WEST FINALS: FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

ESPN basketball guru Stephen A. Smith — also known as Screaming A. or Stephen Naismith, whichever you prefer — says the San Antonio Spurs are unbeatable and doesn’t think any of the teams left in the NBA playoffs, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, can knock them off. “They don’t have a weakness,” Screaming A. says … [Read more…]

One Man’s opinion: The 10 best defenders in 2012

New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler was recently named the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, breaking Dwight Howard’s three-year stranglehold on the award. Chandler helped improve the Knicks defense significantly and was a big reason why the team earned a playoff berth despite numerous injuries. So why in the world was Chandler on … [Read more…]

BROTHERLY LOVE: PHILLY WELCOMES A.I.

Allen Iverson hasn’t played for the Philadelphia 76ers in two years, but he remains one of the most beloved athletes in the sports-crazed city. Iverson returned to the City of Brotherly Love on Wednesday before Game 6 of the Sixers-Celtics Eastern Conference semifinal series to give the game ball to the officials. When his name … [Read more…]

DOWN & DIRTY: HEAT, PACERS GET NASTY

Dwyane Wade sat in the media room wearing a Band-Aid over his right eye, looking like he went 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao. Danny Granger left the arena in a walking boot, while Lance Stephenson may have injured his collarbone and David West is nursing a sprained knee. Things got so heated between Miami and … [Read more…]

VIDEO: KD’S CLUTCH TREY VS. LAKERS

Kevin Durant’s Twitter handle is @KDTrey. The Oklahoma City superstar lived up to that name in a playoff game against the L.A. Lakers. With the game tied 98-98 and 40 seconds remaining in the game, Durant put on his MJ cap and lifted the Thunder to victory. He stepped into the passing lane and picked … [Read more…]

FIRE & ICE: THUNDER’S DYNAMIC DUO

Kevin Durant may be Oklahoma City’s best player, but make no mistake about it Russell Westbrook is the fire that ignites the Thunder. Whenever the Thunder needs to shift into high gear, head coach Scott Brooks points to his 23-year-old point guard to give the team a major boost. Whether its a steal, a 3-pointer, … [Read more…]

LEBRON READS ‘THE HUNGER GAMES’

You could say LeBron James got his hunger back Sunday when he delivered a performance for the ages. The three-time NBA MVP put the Miami Heat on his back and carried his team to 103-93 victory at Indiana. Check out his final statistics: 40 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists. Those type of numbers haven’t been … [Read more…]

FLASHBACK: WADE BACK TO OLD FORM

Even the great ones need a little pick-me-up every now and then. Dwyane Wade was at an all-time low point after his pitiful five-point performance in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers. So Wade went back to his roots. He met with his former college coach at Marquette who … [Read more…]

KOBE: ‘PAU NEEDS TO BE ASSERTIVE’

Speed and quickness vs. size and strength. That is the heart of the matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the L.A. Lakers. The soul of this series lies in the stat no coach wants to see: turnovers. The Thunder flashed their speed in Game 1 to the tune of a 29-point blowout in Oklahoma … [Read more…]

GARNETT BACK TO THE BIG TICKET

What is going on with Kevin Garnett? He is shooting lights out from the perimeter, rebounding like a Rodman and squawking like Sidney Dean on the Venice Beach courts. This is 35-year-old Kevin Garnett we are talking about. He is supposed to be washed up and ready to have his number retired. But somehow he … [Read more…]