Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol on Friday was named the winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given annually by the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Gasol was honored for his global work for UNICEF causes. According to the PBWA, he has been a UNICEF ambassador for seven years, traveling the world and working with programs aimed at nutrition and education for children. Gasol, who has said he wants to be a doctor when his NBA career is over, is the
We didn’t think last week’s edition of The Bernucca List was a stumper, but apparently it was, because no one came up with the right answer. Before we give the answer and move onto this week’s list, we will give everyone another chance. So click here and don’t read any further. Give up? The list is “active coaches who have lost a Game 7 at home.” Boston’s Doc Rivers actually has lost twice in a Game 7 at home – in 2005 to
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t react well to Monday’s thumping in Oklahoma City. Center Andrew Bynum and forward Devin Ebanks drew fines from the NBA for their actions during and after the team’s 119-90 loss to the Thunder in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series. Bynum wad fined $15,000 for refusing to speak with the media after Tuesday’s practice. Ebanks was fined $25,000 for his part in a late-game scuffle following a loose ball that resulted in his ejection. Game 2 is
Last week, we had a book review of Don’t Put Me In Coach, in which Ohio State benchwarmer and author Mark Titus repeatedly refers to teammate Evan Turner as “The Villain.” On Monday night in Boston, The Villian was The Hero. Turner shook off a tough shooting night to make a difficult driving, twisting layup that gave the Philadelphia 76ers the lead for good, then added two clutch free throws to help them hold on for an 82-81 victory over the Celtics
When Derrick Rose went down with a torn ACL in Game 1, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said, “We have more than enough to win.” No one doubted him. After all, Chicago was 18-9 this season without Rose and his myriad injuries. And the Bulls were playing the Philadelphia 76ers, quite possibly the weakest of all the postseason teams. Then Joakim Noah went down with a severely sprained ankle in Game 3, and Thibodeau again said, “We have more than enough to win.” Again,
WHAT HAPPENED: The old man, and the C’s. Kevin Garnett turned back the clock to his MVP days and collected 28 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Boston Celtics past the Atlanta Hawks in a grinding Game 6. Boston got a huge break down the stretch when, holding a two-point lead with 3.1 seconds left, Marquis Daniels fouled Al Horford just as the ball was being inbounded, a foul to give for the Celtics. Had Daniels’ foul
Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden ran away with the Sixth Man Award, receiving all but four of the 119 first-place votes. In voting released Thursday by the NBA, Harden received 584 of a possible 595 points. He received 115 first-place votes, three second-place votes and inexplicably was left off one ballot. Points were on a 5-3-1 basis and sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada had ballots. Harden played 62 games and came off the bench in
Last week’s edition of The Bernucca List had been posted for less than an hour before reader Randy – who isn’t necessarily a randy reader – provided the correct answer. Randy’s response was “Players who wear 0 and whose teams made the playoffs this year.” Nice job. This week, we have a list of coaches rather than players. However, our postseason theme continues. If you think you know the common threads among these men, send me a Tweet or post