MIAMI – Yes, they like to run more than they did a year ago. But when you watch the Miami Heat closely it becomes apparent that one of their biggest improvements from a year ago has been in halfcourt offense. There’s much less confusion and malaise, and much more of a crisply-run, definitive, attacking game. “We’ve put a great emphasis on getting out running and being a fast-break team and getting easy points,” forward LeBron James said. “But we know there are
csprtContainer(); It was a long night for Carmelo Anthony. It began with a visit with George Karl, which ended a prolonged silence with his former coach. It continued with another poor shooting night and loss with the New York Knicks, which is becoming far too common lately. And it ended with accepting the blame for the team’s troubles and remaining defiant, which is his style, on and off the court. Facing the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night for the first time since forcing
MIAMI – Dwyane Wade, sprained ankle and all, had his fun. Now it’s time to rest. Over the weekend, Wade, the Miami Heat’s superstar guard, celebrated his 30th birthday with a party at the Setai Hotel on South Beach. Several teammates were there – LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem among them – and hip-hop artists TI, Common and Rick Ross performed. Wade, whose actual birthday is today, also received a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C automobile, which is valued at about $230,000.
Perhaps the most important trait that separates great ones from The Greatest of All Time is the relentless drive to be the very best. It is not a learned trait. It is natural. Kobe Bryant has it. Other current NBA players may have a dose of it, but it is negligible when compared to Bryant, who has spent much of his career – particular the late ’90s and early 2000’s – being compared to the fanatically driven Michael Jordan. To his credit, Bryant
// The Boston Celtics have some serious issues. Friday’s 88-79 home loss to Chicago was the third straight for the Celtics, who fell to 4-6. It is the first time in the “Big Three” era that they have been two games under .500. They are 19-18 since trading Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics simply cannot score, averaging 79.3 points during the slide. Paul Pierce is still looking for his rhythm after getting a late start to the season and is averaging 13.6 points
Technically, fan balloting for the All-Star Game ends Jan. 31, and TNT plans to announce the starters on Feb. 2. In reality, fan balloting already is over, and the starters already have been announced. While Twitter was all atwitter Thursday, with everybody and their fathers sending snippets of the first returns released by the NBA, we didn’t see anyone point out the yawning margins between the potential starters and also-rans. To unseat the current leaders at each position, it would take a “vote
ESPN has a solid opener to its doubleheader as the Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks. But the nightcap should be an alley-oop fest and Wednesday’s best game as the Miami Heat, fresh off their loss to Golden State Warriors in which LeBron James disappeared in the fourth quarter (sound familiar?) visit the Los Angeles Clippers. The game features no less than six players from Team USA’s preliminary roster as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and
// Dwyane Wade came back, but so did the Golden State Warriors. Derrick Rose dueled Ricky Rubio. And Kobe Bryant erupted for 48 points. But they all have to take a momentary backseat to the Washington Wizards, who finally won a game. All it took was an overhaul of their starting lineup, a spark from their previously invisible prized rookie and a visit from the weary Toronto Raptors. The last winless team in the NBA broke through Tuesday night with a 93-78 win