The Miami Heat got a bit of bad news on Monday when they found out that All-Star forward Chris Bosh would be out indefinitely with an abdominal strain. But it’s not the end of the road on their quest for a championship.
On paper, that’s terrible news for the Heat, who will be without the 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds that Bosh averaged per game. But even without the services of the seven time All-Star, the Heat should be able to make their way into the conference finals rather easily.
That is, as long as they rebound the ball in Bosh’s absence.
With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade playing at a very high level, the Heat should still be able to get past the Indiana Pacers as long as they crash the glass.
Can the Heat reach the NBA Finals without Bosh?
Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results
Can the Heat reach the NBA Finals without Bosh?
Yes
81.1%
No
18.9%
Total votes: 95
That’s no easy chore considering the Pacers’ advantage on the glass—even with Bosh in the lineup. But behind a huge effort on the boards from James, Miami out-rebounded Indiana 45-38 in a Game 1 victory.
LeBron has been playing with a chip on his shoulder, and as long as the Heat remain committed to playing at the defensive end of the floor, they have enough offense to get by.
However, rebounding will determine exactly how long their playoff run will last. If they get by Indiana and run into the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami should still be able to get by if Bosh is still sidelined. Even with Bosh, the Heat finished only 21st in the NBA in rebounding (41.6 RPG), but the Celtics were the worst team in the NBA at crashing the glass (38.8 RPG) during the regular season. So Miami should be able to compete just fine.
That’s a big if, though, as it will take a team effort crashing the boards.
LeBron grabbing double-digit rebounds per game now is almost a must, as are increased efforts from the likes of Joel Anthony, Udonis Haslem and Ronny Turiaf.
The road to the NBA Finals for the Miami Heat now comes down to hopping on the backs of LeBron and Wade, with everyone else doing all the little things necessary in winning a championship.
There’s a lot of basketball left to be played for the Heat. How much is left could depend simply on how well they rebound the basketball.
This year’s NBA draft board is teeming with stars.
Anthony Davis, for example, has yet to play a single professional game and he’s already being heralded as the savior of Charlotte—if such a thing exists. The rest of his Kentucky teammates are still riding high on the momentum from their national championship, which has carried some of them all the way into this year’s lottery.
There’s good reason for the fact that scouts and GMs alike are excited for this year’s draft: The talent gives the impression that there could be several future MVPs scattered across the board.
Here’s a complete first-round mock draft that takes a special look at the MVP candidates of the near future.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Will Anthony Davis become a league MVP sometime in the next five years?
Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results
Will Anthony Davis become a league MVP sometime in the next five years?
Yes
0.0%
No
100.0%
Total votes: 2
It’s impossible to ignore Anthony Davis when you’re talking about players who have the ability to change the entire complexion of the NBA. What Davis proved with Kentucky this year was that there was no single player on his level who was capable of stopping him.
While he won’t be quite as powerful in the NBA, where he’ll be up against players his own size, he still has more potential to excel than anyone.
Given his size, his wingspan (7’4″) and his athleticism, Davis is a complete package and absolutely one of the most all-around skilled prospects to enter the draft in years. Despite the fact that his offense isn’t as explosive as one might expect from the NCAA’s best player, he uses every tool in his arsenal to produce on both ends of the floor, and his presence alone makes every single one of his teammates better.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
He may not fire off a ton of shots, but Gilchrist is excellent in transition and he plays with the kind of fire and physicality that makes it clear he’ll fulfill his potential to develop into a top talent at the next level.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Coming out of high school, Bradley Beal could’ve been a top draft pick. Now, after seeing him dominate the SEC for one year at Florida and carry his entire team through a longer-than-expected tournament run, his stock is soaring even higher.
In a draft class that is considered weak in the point guard department, Beal is leaps and bounds above the rest. His ball-handling skills are good enough to give him the versatility to play at either the 1 or the 2, and though he’s not a lights-out shooter, there is little doubt that he can grow into one.
Scouts really like to talk about Beal’s work ethic and desire to improve, which are what will truly help him take his game to the next level over the next several years. Though his impact may not be as immediate as that of a Davis or a Kidd-Gilchrist, he’ll be right up there with the best after a few years under his belt.
4. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C, UConn
Predicting Drummond’s impact at the next level is tough because despite the fact that he has an ideal frame at 6’10″ and 270 pounds, he hasn’t been dominant enough to conclusively prove that he’ll excel in the NBA. Still, good decision or not, his long-term potential will push him into the top five.
5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson was terrific during his junior year with the Jayhawks and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant, complete players in the NCAA. He, too, has the perfect frame for the NBA, measuring at 6’10″ with a 7’1″ wingspan.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
He led the Tar Heels in scoring last season with 17.1 points per game, but he hasn’t excelled as much as many expected from the 2010 top recruit in the nation. Once he starts to use his frame to create opportunities, he’ll be a threat.
7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
Jones is a very mature kid who had the foresight to return to school for his sophomore campaign because he knew he needed to grow more as a person. Though his production didn’t really improve, he’s an incredibly skilled athlete and just needs to shed his reputation for being soft.
8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
Lillard is an incredibly efficient scorer and is also an excellent playmaker who will be a top-tier point guard as soon as his passing skills improve a little bit.
9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger is the opposite of someone like Kidd-Gilchrist. While he boasts one of the most complete skill sets in the draft, scouts have never been able to shed concerns about his athleticism and his conditioning.
He tried to offset those concerns by electing to return to Ohio State for the 2011-12 season, slimming down and taking his team to the Final Four. And though he could’ve been a top five pick last year, there is just too much talent for him to go that high this year.
But although he didn’t get a championship this year, Sullinger’s return to the Buckeyes was worthwhile because he proved that he’s dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes to be excellent. He’s already one of the best-shooting power forwards in the draft, shooting 60 percent from the field, and defensively, he makes up for any athletic shortcomings with sheer determination.
He may not be the most athletic prospect, but he has the most NBA-ready attitude.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Before he broke his wrist, Marshall was well on his way to leading UNC to the Final Four. He’s one of the best passers in the college realm, and those skills will translate nicely to the next level.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
For someone who’s seven feet tall, Zeller is a pretty athletic guy. He runs the floor well, he’s a good perimeter shooter and he has a high basketball IQ, all of which will make him an immediate asset next season.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson has shown steady improvement each year at UNC, and despite tallying 13.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, he still has a lot of room to grow. Imagine how much of a force he’s going to be when he adds more muscle to his 6’11″ frame.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
If Steve Nash leaves Phoenix, the Suns must come out of this draft with a guard, and Rivers has the versatility to play both backcourt positions. He’d like to think he has Kobe-esque star quality, but he simply needs to become a much better shooter before he has that kind of impact.
14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Jones has always been knocked for being inconsistent and playing with a sour attitude, but he helped to offset those concerns with a strong showing in Kentucky’s championship run. His versatility will compel some team to bite on him in the lottery.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
He might have played on an underachieving Washington team, but he was the star of it, registering 16.4 points per game. He’s very athletic and boasts an excellent jump shot.
16. Houston Rockets: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Like a lot of the big men on this year’s board, Leonard failed to truly dominate this season. Like Drummond, though, he has a very high ceiling because of his frame. He might not be worth a pick in the lottery, but he won’t fall far outside of it.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
He had a bit of a letdown year after UConn’s championship run in 2011, but he still led the Huskies in scoring with 17.7 points per game.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Moultrie has a little bit of a spotty history stemming from his transfer from UTEP to Mississippi State, and the fact that he only tallied 0.8 blocks per game despite being 6’11″ is troubling.
19. Orlando Magic: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington
At the moment, Wroten is most famous for missing four straight free throws against Oregon State in the Pac-12 Tournament, which essentially crushed the Huskies’ NCAA tournament dreams. Not exactly the best note on which to finish your college career, but he’s still a solid scorer and one of the best floor generals available.
20. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse
After an excellent sophomore season, Waiters established himself as an aggressive defender with solid transition skills that will serve him well in the NBA.
21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
He showed up for his sophomore campaign in much better shape than last year and anchored the Orange defense with 2.9 blocks per game. His academic suspension from the NCAA tournament is a concern, but not enough to offset his upside.
22. Boston Celtics: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
As one of the older players in this draft, Taylor was a crucial component of Vanderbilt’s offense and SEC tournament win this season. He tallied 16.1 points per game and shot almost 50 percent from the field, so he’ll provide that boost of instant offense a team like the Celtics needs with Ray Allen likely headed for the door.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, SF, Iowa State
White led Iowa State in almost every facet of the game last season—13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds. 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals—so he obviously is one of the most complete players available. Hopefully, concerns over his anxiety disorder don’t make him fall too far.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s
Harkless is already a proficient scorer, as he proved with 15.5 points per game last season, but he lacks consistency. Once he begins to use his athleticism to his advantage, he’ll be dangerous.
Where Teague excels is in directing traffic on the floor. This season, he grew out of his tendency to be a bit of a ball hog, which will help him monumentally in the NBA.
26. Indiana Pacers: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Lamb is a good athlete who will be an excellent asset off the bench next year. He was one of the best long-range shooters in the NCAA last season, sinking almost 47 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
27. Miami Heat: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Inconsistency is Miller’s biggest problem, but he has the ideal arsenal of physical tools to excel in the NBA.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
His production dropped toward the end of the season, which certainly wasn’t a good sign, and despite being a bit turnover-prone, he’s still a good perimeter shooter with a lot of athleticism.
29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
He led the team in scoring last season with 19.9 points per game—no small feat on the nation’s No. 11 offense. His game translates to the NBA as well as anyone’s.
30. Golden State Warriors: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
He’s the perfect size for an NBA center at 6’11″ and 255 pounds, and though he failed to dominate top-level competition, he proved to be an asset on both ends of the floor last season.
LeBron and the Heat will play against the Pacers in one of the dissapointing 2nd round matchups. Marc Serota/Getty Images
When Derrick Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the NBA Playoffs lost one of its biggest stars. Since Rose went down and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic, the second round became destined to disappoint.
Eastern Conference Matchups Will Bore Fans
Without Rose and Magic center Dwight Howard, the Eastern Conference matchups lack the flare that many hoped for in a conference semifinal.
The Boston Celtics defeated the 76ers in a tight-fought game to take the early series lead, but both teams lack consistent scoring for national fans to gravitate to their televisions.
Celtics fans will be glued in to see if their aging and injured stars can withstand the young, fast and energetic 76ers in order to avenge last year’s loss to the Miami Heat.
The 76ers fans will tune in to see if their young core can play disciplined basketball and use their first round victory as the spark needed to return to the form they showed at the beginning of the season.
However, outside of Boston and Philadelphia, this series will struggle to draw fans.
Heat Destined for the Conference Finals
The other Eastern Conference series could be a sweep.
What will the Eastern Conference Finals matchup be?
Celtics vs Heat Celtics vs Pacers Heat vs 76ers Pacers vs 76ers Submit Vote vote to see results
What will the Eastern Conference Finals matchup be?
Celtics vs Heat
73.0%
Celtics vs Pacers
16.2%
Heat vs 76ers
10.8%
Pacers vs 76ers
0.0%
Total votes: 37
Despite the Pacers advancing to the second round for the first time since 2005, they lack the experience and the talent needed to take on Miami’s trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Pacers have a solid core and were able to put together their best season since Reggie Miller and Ron Artest took the Pacers to the conference finals in 2004.
However, without an elite player or a defensive scheme that can lock down James and Wade, the Pacers will struggle to win a single game against the Heat.
Get your brooms ready, Heat fans.
Both Western Conference Matchups Feature Youth vs. Veterans
The Western Conference may not be suffering because of injuries, but with the defending champs knocked out of the playoffs and two aging teams in the semifinals, there is less intrigue than usual in what used to be a stacked Western Conference.
With one series one spot still up in the air, there is at least a chance that if the Clippers can advance then at least there will be star power out west.
The L.A. Lakers are getting back Metta World Peace from suspension, but they will struggle to keep up with the energetic Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder have the ability to score in droves and will make it extremely difficult on the Lakers to keep up.
Will this be the year the Thunder advance to the NBA Finals
Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results
Will this be the year the Thunder advance to the NBA Finals
Yes
53.3%
No
46.7%
Total votes: 30
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are impossible to defend.
Even with Metta World Peace returning, he will be rusty and though he may be able to slow down one of the Thunder’s scorers, he can’t stop them all.
Kobe Bryant can still score, but at 33 years old he will have a hard time defending the younger, faster Thunder players.
Though Kendrick Perkins is questionable to return, Serge Ibaka is one of the best interior defenders in the NBA and provides rotational help when the guards get beat off the dribble.
Ibaka isn’t a dominant scorer, but he is averaging 11 points and over three blocks per game in the playoffs.
Even without Perkins, Nick Collison provides valuable interior defense and rebounding when the Thunder play big. When the Thunder play small they are almost impossible to defend.
Other than the story surrounding Metta and Harden playing against each for the first time since the elbowing incident, this series will end up being a letdown for NBA fans.
Aging Spurs Face Young Opponent
The last series showcases the San Antonio Spurs against either the L.A. Clippers or the Memphis Grizzlies.
Tim Duncan and the Spurs may bore the casual fan, but they are a great team. Steve Dykes/Getty Images
Hopefully for NBA fans the Clippers will prevail in Game 7 and at least provide some star power.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have turned L.A. into a two-team city, but they lack the scoring needed to defeat the tight, defensive-oriented Spurs.
While it is nice to see the Clippers franchise having some success, they aren’t quite there yet. Next year, if they are able to add another piece they could be championship caliber, but not now.
If the Grizzlies advance, it would at least provide the revenge angle. Last year the Grizzlies managed to upset the top-seeded Spurs in the first round.
However, this year’s Spurs team has found the fountain of youth and looks like they are destined to play for their fifth NBA Championship.
Greg Popovich my bore the casual fan, but the Spurs are a great team and will quickly defeat whomever they face.
Overall, the second round may entertain the more devoted NBA fans, but the casual fans will be disappointed by the matchups.
The Chicago Bulls saw their season end on a rather disappointing note as they lost to the eighth seed Philadelphia 76ers this past Thursday evening.
They suffered two key losses during the NBA playoff series: point guard and former MVP Derrick Rose in Game 1 to a torn ACL and starting center Joakim Noah, who did not play in Game 4 due to a sprained ankle.
Despite the loss the Bulls will be a competitive team down the road due to the potential of Rose, Noah and Luol Deng along with an underrated head coach in Tom Thibodeau.
However, one area the Bulls should look to address this offseason is the power forward spot Carlos Boozer currently occupies.
Boozer averaged 13.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in six playoff games, but scored only nine points in the first two games against the 76ers while scoring only three points in Game 6.
Nothing personal against Boozer, but he underachieved in the playoffs. It could be due to just struggling with his game, but he was supposed to play like the Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz back in the day.
For some reason since signing a huge free-agent contract two years ago with Chicago, he has not been that same player.
Could it be connected to his drive as a professional basketball player?
We may never know the true answer, but whatever it is holding back Boozer is hurting the Bulls’ chances of taking that next step towards contending for an NBA championship.
Trading Boozer may work, but his value is probably low at this time and the Bulls probably do not want to impact their salary cap for the next three to four years by taking on a bad contract.
It will be interesting to see what the Bulls do regarding Boozer, especially if a player does become available in free agency that may be a better overall fit.
Season tickets promo for the Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Team. Highlights the return of University of Mississippi players Eniel Polynice, Trevor Gaskins, and Chris Warren who were sidelined with injuries last season. This project was inspired by the Season 5 promo for “Rescue Me”. Produced by Robbie Coker, Micah Ginn and Matthew Graves. Directed by Matthew Graves at the UM Media and Documentary Projects Center (olemissmedia.com) Video Rating: 4 / 5
With rumors about their coach’s future dominating the headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to ignore the distractions and eliminate the Denver Nuggets 96-87 in Game 7 on Saturday night.
It was a weird game for the Lakers, with Metta World Peace returning, Pau Gasol playing like an animal and Steve Blake scoring more points than Kobe Bryant.
Now, the Lakers will turn their attention to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tweets of the Night
As always, it was a star-studded crowd at the Staples Center. Kanye West was in the house with Kim Kardashian, who may or may not have been there to scout her next boyfriend. J.A. Adande of ESPN did some hard-hitting reporting on their evening.
Kanye and Kim Kardashian didn’t make kiss cam. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel did, though.
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) May 13, 2012
Andrew Bynum’s effort was questionable at times, even early in the fourth quarter. Grantland’s Sebastian Pruiti has the shameful details.
Andrew Bynum just let Al Harrington post him up…it wasn’t a face up either…
— SebastianPruiti (@SebastianPruiti) May 13, 2012
Steve Blake, however, was amazing throughout, prompting Not Bill Walton to break out this gem.
Steve Blake is doing things I once heard about from a cryptic hermit while hiking the trails of Torres del Paine in the Chilean Patagonia!
— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) May 13, 2012
Pau Gasol also played very well, which led Bleacher Report content programmer Matt King to think he may have come down with a sickness.
Pau caught himself a case of the trysies tonight.
— Matt King (@TheRealMattKing) May 13, 2012
The Tweet of the Night, however, goes to Around the Horn panelist Bomani Jones, who perfectly captured the sentiments of basketball lovers nationwide.
i’m glad this has been exciting. cuz there’s no reason the nba should have us up this late watching basketball.
— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) May 13, 2012
Must-See Highlight
With the Nuggets still threatening late, Kobe buried them with this nasty three-pointer. Justin Timberlake approved.
Grades for Key Lakers Players
Kobe Bryant: B+
I never thought the Lakers could win a Game 7 with Kobe scoring just 17 points, but the NBA is an odd place.
Bryant got plenty of help from his teammates, and found ways to stay involved without shooting. He did a great job facilitating the offense, finding open teammates all night long. He finished with eight assists, and sealed the win with that late three.
Pau Gasol: A+
Why, Pau, how nice of you to join us.
With the series on the line, Gasol was absolutely dominant. He went for 21 points, 17 rebounds (11 offensive) and six assists.
This game was a great reminder of how good Pau can be when his head is on straight. If he plays like this in the next round, Oklahoma City is in trouble.
Grades for Key Nuggets Players
Ty Lawson: A
Lawson had another great game, racking up 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting. He blew past L.A. defenders at will and kept Denver in the game when it looked like they were about to get blown out.
It was a breakout series for Lawson, who exploited the slow Laker guards in nearly every game. Even though the Nuggets lost, Lawson deserves some serious respect after this performance.
Al Harrington: A
Denver needed someone on their bench to step up, and Harrington did just that.
The small forward was big on Saturday, going for 24 points in 29 minutes. Although the Nuggets are going home, you can’t blame Harrington.
Game MVP: Steve Blake
That’s right, Steve Blake.
The slow, old and generally boring backup point guard was the difference-maker Saturday. He caught fire from downtown, draining five of six three-pointers on his way to 19 points.
I never thought I’d say this, but without Blake, the Lakers would have been screwed.
What’s Next?
As the Nuggets prepare their fishing gear, the Lakers will now get ready to face the Thunder in the second round.
With so many storylines surrounding those two teams, it should be a wildly entertaining series. Game 1 starts Monday night in Oklahoma City.
There’s nothing quite like the NBA playoffs; Denver and Los Angeles have shown basketball fans why with their superb first-round series.
The Lakers started out on fire, holding the Nuggets to a mere 88 points in Game 1, as Andrew Bynum dominated Denver for a triple-double that included 10 blocks.
Game 2 saw a similar result, with the Lakers—led by Kobe Bryant’s 38 and a career-high 27 by Bynum—controlling throughout, despite beating Denver by only four, 104-100.
Denver was down 2-0, but not out, and Ty Lawson responded with a masterful performance, attacking the hoop with reckless abandon and scoring a game-high 25 points. He also recorded seven assists as the Nuggets got out in transition much better than they had in the first two contests, for 30 fast-break points on the night, as they cruised to the 15-point victory. And the Nuggs’ young big men JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried outplayed Bynum and Pau Gasol and outrebounded them 30-19.
But Bynum, Kobe and company responded in Game 4, and despite Denver’s leading most of the contest, the Lakers finished strong and won 92-88. Lawson was held to only 11 points on the night, while McGee and Faried could only combine for 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
With the Nuggets down 3-1, most thought the series was a done deal. Well, most everyone outside of Denver’s locker room that is.
The Nuggets went into LA on a mission to win Game 5, and Andre Miller wouldn’t let them leave without a victory. Miller, the veteran leader of the team from the bench, scored with a litany of old-man moves, throwing the ball off the glass to perfection, while handing out eight dimes.
Many of those assists went to McGee, who soared through the air to catch perfectly tossed alley-oop passes from Miller. And McGee went wild for 21 points and 14 boards as Denver dominated the paint 55-44.
With Game 5, the Nuggets simultaneously stole a win in Los Angeles and stole the series momentum.
In Game 6, they only further built that momentum.
Denver came out on fire on their home hardwood, running up a 13-0 lead and never looked back. While they held a nine point lead at half, the Nuggets went on a tear, knocking down nearly every look they had at the rim, widening their lead to a soul-crushing 28 at one point in the fourth quarter.
Which bigs will play better in Game 7? Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Lawson was unstoppable, knocking down 13-of-18 shots and scoring a playoff career-high of 32, with six assists and five boards. Corey Brewer was remarkable off the bench, with 18, while five Nuggets scored in double digits.
On LA’s bench sat Andrew Bynum, staring off into space while his team huddled—a sign that the big man is up to his old ways of acting like a big baby. Bynum’s been huge for LA in this series, at times, and nearly unnoticeable others. The same can be said for Gasol, who went a terrible 1-of-10 shooting for three points in Game 6 and didn’t play that much better in Game 5.
The Nuggets have all the confidence—even though not one current player has participated in a Game 7—because Denver’s dictated the pace of the last two games, as their younger and more athletically gifted players have run circles around the reeling Lakers.
No, the Nuggets don’t have a star—though Ty Lawson is blossoming into one—but they’ve proven they don’t need one. Denver’s team-oriented basketball has overwhelmed the Lakers’ stars, as the Nuggs have so many capable scorers, they’re too difficult to game plan for.
Which Nuggets player will get hot on a particular night is anyone’s guess, and there has been no shortage of young men stepping up for Denver this series.
World Peace leaves the court after knocking James Harden out with an abhorent elbow. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
One thing is certain though, the Nuggets need Lawson to bring his best game tonight for them to win. All season long Denver’s gone as Lawson does, even more so in the postseason, as he’s put up 20 points and seven assists in wins compared to 14.3 and five in losses.
While we all expect and anticipate Kobe to play spectacularly, the wild card of this Game 7 will be Metta World Peace. World Peace was suspended for the first six games of the playoffs due to his UFC-like elbow to the head of James Harden, and he returns tonight for the Lakers.
Both Kobe and LA head coach Mike Brown called out Bynum and Gasol for their lackadaisical play in Game 6, and Bryant specified that he can’t wait to have World Peace back saying, “He’s the one guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and no fear. I’m looking forward to having that by my side again.’’
Indeed, World Peace—with his ironic new name—has no fear and loves to play with lots of physicality. After being forced to watch the first six games of the series at home, World Peace will almost certainly be rusty on the offensive end, but it will be his defense that matters.
If he’s overanxious, which could be in a game of this magnitude, he could play too physically and get whistled for early fouls, having to sit. If not, he could certainly disrupt some of Denver’s offense, whether he plays on Danilo Gallinari, Andre Miller or anyone else, if he’s disciplined in his play.
But this is “World Peace” we’re talking about—the man with a shorter fuse than a bottle rocket and much more force behind him.
Of course, the play of of the big men tonight will be vastly important.
If Bynum pouts and Gasol underwhelms, it will play into Denver’s hands, and they’ll win with ease. If they play up to their potential, though, it will be difficult for Faried and McGee to match them, though they’ve already shown they can multiple times this series.
While the rookie Faried and fourth-year center McGee can play spectacularly at times, they’re still incredibly inconsistent, and with the pressure on their broad shoulders, will they perform?
Likewise, will the Nuggets’ bench continue to come through when they’re needed most? Denver’s undoubtedly deeper than LA, and they’ll be counted on to perform, which they will for the Nuggets to have a chance.
And it can’t be missed that home teams have won 70 percent of Game 7s, meaning, unfortunately, the way the referees call the game will come into play as well.
If they let the teams play, it will be an epic bloodbath of a physical battle and will almost certainly come down to the wire.
This has shaped up to be an amazing series, and the Nuggets time to finally defeat the Lakers is now.
If Denver plays their brand of basketball—running relentlessly, sharing the rock for easier looks and domineering down low—they’ll win at the wire and beat the Lakers for the first time in their history.
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook and/or Twitter for breaking news, links to articles and interesting sports info.
The NBA admitted that it made an error on a foul committed with 3.1 seconds remaining from regulation in Game 6 of the Hawks-Celtics first-round matchup.
Celtics forward Marquis Daniels committed a foul prior to Marvin Williams releasing the in-bounds pass, meaning Atlanta should have had a free-throw attempt and still retained possession of the basketball.
Instead, the NBA officials ruled that the foul occurred after Williams’ throw-in, and the Hawks essentially re-did the possession with the foul not harming the Celtics.
Atlanta trailed 81-79 at the time, and Hawks forward Al Horford ended up missing one of two free throws on the possession, icing the game and the series for the Celtics.
One extra free throw for the Hawks in the waning moments of the game completely changes the complexion of the series.
The NBA admitted fault, and here is their statement found here:
During the last two minutes of the fourth period or overtime, if a personal foul is assessed against the defensive team prior to the ball being released on a throw-in, it is considered an Away-From-The-Play Foul and the offensive team is awarded one free throw and possession of the ball. With 3.1 seconds remaining in the the Boston-Atlanta game last night, a foul was called on the Celtics’ Marquis Daniels after the Hawks’ Marvin Williams had released the ball and therefore the foul was correctly treated as a common foul and not an Away-From-the-Play foul. With that said, however, the replay shows that the foul on Daniels should have been called sooner than it was by the officials, in which case it would have met the requirements of an Away-From-The-Play Foul.
On another pivotal possession late in Game 6, Hawks forward Josh Smith took what appeared to be an inexplicable long-range jump shot.
But video, provided by SB Nation, clearly indicates both Horford and Smith were fouled on the play.
Smith starts out at far left corner of the screen, and then works his way to the basket where he is bumped by Celtics forward Brandon Bass. Prior to receiving the ball, Celtics forward Kevin Garnett wrapped both arms around Horford, another foul that should have been called.
With Bulls point guard Derrick Rose out, the Hawks had their best opportunity with the current core to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
The Hawks were, on the other hand, on the receiving end of two controversial calls that clearly affected the outcome of Game 6. There’s no guarantee that the Hawks win Game 6 even with the calls, and even then there would be no guarantee that they would have prevailed in Game 7, but I would have liked to see it.
Mike D’Antoni is reportedly interested in becoming the next head coach of the Orlando Magic if the position is available this summer. However, if the Magic are serious about becoming a championship team, they shouldn’t even consider hiring the former New York Knicks coach.
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel explained the situation via Twitter:
Hearing whispers that Mike D’Antoni would be very interested in a vacant Magic coaching job.
— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) May 11, 2012
UPDATE: Saturday, May 12 at 12:04 p.m. ET
According to the New York Post, D’Antoni could take a year off from basketball instead of taking the Magic head coaching job if it becomes available during the offseason.
Though the rumor is Mike D’Antoni has some interest in taking his speedball offense to Orlando if Stan Van Gundy is fired, a person close to the former Knicks coach said he is just as likely to spend next season at home in New York “for personal reasons’’ as his son finishes high school in Westchester.
D’Antoni was under a lot of pressure to succeed in New York this season, and ultimately it didn’t work out. The best move for him would probably be to take a year off and recharge physically and mentally.
He’s still going to be a sought after head coach even if he takes a year off from the NBA.
The Magic are going to do everything they can to convince superstar center Dwight Howard to stay with the team long-term, and hiring D’Antoni, a coach with little playoff success, would be a terrible idea.
Current Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy is an excellent coach, and it would be incredibly foolish to replace him with an inferior coach such as D’Antoni. That makes no sense at all.
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It was clear that D’Antoni and Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony did not see eye to eye this season, so taking over a team led by another drama queen in Howard would probably not work out well.
One of the major criticisms of D’Antoni’s coaching career is that his teams don’t play defense, and it’s a very valid criticism.
His teams consistently play poor defense in the playoffs, which is why he’s never made the NBA Finals despite leading some immensely talented Phoenix Suns squads over the last decade.
Over the last five years, D’Antoni’s teams missed the playoffs twice and lost in the first round twice. He didn’t finish this season with the Knicks because he resigned in March.
The Magic need a head coach with championship experience who can motivate the players to perform at a high level in the postseason. D’Antoni won’t do that for the Magic.
Schmitz speculated that D’Antoni might be able to convince upcoming free-agent point guard Steve Nash to join him in Orlando if he’s offered the head coaching job:
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And might D’Antoni be able to bring along his old point guard Steve Nash to Orlando? Might that keep Dwight Howard in town?
— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) May 11, 2012
This would be a terrible idea. Nash is 38 years old and won’t play at an elite level for much longer. Unless he’s surrounded by a ton of talent, he won’t lead a team to a championship as the No. 2 guy.
Nash also struggles defensively, which isn’t ideal in an Eastern Conference where top contenders like the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls are led by elite point guards.
Hiring D’Antoni and signing Nash are two equally bad ideas that would cripple the Magic.
If Orlando makes either of these moves, it will lose Howard in the next year for sure.
With dramatic twists at every turn, the never-ending saga of Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy has played out all season. Again and again and again. What was it like for the other Magic players? While teammates generally keep quiet about things like this, or dole out politically correct prepared responses that don’t ever really shed light on anything, J.J. Redick recently sat down with Russ Thaler of NBC Sports Talk and discussed his season.
Redick didn’t come out and take a side or trash anyone, but he did give a glimpse into the distraction that this mess created for everyone in the Orlando locker room. He also discussed that practice scrum when Van Gundy told reporters he knew that Howard was trying to get him fired, only to have Howard come over and put his arm around Van Gundy before Van Gundy dipped from the scrum, leaving Howard to trip over himself trying to deflect questions about the sticky situation.
It was especially interesting to see how players found out about what was going on. Via text messages and Twitter, fans and friends informed the Magic players that the secret was out: Howard allegedly wanted Van Gundy fired, Van Gundy knew and Howard was denying it. Sounds like a soap opera. Listening to Redick describe how the relationship between the two changed in March, it sounds more like a television drama than NBA basketball.
Here are his quotes, via Pro Basketball Talk:
About Howard:
“Within the team I think our perception has changed a little bit. I don’t see any way it couldn’t. But I am a Dwight supporter, I played with him for six years, I’ve been through some battles with him, won a lot of games tagging along side of him. He has been great for our organization.
“I think as anyone can attest, sometimes we get confused in life. Sometimes we get bad advice. I think Dwight at his core, at his heart is a great kid, a great person. Maybe he just got a little confused, a little sidetracked about what was important and then at the end of the year he gets hurt and can’t play. It wasn’t a great year for him. I’m sure he’ll bounce back, get healthy and have a great year next year.”
Interesting to see the 27-year-old Redick refer to 26-year-old Howard as “a great kid, a great person.” Howard has always come across as a giant kid, but it’s time to face reality. He’s still young, but at 26 and with the power to paralyze a franchise over his actions, it’s time to leave the child’s play alone.
On Howard’s relationship with Stan Van Gundy:
“To be honest with you, it didn’t seem worse or better than any other year. Those two have built a relationship based on winning and before things really started to turn for us we were 32-18 and had the fifth best record in the league. So for 50 of the 66 games this year that relationship was pretty solid.
“I’m not sure what happened and what transpired with management, with Dwight’s alleged request for Stan to get fired, I’m not privy to all the inside information. Certainly at some point that relationship started to change a little bit in March, and from that point on things got weird.”
Weird is one way to delicately put it. When it’s publicly known that coach and star player are not on good terms and that one wants the other fired, it’s got to be a strange dynamic in the locker room and during practices. It’s a testament to everyone involved that they were able to focus on the games in front of them and not get too caught up in what was happening off court.
About the press conference where Van Gundy said Howard wanted him fired, then Howard unknowingly walked in on it:
“We were all a little shocked. I cold plunge right after shootaround (take an ice bath). I had got my shots up after shootaround and had sort of seen Stan talking to the media and everything seemed normal from afar. Well I went back, grabbed my phone and jumped in the cold plunge and I have like 15 text messages and my twitter account is blowing up with ‘What did Stan just do?’ So I pulled up the video and saw it. By the time I got out of the cold plunge and back in the locker room all the guys on the team knew what was going on.
“It was a little shocking in that it’s not something you see every day, obviously. I think Stan, for whatever reason, just decided to put it all out there. He said in the interview he is not a fan of BS and I can attest to that having played with him for five years. He doesn’t like BS and decided not to BS with the media, I guess.”
It isn’t surprising that the news spread like wildfire through Twitter and text messages. That’s the social world that we live in these days. Still, it’s especially interesting to hear a player outline how a moment like this unfolded for those who were in the gym, only a few feet away, without realizing what was going down.
I doubt we’ll ever see a press conference moment like the one we saw between Van Gundy and Howard. It’s also probable that Redick will be the only Magic player to talk on the record about that moment. While he doesn’t tell us anything crazy and we could all assume things were weird this season, it’s always nice to hear it from someone on the inside.
In the end, the Magic need to sort this situation out. If history is any indication of how this will go, Van Gundy will be out despite his stellar resume. What else can the Magic do? Part with the player they’ve spent the past eight seasons bending over backward for?
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
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Tim Duncan and the Spurs may bore the casual fan, but they are a great team.
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Which bigs will play better in Game 7?
World Peace leaves the court after knocking James Harden out with an abhorent elbow.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
