TV RATINGS FOR NBA FINALS SOAR

During the NBA lockout there were several — and you know who you are — basketball writers and so-called experts who said the NBA was headed for a dark spring because no one is going to watch a bunch of spoiled athletes paid by a bunch of greedy owners. Well, guess who’s watching? The hype … [Read more…]

NBA FINALS: OBSERVATIONS FROM GAME 1

The Oklahoma City Thunder drew first blood in the 2012 NBA Finals after defeating the Miami Heat, 105-94, in Game 1 Tuesday night. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 36 points in his first Finals game, and he got plenty of help from Russell Westbrook, who nearly had a triple-double. The Thunder point guard had … [Read more…]

NBA FINALS: DURANT VS. LEBRON

This is the dream matchup for the NBA. You have arguably the best team from the West playing against arguably the best team in the East. And each side boasts arguably the two best players in the game. The NBA Finals has not had this kind of salacious showdown since Magic Johnson’s Lakers faced Michael … [Read more…]

LEBRON JAMES IS ON A MISSION

With all due respect to Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, LeBron James is the real MVP of the 2012 postseason. James proved it with 45 points and 15 rebounds in Game 6 of the epic Miami-Boston series to force a deciding Game 7. Surprisingly, he made 19 of 26 field goals and a lot of them … [Read more…]

DOC RIVERS SAYS CELTICS ‘HAD NOTHING LEFT’

  With 28 seconds left in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Miami Heat had a double-digit lead and the Boston Celtics were running on fumes. Celtics coach Doc Rivers knew it was time to wave the white flag and pull his starters off the court. ‘We had nothing left,” Rivers said. ”That’s … [Read more…]

CHRIS BOSH IS HEAT’S UNSUNG HERO

Anyone who thinks the Miami Heat can win a championship without Chris Bosh needs to have their heads examined. Bosh may be the Joker, or the wild card, in Miami’s Batman and Robin dynamic but his presence was the biggest reason why the Heat are advancing to the NBA Finals. Bosh scored 19 points in … [Read more…]

‘Fearless’ LeBron takes charge against Celtics

LeBron James made sure there wasn’t going to be another fourth-quarter meltdown on his part. He flexed his muscles and put the Miami Heat on his broad shoulders in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals and put on a performance for the ages. James took apart the vaunted Boston Celtics defense for 45 points … [Read more…]

VIDEO: FAN POURS BEER ON LEBRON

LeBron James was on fire Thursday night at Boston’s TD Garden. He set the tone for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals with a 30-point performance in the first half and finished with 45 — the second-best output of his playoff career. James shot 73 percent from the field, making 19 of his 26 … [Read more…]

TIM DUNCAN: ‘I THOUGHT THIS WAS DEFINITELY OUR TIME’

Before Tim Duncan walked off Chesapeake Arena Wednesday night he took the time to hug Kevin Durant and whispered something in his ear. Durant said Duncan basically congratulated the 23-year-old Thunder star for reaching the NBA Finals and wished him good luck. It was a typical Duncan move. His whole NBA career has been one … [Read more…]

BROOKS FLIPS SCRIPT ON SPURS

What a difference a week makes. Last week the San Antonio Spurs were on a historic roll, winning 20 in a row and were a perfect 10-0 in the postseason. Seven days later the unbeatable Spurs are going fishing after dropping four consecutive games to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs’ season ended Wednesday night … [Read more…]