Heat check: Now that LeBron’s talents are in South Beach, how long will they stay? July would seem to be either way too late or way too early to suggest the twice-defending NBA champion Heat’s fate is teetering, moreso because of a name from the past like Greg Oden. Unfortunately, it’s a new, head-hunting age. [Read more…]
After saying he would not use his amnesty provision, Heat president Pat Riley changed his mind and used the one-time clause on Mike Miller, saving owner Micky Arison millions in luxury tax. Tuesday was the last day for teams to waive a player via the amnesty provision, and Riley chose to let go of Miller and his $6.2 million salary. In a statement, he indicated that he tried to find a taker for Miller in a trade but was unsuccessful. “After many
Ever since reports surfaced that Metta World Peace would be amnestied by the Los Angeles Lakers, his name has been tied to one team that has shown the greatest interest in attaining the forward: the New York Knicks. Although World Peace expressed interest in the idea of playing overseas in China for a while, he received an offer worth staying for from the Knicks and has agreed to join them on Monday. ESPN has details: [Read more…]
Younger NBA fans have been spoiled by Game 7s. Tonight’s showdown in Miami between the Heat and Spurs is the third Game 7 in the NBA Finals in the last nine years. Prior to that, there had been just one in the previous 16 years. Game 7’s are like tax returns, pizza and sex; they’re never really bad. But they can be really good, and as Game 7’s go, we haven’t had a really good one in a long time. [Read more…]
The sight of Tim Duncan sitting on the bench during deciding moments of the Spurs-Warriors game Thursday sent me scrambling to the computer. The situation had to be unprecedented. When in playoff history has a player of Duncan’s stature sat down with the game on the line? Did that happen to Michael, Magic or Larry? What about Wilt or Russell? Kareem? Shaq? Kobe? I didn’t even make it halfway when I stopped and started giggling. Michael Jordan sitting for the last
When Mike Brown was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, there were multiple feelings of déjà vu. One was obvious – Brown was returning to a team that had fired him three years earlier. We have all been here before. But the other was more subtle and had to do with the fundamental reality not only of today’s NBA, but also of today’s professional sports. [Read more…]
The NFL Draft is upon us, which means some poor 340-pound sucker is going to spend 4 hours in the green room or eight hours at home with relatives and friends waiting for his name to be called. Mel Kiper will come out of his burrow. People will stay glued to their television sets for hours waiting for the next left tackle from Podunk State to be picked. I don’t get it. The NBA does the draft right. Just a couple minuts
With the NBA season winding down, award season is right around the corner. The Coach of the Year award this season is a very tight race. I have a tremendous history with coaches. It started by growing up with an NBA Coach of the Year living across the hall from me for my entire childhood. That helped me grow up to have an 18-year NBA career playing for 15 different coaches. And when you consider that I had one coach (Doug Moe)