Looks like Lebron will get his first ring this year

 I’d say the Heat are in great position, but bear in mind if the Thunder do win game 5 and steal a road game like most people expected them to before the series began, then the Heat will have to close on the road, so it isn’t a given that the Heat take it.  The Thunder also didn’t play their greatest today, although it almost didn’t matter because Westbrook had such an insane individual game.  

 Definitely. Was only a matter of time. Only thing that sucks is Durant could have started the best legacy career ever had he won a championship, but how will this impact his career’s status now? Not sure. One thing is for sure though, Lebron is the best player on the planet right now.

It looks like it to me. come on

Definitely.

“If you want to win, you’re going to have to sacrifice at times,” said Sacks. “I think when you’re under the mindset that you want to win and that’s the most important thing, I don’t necessarily think that playing time is a bad thing. You never want a player to be happy about not playing. I mean, I wouldn’t be.

After the NBA announced a new rule against flopping, it was only natural that you would hear players speaking out about it. The first of what I imagine will be many waves against this new rule came from LA Clipper superstar forward Blake Griffin, who didn’t sound very fond of the policy, calling it a “good way for the NBA to get more money.”

Not to keep riding this wild train, but it was a great bounce-back performance for Waiters. A lot of fans doubted him after a miserable showing against Milwaukee. But he was the main reason the Cavs were able to fend off a colossal meltdown against the Bulls.

“Goran’s dribble penetration had a lot to do with that,” Gentry said. “And I think our spacing was a lot better than it was the day before in Sacramento.”

It also should be noted that Friday’s first half didn’t offer a steady diet of Corner alignments. Several half-court possessions featured an overload that included a baseline or “flex” screen designed to create an open lay-up or post up for the cutter.
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But with versatile front-court players such as Scola, Beasley and second-year pro Markieff Morris, the Corner could be an effective option in Phoenix.

With the Suns demonstrating enough trust to give up the ball to the high post more frequently in Friday’s second half, corner-screen opportunities led to several easy third-quarter buckets. Phoenix shot 62 percent in that period and rang up 30 points.sfadf

“It’s taking us a little time in making the right reads,” Suns assistant coach Elston Turner, who assisted Adelman for several season in Sacramento and Houston, said when asked about the Corner offense before the game. “But we’ll get it. It fits our guys pretty well.”

Beasley, who made half of his 8 shots and scored 10 points Friday, is working at small forward and – thanks to the Corner keeping both sides of the defense occupied – could have several post-up opportunities without weak-side defensive corruption.opp[0898

“It was just a good win,” Gentry said. “I think for us … we’re trying to create a winning environment, so first and foremost, I think you have to do it at home.”

Following practice Friday at the Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo, reporters wasted no time informing him that Smush Parker was offended about comments Bryant made regarding why his former teammate doesn’t belong in the NBA.p-tyr

Much of the cast that supported Aldridge in past seasons is now gone. Blazers starters Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby were traded away. Brandon Roy retired, but has come back this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Center Joel Przybilla signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The rookie was impressive in the NBA Summer League, averaging 26.5 points, 5.3 assists and four rebounds in four games. In three preseason games, Lillard is averaging 16.3 points and five assists per game.

Green’s thankfulness is undoubtedly buoyed by the four-year, $36-million deal the Celtics gave him over the summer, but this story doesn’t end with Green running back out onto the court with a new deal in his back pocket.

Before learning of his heart condition, there was talk that Green could start over Pierce, which would have given the Celtics bench the scoring threat it was looking for last season.

Green no longer seems like a candidate to start, but he knows he’s going to get major minutes even if he’s coming off the bench. And while every athlete says “I’m not complaining,” Green might actually mean it.

Of course, some battle harder than others, which is where Smith has made his mark this preseason. In Friday night’s preseason game, for example, he scored 15 points and hauled in 5 rebounds in 20 minutes of action. It’s those sorts of performances that make-or-break camp invites.

“I thought (Varejao) was probably a little uncomfortable because he has played at five for the last three years for me, so switching to the four spot, there were certain plays where he was just a little lost. That is why we are down there right now working with him on the four spot, so he can get that. Andy is a fast learner, so I don’t think he will have any problem learning the four spot because when he is in there with Tyler that is the position he will be playing. I love the energy and how physical they were out there together and that was something I wanted to see.”

“It felt good knowing that it’s going to come,” Waiters said of his great shooting night. “I wasn’t going to struggle forever. It’s more about me fading or leaning back on my shot, being off balance and keeping my follow through up. That’s the biggest thing with my jump shot, but I’m pretty comfortable out there now. I found myself rushing a lot and being impatient, but tonight I just let the game come to me, took what was there. I tried to attack, I got to clean up my turnovers a little bit, that’s something I can take care of easily, just take care of the ball and just make the right decision.”

The right knee of Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has been problematic for him this preseason. He’s battling persistent swelling that could be fixed with arthroscopic knee surgery, but that would keep him out anywhere from three-to-six weeks.

Williams, Price Clash in Brooklyn Opener: The Brooklyn Nets played their first game in the Barclays Center on Monday night. While most preseason games are virtually meaningless, this one was more significant than most since it was the Nets’ debut in their new home. They earned the victory, topping the Washington Wizards, 98-88. Late in the contest Wizards backup point guard A.J. Price, a native of Amityville LI., picked up a flagrant foul while trying to prevent Williams from converting a layup after a turnover.

The Houston Rockets tied up one more piece of unfinished business on Saturday night, trading disgruntled Kevin Martin to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that landed James Harden in Houston. The Rockets also send Jeremy Lamb and future draft considerations to Oklahoma City. The Thunder also send Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston in the trade.