In returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James took a maximum salary. But he did not take a maximum contract length. James declined the maximum four-year, $88 million deal available to him as a 10-year veteran and instead signed a two-year, $42.1 million contract with the Cavaliers. The deal has an opt-out clause after next season, which means we could have Decision III as early as a year from now. Does that mean James is hedging his bets on returning home and
PODCAST: Heat No Longer a “Big Three,” Spurs Now a “Big Four”
One of the obvious takeaways from the 2014 NBA Finals was that the San Antonio Spurs clearly have more good players than the Miami Heat. When the series began, it appeared to be a showdown of each team’s “Big Three” – Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker for the Spurs and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for the Heat. But as the Finals progressed, the talent gap separating the teams became evident. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich trusted his bench,
Three-Man Weave: Finals MVP Picks, Drastic Changes for the Heat
To fill the time between now and what could be the last game of the 2013-14 NBA season, we bring you another edition of the Three-Man Weave. This time, we examine possible NBA Finals MVP candidates – none of whom are among San Antonio’s “Big Three” – and what Miami can do to get back into the series. 1. Who is the NBA Finals MVP thus far? [Read more…]
Bauman: Boris Diaw is rocket fuel that ignites San Antonio’s efficiency
MIAMI — We’re four games into the 2014 NBA Finals and the most consistent player on the floor hasn’t even broken double figures yet. His name is Boris Diaw, and the tremendous impact he has had on this series is still reverberating around South Beach and the rest of America as the San Antonio Spurs followed their 19-point Game 3 victory with an equally impressive 107-86 victory in Game 4 over the Miami Heat, who have been forced to the brink of elimination
Tweet of the Day: A Game Of Greater Significance Than the NBA Finals
With Thursday playing host to a critical Game 4 in the 2014 NBA Finals wherein the Miami Heat trail the San Antonio Spurs 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, a far more important game took place early in the afternoon. The 2014 World Cup. The host nation faced off against Croatia in the opening game of the world’s most anticipated sports tournament. The game, which ended in a 3-1 victory in favor of the Brazil. With many NBA athletes coming from countries all across the
Bernucca: Fading Wade Not Worthy of Max Deal
Dwyane Wade is going to the Hall of Fame. Long before LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, Wade had won a title with the Miami Heat, virtually by himself. He is a multiple NBA champion, perennial All-Star and Olympic gold medalist. He even won a scoring title. Wade is an icon in Miami. And that is a problem for the Heat. Because over the last couple of years, it has become evident that Wade is no longer a superstar. And he
Bauman: Kawhi Leonard continues ascent into San Antonio spotlight
MIAMI — The proverbial “Next step.” When a young player scores a career-high 29 points on 10-for-13 shooting in a 111-92 win in Game 3 in a tied NBA Finals, takes that “Next step,” it’s a big deal (especially in the social media centric world we live in today). Normally he’ll shower, get dressed and head to the podium to answer questions from the media. That was not the case on Tuesday evening. Stone faced and serious, Kawhi Leonard headed toward the throng of media
Three-Man Weave: Fishing, Flopping and Sterling
In this edition of the Three-Man Weave, the New York Knicks go fishing for a new coach, the NBA Finals get their first taste of flopping, and the league cannot seem to rid itself of Donald Sterling. Let’s get to the Q and A, shall we? 1. Derek Fisher is the new coach of the Knicks. Good hire or bad hire? [Read more…]