NBA News for 5/6/2008
Around the Association presented by T-Mobile: May 5
Go Around the Association presented by T-Mobile for a recap of Monday's playoff action. - Read More...
2008 NBA Playoffs - Day Seventeen - May 5
Here at About.com, we'll be following each day of the 2008 NBA Playoffs - nothing too in-depth with these posts, but a bit of a recap that gives a couple... - Read More...
Hornets make right adjustments in Game 2 rout
Game 2s are all about adjustments. After the Hornets' rout of the Spurs, it's clear which team got the message, Charley Rosen says.
Bryant expected to be named MVP today
The NBA has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday at a Los Angeles hotel, where Kobe Bryant is expected to be announced as winner of his first Most Valuable Player award. Neither NBA spokesman Mark Broussard nor the Lakers would discuss the subject of the news conference, although the league did refer to it as an NBA Awards Announcement. The Los Angeles Times reported last Friday that the 29-year-old Bryant had won the award.
Right moves
WNBA: Parker to Receive College Diploma
In the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Shannon Ryan writes "Candace Parker would rather grab a diploma this week than a rebound. The Naperville native will not be with the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday when they play against the Sky in a WNBA exhibition game. Instead, the league's No. 1 draft pick will be picking up a diploma from Tennessee in sports management and psychology. Parker isn't too upset about missing the homecoming. She will return to Chicago for a regular-season game on June 3.? - Read More...
Kobe Bryant's Fantastic Voyage
In the L.A. TIMES, Mark Heisler writes "now his career lays out perfectly, on a rising power that should only be better when Andrew Bynum returns, with everything -- multiple MVPs, multiple titles -- possible. For all Bryant's mistakes and all his luck, this isn't anything anyone gave him. Only a few players were ever as gifted and not even Michael Jordan matched Bryant's 24/7/365 commitment. The hardest off-season workout Jordan ever put in would be Bryant's average.? - Read More...
Windhorst: LeBron likes chances against Celtics
The Celtics are the better team on paper, but the Cavs have a shot if they can keep games close, writes Brian Windhorst. - Read More...
D'Antoni's going to have plenty of options
Even if Mike D'Antoni has worn out his welcome in Phoenix, Peter Vecsey says he's going to have plenty of suitors for his services.
Tyson Chandler: Confidence, Focus and Birthdays
In his latest NBA.com blog post, the Hornets' Tyson Chandler writes about his team's focus and their ability to stay loose, reflects on the day his daughter was born and shares a Chris Paul story. - Read More...
Kobe Bryant Wins Most Valuable Player Award
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, the NBA announced today. - Read More...
LIVE: NBA presents Kobe his first MVP award
Kobe wins first career MVP award
Kobe Bryant has won his first MVP award after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. He will receive the trophy Wednesday night from commissioner David Stern before the Lakers face Utah in Game 2 of their conference semifinal. Bryant was followed in the voting Tuesday by Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James. Bryant entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion but had finished only as high as third in MVP voting.
NBA: Billups' shot should not have counted
The NBA admitted Chauncey Billups' 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter of Monday's Detroit-Orlando playoff game should not have counted, but said referees weren't allowed to review instant replay to determine that. League president Joel Litvin also said the disputed shot, which gave Detroit a 78-76 lead in its 100-93 victory, could not have been replayed after the clock malfunction was discovered.
LIVE: Celtics, Cavs clashing in Game 1
The Cavaliers and Celtics are locked in a close, defensive battle in the Eastern Conference semis. Follow Game 1 LIVE here.
LIVE: KG, Celts host LeBron, Cavs in Game 1
Gasol quickly fits in to help Lakers get 'A' in chemistry
He looks like the unlikeliest of stars. His shaggy hair, curly and parted in the middle, falling over his ears, has stylists ...
Celtics frustrate LeBron, edge Cavs in Game 1
Celtics Shut Down James, Beat Cavs in Game 1
Kevin Garnett scored 28 points and LeBron James couldn't make a basket down the stretch as the Boston Celtics eked out a 76-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals. - Read More...
Rockets' McGrady undergoes arthroscopic surgery
Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and left knee on Tuesday. Dr. Tom Clanton, the team physician, told the Houston Chronicle that no structural damage was found in the ligament or cartilage of McGrady's knee. Loose particles were removed from both the knee and the shoulder. The newspaper said Dr. Hussein Elkhousy repaired a slight labrum tear on McGrady's shoulder.
Paul Powers Hornets to Another Easy Win over Spurs
With razzle-dazzle dribbles and a driving floater that couldn't miss, Chris Paul had 30 points and 12 assists, leading the New Orleans Hornets to a 102-84 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night and a 2-0 lead in their second-round series. - Read More...
Magic trail Pistons 2-0, but won't go quietly
The Magic dropped another one to the Pistons, but Mike Kahn says Game 2 proved they won't go away without making some noise.
Mechanical Problems Divert Magic Plane on Flight to Orlando
The Orlando Magic's flight from Detroit to Orlando was diverted because of a mechanical problem. - Read More...
Pau isn't the force Shaq was ... but he might fit better
Shaq won three titles in L.A., but the triangle seems made for Pau. So which big is the best fit for Kobe? Randy Hill has the answer.
Report: D'Antoni Talks to Bulls, Moves Closer to Leaving Suns
Mark Stein of ESPN.COM reports "Mike D'Antoni's strong interest in coaching the Chicago Bulls emerged last week. Now it's being officially reciprocated. NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday night that Bulls general manager John Paxson came away from two interviews with D'Antoni in Phoenix impressed and seriously interested in the coach who wants to leave the Suns in part because of a tense working relationship with Paxson's good friend Steve Kerr. Sources in both organizations openly expect D'Antoni to wind up in Chicago -- with one Phoenix source going so far as to describe a deal as 'imminent' -- but it's believed that financial complications account for the one obstacle that could derail his move from the desert to the Windy City." - Read More...
Fisher's Year of Growth and Pain
In the DESERET NEWS, Tim Buckley writes "he smiled. Laughed. Darn near cried. With the first anniversary of a young child's cancer surgery and his own playoff heroics for the Jazz fast-approaching, Derek Fisher stood at the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility and relived a gamut of gut-wrenching emotion. For more than a half-hour Monday, moving no more than a step or two the entire time, Fisher talked about twists and turns, pains and gains, spirit-crushing lows and faith-boosting highs. He spoke as a Laker, but slipped in an occasional "us" and "we" when referencing last season's Jazz. It's the day after Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal series between Utah and L.A., two days before Wednesday's Game 2, and there's a lot on Fisher's mind." - Read More...
LeBron: The One and Only
In the BOSTON GLOBE, Bob Ryan writes "the Next Great Thing never turns out to be quite that, unless, of course, it does, and then it has a distinct, unforgettable name: LeBron."Le" means "the" in French. We don't know whether she had any grand designs for this baby boy, but after watching him play basketball for several years, I hereby declare that "Bron" means "Chosen." Check out that birth date. LeBron has embedded himself into our consciousness so deeply that we feel as if we've known him for at least a decade. But LeBron James is only 23, and if you'd like to put his accomplishments in perspective, consider that Larry Bird turned 23 a little under two months into his rookie year. And at the end of that season, as great as he was, we knew he had a lot to learn.? - Read More...
Sources: Bulls have serious interest in D'Antoni
Sources close to the situation say that Mike D'Antoni is close to leaving the Suns for the Bulls. - Read More...
Magic's plane diverted due to mechanical problems
The Orlando Magic's flight from Detroit to Orlando was diverted because of a mechanical problem. - Read More...
The NBA playoffs: Where clock screwups happen
Junior high refs know what do if the clock freezes. The Bleacher Report wonders how the NBA guys got it so wrong in Detroit.
NBA Statement on Clock Malfunction in Pistons-Magic Game 2
Joel Litvin, NBA President, League and Basketball Operations, issued the following statement today regarding the inadvertent clock stoppage that occurred at the end of the third quarter of the Detroit Pistons' 100-93 win over the Orlando Magic last night. - Read More...
Kobe's turn: Bryant basks in first MVP award
Kobe Bryant has won his first MVP award after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. Bryant ...
NBA admits Billups' 3 should not have counted
The NBA admitted Chauncey Billups' 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter of Monday's Detroit-Orlando playoff game should not have counted, but said referees weren't allowed to review instant replay to determine that. - Read More...
NBA admits Billups' shot should not have counted
The NBA admitted Chauncey Billups' three-pointer at the end of the third quarter of Monday's Detroit-Orlando playoff game should ...
How Kobe finally earned his first MVP
Kobe Bryant's been the NBA's best player for years. But to finally win the MVP award, a lot of things had to change, Charley Rosen says.
Sources: Mavs may hire Carlisle as early as Friday
Friday is the earliest that the Dallas Mavericks will complete the expected hiring of Rick Carlisle as their new coach, according to NBA coaching sources. - Read More...
KG, Celtics overcome Cavs in Game 1
The Cavaliers had a chance to beat the Celtics in Game 1, but LeBron James couldn't get it done down the stretch in Boston.
Garnett outdoes LeBron as Celtics top Cavs in Game 1
Kevin Garnett scored 28 points to make up for an off night for the rest of Boston's Big Three, and the Celtics beat the Cleveland ...
Rockets' McGrady has surgery on shoulder, knee
Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and left knee on Tuesday. - Read More...