Sacramento Kings Name Reggie Theus Head Coach

By David
Kaye

Former New Mexico State head coach Reggie Theus will be announced as the new Sacramento Kings head coach at an afternoon press conference today.

The Third Overall Pick In The NBA Draft Is...

By David
Kaye

Once Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are selected one and two in next weeks draft the Atlanta Hawks will have the biggest decision of the draft to make. Do they select the ''total package man'' in Florida's Al Horford, Yi Jianlian of China, Ohio State point guard Mike Conley Jr. or UNC's Brandon Wright?

During the past three drafts Atlanta has not made the wisest decisions when it came to improving their ball club. Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams and Sheldon Williams have all endured disappointing starts to their basketball careers as members of one of the worst teams in the league.

Instead of adding another tall and talented power forward like Florida's Al Horford, General Manager Billy Knight woulld be smartest to pick point guard Mike Conley Jr. Even though Conley Jr. could be available when the Hawks select at number eleven, he is the best guard in the draft and is most ready to make an impact right away.

So, with the third pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, Mike Conley Jr. should hear his name called by Commissioner David Stern.

L.A. Lakers Superstar Kobe Bryant Demands Trade, Again

By David
Kaye

For the second time in the past several weeks disgruntled shooting guard Kobe Bryant has asked for a trade from Lakers management.

Last month in an interview with 1050 ESPN Radio Kobe said that there was no conceivable way that the Lakers could keep him. Not a chance at all for L.A. to keep their superstar who has been an integral part of the team and community for over a decade.

In a twisted turn of events the two-time scoring champion stated that he had reconciled with coach Phil Jackson and that he and the team now saw eye to eye. All along Bryant's number one complaint or as I see it his number one excuse for wanting to leave the only team he has ever played for is their lack of winning and a viable direction for the future.

Wait, wasn't it Kobe himself who wanted complete control over the Lakers so that he can prove he could win without another prominent superstar by his side. Since Shaq departed for South beach L.A. has not made it out of the first-round of the playoffs.

With 4-years and $88.6 million left on his contract Bryant will look to add his name to the record books in another NBA city. Although he's the only player in the league to have a no trade clause, it appears that he'd be willing to waive it to play for the Chicago Bulls.

Unfortunately, Lakers' General Manager Mitch Kupchak will have a steep asking price when he sits down to discuss the parameters of the deal with Bulls' General Manager John Paxson. Reportedly L.A. would be seeking center Ben Wallace, guard Ben Gordon, forward Luol Deng and the ninth pick in June 28th's draft.

In my opinion that deal would be too sweet for the Lakers who are currently in the rebuilding mode, and it would serve no purpose for Chicago. Despite the major impact he'd make in the Windy city, it would be foolish for the Bulls to take on nearly $90 million and lose three of their best players.

Bryant,28, said on his website http://www.kb24.com/ today that ''Now there is a new road ahead. I am gonna keep grindin and keep working to get back to competing for Championships. Sometimes the trek up the mountain is tough. But, I know we'll get there.

Luckily for Kobe he will be winning no more championships in the Staples Center. The Lakers will look to trade their superstar before next weeks draft and if they are unable to it might be a long Summer ahead for both parties.

Two Major Trades Around The NBA

By David
Kaye

While the San Antonio Spurs were celebrating their fourth title in the last nine years, the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves were all completing trades.

On Thursday, Minnesota dealt point guard Mike James and forward Justin Reed to Houston for veteran Juwan Howard. When I initially read the headline about this trade I was surprised because all three players are not household names and I didn't expect any team to exchange players before the NBA finals were over.

Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale who was been lambasted for poor decisions he has made in the past said ''Juwan is a veteran low-post player who is a proven scorer and rebounder.'' Howard, a twelve-year veteran was a member of the fab five at the University of Michigan and will provide great leadership to the Twolves locker room.

In 25.1 mpg last season in Minnesota's back court James averaged 10.1 ppg and 3.6 apg. The Amityville, New York native will have the opportunity to do well playing along side Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.

On Friday, the Toronto Raptors added some more international spice to their roster as they acquired Carlos Delfino from the Detroit Pistons. Delfino, a native of Argentina, was traded for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and 2011. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds Delfino will be a positive addition to an already potent Toronto lineup.

Reigning Executive of the Year and General Manager and President of the Raptors Bryan Colangelo said ''Carlos is a talented basketball player that should thrive in our system.''

NBA finals hits record low on TV

June 15, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA finals were a television bust.

San Antonio's four-game sweep of Cleveland finished with a record-low 6.2 television rating and 11 share on ABC, Nielsen Media Research said Friday. That was down 27 percent from the 8.5/15 for Miami's six-game victory over Dallas last year and 5 percent under the previous low, a 6.5/12 for San Antonio's six-game win over New Jersey in 2003. The NBA finals averaged 9.3 million viewers this year.

San Antonio's series-winning 83-82 victory on Thursday night got a 6.5/12, down 17 percent from the 7.8/14 for Game 4 last year.

The NHL Stanley Cup finals also hit a record low this year, with NBC averaging a 1.6/3 for the final three games of Anaheim's five-game victory over Ottawa. The first two games were televised on the cable network Versus.

The rating is the percentage watching a telecast among all homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned in to a broadcast among those households with televisions on at the time. A ratings point represents 1,114,000 households.

Updated on Friday, Jun 15, 2007 5:44 pm EDT

San Antonio Spurs Win The NBA Finals

With an 83-82 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers the Spurs have swept the series and secured their fourth NBA title in the last nine years.

San Antonio Spurs In Control Of The NBA Finals

Two games through the 2007 NBA Finals Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are embarrassing LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Entering the series it was clear that the Spurs were the better team, but no one could have expected the Cavs to sleep walk through the first two games in the lone star state.

At the end of the third quarter in game one Cleveland was down by ten points and it got progressively worse Sunday night in game two as they dug themselves a 27 point deficit. Team leader LeBron James was no where to be found in his first finals appearance, going 4-16 from the field and scoring a dismal 14 points Thursday night.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker exerted their force over an inexperienced team in the first two games of the series, combining for 104 points, 18 assists and 30 rebounds.

Mike Brown's club will look to rebound tonight at home in game three of the finals as thy host their first finals game in team history. If they are unable to win tonight it will be all but certain that the Spurs will capture their fourth championship since 1999.

Stan Van Gundy Named Head Coach of Orlando Magic

By David
Kaye

After Billy Donovan bolted from his obligation as Magic head coach last week, General Manager Otis Smith had a vacancy to fill.

He thought that he found the perfect guy in Donovan who guided the Florida Gators to back-to-back national championships and established the basketball program as a power house among all NCAA teams. Unfortunately, Donovan had a change of heart and returned to Gainsville.

Luckily, Smith would not have to leave the state of Florida to find the right guy to lead an up and coming young group of players. Former Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy was targeted by many teams including the Sacramento Kings, but felt that he had the best opportunity to succeed with the Magic.

When you have a budding superstar like Dwight Howard and an organization that is determined to bring a winning ball club to the city of Orlando, who would not want to become the ninth head coach in team history?

The one attribute that made Van Gundy so desirable by many teams is his winning track record and knowledge of the game. During eight seasons as a college head coach, including three at the University of Wisconsin he compiled a record of 135-92.

His next challenge in life would be tackling the NBA and he found the perfect fit with the Miami Heat. He spent twelve fantastic years in the Heat organization, including six as an assistant and two plus seasons manning the sidelines.

Van Gundy took a struggling franchise to new heights during his coaching tenure, recording a regular season record of 112-73 and a postseason record of 17-11. After acquiring all-star Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 Van Gundy coached the team to a 59-23 record. They eventually were eliminated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, but the mark he left on the team was staggering.

He was Dwayne Wade's first head coach and has shaped the superstar into the player he has evolved into today. Most importantly he set a benchmark for success that the Heat still follow today. The countless hours he spent going over film to improve the team's level of play was an integral part of why Miami was able to capture their first NBA title in 2006.

Many times in sports one manager or coach lays down the winning formula and foundation for success, only to see his successor lead the team to the championship game. That was the case with Pat Riley who lead the Heat to the NBA finals due in large part to the work of Stan Van Gundy.

The Orlando Magic hired an exceptional coach and great person in Van Gundy who will elevate the club to new heights.

Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers Hire New Head Coaches

The Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers employed different styles when it came to selecting head coaches.

While the Grizz, who sported the leagues worst record this season, went for youth in Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni, Larry Bird and the Pacers went for leadership in former head coach Jim O'Brien.

O'Brien, who previously coached the 76ers and Celtics, will replace Rick Carlisle who was dismissed as head coach back in April. During his five-year coaching career O'Brien compiled a record of 182-158 and lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001.

During his one season in Philadelphia players perceived O'Brien as a tough coach to play for. It will be interesting to see if he has reformed his coaching techniques during his time off and can return the Pacers to the playoffs.

If all indications are correct he will not have the services of all-star Jermaine O'Neal who's expected to be dealt to the Lakers at some point this month. That would be a major blow for a coach that has had superstars like Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson to work with in the past.

The hiring of Marc Iavaroni is a wise decision for a Memphis club that is looking to steer themselves in the right direction. Iavaroni learned for many years under Mike D'Antoni, and the Grizzlies are hoping that he will be able to implement some offensive fire power into their system.

With the uncertain future of big man Pau Gasol and a team that went 22-60 last season, it will be a difficult task for Iavaroni to turn the Grizzlies into a winner.

What's Next For The Detroit Pistons?

By David
Kaye

Two straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals, home court advantage, the best record in their league, but zero NBA finals appearance.

Point guard and team leader Chauncey Billups is a free agent, hometown kid Chris Webber is contemplating retirement, fiery power forward Rasheed Wallace continues to implode and head coach Flip Saunders might be on the way out.

With all that said what's next for the Detroit Pistons?

Every season they dominate the Eastern Conference, steam roll through the first two rounds of the playoffs and fall apart in the Conference finals. After taking the first two games of the series it seemed inevitable that the playoff tested Pistons would defeat the Cavaliers.

Unfortunately, LeBron James guaranteed that would not happen as he went from a superstar to one of the best players in league history. What he has done in the first four years of his career is better than what Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and other tremendous players accomplished at such a young age.

After scoring 48 points and 25 consecutive in game five at the Palace, LeBron displayed that he was ready to take his team to the promise land. Whatever barriers that were put before him would be overcome and the only thing that could stop him would be himself.

In terms of what lies ahead for the Pistons, there is increased uncertainty that Flip Saunders has lost control of the locker room and many players don't respect him. Rasheed Wallace definitely showed that during this series and it wouldn't be a surprise to see another person behind the bench next season.

Chauncey Billups has been an integral part of the Pistons' streak of success and has laid down the foundation that will make Detroit a winner for many years to come. Billups might not be around to see his team reach another Conference finals because he becomes a free agent this Summer and many teams will be knocking on his door.

With tonight's lose, the pieces that have been so critical to Detroit's success might have just begn to unravel.

Cleveland Cavaliers Advance To The NBA Finals

By David
Kaye

For the first time in franchise history the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed to the NBA Finals.

After winning at home in game six of the Eastern Conference finals by the score of 98-82, LeBron James and his teammates have done the impossible: dethrone the feared Detroit Pistons.

I have to admit that I was part of the majority of skeptics who believed that the young and inexperienced Cavs' had no chance at all of defeating a veteran and experienced lead ball club like the Pistons.

The job that second-year coach Mike Brown has done is next to amazing and the city of Cleveland should be ecstatic. During the presentation of the Eastern Conference trophy Hall of Famer Bill Russell told the Cavaliers ''make me proud'', and that is what the Cavs' intend to do against the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.

Ironically, head coach Mike Brown and general manager Danny Ferry were part of the Spurs' organization for several years and won a championship with the club in '03. It will be interesting to see what the game plan of both men will be when they take on Greg Popovich and the Spurs.

In game six against Detroit rookie Daniel Gibson took over the game, scoring 31 points en route to his first appearance in the finals. Gibson, a second-round draft pick, became the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to score at least thirty points in the playoffs.

Phenom LeBron James attempted a mere 11 shots and scored 20 points to help his team advance to the next step in their quest to bring a title to the city of Cleveland.

It's now time for LeBron and company to tackle ''the big bad wolves of the west.''

Portland Trail Blazers Forward Zack Randolph Intrigued By Trade Rumors

By David
Kaye

The Portland Trail Blazers are determined to trade beleaguered star Zack Randolph before this months NBA draft.

General manager Kevin Pritchard has been searching for buyers since his team secured the number one pick in the draft last month. Boston, Chicago and several other teams have distinguished themselves as front runners to acquire the 25-year old forward.

Randolph, who averaged 23.7 ppg and 10.1 rpb last season, has been the leader on the court for the Blazers since 2001. Unfortunately, his numerous off the court incidents and managements displeasure with his attitude has placed him on the trading block.

When you break down Portland's roster it makes sense for them to deal Randolph. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge proved last season that he has a bright future, Brandon Roy won Rookie of the Year, point guard Jarrett Jack continued to improve and various bench players displayed their skills.

The key to Randolph's departure will be how much GM Kevin Pritchard is able to receive in exchange for their best player. In a perfect world he would like to acquire a top ten pick in the upcoming draft, specifically Greg Oden's teammate Mike Conley Jr.

Randolph recently told The Oregonian "I'd like the chance to compete for a championship, and if I was able to be with the Bulls, I think I would be able to compete for a championship,"

Lakers owner arrested on suspicion of DUI

May 29, 2007

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss was arrested early Tuesday for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The 74-year-old Buss was taken into custody shortly before 1 a.m. after he drove his gold Mercedes-Benz station wagon the wrong way on a street in an unincorporated section of Carlsbad that has double yellow lines, California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Kerns said.

''Although I was driving only a short distance, it was a bad decision and I was wrong to do it," Buss said in a statement issued by the Lakers. "It was a mistake I will not make again."

A 23-year-old woman in the vehicle with Buss wasn't arrested, Kerns said.

He said Buss was "relatively cooperative" when placed under arrest, and was booked into the Vista jail for investigation of drunken driving and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or above.

Buss was released around 10:30 a.m., according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Web site. Kerns said the final results of Buss' blood alcohol test won't be available for about three weeks.

Highway Patrol officers Sal Gutierrez and Julie Cahill administered field sobriety tests using an alcohol screening device, Kerns said.

Lakers spokesman John Black said Buss was in the Carlsbad vicinity because he has a home in north San Diego County. Buss' primary residence is in the Los Angeles suburb of Playa del Rey.

16 wins. 16 teams. 1 trophy. Tune in to the NBA Playoffs to see who is left standing as NBA champion

Updated on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6:00 pm EDT

Once-suspended Richardson to coach Oklahoma City CBA team

By JEFF LATZKE, AP Sports Writer
May 24, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Micheal Ray Richardson, a former NBA player whose anti-Semitic comments to a newspaper last season drew a suspension from the CBA, was hired Thursday as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Cavalry.

Richardson coached the Albany Patroons to the Continental Basketball Association championship series but was suspended after Game 1, when the league began investigating a report that he told the Times Union of Albany he had "big-time Jew lawyers" working for him.

Richardson, 52, was cleared by the league earlier this month and allowed to return to coaching, but Albany had already decided not to renew his contract.

"It was totally blown out of proportion," Richardson said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "It's over. Life goes on, you know what I mean? It was totally, totally, totally false."

Richardson said he has a lawsuit pending against the newspaper but is looking forward to a new start and another chance to win a championship.

"I really want to win it this year. I really, really want to win it," said Richardson, who was suspended for the final two games of the Yakama Sun Kings' three-game sweep. "I was so close last year, but I really want to win it this year."

Baron Hopgood, the owner of the newly formed Cavalry, said he considers Richardson cleared of any misconduct and views him as a proven CBA coach who understands the strategy needed to win in the league's system.

"I like those type of edgy individuals because they get the attention of the players and the media," Hopgood said.

The fourth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, Richardson was a four-time All-Star before he was banned in 1986 for violating the league's drug policy three times. He played eight seasons with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets.

Richardson won a CBA championship as a player for Albany in 1988. He has also played in Europe and said he lives in southern France.

"The object of the game is to win. I want to win," Richardson said. "Every quarter of every game I want to win."

Hopgood said the Cavalry intend to play in Oklahoma City until the city becomes home to an NBA franchise. The CBA has already given permission to the franchise to move to a location in Texas if that occurs.

It's not clear where the Cavalry will play its home games. Hopgood said that the team would use Oklahoma City University's Abe Lemons Arena, but OCU athletic spokesman Rich Tortorelli said Thursday night that would not be the case.

"We're not here to try to compete with the NBA," Hopgood said. "We're just here to keep the excitement, as a conduit until the league comes."

16 wins. 16 teams. 1 trophy. Tune in to the NBA Playoffs to see who is left standing as NBA champion

Updated on Thursday, May 24, 2007 10:43 pm EDT

Mavericks coach thinks Bobcats made good choice with Vincent

Breaking News: Sam Vincent will be announced as the new head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats at a 1 P.M. news conference today.

MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

With Sam Vincent set to be hired as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, there are questions about his experience.

While Vincent has coached men's and women's teams all over the world and in the minor leagues, he's spent only one season in the NBA - as an assistant.

But his former boss isn't concerned, and for good reason. Dallas coach Avery Johnson spent less than a season as an NBA assistant before taking over the Mavericks.

"You've got to start somewhere. Every head coach, somebody had to give them a shot," Johnson said Thursday. "When I took over, or Gregg Popovich or Phil Jackson or anybody, you always look back at your first opportunity."

Johnson took advantage of his chance, going 16-2 after he took over for Don Nelson late in his first season as an assistant. He's gone 143-39 in three seasons and is considered one of the NBA's top coaches.

Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan said in March he'd be looking for the next Johnson when he replaced Bernie Bickerstaff. It led Jordan to choose Vincent over experienced head coaches Paul Silas, Stan Van Gundy and Mike Fratello, and longtime NBA assistants Lionel Hollins and Herb Williams, who all interviewed.

"I'm really excited for him," Johnson said. "Sam really did a good, solid job here. He made his first year on the bench seem like he'd done it before and that's what I wanted. He knows what he's doing. He's very competent. I knew he would become a head coach pretty quickly."

The 44-year-old Vincent, like Johnson, is a former NBA point guard. A first-round pick by Boston in 1985, Vincent had an average seven-year career that included two seasons playing with Jordan in Chicago in the late 1980s.

Vincent then set on a whirlwind tour, coaching teams in South Africa, Greece and the Netherlands before leading the Nigerian women's team to its first Olympic victory in 2004.
He also coached the Nigerian men's team before becoming the head coach of the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League in the 2005-06 season. There he came under the wing of Lee Rose, the former college coach and NBA assistant who is paid to mentor the D-League coaches.

"He's very poised in everything he does, and he's very thorough, cerebral," Rose said of Vincent.

"I found him to be a really outstanding candidate that would be able to work his way to an NBA head job. Obviously, it's happened.

"The big thing is he is a very good people person. And I think that is one of the qualities that the good coaches like Popovich and some of these guys have that are in the NBA."

It's expected many of Bickerstaff's assistants, including veteran Jeff Capel, will remain on Vincent's staff. Rose thinks that's critical, much the same way former NBA head coach Del Harris has helped Johnson in Dallas.

Speaking by phone Thursday, Johnson sounded excited that Vincent is getting his chance _ and feels his international experience will help in a league that is bringing in more foreign players.

"He went through a lot of highs and lows and has coached in a lot of different environments, learning how people think," Johnson said. "He was able to deal with a variety of personalities.

"He's got a lot of young kids to work with and he'll come prepared and do a nice job."

Coaching Changes Around The NBA

By David
Kaye

Rick Adelman is in as Rockets' head coach, replacing the fired Jeff Van Gundy, and Brian Hill has been let go by the Orlando Magic.

Adelman is the quintessential choice for Houston because they already have in place two superstars in Yao and T-Mac, and they are ready to make another deep run into the playoffs. As coach of Portland and Sacramento Adelman made the playoffs 14 out of 14 times.

Most of all, Rick is a respected coach who understands how to manage a game and will get the most out of his player night in and night out.

After two unproductive seasons with Orlando Brian Hill will not have the opportunity to right the ship with the Magic. The team went 40-42 this year and were embarrassed in the first-round of the playoffs by the Pistons. The series was never close as Detroit never lost a game.

With budding talent around him, I was surprised that Hill was not able to accomplish more with the club. All-Star Dwight Howard is emerging into a superstar in the league, point guard Jameer Nelson does a solid job running the point, big man Darko Milicic has an abundance of talent and last year's first-round pick J.J. Redick is money from outside.

Since Hill's departure as head coach in 1997 the Magic have not advanced past the first-round, but if the correct coach is put in place Orlando could enjoy a great deal of success in the 2007-2008 season.

Notes: Former heat head coach Stan Van Gundy rejected the Pacers' head coaching offer, opting to stay with his family in South Florida.

Results From 2007 NBA Draft Lottery Show

By David
Kaye

Tonight's selection show to determine what pick each of the fourteen non-playoff teams would have was full of surprises and intrigue.

It looks like losing purposely to win the Greg Oden or Kevin Durant sweepstakes did not pane out for Boston or Memphis who will have the fifth and fourth selections respectively in next month's NBA draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers, who finished 32-50 last season and played to win each and every night were rewarded with the number one pick in the draft. The second pick is staying in the Northwest as the Seattle Supersonics secured the second overall pick in June 28th's draft.

It now appears that Ohio State phenom Greg Oden will be joining Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, point guard Jarrett Jack and forward Zack Randolph to bring a winning ball club back to Portland. With last year's acquisition of LaMarcus Aldridge and the soon to be selection of Oden, Nate McMillan and his team have a formidable front court that has the potential to reek havoc on Western Conference opponents for the next 10-15 years.

Not only are the Blazers not a push over anymore, they are a team that can compete for a playoff spot in the ardent Western Conference next season. I'm smelling early season honors for Nate McMillan, former leader in Seattle, for the Coach of the Year award.

Ironically, the ping pong balls played many tricks on fans, the media and every club in the draft lottery. It was a consciences, almost a guarantee as ESPN analyst Jon Barry put it that the Celtics and Grizzlies would have the first two picks. When NBA deputy commissioner Larry Silver pulled out of the envelope the C's logo with the fifth overall pick I was stunned.

Based on the odds, it seemed much more likely that Boston with a 19.9% chance or Memphis with a 25% opportunity would secure the number one overall pick. There was no conceivable way that the Blazers, with a 5.3% chance of winning the lottery, could win the rights to a franchise player like Greg Oden or Freshman of the Year Kevin Durant.

One notable club that has a lot to be thankful for are the Chicago Bulls, who advanced to the second-round of the playoffs and are now the proud owners of the ninth pick in the draft.
Their good fortune is due to the stupidity of Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas who traded for the services of Eddy Curry several seasons ago.

Other teams that made out very well with their draft position include: the Atlanta Hawks with pick number three, the Charlotte Bobcats at pick number eight and the Milwaukee Bucks at pick number six.

X Factors In The Western Conference Finals Between The Utah Jazz And San Antonio Spurs

By David
Kaye

In my opinion, there are four x factors in this series. Derek Fisher and Mehmet Okur of the Jazz, and Manu Ginobili and Michael Finley of the Spurs.

Fisher is one of the few veterans on Utah's roster that has extensive playoff experience. He provides leadership and a confidence boost to his teammates and most importantly starting point guard Deron Williams. Fisher also has the ability to sink shots in clutch situations and he could be called upon by head coach Jerry Sloan later in the series.

Okur might be the biggest x factor of all in what will be a competitive and grueling series. He's tall enough to be a major presence in the paint, but also has the range to step back and drill three-pointers on a consistent basis. The effectiveness of his shot will be a major determinant towards his teams success.


For San Antonio, Manu Ginobili will key integral to their success. The 29-year old Argentinian has struggled so far in the playoffs, shooting a dismal 38% from the field and averaging 15.8 points per game. If he can duplicate the success he enjoyed during game six where the Spurs eliminated the Suns, then his team will be in good shape.

He went off for thirty-three points, eleven rebounds, six assists and four steals in game six, while shooting 11-17 from the field.

Twelve-year veteran Michael Finley is in his second season with the Spurs and would love to reach his first ever NBA finals. I consider him an x factor due to his propensity for knocking down big time shots from behind the ark.


So far in this year's playoffs he's averaging 14.5 points per game on 44.1% shooting from the field and 45.9% from three-point land. He is also shooting 88% from the charity stripe during the first two rounds of the postseason.

Western Conference Finals Preview

By David
Kaye

The red hot Utah Jazz square off against the veteran lead San Antonio Spurs tomorrow in game one of their best of seven series to decide who will represent the Western Conference in the NBA finals.

Both teams are very similar in their style of play, each trying to play aggressive defense and make timely baskets on offense. Neither wants to run the score into triple digits like their semifinal opponents Golden State and Phoenix did, with Utah holding the Spurs to 85.5 points per game in their two victories during the regular season.

It's important to note that Utah is winless in their last 16 games at San Antonio and for the Jazz to return to the finals for the first time since 1998 they will have to take at least one-game in front of a hostile Spurs' crowd. Conversely, Gregg Popovich and his club are looking to advance to their third NBA finals in the last five seasons.

There are several key matchups that could decide the outcome of this series. The battle up front between all-star forwards Carlos Boozer and Tim Duncan will determine who has the advantage in the rebounding department and ultimately what team wins the series. While Duncan is one of the best power forwards of all-time, Boozer is making a strong case that he is the MVP of the playoffs. Through the first two rounds he's averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds, but more importantly he has served as that dominating force down low that the Jazz were looking for.

The second critical matchup in this series involves point guards Deron Williams and Tony Parker. Williams, 22, is playing in his first postseason, while Parker is looking to win his third championship in the past five years. Williams had a magnificent regular season and followed it up by averaging 16.8 points and 9.6 assists in the second round against the Warriors.

He is the table setter for Utah, the leader on offense and the one player in this series for the Jazz that can guard and contain the offensive prowess of Tony Parker. If his team is to have any chance against the Spurs he must do a superb job defensively against Parker. Consequently, the native of France must be able to contain the quickness and shot making ability of Utah's point guard.

Even though my heart says to go with the Jazz, my mind says to stick with the experience of the Spurs. San Antonio will prevail in a grueling six game series.

New Jersey Nets' Fall To The Cleveland Cavaliers In Six Games

By David
Kaye

Friday, May 18th, 2007 might have been the last time Vince Carter took the court as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

After falling to the Cavs at home 88-72, the Nets lost their best of seven series by the count of 4-2. They had the opportunity to tie up the series in front of their home fans, but LeBron James and his teammates made sure there would be no game seven .

With free agency looming, it is possible that Carter might be too expensive for New Jersey to keep and he would have to look elsewhere if he wants to receive the estimated three-year, $60 million contract that he has been rumored to be asking for.

After being down by twenty-two points in the first half New Jersey mounted a fierce comeback in the third quarter, but it was not enough to prolong the series. The Nets went on a 14-0 run in the quarter and trimmed Cleveland's lead to 61-60 going into the fourth.

But LeBron James and veteran Donyell Marshall were too much for the undersized Nets who ended up losing the game by sixteen points. Marshall, who celebrated his 34th birthday yesterday, was all smiles as he went six for ten from behind the ark and finished the game with eighteen points. Superstar LeBron James scored twenty-three points, grabbed eight rebounds and had eight assists to advance to his first ever Eastern Conference Finals.

When the Nets look back on their season they will find disappointment in the fact that they were not able to accomplish their goal of reaching the NBA finals, but at the same time Lawrence Frank and his players reached the playoffs for the sixth straight season. After upsetting the third seeded Raptors' in the first-round, New Jersey gave a valiant effort against a much better Cavaliers team.

Due to a season-ending injury to 23-year old center Nenad Krstic and chronic aliments to forward Richard Jefferson the Nets were not able to secure a higher seed in the playoffs. Their window of opportunity to reach the finals might have ended last night with the possibility of Vince Carter leaving due to free agency and Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson being traded. These three players represented one of the best tandems in the league and it's unfortunate that they were not able to reach their full potential together.

Notes: Point guard Jason Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists over the Nets' playoff run. He joins NBA legend Oscar Robinson as the only two players to average a triple double during the playoffs.