Remember the old NBA slogan “I love this game!?” (It pre-dates “Where Amazing Happens”). If you are in your early 20s, you may not. But that’s OK. Lots of people in their early 20s seem to believe the world began 10 years ago, and have no recollection of crappy cell phone reception, dial-up Internet or the fax machine. But those who are a bit older certainly remember that ad campaign, and Sunday was one of those days when love for the game
Critics of LeBron James often point to his late-game disappearances in the postseason. When the Chicago Bulls visit the Miami Heat in the NBA’s best game Sunday afternoon, they will have no recollection of any of those instances. That’s because in last year’s Eastern Conference finals, James was spectacular down the stretch in all four of Miami’s wins. In Game 2, James scored nine points in the final 4 1/2 minutes to take home-court advantage from the Bulls. In an 85-75 victory
// Fans in the NBA’s two biggest markets can’t be very happy right now. For that matter, neither can David Stern. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA. They predate instant replay, maximum salaries, team planes, the draft lottery, the 3-pointer, free agency, conferences and leather sneakers. For more than 50 years, they have anchored the league on opposite coasts, guaranteeing interest in the two biggest cities in the country. Both teams basically have unlimited budgets. Both teams
With one game remining in the NFL season, the NBA is making its customary schedule shift from heavy to lighter on Saturdays and light to heavier on Sundays, with some allowances for the compression of the lockout. As a result, Saturday’s slate has just six games, and the best of a weak bunch has the slumping New York Knicks visiting the surging Houston Rockets. Yes, this isn’t exactly a marquee matchup, especially with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony again sitting out with multiple
// After the Orlando Magic’s shameful performance Thursday night vs. Boston, in which they blew a 27-point lead, scored 25 points in the second half and lost to a severely shorthanded team, Jason Richardson said the team was developing a soft reputation. After Friday night’s debacle in New Orleans, coach Stan Van Gundy said it all. From Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “If this isn’t rock bottom, what is? The Orlando Magic completed a forgettable week Friday night, falling to the
The three-star approach seems to be working for the Miami Heat. For the New York Knicks, not so much. The rivals meet Friday night in Miami, the best game on a schedule of 13. While the Heat may be getting back one of their stars, the Knicks will be without one of theirs. Miami’s lineup could include Dwyane Wade, who averaged 28 points vs. New York last season but has missed the last six games with a sprained left ankle. The Heat
// There’s just no other way to say it. It was as if the Boston Celtics were all wearing four-leaf clovers on their jerseys, instead of three. Or maybe the Celtics found Orlando’s kryptonite in…in E’Twaun Moore? The rookie from Perdue scored 16 points and hit all four of his 3-pointers as the Magic stumbled, shouted at the refs, and folded — losing all of a 27-point deficit in a stunning 91-83 loss to Boston. When 3:11 remained in the second quarter,
The Orlando Magic host the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s best game Thursday night, three days after they were embarrassed in Beantown. And no one should be more embarrassed than Jameer Nelson. Nelson has gotten off to an awful start this season. He appeared to turn a corner last week with a pair of 17-point games, but that turn only took him down a dark alley. In Monday’s 87-56 loss, Nelson “piloted” the Magic’s offense to the lowest total in franchise history.