Getty Images What you missed while thinking you don’t hate your job as much as this guy…
Lakers 104, Warriors 101: What’s a Laker win without more drama?
During the game the drama was the Lakers not pulling away against an undersized Golden State side, then the Warriors fighting back from a double digits deficit in the fourth quarter to take the lead 97-95 on a David Lee bucket. That’s when Kobe Bryant did what he does — he drained to tough, contested jumpers in a row to give the Lakers the lead back for good.
But that’s only half the drama — Andrew Bynum attempted a three pointer from the top of the key two minutes into third quarter and was promptly benched by coach Mike Brown. He played only a short stint (2:49) at the start of the fourth quarter and while on the bench refused to join team huddles. Bynum acted like a pouty child. After the game he sounded even more immature and said the only problem with him taking a three was that he didn’t make it. Trust me, this is going to be a thing for the next couple of days.
Spurs 107, Suns 100: Our own Brett Pollakoff was at this one and files this recap:
The Suns had been playing their best basketball of the season heading into Tuesday’s home game against the Spurs. But Phoenix’s best still wasn’t good enough to take down San Antonio.
The Spurs executed masterfully offensively, while the Suns only did so at times. The result was another win for a deep and talented Spurs team that played with all three of its superstars for the first time in the last four games — all of which were wins.
It was odd seeing Boris Diaw contribute off the bench for the Spurs against his former team from a couple of years ago, but the damage he did was minimal. It was Tim Duncan and Tony Parker combining for 50 points that made the difference.
Shannon Brown did his best to keep the Suns close, filling in for the injured Grant Hill in the starting lineup with a career-high 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting. But the execution from the Spurs offensively never ceased, and when the Suns slowed down, a 13-2 run midway through the fourth quarter provided enough separation for the Spurs to seal it.
Sixers 103, Cavaliers 85: With the win the Sixers reclaim sole possession of the Atlantic Division (half a game over Boston). Philly played like a team with something on the line and the Cavaliers played like a young team playing out the string. Cleveland shot just 32 percent in the second quarter, fell behind by double digits and that was about it. Jodie Meeks had a big night, scoring 31 for Philly on just 16 shots.
Bucks 108, Hawks 101: That is what Monta Ellis can do — 17 points on 9 shots plus four assists in the fourth quarter to key the Bucks win. Ellis and Brandon Jennings still do not blend as a back court, but there are nights they can light up the scoreboard playing next to each other if not with each other. With this win, the Bucks move within two games of the Knicks for the final playoff spot in the East.
Grizzlies 93, Timberwolves 86: No Marc Gasol and Memphis still picks up a nice win. Memphis was the team that attacked the rim, they were rewarded with 28 free throw attempts (they hit 25). Dante Cunningham had an impressive 11 points and 14 boards on the night for Memphis to pick up the slack with Gasol out. Kevin Love with 28 points and 11 boards in a losing effort.
Mavericks 90, Rockets 81: Dallas won this game in the third quarter — they went on a 16-2 run while holding the Rockets to 12 points on 26 percent shooting. Dallas also got 21 points from Dirk Nowitzki and 48 from its bench. The loss dropped Houston half a game back of Denver for the final playoff spot in the West.
Thunder 109, Trail Blazers 95: This was pretty much the blowout you expected — Russell Westbrook owned the Blazers and had 32 points, Kevin Durant had 25 and this game really wasn’t in doubt from the second quarter on. We had a J.J. Hickson sighting, he had 21 off the bench for Portland.
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PBT Draft preview: Victor Oladipo may be the hottest prospect in the draft
May 23, 2013, 11:33 PM EDT
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For the next few weeks PBT will be profiling likely first-round draft picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Today we talk about Indiana’s wingman. ESPN’s well connected Chad Ford put it this simply in a chat Wednesday: “Oladipo is the guy that GMs love in this draft.” Victor Oladipo was one of those guys with…
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Celtics deny Nets permission to speak with head coach Doc Rivers
May 23, 2013, 11:20 PM EDT
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The Nets are looking to hire a big name with a strong track record to fill their vacant head coaching position, after parting ways with interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo following a season that ended with a first round playoff loss in seven games at the hands of the Bulls. Brooklyn reached out to Phil…
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AP
Most likely, the Cleveland Cavaliers will take Nerlens Noel with the No. 1 overall pick. When you think about their needs, a big man who can run the floor and defend the rim fits that. Of course, Noel is a project, a couple years away from really contributing much at all to an NBA team.…
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Roy Hibbert believes Shane Battier’s knee to his groin in Game 1 was intentional
May 23, 2013, 7:01 PM EDT
Late in the first quarter of the Heat’s overtime Game 1 win over the Pacers, Shane Battier drove into the lane and challenged Roy Hibbert on a layup attempt. Battier’s form was more than a little unorthodox as he went up for the shot, leading with his right knee that caught Hibbert squarely below the…
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PBT Extra: Talking Heat/Pacers, and why Indy might be optimistic
May 23, 2013, 6:51 PM EDT
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Today Kay Adams and I are talking what everyone else is — Heat vs. Pacers. I feel bad for Paul George because the Pacers wouldn’t have been in the game at the end if not for him, but that’s not what anyone will remember. And of course, we talk sitting Roy Hibbert a little —…
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Mike Krzyzewski must replace Nate McMillan as Team USA assistant
May 23, 2013, 6:11 PM EDT
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Mike Krzyzewski will return as Team USA’s head basketball coach, but he must replace both his NBA assistants. Not only is Mike D’Antoni moving on, so will Nate McMillan, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. McMillian, via Spears: “It was a great experience with Coach K,” McMillan said. “Jerry Colangelo did a great…
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If Phil Jackson could have any player to start a team it would be… Bill Russell
May 23, 2013, 5:16 PM EDT
AP
It’s all about the rings. For Phil Jackson — out promoting his book “Eleven Rings” — it’s always been about the hardware. It’s about building a real team around the stars he was given, about managing the egos, about having a team that didn’t seem fazed by the biggest stages. So when Time Magazine asked…
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Sixers GM Hinkie missed draft lottery… maybe to talk to Brian Shaw?
May 23, 2013, 4:10 PM EDT
AP
If the Philadelphia 76ers had beaten the odds and won the NBA Draft Lottery Tuesday it would have made new GM Sam Hinkie’s life a little easier. But he would have heard about it on the phone, he wasn’t in New York. And he wasn’t at home in front of his television with a beer,…
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The network suits at TNT have to be happy they have the rights to the Eastern Conference finals — they got the Heat and LeBron James to showcase. Indiana may be a small market to go against them (you know the network was pulling for the Knicks last round) but at least they have crossover…
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Pablo Prigioni reportedly was considering returning to Spain in part because his wife wanted to go back, but the Knicks guard is making intentions clear now. Marc Berman of the New York Post: “If I can choose, I prefer to play in the United States and stay in the NBA,’’ Prigioni said on Argentine radio.…
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Even before the season tipped off you had a pretty good sense that LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul would be All-NBA First Team — they are dominant players at or entering their peak. But Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan continue to defy father time. The two veterans round out the All NBA Team…
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520px;”> Phil Jackson has been virtually everywhere the last couple weeks selling his new book “Eleven Rings” but one of my favorite interviews so far is the one from last night with John Stewart on The Daily Show. And not because as a Knicks fan Stewart wants to know about those two rings. It’s near…
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It’s official: Krzyzewski back to coach Team USA through Rio Olympics
May 23, 2013, 11:39 AM EDT
Reuters
We’ve all done this: After a really difficult project, no matter how rewarding it was, right afterward we say “no way, I’m never doing that again.” Then six months later we look back on it and think “you know, it wasn’t that bad” and talk ourselves into doing it again. That’s Mike Krzyzewski and coaching…
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John Calipari: Cavaliers’ GM scouted Kentucky more than any other GM
May 23, 2013, 11:22 AM EDT
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There’s a big risk that comes with draft Nerlens Noel. And not just his torn ACL. Noel played only 24 games last season, and although that’s more than twice as many as Kyrie Irving did his lone season at Duke, it’s still a pretty small sample. I think Noel proved enough to justify becoming the…
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The Wizards rightfully believe they would have made the playoffs if they remained healthy this season. Washington went 24-25 with John Wall – a better winning percentage than the eighth-seeded Bucks (38-44). And when Wall, Nene and Bradley Beal all played, the Wizards were 15-7. Washington should be excited to have a team on the…
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Hibbert said he will speak up in future, demand to be in game at end
May 23, 2013, 10:47 AM EDT
AP
Pacers coach Frank Vogel had his reasoning — the Heat with their small lineup had five guys who can shoot from the perimeter so he wanted to match that with a small lineup that could switch everything. Twice in the last 10.8 seconds he pulled the 7’2” rim-defending center and went small with Tyler Hansbrough…
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Reuters
It’s good to have the best player on the planet on your team. At the end of the day that was the reason the Miami Heat are up 1-0 — as great as Paul George was for Indiana, the Miami Heat have LeBron James. From the very start LeBron was knocking down jumpers from the…
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LeBron James’ detractors are still plentiful and are still vocal — just follow the conversation on twitter during any Heat game. People will tell you how much they loathe LeBron and everything he stands for. But they are buying his shoes. Forbes Magazine broke down the numbers on domestic signature shoe sales (from sportsonesource.com) and…
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For the 145th time since they joined forces in Miami, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh finished as the Heat’s top three scorers. For the first time in the 2013 calendar year, the fourth-leading scorer – Chris Andersen – scored more than 15 points. It’s been much less of a concern that many expected…