Mavericks lead Heat 44-43 after uneven first half

The game is the opener of the best-of-seven NBA Finals, a series that continues with Game 2 Thursday night, also at AmericanAirlines Arena. There was little offensive rhythm through the opening two periods, with Dallas handling much of its offense ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sfl-miami-heat-dallas-mavericks-s053111,0,2599769.story

NBA Finals, Game 1: 5 things to watch

The NBA's Stats Cube tells us that Wade scored only a single field goal during the 30 minutes he shared the floor with Stevenson this season. When Stevenson took a seat, Wade exploded for 42 points in 50 minutes. But the Mavericks' most potent lineups ...

Read more at: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/8206/nba-finals-game-1-5-things-to-watch

NBA Finals matchup the result of two big decisions

Tony Gutierrez/ Asscoiated Press - The Mavericks rewarded Dirk Nowitzki, right, for resigning with the team by filling out his supporting cast with players such as Shawn Marion, left, who have helped put Dallas in position to play for its first NBA ...

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NBA Finals Storylines: Let's Hope for the Unexpected

Anyone my age or older might recall Super Bowl VI in 1973 when the Cowboys suffocated the Dolphins 24-3 and all, but the most recent of basketball fans can remember the 2006 NBA Finals when the Mavs could not deliver the knockout blow -- though they ...

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-strauss/nba-finals-storylines-let_b_868705.html

Cam Inman: Five games, then LeBron James' coronation

By Cam Inman Bay Area News Group Too bad a Connecticut Boys & Girls Club of America isn't hosting the NBA finals. Its gym in Greenwich served as the flash point for all this: LeBron James' championship bid with the Miami Heat. ...

Read more at: http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_18168039

Root for Dallas, lest the NBA turn into an AAU league

By Jim Burton Filed under E, for Easy Decision, is the question of which team Utah Jazz fans should root for in the upcoming NBA finals. While it may be somewhat distasteful for Jazz fans to align themselves with the Mavericks and their bombastic owner ...

Read more at: http://www.standard.net/topics/sports/2011/05/28/root-dallas-lest-nba-turn-aau-league

Dwyane Wade downplays injury concerns entering NBA Finals

Unlike the NFL, NBA teams are not required to detail specific injuries, even with the NBA Finals looming, starting Tuesday at 9 pm at AmericanAirlines Arena against the Dallas Mavericks. "Soreness from the contact and the nature of the series," was ...

Read more at: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view/20110528dwyane_wade_downplays_injury_concerns_entering_nba_finals/srvc=home&position=recent

NBA Saturday: Dirk Nowitzki's Second Chance

When the Dallas Mavericks lost the 2006 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat after leading the series 2-0, Dirk Nowitzki told those close to him that he would never let another opportunity to win a championship slip out of his grasp. Now, five years later, ...

Read more at: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19948

Mike Brown's no-win new job as Lakers coach

Talk about what must be the ultimate in no-win situations, trying to follow the glided path of someone named Phil Jackson and his 11 NBA championships. "It's funny you say that because I texted Mike Brown last night," remarked TNT analyst and former ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-mike-brown-20110528,0,907130.story

2011 NBA Finals: The Miami Heat are coming for the Dallas Mavericks

Those were the kind of moments witnessed by all in the Miami Heat's spectacular and nearly unbelievable comeback led by LeBron James(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes) in the final 3:14 of the fourth-quarter in their 83-80 Game 5 victory in the 2011 NBA ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8546101

Mavericks believe additions of Kidd and Chandler give team big edge

The Mavericks had been dropkicked out of the NBA Finals by losing the final four games against Miami after being up 2-0. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry were left to wonder when their next visit to the ultimate stage would happen. ...

Read more at: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/26/2906793/mavericks-believe-additions-of.html

Dallas Mavericks Advance To NBA Finals, Show They Are Complete Version Of ...

By Tom Ziller - NBA Contributor The Dallas Mavericks have advanced to the 2011 NBA Finals using just one star -- Dirk Nowitzki. The Chicago Bulls need to take notes. May 26, 2011 - In the era of two- and three-star NBA teams, the era of the Boston ...

Read more at: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/5/26/2191183/dallas-mavericks-nba-finals-dirk-nowitzki

Miami Heat ready for a trip to NBA Finals

The Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) blocks the shot of Derrick Rose, middle, of the Chicago Bulls in the second quarter of Game 4 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. ...

Read more at: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/25/2235520/miami-heat-ready-for-a-trip-to.html

LeBron James, Best Basketball Player On Earth

By Andrew Sharp - Editor LeBron James carried the Miami Heat against the Chicago Bulls in Game 4, and aside from putting his team one win away from the NBA Finals, it proved once and for all... Love him or hate him, LeBron James is the best basketball ...

Read more at: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/5/25/2189258/lebron-james-miami-heat-nba-finals-2011-chicago-bulls

NBA players association alleges unfair labor practices

By Lance Pugmire NBA players on Tuesday filed an unfair labor practices charge against the league with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging "harsh, inflexible and grossly regressive 'takeaway' demands." The National Basketball Players Assn. ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nba-labor-20110525,0,7945698.story

David Stern inconsistent with discipliine regarding gay slur: Fan reaction

Kobe Bryant(notes) became the poster boy for homophobic insensitivity when he lobbed a gay slur at referee Bennie Adams in the NBA Playoffs. The result of the incident was: a $100000 fine imposed by David Stern, an admonishment of Kobe in public by ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8525609

For the Chicago Bulls, this is growing up

Chicago's Joakim Noah was fined by the NBA on Monday after making an anti-gay slur during the Bulls' loss to the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday. (Joe Skipper / Reuters / May 22, 2011) By Mark Heisler "He's 19 years old ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-heisler-bulls-heat-20110524,0,3464246.column

Udonis Haslem Still Major Key to Miami Heat's Title Hopes

Udonis Haslem was once again an understated, yet crucial key to the Miami Heat's 96-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 of the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, as he complimented Chris Bosh's incredible 34-point performance with eight points ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-8511813

Live NBA blog: Heat pull away in 4th Qtr., Bosh has 32

By Tom Weir, USA TODAY We're live-blogging Game 3 of the Heat-Bulls playoff series tonight. (Broadcast on TNT, starting at 8:30 ET.) The series is tied at 1-1, and tonight's game is at Miami. 10:48: Just under 5 minutes left. ...

Read more at: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/miami-heat-chicago-bulls-live-blog-game-3-nba/1

2011 NBA Playoffs Preview: Heat to Take Control v. Bulls in Game 3

Reality struck Chicago back at its core: the Bulls are an incredibly talented team with a vast array of talent, an admirable defensive stronghold and one of the most gifted players in the NBA in Rose. All is well, but Miami shares the first two ...

Read more at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/2011-nba-playoffs-preview-heat-to-take-control-v-bulls-in-game-3

Cleveland Cavaliers inspire plenty of mock draft speculation, but not much ...

By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer View full sizeBill Kostroun / Associated PressKyrie Irving is the heavy favorite by fans and NBA observers who offer mock drafts to become a Cleveland Cavalier. But since the team isn't announcing their plans, ...

Read more at: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/05/cleveland_cavaliers_inspire_pl.html

NBA Saturday: The Mystery Man

By choosing to take one year off of basketball, NBA teams aren't sure what to expect from the Turkish prodigy and many question marks surround his game. "I've talked to a few teams and they're just trying to get to know me because they haven't seen me ...

Read more at: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19866

Cleveland native David Lighty job hunting at NBA combine: NBA Draft Insider

CHICAGO â€" David Lighty went through plenty in his career at Ohio State, but he admits he has never been through anything more competitive or pressure-filled than the NBA combine and the process leading up to the NBA draft. ...

Read more at: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/05/cleveland_native_david_lighty.html

Sturm's Morning After: Game 2 - OKC 106, Mavericks 100 (1-1)

Not many NBA teams are able to span 27 days between playoff losses. But, the span will go no longer for the Dallas Mavericks as they were punched hard in the gut on Thursday Night at the AAC, dropping a 106-100 Thriller in Game 2 to Oklahoma City. ...

Read more at: http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/sturms-morning-after-game-2---okc-106-ma.html

Arizona forward Derrick Williams believes he's best in the class, not Kyrie Irving

CHICAGO -- Derrick Williams must have missed the memo, the letter explaining how this predraft camp is so often used as a mutual admiration society between the players slated to become the NBA's next best and brightest. The forward out of Arizona, ...

Read more at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/05/19/predraft.camp.day1/

Duke's Kyrie Irving skipping athletic tests at NBA combine; agent says guard ...

1 draft pick will get medical tests at the NBA combine but is skipping the on-court tests and drills. Irving has been working out for two hours every day, said agent Jeffrey Wechsler. Irving likely will be selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers, ...

Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/dukes-kyrie-irving-skipping-athletic-tests-at-nba-combine-agent-says-guard-is-fine/2011/05/19/AFQiLB7G_story.html

Who will be the top 5 picks in the NBA draft?

The Cavaliers are taking Duke's Kyrie Irving first overall, and that's about as set in stone as an NBA draft pick can be in mid-May. Past that, though, things get a little hazy. Will the Timberwolves take Arizona power forward Derrick Williams with ...

Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-110518-four-corners,0,1512150.column

Charles Barkley says everybody in NBA has had gay teammates

By Tom Weir, USA TODAY Charles Barkley says he had gay teammates in the NBA, that it was no big deal, and that it's time for people to quit believing that gays face bigger obstacles in sports than elsewhere. "I didn't think it . . . they were gay," ...

Read more at: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/charles-barkley-gay-teammates-nba/1

As NBA draft approaches, Washington Wizards want to continue following ...

By Jason Reid, The Thunder has reached the Western Conference finals just three seasons after suffering a franchise-record 62 losses, relying on the serendipity of the NBA draft lottery, strong scouting, shrewd trades and an overall sound strategy to ...

Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/as-nba-draft-approaches-washington-wizards-want-to-continue-following-oklahoma-city-thunder-model/2011/05/17/AFiew55G_story.html

NBA Playoff Schedule: Monday In Big D, Thunder And Durant Forecast

The Dallas Mavericks will finally be lacing up their shoes in anger on Tuesday night as the schedule wakes them from their eight-day hibernation and host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals. ...

Read more at: http://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/5/17/2175264/2011-nba-playoff-schedule-monday-dallas-mavericks-okc-thunder

NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals Offer Exciting Matchups

I love the NBA, but I often tire of seeing the same old teams still playing at the end of the season. For a lot of years, it was the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics in the mix late in the season. Later, the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8486573

Suns president Rick Welts tells The New York Times he's gay

By Eric Freeman We've learned in recent weeks that the NBA still has a complicated relationship with anything other than the most heteronormative forms of sexuality. Kobe Bryant's unfortunate slur and his subsequent non-apology were not the league's ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Suns-president-Rick-Welts-tells-The-New-York-Tim?urn=nba-wp3254

Watching the NBA playoffs provides reminders of what the Lakers don't have

That helped spur three consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two back-to-back championships. But fans may have wished, quietly, for a temporary Marc loan or that they'd just switch places for a bit, and we'd pretend not to see the difference (Paul is ...

Read more at: http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/05/watching-the-nba-playoffs-provides-a-reminder-of-what-the-lakers-dont-have.html?cid=6a00d8341c506253ef014e8874e1b1970d

Commentary: In NBA history, few 'small' guys measure up to Dwyane Wade

Wade finished a distant seventh in MVP voting, fell off the All-NBA First-Team after two seasons (getting trounced for the second guard spot by the statistically inferior Kobe Bryant) and fell off the All-Defensive Second-Team after two seasons ...

Read more at: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/heat/commentary-in-nba-history-few-small-guys-measure-1475326.html

Answering your NBA draft lottery FAQ

By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer View full sizeAP photoWhen the Chicago Bulls won the NBA draft lottery in 1999, GM Jerry Krause couldn't contain his excitement for a No. 1 pick who eventually became Duke's Elton Brand -- who played all of two ...

Read more at: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/05/answering_your_nba_draft_lotte.html

Bull vs Heat: Analysis of NBA Conference Title Game

Wade led the Heat to the 2006 NBA title, and Rose is helping to respark the Bulls' championship magic of the 1990s. Better yet, the Bulls have secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs after closing the regular season with the best record in ...

Read more at: http://desplaines.patch.com/articles/bull-vs-heat-analysis-of-nba-conference-title-game-3

Through it all, Flea still bleedin' purple and gold

By Flea, for NBA.com 3. Ralph Sampson's absurd turn around Hail Mary from the free-throw line with micro seconds left on the clock to help the Rockets beat the Lakers in the second round in the mid 80s. 2. The Celtics coming back from like 30 or ...

Read more at: http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/05/13/flea-blog/

NBA's Grizzlies inspired by fans in flooded Memphis

By Ron Higgins, Special to CNN Memphis, Tennessee (CNN) -- People thought that as bad the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise has mostly been since moving from frosty Vancouver to this steamy Southern locale 10 years ago, it would be hell or high water ...

Read more at: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/13/memphis.floods.grizzlies/?hpt=C2

Jackson ready for life outside NBA

The Zen Master is stepping out with aspirations of traveling and other plans that don't include coaching in the NBA in the future. Phil Jackson met with the media Wednesday, likely as the last time as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-tsn-acn-jackson-lal-p1-20110511,0,5352099.story

Lakers embarrass the NBA logo

Tom has covered every Summer and Winter Olympics since 1984, and has made numerous trips to the Super Bowl, World Series, Final Four and NBA Finals. In 2009, he put more miles on his bicycle than on his car. Michael McCarthy and Michael Hiestand have ...

Read more at: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/lakers-embarrass-the-nba-logo/1

Sonicsgate, Kingsgate, and Why I'm Over the NBA

Because, let's be honest, half the fun of the NBA is the drama. They had Ego-exploded Gary Payton, Mullet-sporting Detlef Schrempf, stoner Shawn Kemp and then even stonier Vin Baker to name a few. It was a good little era, and I jumped in. ...

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-nereo/sonicsgate-kingsgate-and-_b_860328.html

Anyone else think Phil Jackson isn't done yet? Lakers fan reaction

Phil Jackson is looking for his 11th NBA Championship and if he does win he will stand alone as the greatest NBA coach of all time. "My belief is that he'll retire for a while," Carlisle said at the final press conference carried by NBA TV, ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8432771

Lakers' Next Coach

Jackson might've played coy in what was likely his final postgame press conference, joking "I haven't answered that, have I?" when pressed for a definitive statement on whether he'd coached his final NBA game Sunday. But Kupchack says he believes ...

Read more at: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6509777

Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins skips on senior season to stay in draft

DeAndre Liggins heard all he needed to hear to convince him that the time was right to jump to the NBA. So the University of Kentuckyguard will forgo his senior season and remain in the NBA draft, the school announced Sunday night. ...

Read more at: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/05/kentuckys-deandre-liggins-skips-on-senior-season-to-stay-in-draft/1

Kentucky G Liggins to keep name in NBA draft

Liggins announced Sunday he will turn pro rather than return for his senior season after talking to NBA scouts during a weekend camp hosted by the New Jersey Nets. The 6-foot-6 Liggins said it "was in the best interests of me and my family to stay in ...

Read more at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6510300&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Search Past 7 days Archives

Boston College junior guard Reggie Jackson announced that he will remain in the NBA draft. Jackson had until today to remove his name from draft consideration if he wanted to retain his eligibility. Jackson currently is in New Jersey for a pre-draft ...

Read more at: http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/oncampus/?p=356&srvc=blogs&position=recent

Jones spurns NBA draft, returns to Kentucky

Forward Terrence Jones announced Saturday that he'll withdraw from the NBA draft and return for his sophomore year at UK. He joins Doron Lamb as high-profile freshmen to eschew the one-and-done approach under Calipari, who lost freshmen John Wall, ...

Read more at: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110507/SPORTS03/305070108/Jones-spurns-NBA-draft-returns-Kentucky?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Jason Kidd talks about a last chance

By Calvin Watkins When you're 38-years-old and have played in the NBA for 17 seasons, you take nothing for granted. Jason Kidd is one of the oldest players in the league and he's now five victories away from his third appearance in the NBA Finals. ...

Read more at: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4677729/jason-kidd-talks-about-a-last-chance

With Dallas Leading, Outspoken Owner Lowers the Volume

When his emotions are released â€" and they frequently are â€" the result is often a fine leveled at Cuban by the NBA Keep up with the latest news, on the court and off, with The Times's basketball blog. But Cuban is suddenly doing his best to remain ...

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/07/sports/basketball/07mavericks.html

NBA AM: Lakers' Championship Run Nearing End?

The back-to-back NBA Champions haven't lost the first two games to start a series since the NBA Finals in 2008 -- the last year this team failed to win it all. The 2-0 deficit is even more alarming when you consider this is just the first time in the ...

Read more at: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19704

Lakers are done in NBA playoffs

Wilt Chamberlain spent a year with the Harlem Globetrotters before he won, Pau Gasol played professionally in Europe and David Robinson was a veteran rookie in the truest sense, serving two years in the Navy before making his NBA debut. ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-crowe-20110506,0,7683891.column

NBA Playoffs: Mavs Headed for Western Conference Finals?

Even after the Mavs took a 2-0 lead on the Portland Trail Blazers, I didn't think they had the stuff to make serious noise in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. And when the Blazers bounced back to tie the series at 2-all, I thought for sure the Mavs were free to ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8424637

Blake Griffin is unanimous choice for rookie of the year

The Clippers' power forward joins David Robinson and Ralph Sampson in an exclusive NBA club, but he wants to do more next season. By Lisa Dillman Next up for Blake Griffin: working on his free-throw shooting (Dad says), spending time at home in ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers-blake-griffin-20110505,0,6656050.story

Top five NBA Rookies of the Year

The Los Angeles Times reports Blake Griffin(notes) of the Los Angeles Clippers is the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year. The power forward from the University of Oklahoma will join many legendary players who have won the award for their exploits in their ...

Read more at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8417601

Source: Clippers' Griffin NBA's Rookie of Year

By Ramona Shelburne Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin will be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year Wednesday, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly on the announcement. Good things come to those who wait -- just ask Blake ...

Read more at: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6474012&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

The NBA's Rattled Royalty

By David Roth AP Despite appearances, the Lakers' Pau Gasol was not bitten by the talking ball in the NBA's playoff commercials late in his team's loss to Dallas. Eventually, these things have a way of working themselves out â€" the NBA playoffs are not ...

Read more at: http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2011/05/03/the-nbas-rattled-royalty/

Report: NBA crowns youngest MVP in histo

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose Monday night became the NBA's youngest ever MVP, the Chicago Tribune reported citing a source. The 22-year-old Rose had been favored to take out the award for months, having averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists in leading ...

Read more at: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/derrick-rose-reportedly-voted-mvp-050211

Sacramento Kings set to announce future plans

Co-owner George Maloof said he and his family have made that decision, but are waiting to announce it until they discuss their decision with NBA officials, The Sacramento Bee reported. "We need to get with the NBA and inform them first," Maloof said, ...

Read more at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6464636&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines

Paul Pierce should know better

By Jackie MacMullan ESPN NBA analyst Mike Brown talks about Paul Pierce's ejection and what the Celtics need to do to play better in game 2. MIAMI -- Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce climbed into a time capsule and vaulted himself back in history ...

Read more at: http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&id=6462944

NBA playoffs: Celtics vs. Heat in clash of the NBA's Big Threes

NBA playoffs: The Boston Celtics visit the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena Sunday for the first game of their second-round NBA Eastern Division playoff series. Tip-off at 3:30 pm Eastern time. Miami Heat's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Game ...

Read more at: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Sports/2011/0501/NBA-playoffs-Celtics-vs.-Heat-in-clash-of-the-NBA-s-Big-Threes