If you’re looking for an illustration of why Celtics-Lakers is the best rivalry in the NBA – and perhaps the most enduring of any in the four major pro sports – then read the piece below. Before each game throughout the NBA Finals, we have been encapsulizing the top five Game 1s, Game 2s, etc. As the Thunder and Heat steel themselves for what should be a pretty intense Game 4 tonight, we offer you our top five Game 4 showdowns in
Reader Zach was the first with the correct answer to last week’s edition of The Bernucca List. The list was “players called for 10 or more technical fouls this season.” This week’s list is a pretty tough one, so we will provide a hint: It has to do with the playoffs. Think you know the answer? Go ahead and post it in the Comments section or Tweet it to me. First correct answer gets a shout-out next week. The Bernucca List Carlos Boozer Manu Ginobili Richard Hamilton Stephen
NEWS If any doubt remained, the Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash established his bona fides as one of the organization’s all-time greats on Feb. 1, when he blew past Kevin Johnson as the franchise’s all-time leader in career assists. (Nash also holds team records for three-pointers made and attempted, as well as three-point and free throw shooting percentages.) Now, he’s on the cusp of passing an NBA icon. With Phoenix set to host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight on TNT (10:30 p.m. ET)
Sharpshooter Reggie Miller, disrespectfully snubbed a year ago, heads the 2012 Hall of Fame Class. This year’s class was announced Monday in New Orleans, hours before the NCAA title game between Kentucky and Kansas. Other prominent new members are Don Nelson, Jamaal Wilkes and Ralph Sampson, all with ties to the Golden State Warriors. Miller played his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers, scoring 25,279 points. He somehow was overlooked last year, when the inductees included Chris Mullin – and Dennis
Far be it for me to criticize the selection process for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. I was once one of the 24 voters. I served a three-year term and kept my mouth shut. I know people on various committees right now and they keep their mouths shut. That’s the way the Hall of Fame wants it. If given the chance, perhaps I would change the voting procedure. Maybe make the panel more than 24 people. Make sure it
Lineups for the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Game Team Shaq Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats Landry Fields, New York Knicks Norris Cole, Miami Heat Brandon Knight, Detroit Pistons Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons Team Chuck Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves Paul George, Indiana Pacers MarShon Brooks, New Jersey Nets John Wall, Washington Wizards Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs (Missing game due to injury) Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz There’s at least one team apparently still with a need for Rasheed Wallace. CSNNE.com
Clutch sharpshooter Reggie Miller is among four first-time finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The list of 12 finalists for the 2012 Hall class was announced Friday at All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Fla. Now an analyst for TNT, Miller did not make the list of finalists a year ago, when Dennis Rodman was inducted. Other first-timers among the 12 finalists announced Friday at All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Fla. are former NBA coach Bill Fitch, current Louisville coach Rick Pitino
On Jan. 31, Derrick Favors will have an extra deduction from his paycheck. Late in the third quarter of Thursday’s loss to Dallas, the forward of the Utah Jazz threw a ball into the stands in disagreement with an offensive foul call. His immediate punishment was ejection from referee Matt Boland. On Saturday, the NBA decided Favors needed further discipline and fined him $25,000. The fine came from NBA VP of Violence Stu Jackson, who has been remarkably inactive this season. Gotta love