Kobe Bryant took his daughters to see a movie then splashed around with them in the swimming pool, spending a quiet weekend at home.
"We had a blast," he said.
Lamar Odom said he did nothing but "chill-ax." He didn't even watch his beloved New York Yankees lose twice to the New York Mets in the Subway Series.
"I just took my feet off the ground and got some rest," he said.
Pau Gasol and Sasha Vujacic went to the beach, spending a couple of hours on the sand while escaping a Southern California heat wave.
"It was great," Gasol said. "You don't know how happy we were to close the last series in six games and not go to Game7. It gave us a couple of extra days to prepare ourselves, to disconnect and freshen up."
The Lakers returned to the practice court relaxed and recovered Monday, appearing energetic and fit after taking the weekend off following their victory Friday over Utah in the Western Conference semifinals.
"It was a fun practice," said Bryant, the league's newly crowned MVP. "We got up and down (the court). There was a lot of energy to it."
Then the Lakers made plans to meet for dinner and watch the New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs battle in Game 7 on Monday night.
The Lakers will face the Spurs, a 91-82 winner in the series finale against the Hornets, in the Western Conference finals starting Wednesday night at Staples Center.
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source : dailynews.com
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Lakers Get Some Rest And Relaxation
Pistons And Celtics Making History
Teams have a storied past against one another, but this is a new generation
This isn't about history. This isn't about Bird and McHale, Laimbeer and Thomas. This is about right here, right now.
And right now, there is no real history between these Celtics and Pistons. Three regular-season games and six months of anticipation don't make for much history.
"We will start our history (tonight)," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.
This Eastern Conference finals is about the two best teams in the NBA -- Detroit and Boston -- fighting for a chance at the game's biggest prize. It doesn't have to be any more dramatic than that.
"We haven't been there (NBA Finals) in so long," Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said. "It kind of feels like we've never been there. But this is a new chapter in our book, and hopefully we can make it a good one."
You have the Pistons, the established conference power, playing in their sixth straight conference finals, yet playing to prove their 2004 title wasn't a fluke, playing to validate their status as one of the great teams in history.
Two straight losses in the conference finals have put a cloud over Detroit's legacy that only another ring can dissipate.
"We want the chance to win another NBA title," guard Lindsey Hunter said. "That's the only reason we are here. This matchup is good for the league and it's a historical battle and all of that. But we're trying to make our own legacy. We are trying to get another title so we will be considered a dynasty."
Then you have the Celtics, a constellation of three stars (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen), each with the same gap in their resume -- no NBA title.
"Detroit has been at the top for the last four or five years," Pierce said. "They have something that we want."
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source : detnews.com
Spurs Kick Hornets And Advance To West Finals
San Antonio 91, New Orleans 82
NEW ORLEANS, May 19 (AP) -- A title defense endures for the playoff-savvy San Antonio Spurs.
Manu Ginobili scored 26 points, hitting four free throws in the final minute, sending the Spurs to the Western Conference finals with a 91-82 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday night in Game 7 of their second-round series.
Tony Parker added 17 points, including a crucial jumper in the final minute, as the Spurs held off a late rally to become the first team in this series to win on the road.
"We really believed we had a chance to win on the road here,'' said Spurs forward Tim Duncan, who had 16 points and 14 rebounds. "It's just a lot of confidence. A lot of games under our belt.''
With a nucleus of Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler, the Hornets appear destined for greater things, but now is not their time.
"One thing I want them to remember when they start working out next season is how they feel right now,'' said Hornets coach Byron Scott, adding he was proud of his team, which did not make the playoffs last season, for pushing the Spurs as far as it did.
"You have to go through some things before you can really understand how good it's going to feel when you get to that next level,'' Scott continued. "You don't go from not making playoffs to winning a championship. It just doesn't work that way. ... We're headed in right direction.''
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source : NBA.com
Jazz’s Millsap to Have Thumb Surgery
SALT LAKE CITY, May 19 (AP) -- Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap will have surgery Thursday to repair his left thumb, which was injured during the Western Conference semifinals.
General manager Kevin O'Connor says Millsap has a torn ligament. His recovery time won't be known until Friday.
Millsap's injury occurred last Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the Jazz. He scored 15 points.
Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes Celebrates 80th Birthday
May 19, 2008 - He is the most unassuming superstar you’ll ever meet but his play loomed large. For 15 seasons, Dolph Schayes starred for the Syracuse Nationals and was one of the most consistent scorers and rebounders in NBA history. The 6-9 forward-center averaged more than 17 points and 12 rebounds for nine straight seasons.
Schayes joined the NBA in its third year of existence and along with George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Bob Davies, Bob Pettit and Bill Sharman, helped spur the league’s growth in the ’50s.
Schayes led the Nats to three Finals appearances and one NBA title, a grueling seven-game classic versus George Yardley and the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1955. The series produced one of the greatest and most underrated moments in Finals history – the George King steal in Game 7.
Syracuse’s favorite son and Hall of Famer turned 80 today and reflected on the Nats rabid following, King’s steal, the 24-second shot clock innovation, the greatest player of all time and his favorite current NBA player.
NBA.com: The 1955 Finals between the Syracuse Nats and Fort Wayne Pistons seems to be one of more underrated series in Finals history, especially the George King play in Game 7.
Schayes: Obviously, that series was overshadowed because it was between two of the smallest franchises in the NBA and it wasn’t covered universally. There is very little footage of that series and probably the newspapers didn’t go crazy for it. But it was big in Syracuse.
An interesting thing happened in that Fort Wayne didn’t play any games in Fort Wayne during the Finals. The building was being used by some other venue and they played in Indianapolis. In fact, that forced the Fort Wayne Pistons into Detroit because Fred Zollner, the Pistons owner, was so angry he told the mayor of Fort Wayne, “We’re getting out of here. We’re a major franchise in this city, part of the NBA, and we can’t even play in our building.”
Probably a contract was signed years before and they knew at that time they wouldn’t have the building. But still. They had to go to Indianapolis and they played well in Indianapolis. But they didn’t draw because the following was more in Fort Wayne. And they used to play at North High School in Fort Wayne. Then they built the Allen County Memorial Coliseum for the Fort Wayne Pistons. It was a wonderful building. They had an NBA All-Star Game there. But Fred Zollner, who would be the equivalent of a billionaire today, provided pistons for the automobile industry. That was the excuse for moving to Detroit.
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source : NBA.com
Celts Survive LeBron Score 45-Point Onslaught
Boston 97, Cleveland 92
BOSTON, May 18 (AP) -- Paul Pierce hit a shot. Then LeBron James answered. Pierce hit another and so did James.
It was like that all game long, two of the NBA's best trying to carry their teams to the next round. Pierce and the Boston Celtics succeeded, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-92 on Sunday.
Twenty years earlier there was another thrilling shootout in another seventh game of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Boston -- Larry Bird vs. Dominique Wilkins.
And the result was the same: a narrow Celtics victory that sent them to the conference finals against Detroit.
Pierce scored 41 points, James had 45 and Boston remained unbeaten in the playoffs at home, where the first two games against the Pistons will be played Tuesday and Thursday night.
"It is a great feeling," Pierce said. "We knew this was going to be a tough, tough series."
In a seven-game series in which the road team never won, the Celtics had many green-clad fans on their side. Lucky the Mascot held up a sign reading, "ROCK THE GARDEN!" and the crowd roared. Pierce got the loudest ovation when he was introduced with his nickname, "The Truth."
And when the game started, one fan bellowed, "Not today, LeBron!"
It wasn't Wilkins' day on May 22, 1988, even though he outscored Bird in Boston's 118-116 win over Atlanta at the old Boston Garden. Wilkins finished with 47 points, with 16 in the fourth quarter, and Bird had 34, with 20 in the final period.
"I'm very aware of the game," Pierce said. "They don't ever let you forget it when you look up to the jumbotron."
James has seen plenty of highlights of that mano-a-mano tussle.
"We both tried to will our team to victory and, just like Dominique Wilkins, I ended up on the short end and the Celtics won again," he said. "I think the second round of the postseason, Game 7, these fans will finally have an opportunity to forget a little bit about what Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins did and remember what Paul and LeBron did.
"This will go down in history."
Pierce hit 13 of 23 shots and James went 14-for-29.
Celtics executive vice president Danny Ainge, who played in that 1988 game, called Sunday's shootout "an epic battle."
The Celtics have won 14 straight games at home and have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They are 0-6 in the postseason on the road.
"Before the year our goal was to be there in Game 1 at home [in the conference finals] and that's where we are," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "So we're exactly where we should be."
Home teams are 22-2 in the second round of this season's playoffs. The Celtics never trailed Sunday, but they never were safe until the final seconds.
Pierce hit two free throws with 7.9 seconds left for the final points, then James missed a 3-pointer on the last shot of the game with 4.4 seconds to go.
"I had it going, LeBron had it going and we just didn't let up," Pierce said. "Neither one of us wanted our teams to lose."
Sasha Pavlovic's 3-pointer made it 95-92 with 8.6 seconds left and the Cavaliers immediately fouled Pierce. His first shot hit the rim, hung in the air, then fell through as the crowd roared. Pierce said team patriarch Red Auerbach, who died in October 2006 at age 89, had something to do with that.
"The ghost of Red just looking over us," Pierce said. "I think he kind of tapped it in the right direction. It sort of put a smile on my face."
Pierce's second free throw was much smoother, making it 97-92.
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source : NBA.com
Celtics Top Game 7 Scoring Performances
May 18, 2008 -- Paul Pierce racked up the second most Game 7 points in franchise history on Sunday with 41 as the Celtics edged the Cavaliers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pierce's extraordinary scoring performance countered LeBron James'. LeBron recorded 45 to keep Cleveland afloat throughout the decisive contest.
The classic showdown between Pierce and LeBron was very reminiscent of when Sam Jones (47 points) outdueled Oscar Robertson (43) in Game 7 of the 1963 East Finals and when Larry Bird (34) went toe-to-toe with Dominique Wilkins (47) in Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals. 
source : NBA.com
Debate of NBA Draft: Who's No. 1?
Kansas State's Michael Beasley and Memphis' Derrick Rose are poised be the top two picks in the NBA Draft. But who will be No. 1 is up for debate.
Frank Martin and John Calipari can respectfully agree to disagree on which dynamic young player should be the top pick in next month's NBA Draft: Kansas State's Michael Beasley or Memphis' Derrick Rose.
Understandably, both coaches are a bit biased in this escalating debate.
But Calipari, the University of Memphis' coach, and Kansas State's Martin hold mutual admiration of the franchise-altering impact the other's prized pupil could have in the NBA.
Calipari, who spent three seasons coaching the New Jersey Nets, calls Beasley ``a translator.''
''With my background, I don't care how good you are in college,'' Calipari said. ``I want to know what transfers -- what translates. Does what you do here translate up there to the NBA? With Mike, oh yeah. I'm telling you, the kid is good.''
Martin believes Rose can be a once-in-a-generation type of floor leader.
''Derrick Rose is special,'' Martin said. ``When you've got a point guard who's got what he's got, you're playing for championships.''
The stakes will be just as high at the other end of the spectrum Tuesday in Secaucus, N.J., when the Heat will be among 14 teams at the draft lottery looking for ping-pong balls to bounce the right way and put two lucky teams in position to land one of these top phenoms.
There is Beasley, a 6-10 forward who averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and rewrote the Big 12 record books with one dominant stroke of a season at Kansas State. There is Rose, an explosive 6-3 guard who led Memphis to the title game in his lone college season and has drawn early comparisons to elite NBA point guards Jason Kidd, Deron Williams and Chris Paul.
And then there are the rest of the projected lottery prospects, which include Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, Southern Cal guard O.J. Mayo and Stanford center Brooke Lopez.
The Heat enters the random-but-weighted lottery essentially in pole position. After finishing an NBA-worst 15-67, tying the franchise record for futility, the Heat has a 25 percent chance to land the No. 1 pick and a 46.5 shot at a top-two selection. Under NBA rules, Miami is guaranteed to fall no lower than fourth in the selection order for the June 26 draft in New York.
But there is another set of numbers that is disturbing to the Heat. Only twice in 14 years under the current format has the team with the worst record won the lottery's top pick.
INTERCHANGEABLE
Fortunately, many NBA and college executives, coaches and analysts said the value of this year's lottery grand prize and top consolation parting gift might be interchangeable.
It is not often that two clear-cut franchise-changers headline a draft class, but it has happened two seasons in a row. The energy surrounding Beasley and Rose -- or Rose and Beasley -- is just as strong as the hype entering last year's draft, when center Greg Oden and forward Kevin Durant, the NBA's Rookie of the Year, went first and second to Portland and Seattle, respectively.
''The top two [prospects] this year would be somewhat comparable to last year, which was considered extraordinary,'' said Sporting News senior college basketball writer Mike DeCourcy, who wrote Legends of College Basketball, a book that ranks the top 100 players in history. ``I don't think these two are going to have to take a backseat to many one-twos at all.''
That is considered extremely lofty praise when looking back on recent high-lottery pairings, including Dwight Howard and Emeka Okafor in 2004, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2003 [although Darko Milicic was drafted second], Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby in 1996 and Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning in 1992, among others.
Heat general manager Randy Pfund is among a group of executives with lottery teams who believe Rose and Beasley initially offer more of a No. 1 and No. 1-A option on the board rather than distinguished prospects with a clear amount of separation.
''For most people, that's fairly accurate, that's the early line,'' said Pfund, who estimates the Heat's candidate pool with a top-four pick includes as many as eight prospects beyond Rose and Beasley. ``With one of those two guys, you're going to get a player who will have an immediate and tremendous impact.''
NO FAVORITE
Pfund would not say which of the two the Heat favors at this point if it acquired the top pick. For now, his daydreams alternate with Beasley posting up or Rose running the point in transition alongside Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and Dorell Wright.
If there was any difference that could be detected in Pfund's recent breakdown of Rose and Beasley -- any hint which one he would prefer -- it was difficult to discern.
He spoke in waves about Beasley's ability to score and rebound in a potential inside-outside tandem with Wade.
''That image is a nice one,'' Pfund said.
``[Beasley] can be a very nice guy for Dwyane to drive and dish to, or he can post and find Dwyane.''
But Pfund, at times, could barely find the words when trying to describe the potential of a Rose-Wade backcourt pairing, specifically with the Heat's need for a point guard this offseason.
''Rose, to me, in the open court, for me, the possibilities for a player with his quickness, his size, his strength, boy, it's like having a quarterback that can do it all,'' Pfund said. ``The image I have of Rose, with the ball in his hands, pushing it up the court with Wade, Dorell and Marion, that creates a whole new option for you.''
So which option do you take with the top pick? Beasley, a 6-10 forward and first-team All-American who led the nation in rebounding and was third in scoring? Or Rose, a third-team All-American with an upside the size of Mount Everest?
It is still too difficult a call, some say.
But that perception could change once more poking and prodding is done at the NBA's predraft camp this month and subsequent individual team workouts next month.
''A lot of teams will be going through that debate to get into that first position,'' said Portland Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard, whose team wrestled with a similar decision last year before selecting Oden over Durant. ``It's a little bit of a unique phenomenon -- two players, back to back, looked at heavily for the top two spots. There wasn't a day between the lottery and the actual draft that there weren't media involvement and interviews. You can really, really drill down very deep on two players.''
BANKING ON ROSE
DeCourcy believes Rose will emerge.
''The first thing you want to do is draft a star -- a guy who is going to play in multiple All-Star games,'' he said. ``You want a guy to change the talent level of your team. Rose and Beasley fit that. The difference is, I believe Rose is the most physically gifted point guard to ever play the game. I think he's the most complete athletic package we've ever had.''
source : NBA.com
