Source: No tampering complaint from Cavs yet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport

In addressing the media 45 minutes before tipoff of LeBron James' first NBA Finals game with the Heat Tuesday night, commissioner David Stern is prepared for an abundance of labor questions and also, an inquiry that has particular relevance to this series: What happened to the Cleveland Cavaliers' plans to investigate possible tampering charges related to James' decision to sign with Miami?

There isn't much to address yet, according to a person with detailed knowledge of league operations who told CBSSports.com that no formal complaint has been filed.

"The answer is no," the person said Tuesday night.

In December, Yahoo! Sports reported that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had hired a law firm to build a possible tampering case against Miami, which signed James and Chris Bosh as free agents to pair with Dwyane Wade last July. The fruits of LeBron's decision are on full display, with the Heat advancing to the Finals against the Mavericks after running through the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the 76ers, Celtics and Bulls.
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At the time, Gilbert was incensed by meetings that involved high-level representatives of James and Wade in Chicago last June, when they were still under contract with their teams. Also, published reports indicated that James was involved in a meeting with Heat president Pat Riley and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan last November during a Cavs trip to Miami. That report came from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which also reported in July that Wade and Bosh flew to Akron to meet with James at his home a month earlier -- before the beginning of free agency July 1.
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Stern has previously defended players' rights to discuss future plans among themselves, but stated during a playoff appearance in Philadelphia last month, "If there was tampering that someone could prove, that would make my blood boil.”

The NBA does not investigate possible instances of tampering without a formal complaint from a team.

Miami Heat's crazy season rolls to NBA Finals

You know when it first registered? When these Heat players realized they were in an unprecedented collision of sports, celebrity, controversy, jealousy, animosity and the Internet Age on the way to these NBA Finals?

"Cleveland,'' Dwyane Wade said of LeBron James' return game in December.

"Bump-gate,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of his accidental time-out brush with LeBron in November.

"When Barbara Walters asked President Obama about the Heat,'' center Joel Anthony said of that December interview. "She had, what, four or five questions for the President of the United States? And one of them was about us? We all said, 'This is crazy.' ''

It was crazy, this season. Crazy loud. Crazy weird. Crazy all the way to Monday when Heat players walked on the court at AmericanAirlines Arena to meet hundreds of reporters on the eve of tonight's Game 1 of the NBA Finals and shrugged.

"Just a normal day,'' forward Chris Bosh said."We've been under this kind of microscope for 100-plus games."

The dozens of media around him chuckled. Normal? Look around! But Bosh didn't laugh. And for good reason. This team has lived in the crosshairs of questions and photographers and bloggers and fans and Twitter and SportsCenter for months.

"Almost a year,'' Bosh said. "No team's ever seen anything like it."

None could. The world's changing with each spin. Udonis Haslem has played in the NBA eight years, traveled with Shaquille O'Neal in a championship season and even he couldn't believe the sight as he left the hotel for the team bus on his first road trip back after months of injury.

This was in Minnesota on April 1.

"Hundreds of people were out there just to watch us walk to the bus,'' he said. "I mean, hundreds. Eight, 10, 15 deep. And it was cold outside."

"I took a picture of that scene and sent it to people I know,'' said guard Mike Bibby, who was in his first days with the Heat after being acquired. "I'd never seen anything like that."

Bibby is a 13-year veteran. And what he said next seemed more unbelievable to him.

"It was like that everywhere,'' he said.

In fact, it was like that from the start. Mike Miller remembers walking to the team bus for the first preseason game in San Antonio. It was such a scene he called his brother from the bus and said, "This is going to be a different lifestyle, this season."

Different? You could say that. As Eddie House said, every Heat game became like, "a circus without the clowns. We don't bring clowns. But the circus tents went up wherever we went."

Remember when people said it was bad for the league? Well, the Heat drew a league-high 100.9 percent of capacity on the road (standing-room-only put it above seated capacity).

Their opener against Boston was the most-watched regular-season game ever on cable. Three of their playoff games against Chicago were three of the four most-watched games ever on cable.

"You get used to it,'' LeBron said. "It's life."

Well, he gets used to it. Juwan Howard remembers training camp at remote Hurlburt Field on the Panhandle and seeing an ESPN studio set up to do live shows.

"That's when something clicked in my mind this wasn't going to be anything I'd been a part of,'' Howard said.

Zygrunas Ilgauskas was a teammate of LeBron's in Cleveland. If anyone could have expected this kind of spotlight, he would have. And he didn't. And it didn't take long to register.

The day after he signed with the Heat in July, Ilgauskas walked from his New York apartment to the gym. At Broadway and Grand, a man started yelling at him across the street.

"You guys are going down!"

"You're a bunch of bums!"

"The Celtics got your number!"

Ilgauskas said nothing. But he thought two things: He's hearing about the Celtics in New York.

And the second?

Ilgauskas sat on the side of the court, on the eve of the NBA Finals, and said, "This season is going to be like nothing I've ever experienced."

Threat of NBA lockout puts damper on Thunder offseason

http://www.cbssports.com/
Kevin Durant sat in Thunder headquarters Thursday, about 14 hours after the end of his season, and declared that it would be OK with him if we started next season right now.


I know it sounds crazy,” Durant said, “but I'm ready to get back to work already for next year.”
Where do we all sign up?
The Thunder's wondrous ride to the Western Conference Finals ended with a double thud. Defeat at the hands of the Mavericks, followed by fear of the unknown.
After the Miami-Dallas Finals and the June 23 draft, no one knows when NBA basketball will return. Labor negotiations appear to be going nowhere fast, a July 1 lockout is virtually assured and the chances of an on-time start to next season seem slim.
“Seems like a deadline is what makes people negotiate,” Nick Collison said.
He's right, of course. The NFL is Exhibit A. Rather than sit down and talk it out, football's players and owners would rather lawyer up and dance in the courts. Would rather call each other names in the media, where we are glad to report whatever they say.
Will we have pro football come September? Will we have pro basketball come November? There is no reason for optimism.
What a drag on Thunder momentum. The city and the state has gone crazy over the Durantulas. The still-ridiculously-young Thunder might be the West favorite next season. And yet NBA arenas, most notably ours, could be dark for who knows how long, even after hoops season has arrived.
Bad for business and bad for basketball. Just when you teach Oklahomans they can't live without the NBA, you offer them a chance to do exactly that.
The last NBA work stoppage came in 1998-99, when play resumed in February, tipping off a 50-game season for each team. Anyone interested in waiting until February to see Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka play again?
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“Hopefully we'll have a season at the regular time,” Durant said. “Kind of tough to figure out. I just don't know. It's up in the air. But I have confidence we can get something going.”
More youthful exuberance from the Thunder. Never seems to run out, whether the Boomers are off on a fast break or talking collective bargaining.
“It's tough going into an offseason not knowing,” said Thabo Sefolosha. “At the same time, I'm pretty optimistic we'll figure it out. Hopefully won't be locked out too long.”
Frankly, some places could use a regular-season reprieve. A shortened season would be perfect for the Lakers and Spurs and Celtics, older teams that seemed haggard by the playoffs. In basketball-destitute cities like Detroit and Minneapolis, a lockout might go unnoticed.
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But in Miami, Year 2 of LeBron? In Dallas, coming off, at worst, its second West title ever? In Orlando, for what could be Dwight Howard's final year in the kingdom? In Chicago, where homegrown Derrick Rose holds court? In Memphis, where after 10 years in town the Grizzlies have been discovered?
In Oklahoma City, where watching the Thunder 99 nights a year quickly became standard operating procedure?
Say it ain't so. A season we wish could start early appears to be dead set on starting late, if at all.

NBA Draft 2011: 10 Rookies the Chicago Bulls Should Target

http://www.ehow.com/sports/
The Miami Heat ended the Chicago Bulls' season earlier than Chicago fans hoped. Scottie Pippen added insult to injury by claiming LeBron James could one day be better than Michael Jordan.

Time to get over that. Like 28 of the 30 front offices in the NBA, John Paxson and Gar Forman are now focused on the NBA draft and the free-agent market.

Chicago has the 28th pick in the first round (courtesy of the James Johnson trade), the 30th pick in the first round
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(their own) and one second-round pick (44th overall). Aside from a desperate need for a starting shooting guard, which should be addressed in free agency, the Bulls' needs from this somewhat weak draft class are not clear.

The Bulls have numerous routes they can take with these picks. Most likely, they will try to package them in a trade or as a way to move up and select a player who could actually make their 12-man roster. The only players Chicago is losing to free agency are Kurt Thomas, Brian Scalabrine and Rasual Butler.
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At this point, it's hard to say what the Bulls are looking for in the draft, but it would seem like a wing player and some more frontcourt depth would be a priority. I'm assuming the Bulls could move no higher than 20th, so no Jimmer for the Bulls.

Here we go.

Durant, Rose Are the Future, LeBron and Dirk Are the Present

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport
I fully expect to see the day when Kevin Durant(notes) hoists an NBA Finals MVP trophy after leading his team to an NBA championship.

Ditto for Derrick Rose(notes).

Heck, the way free agency works now, they might even team up to snag a title someday.

But that's down the road, in the future.

 The present belongs to Dirk Nowitzki(notes) and LeBron James(notes), and I fully expect one of them to be hoisting the NBA Finals MVP trophy in the first half of June.

Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks have already secured a trip to the Finals, with a 4-1 victory over Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and James and the Miami Heat are one win away from punching their own ticket to the Finals series.

Miami owns a 3-1 lead over Rose and the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Game 5 set for Thursday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. EDT (televised on TNT).

It won't surprise me if that series goes to a Game 6, but I don't see the Heat losing it.
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Rose and Durant will get their time, though. These guys are supreme talents who have plenty of time to develop and completely take over the NBA. We've seen what each guy can do, but we've also seen that each is just not quite there yet.

They will be.

For Durant, a big part of the puzzle is developing a little bit of that superstar ego on offense. That "give me the ball" mentality. And he'll need to somehow wrest it away from shoot-first point guard Russell Westbrook(notes), who has a whole bunch of developing to do, himself.

I love Durant's unselfish style of play, but at times, he needs to get selfish and take over games. He needs to demand the ball, and be the guy who wins it or loses it. He needs to develop the type of confidence that Nowtizki has been displaying throughout the postseason.

He will, likely sooner than later. He's an amazing talent.

For Rose, it's really just a matter of rising to the occasion. The 2010-11 NBA MVP struggled shooting the ball in the past couple of games, and in Game 4, he missed seven of his last eight attempts and had seven turnovers.
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He needs to be able to trust his teammates to score when his shot is off, and still find ways to create offense even if his jumper is failing him, leaning on that incredible ability to drive to the hoop, and dishing off if necessary.

These guys will figure out these issues. Frankly, I'd have been shocked if both of them had led their teams into the 2010-11 NBA Finals, given their youth and relative inexperience.

But the fact they've each done what they've done so earlier in their careers has me excited about what's to come … in the future.

Despite being one win from NBA Finals, Mavs insist they're not looking ahead

The Mavericks know what you’re thinking.
And shame on you, they say. They refuse to allow themselves to indulge in the same process. At least, not for more than a moment or two.
The Miami Heat is waiting out there. Maybe not for certain yet. But it’s a strong possibility the Mavericks will be revisiting their 2006 demons in the NBA Finals.
Miami has a 3-1 lead over Chicago in the Eastern Conference finals.
Not that the Mavericks can afford to look forward to a rematch of the heartbreaking ’06 Finals.
“We’ve got to worry about OKC and focus on them,’’ guard J.J. Barea said. “We’ve got a lot to worry about here rather than looking ahead.’’
Not that the thought isn’t there. Dallas wouldn’t be human if it didn’t have the temptation to peek into the future.
“Watching their game [Sunday in Miami], I know everybody’s thinking it,’’ Barea said.
“I was getting texts from friends asking me: Who would you rather play? But we got to keep our mind on this.’’
The earliest the NBA Finals can start is Tuesday, and that’s only if both conference finals end in five games. Otherwise, the Finals will start June 2.
Bring your voice: Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has been impressed with fans at every stop in the playoffs so far, including American Airlines Center. And he expects there to be more loudness in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
“There’s a couple of things that I feel are important,’’ he said. “No. 1, we’ve got to have a loud crowd. I mean, we’ve got to have a crowd that’s insane because that’s how Oklahoma City was. That’s how Portland was. And that’s how our fans were in the Lakers series. They were off the charts.
“That helps, especially when you are trying to push over the top and win a game in a close-out situation.’’
Oh, and by the way, the other things that are important?
“Second thing is, the rebounding is a really big thing,’’ Carlisle said. “Turnovers early [Monday] hurt us and really got them going. And those are two areas we’ve got to address.’’
Still impressive: Speaking of Monday’s incredible comeback from 15 points down in the final five minutes, Dirk Nowitzki believes it might be the best rally he’s ever been a part of, at least when it comes to taking place on a huge stage.
“It’s got to be up there,’’ Nowitzki said. “I can’t remember another comeback like that. It didn’t look great there. But our defense was unbelievable down the stretch.
“Where they were killing us all night long was offensive rebounds. And finally, the last five minutes, I can only recall one offensive rebound in the last five and in overtime.
“Once we got to OT, we had to feel good about ourselves. We talked about it and said we’ve got to go for it.’’

NBA Free Agent Primer: Backup point guards

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport

No one knows exactly when to start the NBA season.

Despite the uncertainty, the Boston Celtics no different than most teams in the NBA when it comes to the several plans on how the free will that shortly after 1 July will begin to be attacked. 

Unlike the last two seasons, the C the need during the off season in the little free agent market that will reinforce a position or two.

This season is a different story. 

Boston has only five players on the books with guaranteed contracts for next season. This sum does not include Ray Allen, who is expected at its option for next season worth $ 10,000,000.

The Celtics will look at first some of their needs through the draft of an address in the next month.

But the success of this team next season will depend largely on the ability of C to the acquisition of talent through free will, can take some pressure off the Big Three of Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Also, Rajon Rondo, the youngest member of the core group of the Celtics could use some support.

After losing only 12 games in his first four seasons with the C's, Rondo missed 14 games last season with a variety of injuries. Although it has not lost any game in the playoffs, Rondo injured his left elbow dislocated in Game 3 of the series' second-round effects from Boston to Miami, an injury that left him essentially as a base with an arm in the other two games.

Due to the age of Rondo (25) and experience (73 playoff games more than anyone what kind of project 2006), finding a good backup you can do things at the same time, he takes time out is not to be taken lightly.

The Celtics hoped Delonte West was the man to fill that gap last season. But various injuries to the west, a limited career low in 24 games last season. The rookie Avery Bradley was not finished. The former Celtic Nate Robinson had a shot at the job, but it was clear he was a better fit of the ball game before trading in the city C Oklahoma.

As Rondo has played more minutes than any other Celtic, signing a young player comes is not necessarily the most appropriate on the back.

The C's are probably an experienced player who is willing to accept limited minutes on the bench.

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Although you do not find too many familiar names - OK, there are no known names - in the foundations of the free agent pool backup, there are some decent, is certainly available, which could provide a lift for the Celtics.

Carlos Arroyo (Miami / Boston), Jose Juan Barea (Dallas), Loi Acie (Golden State), TJ Ford (Indiana), Mario Chalmers (Miami), Mike Bibby (Miami), Earl Boykins (Milwaukee), Marcus Banks (Toronto ), Anthony Carter (New York), * Antonio Daniels (Philadelphie), Aaron Brooks * (Phoenix) Patrick Mills * (Portland), Chris Quinn (San Antonio), Ronnie Price (Utah), Earl Watson (Utah).

The best of the group: Brooks, Barea, Chalmers, Ford and Watson.

Why Ford: Why is the speed and Rondo  , but with a better bridge is a nice change to have to throw against teams of 15 minutes, or no Rondo on the ground things a bit boring, sometimes almost the end of his term .. be in Indiana, the opportunity to be part of a winning organization like Boston him and his career would be very good. The main obstacle to C? What else? money. Even reflected when a new collective agreement this is the C's who have difficulties in fitting the Ford to pay with a backup point guard slot.

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Why Arroyo: It was a solid ready when the interpreter in C last year, and have no problem Back Rondo. However, when the opportunity to play a greater role than elsewhere, but it came with a team of more than one way, it would be a tough, tough for this veteran of eight years. Wherever you go, probably Arroyo for a minimum of veterans, the Celtics means in financial terms, it can not compete with another person for their services.

Why Daniels: The Boston Celtics have interest in him was before the signing of Arroyo in March. A good size, athleticism and decent has to be a strong local character area. The two biggest blows to Daniels, is that it is a restricted free agent, and age. It was essentially a breach replacement for Louis Williams. So if the Sixers to keep it decide you want to remember to watch the team's third point, that no season it mean that someone is injured, a similar role in the Celtics with respect to Avery Bradley will be developed or how the C sign Delonte West.

With the Celtics push hard, athletic, we must also ask whether the Celtics to the point of having a constant presence behind Rondo and Daniels that athletics is not nearly what it was in the early to see in his career.