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-106 on Tuesday night and tie the Western Conference finals at two games apiece.

A series that looked like a Lakers' breeze a week ago is all even heading to Game 5 on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

The Suns reserves, considered an advantage entering the series but largely ineffective through three games, outscored their Laker counterparts 54-20. Leandro Barbosa scored 14 on 6-of-8 shooting and Jared Dudley added 11 points. Goran Dragic ran the show at point and had eight points and eight assists in 18 minutes.

Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 21 points. Steve Nash, playing with a broken nose, had 15 points and eight assists.

Kobe Bryant had 38 points and 10 assists as the reigning NBA champions fought back to lead briefly early in the fourth before the Suns backups stole the show.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry kept all five reserves in the game for almost the first nine minutes of the final quarter, and they produced an 18-3 run, and the Lakers never recovered. When Nash re-entered with 3:05 to play, those subs — usually playing against the Los Angeles starters — had turned an 87-85 deficit into a 103-94 lead.

"We believe in our bench," Gentry said. "Tonight they played as well as they could play."

Frye had made 1-of-21 shots in the series and missed 18 in a row when his second shot of the night, a 3-pointer, finally fell to the roar of the home crowd. Continue reading here...

Game Recap:


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NBA Conference Finals is here - watch it live

Four NBA teams are left. Who will advance to the NBA Finals? It will start today 3:30PM ET, Boston Celtics against Orlando Magic.

Celtics vs Magic

Magic has the home court advantage all through out the playoffs(even in NBA finals) because they have the second best record in the NBA regular season. But Celtics proved that they don't need home court advantage to win a series. The Celtics dumped the Cavaliers 4-2 while the Magic gave no mercy in sweeping the Atlanta Hawks of their own series.

For Orlando to win this series, their shooters should play well to free up the interior defence of the Celtics. Dwight Howard will really have a hard time because Kevin Garnet is healthy. Lets watch out for this two.

For Boston, I think they have the advantage because of experience and the good news for them is their Big Three are all healthy. But I still believe that Rajon Rondo is still the catalyst of this team. He should play well like what he did in the Cavaliers series.

Prediction: Celtics 4-2

Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns

Lakers reached the Conference finals for the third straight year. They swept the Utah Jazz and the Suns swept the Spurs also. Suns pick-n-roll offense will be in trouble because the Lakers has the formula to stop it(look what they did in Jazz series). But Steve Nash will be the main catalyst of the Suns, he should distribute the ball well and be aggressive in defense.

For the Lakers, they should tighten their defense and cover all the shooters well. Lakers have all the advantage especially their twin towers. This series is fun to watch and the Lakers are very eager to revenge their playoffs losses to the Suns. Kobe Bryant will still be the go to guy of the Lakers.

Prediction: Lakers 4-1

Watch the NBA Conference Final Games at NBA TODAY

Boston Celtics eliminates Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kevin Garnet carries the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals against the Orlando Magic. He scored 22 pts in 11-19 fgs and added 10 rebounds in leading the Celtics against the Cavs, 94-85. Lebron James scored 27 pts but he had 9 turnovers.

It is the second straight year that Lebron James season ends in a lossing cause. The question now is will Lebron stays in Cleveland? Maybe yes or maybe no. But I think Cavs should replace their coach, Mike Brown is a great coach during NBA regular season but he is awful during the playoff. Lebron James deserved to stay in Cavaliers but he need a great coach that inspires the team during NBA playoffs.

For Boston, their championship form is back and Orlando Magic will be in trouble. It will be a great Eastern Conference Finals series that will start on Sunday afternoon.

Game Recap


P.S.
Watch Eastern Conference Finals and Western Conference Finals here.

Raptors Unable To Extinguish Wade's Heat

Turkoglu Did Not Play; Miami 97 Toronto 94

The irony was awfully thick, and not lost on anybody.

As the Toronto Raptors' game wound down last night against the Miami Heat, their offence sputtered. They could have used somebody to deflect the attention from Chris Bosh. They could have used Hedo Turkoglu.

But Turkoglu, the under-achieving forward, did not play in the Raptors' 97-94 loss. He was in uniform, but he was on the bench.

"He was active, it was a coach's decision to not play him," Raptors coach Jay Triano said, adding he made that decision because Turkoglu was not healthy--and to send a message.

The message dates back to earlier last week. Turkoglu left midway through Wednesday night's game against Utah with a stomach virus. He did not play against Denver on Friday--another loss--but was seen out on the town following the game.

Earlier yesterday, Turkoglu insisted he was just grabbing a bite to eat after the game. Apparently, that is not how the club saw it. When pressed, Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said the matter was handled internally.

Turkoglu, for his part, declined comment after the game. "I'm good, I'm good," he said.

"I don't make them decisions, man," swingman Antoine Wright said. "I think we need everything in this locker room to play basketball, in my personal opinion."

That was obvious. With Dwyane Wade routinely shredding the defence as the Heat came back from a deficit that was as large as 17 points, the Raptors could get nothing going offensively.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2738149#ixzz0jZx9EobD
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Kobe Bryant's hard to embrace, but he's clearly the best clutch player in the game

The Lakers guard can work miracles, but he doesn't make it easy.
By Mark Heisler

Kobe or not Kobe, the mystery, wrapped in an enigma, wearing No. 24, continues....

There was never an icon, or whatever Kobe Bryant is, like Kobe Bryant, who's held at arm's length even by a segment of Lakerdom.

When he broke Jerry West's scoring record a wave of protest arose — among Lakers fans — offended by the suggestion that it made him the greatest Laker.

Kobe takes your breath away, but so did West and Magic Johnson, who also tugged at your heartstrings.

If Kobe realizes you have heartstrings, he doesn't know how to tug at them, although he's gone through enough PR people trying.

What setting a Lakers scoring record lacked in drama, Bryant is making up for with six game-winning shots — thus far — in his Miracles R Us season.

Of course, Kobe being Kobe, even this is arguable.

ESPN's Henry Abbott, who had Bryant as a guy who made big shots "at a pretty good, but not elite, rate," now says he's "open to the idea he could still be the best clutch player in the NBA."

That's good because Bryant is far and away the best clutch player in the NBA.

LeBron James's shooting has improved enough to put him in Bryant's class, but he doesn't have the same body of work.

If anyone seems close to them, it's because you can't measure "clutch."

The Elias Sports Bureau now has a stat called "game-winners," counting shots that put your team ahead to stay in the last 10 seconds.

Not that breaking a tie with 10 seconds left is like bringing your team from two points behind in the last :04 — as Bryant has done three times, against Miami, Sacramento and Memphis.

Two more Kobe jumpers in the last :07 brought them from one point behind in Boston and Milwaukee.

Then, there was last week's relative anti-climax, an 18-footer with 1.9 seconds left, breaking a 107-107 tie with Toronto.

Bryant's six game-winners, the most in a season since 2000, and his 20 for the decade to No. 2 Vince Carter's 13, are officially incomparable — because the NBA didn't archive play-by-plays until 1998.

We don't know how many West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Michael Jordan made, but with or without stats, they were a different species from Carter.

Read More at latimes.com

Kobe returns and sinks Grizzlies, 99-98

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Hitting a game-winning shot never gets old for Kobe Bryant.

“Every time it feels like the first time,” he said.

Bryant returned to lineup after missing five games with an ankle injury and made a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to 99-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night.

Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, including his team’s final nine points. His 3-pointer with 54 seconds left tied the game at 96-all. His game-winner came off an inbounds play 4 seconds after his layup attempt was blocked by Rudy Gay.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(notes), right, shoots over Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol(notes) (33) of Spain in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 in Memphis, Tenn. The Lakers beat the Grizzlies 99-98.

“He kept making plays at the end of the game,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said of Bryant. “Great players make great plays. You’ve got to give him his due (but) it hurts.”

Bryant’s late scoring spree came after the Lakers had missed five straight free throws and trailed, 95-90, with 2:59 left. He began his nine-point run with a jumper from the left wing with 2:23 to go to trim the Memphis lead to 95-92.

After Gay’s free throw, Bryant dropped in a technical free throw to make it 96-93. Gay scored again with 40 seconds left to up the Grizzlies lead to 98-93 before Bryant’s back-to-back 3-pointers won it for the Lakers.

“Only in Hollywood, I guess,” Bryant said. “It’s fun. It’s my responsibility to make plays down the stretch. I enjoy it.”

Pau Gasol added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the seventh time in their last eight road games.

“Nobody in the world is shocked anymore by what Kobe Bryant does and what he brings to the team,” Gasol said. “He really stepped up at the end. It feels good to have him back.” Read More

source: sports.yahoo.com/nba

Injury-Plagued Kobe Eyes Tuesday Return Vs. Grizzlies

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant eyes a much-awaited return against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, after missing five regular-season games due to various injuries.
Bryant reportedly attended the team’s practice Saturday for the first time since February 15. Bryant, the 2008 NBA regular-season MVP, remains as the Lakers all-around court leader, averaging 28 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
Without Bryant, the Lakers still went 4-1 with forwards Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Ron Artest leading the way.
The Lakers also received quality minutes from reserve guard Shannon Brown, who averaged 15.3 points in the last three games.
Bryant said he felt good at practice and only needs days to get back at full strength.
Meanwhile, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he’ll evaluate Bryant’s condition to see if the injuries don’t affect his superstar guard.
Bryant will try to reach another milestone in Memphis, as he plays his 1,000th career game.
Last month, Bryant surpassed NBA legend Jerry West to become the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer before the Grizzlies home crowd.
Bryant will undergo a series of physical test Sunday to reevaluate his injuries, but still expects a Tuesday return.
“The ankle should be ready to play Tuesday… If it’s not, I’m firing everybody,” Bryant joked to ESPN. “It’s been long enough.”

source: gantdaily.com

Kidd, Mavericks overcome Heat-less Wade 97-91

DALLAS—Jason Kidd knew his Dallas Mavericks needed a jolt in the fourth quarter, so the pass-first point guard decided to take charge offensively.

Kidd scored 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter, Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and the Dallas Mavericks held off the short-handed Miami Heat 97-91 Saturday night.

With All-Star game MVP Dwyane Wade missing his second consecutive game with a strained left calf, Kidd knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:21 left that gave Dallas the lead for good.

Kidd sees the season winding down and said it is time for the Mavericks, who have the fourth-best record in the West, to make a push.

"We had 30 games left after the All-Star break," said Kidd, who is second all-time in assists with 10,705. "Being a veteran ballclub, we understand what's at stake. So the dress rehearsal is over and we've got to get serious."

Wade, who was the NBA Finals MVP in 2006 when the Heat beat the Mavericks, was in a suit and a protective walking boot as he watched his team's five-game winning streak end. Without their star on Friday, the Heat beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-87 in double overtime.

On Saturday, Miami fizzled offensively down the stretch. The Heat scored 12 points in the third quarter and couldn't match the Mavericks' offensive surge late.

"It's a lesson for us that regardless of whether Dwyane plays or not, our formula and game plan have to be the same," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Collectively, we can make each other better. But if the ball stops moving, it becomes a stagnant game for us."

Kidd scored 19 points in the second half as the Mavericks rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to beat Miami for the 12th straight time in the regular season.

Caron Butler had 20 points and Kidd had 11 assists for the Mavericks, who have won three in a row. Kidd also had three steals and is one shy of tying Scottie Pippen for fifth place on the career list.

Kidd hit all three of his shots and six of seven free throws in the fourth.

"After the All-Star break, he's been phenomenal," Nowitzki said. "He's been pushing the ball and scoring."

Daequan Cook scored a season-high 22 points, and Jermaine O'Neal added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat.

"I think overall we played well without Dwyane," Miami forward Udonis Haslem said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win. They just made plays and we didn't."

Kidd hit a 3-pointer that gave Dallas a 71-64 lead after three and then scored his team's first 11 points of the fourth. He was one point away from tying his season-high point total.

Miami's Mario Chalmers drove for a layup to make it 79-79 with 4:34 left.

Kidd followed with a 3-pointer, Nowitzki hit two free throws and Brendan Haywood put back a miss to make it 86-79 with 2:57 remaining.

The Mavericks hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final minute as they increased their lead in the Southwest Division to 2 1/2 games over the San Antonio Spurs.

"We had to fight and scrap to get the win," Haywood said. "We didn't have the energy we needed in the first half. Dirk and (Kidd) had a great game and they really pulled us through."

Miami jumped out to a 52-44 halftime lead before Dallas rallied with a 19-5 run over the final 8:07 of the third.

Shawn Marion, who scored six points in the spurt, drove for a layup to tie it at 60. Nowitzki hit a jumper to give Dallas a 66-64 lead, and Kidd connected on a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to seven with 1:53 remaining in the third.

The Heat went 5 of 13 from the floor in the third quarter and committed six turnovers.

source: mercurynews.com

Lakers Ready For Kobe To Return Without Kobe the Lakers are good, but the Celtics showed why they need him to win it all.

Down one and with 2.2 seconds to get off a shot to win the game Thursday against the Celtics, the Lakers looked confused. The play was broken and the ball ended up in Derek Fisher’s hand as he tried to dribble around to Celtics players and launch a game winner. He couldn’t.

Derek Fisher can hit game winners — he’s hit a lot in his time as a Laker — but he never had to create the shot itself. Kobe did that, and if all the defense came to Kobe, Fisher found himself with the ball and an open look.

But there was no Kobe on Thursday. And the Lakers are ready to get him back, because that game showed that while still good the Lakers are not elite without him.

The Lakers have done well while Kobe rests up an ankle injured when Lamar Odom stepped on his foot as Kobe tried to move. They are 4-1, with wins over Portland in Portland and over Utah. Trying to make up for Kobe’s absence the Lakers have played better defense than they have all season, and the ball and player movement on offense has been improved.

But the Celtics showed where the Lakers missed Kobe. Usually Kobe takes over the offense at the end of games — something some Lakers fans complain about — and without him the Lakers went 1-10 down the stretch and scored just two points in the final seven minutes of the loss to the Celtics. Read More

source:nbclosangeles

Carmelo Anthony has last word vs. LeBron James

CLEVELAND -- Carmelo Anthony scored 40 points, including the winning basket, and Denver overcame LeBron James' monstrous night to end the Cavaliers' 13-game winning streak with a 118-116 victory in overtime Thursday night in coach George Karl's first game since revealing he has neck and throat cancer.
"I think he's happy," Anthony said of Karl. "This boosted his spirit up a lot. In the back of our mind, we know his situation. We're playing for him."

James had his triple-double by the end of regulation, and became the first NBA player with at least 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists, two steals and four blocks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

James is also the first player to have at least 40 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in a game since Oscar Robertson had 42 points, 18 assists and 15 rebounds Feb. 13, 1962.

Anthony matched James shot for shot, hitting the winner on a deep jumper with 1.9 seconds left.

"It's finally me being on the other end, I guess," James said. "I'm so used to being on the other end making shots and looking at guys. It's a great player and a great shot. If I got any closer, I was going to foul him. Big shot."

Cleveland had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but James slipped while taking the inbound pass and his three-pointer rattled off the rim.

"It was a great game to watch, but I'm not sure it will go on my coaching résumé as very polished," Karl said. "We probably should have won the game a little easier. We kept giving them chances, and they kept taking advantage of them."

Karl likely will miss some games and practices while undergoing a rigorous six-week treatment program of radiation and chemotherapy, but he accompanied the Nuggets on their two-game trip after deciding against taking time off now.

"I think I need the gym and I need the juice of being happy about kicking someone's butt and preparing and watching video," Karl said.

Former Piston Chauncey Billups added 18 points and eight assists for Denver. Read More

source:freep.com

Mavericks strong in defense to beat Magic

The Dallas Mavericks rode a surprisingly strong defensive effort to beat the Orlando Magic 95-85 in a clash of NBA divisional leaders on Friday.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and new additions Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood had 16 and 15 respectively for Dallas, which opened a two-game lead atop the Southwest Division.

Dwight Howard had 29 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks for Orlando, which could not improve on its 1-1/2 game advantage in the Southeast Division.

After allowing Orlando to shoot 65 percent and score 33 points in the first period, the Mavericks limited the Magic to just 34 percent shooting and 62 points the rest of the game.

Bobcats 110, Cavaliers 93

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte took advantage of Antawn Jamison's miserable debut for Cleveland in a result that sent the NBA-leading Cavaliers to back-to-back defeats.

Two days after being acquired from Washington in a key trade, Jamison came off the bench and promptly went 0 for 12 from the field. He was blocked five times and tossed up two airballs, while looking out of sync with his new teammates.

Stephen Jackson scored 29 points to lead the Bobcats, who used a big run to end the third quarter to beat the Cavaliers for a third straight time and take the season series 3-1 in a possible first-round playoff preview.

LeBron James had 22 points and nine assists for Cleveland. Read More

source:etaiwannews.net

ANTHONY'S LATE OT WINNER HELPS NUGGETS SNAP CAVS' WIN STREAK

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony sank the go-ahead jumper over LeBron James with 1.9 seconds left in overtime, and James missed a game- winning three at the other end as Denver took a 118-116 win over Cleveland.

James had a 43-point, 15-assist, 13-rebound triple-double for the Cavaliers, and sank a game-tying three in the final minute of regulation. But it was Anthony who came up huge in the final seconds of the extra session as Denver snapped Cleveland's 13-game winning streak.

Anthony finished with 40 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Nuggets, who swept the season series, having taken a two-point win over Cleveland on January 8 in Denver.

Kenyon Martin had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Denver, which was playing its first game since head coach George Karl disclosed Tuesday he has a treatable form of neck and throat cancer.

Shaquille O'Neal had 18 points for Cleveland, which also had its 11-game home winning streak come to an end.

In overtime, Chauncey Billups sank a key three from the left corner, which put the Nuggets ahead 116-111 with 1:18 on the clock. But the Cavaliers came back, beginning with Anthony Parker's two foul shots moments later.

After a series of missed shots, James drove past Nene on the left side and got his runner to fall as he was fouled. The subsequent free throw evened the game with 23.1 seconds to play.

The Nuggets went to Anthony at the other end and the star delivered. He quickly rose for a shot on the left side, getting it off over James' outstretched arm, and the ball fell through with 1.9 on the clock.

James got the ball on an inbounds play and slipped, but managed to get a long three-pointer away before the buzzer. Incredibly, it was on the mark, but the ball hit off the rim to seal the Nuggets' win.

The end of regulation provided similar theatrics to send the contest to an extra session.

With just under two minutes left, Martin sank a jumper to make it a 102-102 game, and Billups sank two foul shots moments later to put the Nuggets in front.

James then made only 1-of-2 from the line before he and Anthony put on a coast-to-coast exhibition of great players at work. First, Anthony had the ball with his back to James and spun to his left to get into open space. Anthony quickly shifted direction before getting a short shot to fall for a 106-103 edge with 57.5 seconds left.

But James had an almost immediate answer, draining a three less than 10 seconds later.

Both teams had chances for points in the remaining time, but Parker missed a three before Billups' three was off the mark. James missed a desperation three at the buzzer sounded.

Martin had 10 points and five rebounds in the first quarter to help the Nuggets take a 31-21 lead. They expanded their lead to a game-high 15 several times early in the frame, including when a J.R. Smith jumper made it 38-23.

However, the Cavaliers scored the next eight points and were within 52-44 at the break.

Cleveland drew even with a five-point burst near the midway point of the third quarter. James ended it with a jumper for a 60-60 game, and the Cavaliers edged in front later in the frame, taking a 79-75 edge to the fourth.

Cleveland was ahead 94-87 with just under eight minutes left, but the Nuggets followed with the next seven points to even the score again. Read More

source: tsn.ca

LeBron deserves great teammates more than once per year

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Once a year we get to see it. But only once a year. It's not enough to sustain me, but it'll have to do, because this is all there is. It's the NBA All-Star Game, and this is what it looks like when LeBron James plays with great teammates.
This is what I want to see on a regular basis, only I can't, because James plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers -- and Cleveland has one of the worst supporting casts in the NBA. If you doubt the last dozen words of that sentence, see for yourself. It isn't hard. Mentally remove the best player from every team in the league, and then study what's left. On almost any roster you can name, players 2-12 will be better than players 2-12 on Cleveland's roster. That's a fact.

Cleveland has a 43-11 record, best in the NBA by two full games. That's also a fact. And it's a testament to the talent of James, the NBA's most complete player since Michael Jordan and, before him, Oscar Robertson.

That's another fact.

Once a year, in this showcase, we get to see what it would look like for James to play with another great player. He plays with a whole roster of great players, which skews things a little bit. On Sunday he had Dwyane Wade at the point and Joe Johnson on the wing and Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard in the paint. That's absurd, and it's never going to happen in Cleveland or any other NBA city. The salary cap won't allow it. But the salary cap would allow for James to play with another great player, as the salary cap has allowed in the past with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers.

True, O'Neal is James' teammate in Cleveland -- but it's not the same O'Neal. The Shaq who played with Kobe was good for 28 points and 13 rebounds per game. This one is averaging 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. This is half-a-Shaq.

LeBron deserves better, but he has always deserved better, sort of like Michael Jordan deserved better than the garbage roster he was thrust onto when the Bulls drafted him in 1984. Eventually Jordan got Scottie Pippen, and you know the rest. LeBron wants more than what he has in Cleveland. He practically said so after the game Sunday night.

"You want to play with guys that are great and want to win and want to compete at a high level every night," he said. "We'll see."

On Sunday, we saw. I asked Wade what it's like to play with LeBron once a year, and Wade started smiling. Maybe he was thinking of that alley-oop he threw to James, a lob that James caught in mid-spin, finishing the play with a reverse dunk. Moments later, James did the throwing and Wade did the dunking. No spin. All power.

"Yeah, you see the connection we both have," he said, nodding. "Especially going to the basket, lobs, finding each other. I get the opportunity to be his teammate for one day, and I'm going to enjoy it. He makes the game easy for all his teammates. You see that in Cleveland."

No question about that. As I've noted, Cleveland has the best record in the NBA. Lots of you will tell me the Cavaliers' record proves that they have more talent than I'm giving them credit for -- that there's no way the worst supporting cast in the NBA could produce the best record in the NBA. If that's your position, there are two problems with that:

One, LeBron is that good. The last player to average 30 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for an entire season was Jordan in 1989. Before that, it was Oscar Robertson in 1966. James is on the verge of doing it this season, averaging 29.9 ppg, 8.3 assists and 7.1 rebounds.

Two, LeBron's supporting cast is that bad. This weekend in Dallas, there were 28 All-Stars. There were another 18 future stars in the NBA Rookie-Sophomore Challenge. There were six players in the 3-Point Shootout, five in the Slam Dunk Contest and four in the Skills test. That's a total of 61 players. Guess how many of them came from Cleveland? Other than LeBron, I mean. Read More

source:cbssports.com

NBA All Star Feb 13, 2010 Summary

Winners of the NBA All Star Feb 13, 2010 Events

1. Steve Nash wins Taco Bell Skills Challenge.

Facing a significantly younger field, Suns point guard Steve Nash captured his second skills title in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Saturday Night.

“I asked them since I’m a lot older if I could start at the second rack,” Nash joked to TNT Cheryl Miller after the competition.

Nash cruised into the second round as one of the top two times on the dribbling, passing and shooting course. Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams posted the best first-round time of 34.1 seconds, just better than Nash’s 35.0, which just barely edged Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings’ 35.7 seconds.

Nash improved in the second round, posting a time of 29.9 seconds, and Williams’ passing seemed to fall apart as he finished in 37.9 seconds. read more



2. Paul Pierce wins Foot Locker Three-Point Contest

Paul Pierce last night became the first Celtic to win the 3-point Shootout since Larry Bird took the first two titles in 1986 and ’87. Pierce (20 points) outshot Stephen Curry (17) and Chauncey Billups (14). Pierce was 15 for 25 and converted all five “money’’ balls, receiving 2 points for each.

With teammates Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sitting courtside, Pierce used gamesmanship to disrupt the rhythm of his opponents. Pierce knocked a ball off the rack and pulled the velcro on one of Curry’s shoes when Curry had a chance to surpass Pierce in the final round. read more



3. Nate Robinson wins Sprite Slam Dunk
DALLAS - If only an NBA season consisted of 82 slam dunk competitions instead of actual games, Nate Robinson would be a superstar and out of Mike D'Antoni's doghouse for good.

Robinson may be struggling with the Knicks but here at All-Star Weekend, Lil' Him is still the king. Robinson became the first three-time slam dunk champion Saturday night, beating a weak field in a competition that failed to measure up to last year's showdown in Phoenix between Robinson and Orlando's Dwight Howard.

Robinson beat Toronto rookie DeMar Derozan in the final and did something Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant never did.

"No more titles," Robinson said. "I'm finished. It's the last one." read more

Kidd replaces injured Kobe; Lee steps in for Iverson

DALLAS, Feb. 11, 2010 -- Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd and New York Knicks forward David Lee have been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Kobe Bryant (ankle) of the Los Angeles Lakers and East All-Star guard Allen Iverson (personal reasons) of the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

Kidd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-NBA First Team selection, will be making his 10th NBA All-Star Game appearance. Lee, in his fifth NBA season, has recorded 30 double-doubles on the season for the Knicks and will be making his first NBA All-Star appearance.

West All-Star head coach George Karl and East All-Star head coach Stan Van Gundy will determine which players will replace Bryant and Iverson in the starting lineup.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14.

sources:nba.com

James sparks Cavs to franchise-tying 13th straight win

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - LeBron James put up 32 points and 13 assists to propel the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-106 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, tying a franchise record with their 13th straight victory.

The league's reigning MVP spearheaded the fourth-quarter surge which decided the game.

The Cavaliers trailed by two with 7:31 left before James scored or assisted on five straight baskets during an 11-0 run that sunk the Magic.

Cleveland (43-11) matched the win streak it set last season while winning a second straight against Orlando (36-18) in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Final.

Dwight Howard had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Rashard Lewis added 19 for the Magic, who trailed for the majority of the first half before turning the game into a nip-and-tuck affair.

Orlando topped the Cavaliers 4-2 in the best-of-seven playoff series last May but currently trail their NBA-best foe by seven games.

source:reuters.com

Cavaliers vs Magic preview

With the longest winning streak in the NBA this season and the league's best record, the Cleveland Cavaliers look pretty unbeatable at the moment.

Then again, they looked that way to everyone but the Orlando Magic last spring.

Cleveland can tie its franchise record with a 13th straight win Thursday night against the Magic, who visit Quicken Loans Arena for the first time since stunning LeBron James and the Cavaliers in last season's Eastern Conference finals.

James won his first MVP award last season while leading Cleveland to a league-best 66-16 record, but Orlando shocked the Cavaliers in six games before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals.

Little has changed in 2009-10. James (29.8 points per game) leads the league in scoring and has Cleveland (42-11) six games ahead of the Magic (36-17) for the East's best record heading into the teams' second meeting since late May.

James had 36 points in a 102-93 win at Orlando on Nov. 11.

"They're coming into our building, and right now we're the best team in the NBA,'' James said after finishing with 32 points and 11 assists Tuesday as the Cavaliers beat New Jersey 104-97 for their 12th consecutive victory. "It's going to be a fun one.''

Cleveland has won 21 of 22 at home.

James has been busy lately aside from averaging 38.3 points in his last three games. He and Olympic teammate Dwight Howard joined forces for a Super Bowl commercial, and they'll be playing together for the fourth time on the East All-Star squad Sunday in Dallas. continue

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