Jun

13

NBA-TV: NBA Highlights From June 12

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Jun

13

NBA-TV: Comeback Kids: Pierce and Allen

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Jun

13

NBA-TV: Top 5: June 12

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Jun

13

Slam Dunk Central Reporter Stephen Rhodes’ 2008 NBA Mock Draft

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??????????????????????????????????????????????????? Utah Jazz

Yesterday, I covered the Orlando Magic’s draft needs and projected who they would select with their first-round pick.? Today I cover the Utah Jazz’ draft needs and also will predict who they will select with their first-round pick.

Utah Jazz

Draft position - #23

Needs -?Center, shooting guard.? I expect Jarron Collins to exit the team shortly and probably Kyrylo Fesenko, as well.? Basically, Mehmet Okur will need a backup to give him a blow on occasion.? While there’s a glut of shooting guards on the Jazz, I expect a few to be released or traded - especially Morris Almond and C.J. Miles - yet it will be a tough call.? But nonetheless, center is where the Jazz have their most pressing need.

Utah Jazz select: Roy Hibbert, center, Georgetown

Tomorrow: Seattle SuperSonics

Jun

13

Woodson To Re-Sign With Hawks

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????????????????????????????????????? Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson

There has to be nothing worse, career-wise, than to be left hanging not knowing what your job status is - especially in the NBA and specifically the Atlanta Hawks and Mike Woodson.? Well folks, the suspense is over as according to Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Woodson has stated that he intends to sign a two-year extension with the Hawks; specifics on the financials of the extension were not available.? Woodson’s original contract expires on June 30, but Hawks general manager Rick Sund opted to retain Woodson.

The re-signing of Woodson ends a strange journey; originally, former team GM Billy Knight had wanted to fire Woodson by the trading deadline - a move Hawks management shot down.? Ironically, that set the table for the improbable run by the Hawks which got them to the playoffs - their last playoff appearance was in 1999.? Soon after the Boston Celtics eliminated the Hawks from the first round of the playoffs, Knight resigned - starting the speculation about Woodson’s future.? I would suspect that even though Woodson was granted a 2-year extension, the 2008-09 season will be the litmus test for him - kind of a “put up or shut-up” type of situation.? So I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Woodson is on a short leash during the length of the extension.

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Jun

13

ESPN: NBA Daily Dime: Finals Game 4

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Jun

13

Celtics Surge Leads To Stunning Come Back Beat Lakers In Game Four 97-91

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When you drive the ball inside good things happen. That has been the mantra of the Boston Celtics through all their NBA Championship eras. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, with Cousy and Russell, drive the lane get the ball inside. In the 1970’s with Havelicek and Cowens, get the ball to the basket. During the 1980’s and the reign of the “Big Three” establish that low post presence. After game three Tuesday night the “Big Ticket” Kevin Garnett said that the Celtics had settled for too many outside shots. It got them into trouble quite early in game four on Thursday night, as they were down by 24 points to the Los? Angeles Lakers in the first half.?

The “Green Team“?made two adjustments in the third quarter, one at the at the start of the period, and the other mid-way through. The initial adjustment was?a defensive switch as Celtics forward Paul Pierce took on the assignment of guarding Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. The second adjustment occurred later in the quarter as Boston started to penetrate, knocking down a 20 point lead minutes earlier, to just 2 points at the end of the quarter. The Celtics stuck to their game plan in the fourth quarter, and then?after establishing the inside game they supplemented with key treys from reserve James Posey. Boston, did what Los Angeles tried to do in game two. In one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Association,?they came all the way back from a 24 point deficit, and stunned the Lakers 97-91, taking a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals. The Celtics are one win away from their seventeenth championship?banner, their first in 22 years.?

As I wrote after game three, this series has lived up to all the expectations that were hoisted upon it before it got underway. That did not look like it was going to be the case at all during the first half. The Celtics took the floor in the first quarter, but they had left their game inside the locker room. Boston point guard Rajon Rondo gets?a star for toughing it out and starting the game with a badly sprained left ankle.?However he should not have been on the floor, as he?was terribly ineffective. Unfortunately for Boston his replacements in the first half,?Eddie House and Sam Cassell weren’t much better. Meanwhile on the Lakers side of the court Lamar Odom who had been missing in action in the first three games exploded keying the Los?Angeles offense. The Celtics walked around in a coma for the entire first quarter and found themselves in a deep hole at the end of the period trailing 35-14.??Boston started to show a pulse late in the second quarter, as they cut a 45-21 L.A. lead to just 12 points, as?Paul?Pierce hit an outside shot with 2:58 left in the period. But the?Lakers?went on a run of their own at the end of the?quarter, and Jordan Farmar hit a trey at the buzzer to put them back on top 58-40, as the two teams went to their respective locker rooms at the half.

The tide would turn in the second half, as the “Green Team“?started to change the game as they have all season long on the defensive end. The Celtics would again get the lead down to 12 points, as K.G. put in a five foot bunny to make it a?60-48 contest, with 9:55 left in the period.?However it was if the 12 point barrier was a line that Boston could not cross as it was before you knew it back up to a 20 point game at 70-50 with 6:03 remaining as Los Angeles forward Vladimir Radmanovic hit a pair at the line. That is when the Celtics stopped settling and started to attack the basket. At the end of the third period the Lakers 20 point lead was down to just a deuce, as they were ahead 73-71. The Celtics would tie the game for the first time since 2-2 as Leon Powe hit a seven foot jumper with 10:12 left in the game. Los?Angeles would take back the lead and be up by four points,?but Boston took their first lead of the game at 84-83 as?Eddie House made an outside shot with 4:07 left in the?contest. They would never surrender the lead the rest of the game.

This game was truly a total team effort for Boston, Paul Pierce led the way with 20 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block. Ray?Allen who scored a key driving basket down the stretch scored 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 block, James Posey was huge off the bench scoring 18 points, 2 rebounds. Third consecutive double-double for the “Big Ticket“?as he scored 16 points, grabbed 11 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, Eddie House also was a big contributor off of the pine as he scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist.

Lamar Odom led the way for the Lakers as he recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points, grabbing 10 boards, 4 assists, 1 block. Pau Gasol also had a double-double for the Lakers, as he scored 17 points,10 rebounds, 2 assists, Kobe also registered a double-double, as he scored 17 points, dished off 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals. Derek Fisher scored 13 points, 3 assists, Vladimir Radmanovic scored 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Game five of the NBA Finals will be Sunday at the Staples Center with Boston leading 3-1.

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