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PBT NBA Playoff Preview: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
May 4, 2013, 6:30 PM EDT
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SEASON RECORDS Memphis: 56-26, fifth seed in the West OKC: 60-22, one seed in the West PLAYOFF RECORDS Memphis: Beat the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 OKC: Beat the Houston Rockets 4-2 SEASON SERIES Grizzlies took two of the three meetings. KEY INJURIES Russell Westbrook is out for the playoffs after undergoing surgery for a torn…
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In defense of Joey Crawford, Chris Paul may have actually deserved his Game 6 ejection (VIDEO)
May 4, 2013, 5:00 PM EDT
We shouldn’t all know the names of certain NBA referees if they’re quietly going about their business of calling games consistently and professionally, without abusing their authority by ringing up players for quick and questionable technical fouls, or even ejections that fall along those same lines. Joey Crawford, however, is one of the biggest NBA…
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Clippers expected to take ‘about a week’ to make a decision on head coach Vinny Del Negro
May 4, 2013, 3:30 PM EDT
Conventional wisdom said that unless the Clippers went deeper into the playoffs than they did a season ago after finishing this regular season with a franchise-best 56 wins, that the job of head coach Vinny Del Negro would be firmly placed in jeopardy. Del Negro entered this season in the final year of his contract,…
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Luol Deng remains hospitalized, is ruled out for Game 7 between Bulls and Nets
May 4, 2013, 12:45 PM EDT
Luol Deng remained hospitalized Saturday morning, and has been ruled out for Game 7 in Brooklyn between the Bulls and the Nets, reports ESPN Chicago. Deng missed Game 6 with what was originally thought to be a severe case of the flu, but it turned out he was dealing with something far more serious. He…
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Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce say it’s too soon to talk future with the Celtics
May 4, 2013, 9:30 AM EDT
Immediately following the Celtics elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the Knicks in Game 6 on Friday, the questions began to turn to the team’s veteran core, and whether or not they’d be back in Boston next season. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are both under contract, but are also in very different…
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Blake Griffin and Zach Randolph wrestle to the floor in Game 6 (VIDEO)
May 4, 2013, 8:00 AM EDT
Blake Griffin came off the bench and played just 14 minutes of the Clippers’ season-ending loss to the Grizzlies on Friday, but still managed to get into it with Zach Randolph one last time. The two got tangled up in the third quarter, and once they went to the ground, Randolph put his hand directly…
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Grizzlies advance to the second round with Game 6 win over Clippers
May 4, 2013, 1:36 AM EDT
It was more of exactly what we’ve seen over the last three games of this series between the Grizzlies and the Clippers in Game 6, and that meant the end of the season for Los Angeles. The particulars changed slightly, but the level of confidence from Memphis and disarray from the Clippers remained constant. The…
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After giving back most of a 26-point lead, Knicks get Game 6 victory to close out Celtics
May 3, 2013, 11:06 PM EDT
In each of the first three games of the series between the Knicks and the Celtics, all of which were New York victories, Boston managed to put together a horrific half of offensive basketball. The trend that subsided for two games returned for Game 6 back in Boston, and that was more than enough for…
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What has long been considered to be a foregone conclusion has now been confirmed by multiple outlets. LeBron James has been awarded the league’s Most Valuable Player award for the 2013 season, and will be presented the trophy in a press conference in Miami this Sunday. The Heat open the second round of the playoffs…
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In this edition of the podcast, Kurt Helin and I sit down to discuss every one of the ongoing playoff series. We start by looking at all four of Friday night’s Game 6 matchups, before looking ahead to Saturday’s Game 7 between the Nets and the Bulls, and then to the one second round series…
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Warriors coach Mark Jackson fined for public comments made in attempt to influence officiating
May 2, 2013, 7:31 PM EDT
Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has been fined $25,000 for making public comments in an attempt to influence the officiating, the league announced on Thursday. Jackson’s comments came during his press conference following his team’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, and the offending remarks can be seen in the video clip above.…
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Mark Jackson not happy with George Karl over ‘disrespectful’ comment he made about Festus Ezeli
May 2, 2013, 3:13 PM EDT
The war of words between Mark Jackson and George Karl is heating up in advance of Thursday night’s Game 6 between the Nuggets and the Warriors. The entire series has been a physical one, with players on both sides getting in their fair share of shots. But Jackson took exception to the way Denver defended…
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Damian Lillard’s Top 10 Plays of his Rookie of the Year season (VIDEO)
May 2, 2013, 2:15 PM EDT
With the news becoming official on Wednesday that Damian Lillard was the unanimous choice as the league’s Rookie of the Year, it’s only fitting we pay tribute with a look at his top 10 plays of the season. Besides the wide variety of skills showcased in this highlight package — from the shooting, to the…
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Thunder’s Derek Fisher and Kevin Martin perfectly execute a double flop (VIDEO)
May 2, 2013, 12:29 PM EDT
Young players, take note. This is simply a great defensive effort here by Derek Fisher and Kevin Martin to coordinate perfectly-timed simultaneous flops just as “whatever his name is” makes a little contact with each. If the league is finding itself cash-strapped these days, this seems like an easy way to pick up a quick ten…
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J.R. Smith says he’s done wearing black after Knicks ‘funeral’ stunt (VIDEO)
May 2, 2013, 11:30 AM EDT
The Knicks actually wore all black to the arena for Game 5 against the Knicks on Wednesday, in preparation for the “funeral” they were hoping to see involving the Boston Celtics. Those were Kenyon Martin‘s words in advance of the game, when he told teammates to “Wear black. Funeral Colors.” The stunt obviously backfired, as…
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Patrick Beverley called for a technical foul after Reggie Jackson’s aggressive attempt at a steal (VIDEO)
May 2, 2013, 10:57 AM EDT
Patrick Beverley has become a household name for NBA fans during these playoffs, thanks to his involvement in the play that led to Russell Westbrook‘s season-ending torn meniscus injury. As the series between the Rockets and the Thunder shifted back to Oklahoma City for the first time since the incident, Beverley was targeted by fans…
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Celtics take care of business against unprofessional Knicks, force a Game 6 back in Boston
May 1, 2013, 10:47 PM EDT
The Knicks looked every bit like the second best team in the East that they were all season in getting out to a three games to none series lead against the Celtics, winning those games by 14, 16, and 17 points. Maybe the success came too soon, and too easily. After dropping Game 4 in…
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The Lakers finally got some good news on the injury front three days after their season ended, when it was announced on Wednesday that Dwight Howard would not require surgery on his right shoulder. Howard was diagnosed with a torn labrum after originally suffering the injury on Jan. 4, and missed a total of six…
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We’ve essentially known this for quite some time, but it became official on Wednesday: Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers was named as the 2012-13 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. Lillard’s selection was a unanimous one, as he received all 121 first place votes. The last unanimous winner of the award was Blake…
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J.R. Smith says series with Celtics would be over if he hadn’t been suspended for Game 4
May 1, 2013, 2:26 PM EDT
The Celtics managed to extend their first round playoff series with the Knicks for at least one more night after gutting out an overtime victory in Game 4 on Sunday. J.R. Smith was suspended for that one due to the elbow he threw at Jason Terry in Game 3, and speaking to reporters after practice…
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Stephen Curry verbally confronts fan in Denver after Game 5 loss (VIDEO)
May 1, 2013, 1:49 PM EDT
It was a rough night in Denver for the Warriors’ Stephen Curry. Not only did the Nuggets avoid elimination with a Game 5 victory, they were able to shut down Curry in the process. Denver held Curry to a series low 15 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including just 1-of-7 from three-point distance. This came after…
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Chris Bosh says Dwyane Wade’s sore knee isn’t anything to be concerned about
May 1, 2013, 1:05 PM EDT
Dwyane Wade was not right physically during the Heat’s first round sweep of the Bucks. He struggled through a 1-of-12 shooting performance while playing 36 minutes in Game 3, but still was effective in other areas, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out 11 assists, and coming up with five steals. Wade has been limited by a…
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Blake Griffin would have needed to be at full strength and then some if the Clippers were to have a shot at winning Game 5 and reversing the recent trends that the Grizzlies had established in the previous two games of the series in Memphis. A high ankle sprain suffered by Griffin in practice on…
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Mark Jackson accuses Nuggets of dirty plays on Stephen Curry after Warriors’ Game 5 loss
May 1, 2013, 12:49 AM EDT
The Nuggets avoided elimination with their Game 5 win over the Warriors, but the way they went about it didn’t sit well at all with Golden State’s head coach, Mark Jackson. Denver was physical throughout the night, but especially so with Stephen Curry, who has been torching the Nuggets the entire series. He was held…
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The biggest question facing the Lakers this summer isn’t the health of Kobe Bryant, and if he’ll be able to make it back in time for the start of next season. Undoubtedly, it’s whether or not Dwight Howard will decide to return to Los Angeles. Bryant is the Lakers’ most important player, obviously. But next…
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Video: Grizzlies ready for 'running' Spurs
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Video: Durant won't 'compromise himself' like other stars
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Video: Knicks avoid elimination
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Video: Heat finish off Bulls, James 'has no energy left'
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Video: Health woes make Heat vulnerable
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Video: Good news for Sacramento, Kings stay
