Wednesday was my 16th wedding anniversary. It also was the 30th anniversary of one of the most anticipated playoff games in NBA history – Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics. The rivals met in the conference finals in three consecutive years from 1980-82. In 1981, the Sixers opened a 3-1 lead before the Celtics won the next three games by a combined five points. The following year, the Sixers again opened a 3-1
Marks: Magical Night in Philly as Sixers take Game 6
“So you’re telling me there’s a chance! ‘’— Jim Carrey, Dumb and Dumber PHILADELPHIA — Actually, the resilient Philadelphia 76ers have a much better chance beating the Boston Celtics in a decisive seventh game Saturday at the new Garden than the one-in-a-million shot Jim Carrey’s character did of getting the girl. You might not normally think that. You might think Doug Collins’ team, which staved off the executioner by grinding out an 82-75 Game 6 victory before a packed house that included
Pittman suspended three games, Haslem for one
NEW YORK — Miami Heat center Dexter Pittman has been suspended three games without pay for striking the neck and shoulders of Indiana guard Lance Stephenson, and Miami forward Udonis Haslem has been suspended one game without pay for striking the head and shoulders of Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough, it was announced today by NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson. Both Pittman and Haslem had their Flagrant Foul Ones upgraded to Flagrant Foul Twos, as did Indiana’s Hansbrough, who
Tweet of the Day: Mike Wells
Larry Bird: "I can't believe my team went soft. S-O-F-T. I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen."
@MikeWellsNBA
Mike Wells
Team USA’s Olympic Schedule unveiled
First up in the first round for Team USA at the London Olympics is France, and last is Argentina. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced pairings and game times for the 2012 Olympic men’s basketball tournament. Two of the USA’s opponents will be determined following the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, scheduled for June 2-8 in Caracas, Venezuela, with the top three finishing teams earning the final three Olympic qualifying berths. The top 2 teams will be in the Americans’
Playoffs Day 25: Preview of Celtics-Sixers (G6)
As the Philadelphia 76ers ponder how to avoid elimination at home in Game 6 against the Boston Celtics, they will have to begrudgingly acknowledge the fact that Brandon Bass – the Celtics fifth-best option – simply cannot be ignored. Bass went off for a career playoff-high 27 points in Game 5, including 18 third-quarter points that outscored the entire 76ers team by 2 points. The question is, if the 76ers are unable to play help defense because of Bass’ ability to hit
Tyson Chandler not on All-Defensive First Team
If you win Defensive Player of the Year, you should probably be on the All-Defensive First Team, right? Wrong. New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who won Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, was bumped to the Second Team. The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard was the center on the First Team. Defensive Player of the Year voting was done by a media panel, while the All-Defensive Teams were chosen by the NBA’s 30 coaches, who could not vote for players on
Sheridan: Can Miami close out Pacers without Haslem, Pittman?
// If Dexter Pittman had done what he did to Lance Stephenson on the street instead of on the basketball court, he’d be facing felony assault charges. As it is, Pittman’s cheap shot in the waning moments of Miami’s Game 5 beatdown of the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night is certain to earn him a multiple-game suspension. (On the Artest scale, this one is worthy of a 10-game suspension, IMHO, because of the degree of premeditation). If you haven’t seen the foul