The Clippers — with Chris Paul‘s impeccably-timed passes to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan — has been Lob City ever since Griffin said that when he found out CP3 was coming to Los Angeles.
But no combo has connected on more alley-oop dunks this season than Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler of the Knicks.
That was on full display Wednesday night against what passes as defense from the Nets. You could see it coming after a while, the help to stop the penetrating guard and nobody rotating to help on Chandler as he rolls to the rim. The fans at Madison Square Garden saw it coming. Everyone saw it coming but the Nets defenders.
What helps make this work is the way Carmelo Anthony is playing at the four — he spaces the floor, demands attention and makes it a long run for anyone to help off him. Not that you want to help off him. It is this ‘Melo playing within the offense, even as a decoy at times, and not demanding them stopping the ball, that is a key part of how he and the Knicks have grown.
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Report: Mike Krzyzewski to return, coach Team USA in 2016 Olympics
May 22, 2013, 1:09 PM EDT
Reuters
Looks like Kevin Love will not have to do any recruiting after all. After saying before, during and immediately after Team USA won the gold medal in London last summer that he was done as the head coach of the team, Mike Krzyzewski has had a change of heart. Coach K will be back to…
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Clippers’ owner basically admits Del Negro let go to keep Chris Paul happy
May 22, 2013, 12:55 PM EDT
Getty Images
We said as much in our story telling you Vinny Del Negro was not coming back to the Clippers — this was what Chris Paul wanted. Clippers owner Donald Sterling personally liked Del Negro a lot and was his biggest supporter in the organization, so something had to override that. It was free agent to…
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LeBron says he isn’t afraid to challenge Hibbert at the rim. But watch for floaters anyway.
May 22, 2013, 11:54 AM EDT
Reuters
If you want to know what happens when you to right at Indiana’s Roy Hibbert at the rim, watch the video above or ask Carmelo Anthony — Hibbert sent him back dramatically in Game 6 last round. It changed the momentum of the game that eventually sent the Knicks fishing for the summer. So, LeBron…
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Reports: Clippers, Bucks waiting to talk to Lionel Hollins for coaching jobs
May 22, 2013, 11:14 AM EDT
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Whenever the Memphis Grizzlies’ season ends — which could be sooner rather than later if they don’t start cutting off Tony Parker at the point of attack, but that’s another post — Lionel Hollins is going to be a popular guy. Hollins’ contract is up as coach of the end of this season, and while…
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Reuters
Who do you want to believe? Monday came a report from the very reliable Dave McMenamin at ESPNLosAngeles.com that in his exit interview Dwight Howard expressed frustration with coach Mike D’Antoni to GM Mitch Kupchak. Which isn’t hard to believe if you watched the Lakers at all this year. But when Kevin Ding of the…
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NEW YORK – Kevin Love and Flip Saunders shared lunch yesterday, as both were headed to the NBA Draft lottery that night. They talk about the same issues that dominate their bi-daily conversations – leadership, expectations, workouts and, as Saunders put it, “more than anything, just about the vision that we have and how we…
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And with the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Cavaliers… trade it?
May 22, 2013, 8:44 AM EDT
AP
The top pick in the NBA draft hasn’t been traded in two decades — elite talent wins in this league and you get that by being bad, winning the lottery and drafting it. But there is no elite talent in this year’s draft class. So…. It’s been said by people around the league for a…
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Getty Images
Tony Parker takes what you give him. If you want him to score, he can do that — he is quick getting to the rim, has a solid jumper and still has the best floater in the game. But if you take away his shot he will beat you with the pass. And he beat…
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Three things about Game 2: Tony Parker is that good but Randolph, Grizzlies figuring it out
May 22, 2013, 2:57 AM EDT
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That was more like what we expected out of this series — close, intense, physical. Well, it was close for the final 17 minutes (just ignore the first 36), but in the end the Spurs got the win and are up 2-0 in the series. Here are three takeaways from this game. • Yes, Tony…
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Spurs need overtime in Game 2 to beat Grizzlies, take a 2-0 series lead
May 22, 2013, 1:32 AM EDT
Getty Images
The Spurs looked every bit as dominant through three quarters of Game 2 against the Grizzlies as they did in completing a rout of their opponent in the first game of the series. Memphis couldn’t score, Tony Parker was carving up the Grizzlies’ defense on the way to a career-high 18 assists, and San Antonio…
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Tony Allen flops on flagrant foul from Manu Ginobili that helped Grizzlies force overtime in Game 2 (VIDEO)
May 22, 2013, 12:45 AM EDT
Getty Images
Late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 between the Spurs and the Grizzlies, San Antonio was clinging to a four-point lead with under 30 seconds remaining. Manu Ginobili was double-teamed by Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, and lost the ball to Randolph, who flipped it ahead to Allen for what was sure to be…
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Two years ago, Nick Gilbert made famous his catch phrase – “What’s not to like?” – when his father’s Cavaliers won the NBA Draft lottery with Nick as the team’s on-stage representative. Since, Nick has been asked many times, “What’s not to like?” by interviewers who expect a response without considering that the phrase is…
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Kevin Love ready to lobby Mike Krzyzewski to return as Team USA’s coach in 2016 Olympics
May 21, 2013, 11:13 PM EDT
NEW YORK – If Mike Krzyzewski is unsure whether to return as USA Basketball’s coach for the 2016 Olympics, would Kevin Love try to convince the Duke coach to return? “Of course,” Love said. Love said he’s been in “constant contact” with Men’s National Team Director Sean Ford about Krzyzewski’s status. “I’ve really enjoyed my…
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One terrible sequence sums up one terrible half by Grizzlies (VIDEO)
May 21, 2013, 11:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
That sequence — seven missed shots inside five feet in a row — pretty much sums up the first half for Memphis. Tony Allen has his shot rejected blocked. But he got the ball back then missed a bunny. Zach Randolph came in and missed a tip in (he was 1-of-10 shooting in the first…
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For second time in three years Cavaliers win NBA draft lottery
May 21, 2013, 9:18 PM EDT
AP
You need some luck if you’re going to build a winner through the lottery (just ask the Thunder). Cleveland has gotten it’s share luck lately. Or, it’s just Karma balancing itself out, if you prefer. For the second time in three years the Cleveland Cavaliers have got the balls to bounce their way and have…
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AP
While the defensive minded teams are left (not so coincidentally) and that has some fans missing the flavor of the day in the NBA playoffs (Curry?), there have been some good plays. So for a little fun, here are the top 10 dunks of the second round of the NBA playoffs as compiled by the…
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It’s official: Michael Jordan says Bobcats to become Hornets again
May 21, 2013, 7:44 PM EDT
UPDATE 7:44 pm: Michael Jordan stepped on stage and made it official. Saying he wanted to “bring the buzz back” to Charlotte, he confirmed that the Bobcats will change their names to the Hornets. The goal is to have that in place by the start of the 2014-15 season (they will play one last season…
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Getty Images
And then there were four… With the NBA down to the final four in the conference finals, today Kay Adams and I talk about the Heat and the Pacers. The central matchup to me is Roy Hibbert and Chris Bosh — how much of a disruptive force can Hibbert be defensively if he is watching…
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It’s official, Colangelo out as Raptors GM, moves to business side
May 21, 2013, 5:28 PM EDT
AP
Bryan Colangelo is still going to collect a paycheck from the Raptors. But he’s not going to have sway over the basketball side of the operations — and that’s what matters most to Raptors fans. Tim Leiweke, the new CEO of Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, confirmed previous reports Tuesday on a conference…
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Reuters
SEASON RECORDS Indiana 49-33 (Third seed in East) Miami 66-16 (First seed in East) PLAYOFF RECORDS Indiana 8-4 (beat Atlanta 4-2 in the first round, New York 4-2 in the second) Miami: 8-1 (swept Milwaukee in first round 4-0, beat Chicago 4-1 in the second) SEASON SERIES Indiana won the regular season series 2-1 with…
