2008 NBA Playoffs

[AUSTIN316]

NBA: Billups' contested 3-pointer shouldn't have counted
05/07/2008 | 09:04 AM
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NEW YORK - The NBA admitted Chauncey Billups' 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter of Monday's Detroit-Orlando playoff game should not have counted, but said referees weren't allowed to review instant replay to determine that.

League president Joel Litvin also said the disputed shot, which gave Detroit a 78-76 lead in its 100-93 victory, could not have been replayed after the clock malfunction was discovered.

"After reviewing the video of last night's Pistons-Magic game, we determined that the play that concluded with Chauncey Billups' 3-point field goal at the end of the third quarter took approximately 5.7 seconds," Litvin said in a statement. "Because there were only 5.1 seconds remaining in the quarter when the play began, the shot would not have counted had the clock continued to run."

Billups was bringing the ball up the court for the Pistons when the clock froze at 4.8 seconds because of a problem with the arena's timing system. After he made the shot, the game referees had to estimate how long the play took without the aid of replay because the league's rules don't allow for reviewing a play to determine when the clock started.

The league said the timekeeper who worked the game was from a "neutral" city, standard procedure for all games.

After the game, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said the referees indicated it took 4.6 seconds to complete the play. Lead official Steve Javie declined a postgame interview by a pool reporter.

"The referees followed proper procedure in addressing the clock malfunction by estimating the elapsed time and using their judgment as to whether the shot was taken in time," Litvin said. "Under NBA rules, the referees did not have the option of using instant replay and a timing device to determine exactly how much time had elapsed, nor do the rules allow for a re-play after a clock malfunction is discovered."

The NBA frequently talks about expanding the instant-replay capabilities for game officials, but this might finally get the league to act.

"The NBA Competition Committee was scheduled to discuss the possible expanded use of instant replay at its meeting at the end of the month and we will raise, for the Committee's consideration, the use of replay in situations like this," Litvin said. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

05/07/2008 | 11:12 AM
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(Updated) BOSTON - LeBron James couldn't make a basket down the stretch — or at virtually any other time — and the Boston Celtics eked out a 76-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Kevin Garnett scored 28 points to make up for an off night for the rest of Boston's Big Three. James was held to 12 points on 2-for-18 shooting. He missed three drives and a 3-pointer in the final minute. Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.

James scored Cleveland's first basket and then missed his next 10 shots before driving for a layup that cut Boston's lead to 66-65 with 5:34 left.

He then missed his last six shots, including a potential game-tying finger roll that bounced off the inside of the rim with 8.5 seconds left. James scored just two points in the second half while finishing with nine rebounds, nine assists and 10 turnovers.

Rajon Rondo scored all 15 of his points in the first half, and Kendrick Perkins grabbed 12 rebounds for the Celtics. Paul Pierce drew two charging fouls while guarding James but scored just four points on 2-for-14 shooting, and Ray Allen (0-for-4) didn't score.

But at least they had Garnett.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 31 percent and couldn't make a basket at the end of the game.

Boston led 68-65 when Daniel Gibson hit a 3-pointer to tie it with 3:18 left.

Ilgauskas made a jumper on a feed from James with 90 seconds left, then Garnett hit a fallaway to make it 70-all. James drove against Pierce and flopped to the court while throwing up a desperation layup that wasn't close.

Sam Cassell made two free throws to tie it 72-72; James missed again, but this time Ilgauskas was there to tip it in and tie the game. Garnett moved across the lane to give Boston back the lead, 74-72 as Cleveland called a timeout with 22 seconds left.

James dribbled at the point before finding a lane to the basket, but his shot wouldn't fall and James Posey was fouled after grabbing the rebound. He hit both free throws.

James missed a long but meaningless jumper to punctuate his night.

The Celtics won an NBA-best 66 games in the regular season, and someone will have to beat them at home to derail their hopes of a league-record 17th championship. The Cavaliers managed to stay closed by hitting 22 free throws (to Boston's 14), and by taking advantage of 21 Celtics turnovers.

The Celtics missed their first seven shots — four by Pierce — while Cleveland opened a 5-0 lead. Then Boston scored the next eight, and 16 of 20 points, en route to a 25-15 lead after one quarter.

Garnett scored 12 points in the first quarter and Rondo had eight while Cleveland made just four of 19 shots — a trend that would continue.

Garnett made the first two free throws of the second half — reaching 20 points a minute into the third quarter — but the Cavaliers scored the next 14 points, eight by Ilgauskas. The Celtics went 5:31 without scoring, turning their 45-37 lead into a 51-45 deficit.

Notes:@ Garnett finished third in the MVP voting announced Tuesday, and James was fourth. "I just thought that LeBron should have been higher," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, pausing for effect. "We're playing Cleveland, right? As a matter of fact, I thought he should have won." ... Cleveland shot 18 of the game's first 22 free throws. ... Cassell was called for a flagrant foul when he kept James from a free throw with 5 1/2 minutes left in the half. The replay seemed to indicate that James enhanced the damage, and the Boston fans let him know they were on to him. ... Cleveland's Wally Szczerbiak missed his first five shots before going to the bench in the first quarter. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

Hawks GM Billy Knight resigns after Celtics loss

Reuters

ATLANTA - Atlanta Hawks general manager Billy Knight submitted his resignation on Wednesday just days after his club lost to the heavily favored Boston Celtics in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals.

Knight will step down on July 1 after six seasons with the Hawks.

"The time has come for me to take a break and fully evaluate my future plans," he said in a statement.

"I am tremendously pleased with what we were able to accomplish this season in reaching the post-season, as the Hawks' return to the playoffs energized the city and our franchise.

"My passion for the franchise has never wavered, but I feel I'm leaving the organization in much better shape than it was in when I took over."

The 55-year-old became general manager in April 2003 after one season as the team's director of basketball operations.

Atlanta crept into the playoffs with a 37-45 record and took the top-seeded Celtics to a deciding game before losing 99-65 on Sunday in Boston.

The Hawks reached the post-season for the first since the 1998-99 campaign when they got to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

[AUSTIN316]

Nuggets' Anthony gets speeding ticket
05/08/2008 | 02:06 AM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us DENVER - Denver Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony has been ticketed for speeding, three weeks after he was cited on a charge of driving under the influence.

Police say Anthony was pulled over Saturday for driving 60 mph in a 45-mph zone.

The 23-year-old was arrested on a DUI charge in Denver on April 14. He apologized the next day.

He is scheduled to be in court June 5 on the DUI charge.

Police spokesman Sonny Jackson says Anthony does not have to appear in court on the speeding ticket if he mails in the $130 fine. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

Hawks GM Knight to step down in July
05/08/2008 | 07:03 AM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us ATLANTA - Billy Knight says he's leaving the Atlanta Hawks "in much better shape than it was in when I took over."

Knight stuck to his slow, often painful plan to build with youth. The plan meant enduring repeated last-place finishes, but the Hawks showed steady if slow improvement and finally ended a nine-year playoff drought this season.

Knight's critics have said the Hawks' climb to the playoffs wouldn't have taken so long if the general manager had enjoyed more consistent success with his high draft picks.

Knight, who announced Wednesday he's stepping down July 1 as general manager after six years in Atlanta, leaves with a mixed track record.

The good: Knight brought guards Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby to Atlanta in trades. He scored big by landing Josh Smith with a late 2004 first-round pick and rookie of the year runner-up Al Horford with the No. 3 pick last year.

The bad: Knight also brought free-agent bust Speedy Claxton to the Hawks' backcourt two years ago. He drafted Marvin Williams instead of point guards Chris Paul or Deron Williams with the No. 2 pick of the 2005 draft.

Williams was a steady starter for Utah this season but Paul emerged as an All-Star and MVP runner-up for New Orleans.

More bad: At a time point guard and center remained the team's glaring needs, Knight chose forward Shelden Williams with the fifth pick in the 2006 draft.

Michael Gearon Jr., one of the Hawks' owners, said it was Knight's decision, not the owners', for the GM to resign.

Gearon also said Knight's resignation does not affect any decision to be made with coach Mike Woodson.

"You cannot tie the two together," Gearon told The Associated Press. "Frankly, this was not a decision by us, it was a decision by Billy."

Gearon said he had no list of candidates to replace Knight "because this was unexpected."

Knight said it was time to "take a break" following an often rocky tenure in Atlanta.

Most recently, Knight's authority appeared to be weakened when he lobbied unsuccessfully with the owners to fire Woodson this season.

The Hawks, absent from the playoffs since 1999, lost in the first round to the heavily favored Boston Celtics in seven games. Over six years, Knight played the lead role in rebuilding the Hawks and ended the NBA's longest playoff drought.

Knight, 55, rebuilt the roster with younger players. The Hawks were 37-45 in the regular season to earn the No. 8 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

"I am tremendously pleased with what we were able to accomplish this season in reaching the postseason, as the Hawks' return to the playoffs energized the city and our franchise," Knight said in a statement. "My passion for the franchise has never wavered."

Knight's best draft pick, rookie of the year runner-up Al Horford, provided much-needed inside toughness as a starting center.

Knight's last trade helped give the Hawks their final push to the playoffs. He traded Shelden Williams as part of a package of players for Bibby, who provided leadership for Smith, Josh Childress and Marvin Williams.

Knight went to ownership to discuss a coaching change after acquiring Bibby. Gearon and the ownership group stuck with Woodson.

Woodson said he learned of Knight's resignation "when I walked in my office" on Wednesday morning.

"That's all I know right now," Woodson said. "I'm trying to get some details on what's going on and what happened. They just told me and I'm trying to reach ownership group to see what's going on."

Woodson did not return e-mail or phone messages Wednesday afternoon.

Knight said Woodson and the coaching staff "are most deserving of the praise and accolades they earned during a tough, seven-game series against the Eastern Conference's top team entering the playoffs, and I wish them and the Hawks organization the very best in the future."

Knight's biggest trade was acquiring Johnson from Phoenix in a 2005 deal for Boris Diaw and two first-round picks.

Johnson has been a two-time All-Star in Atlanta, but the deal was so controversial it splintered the ownership group. The dispute between Boston-based Steve Belkin, who thought the Hawks gave up too much in the deal, and the other owners remains unsettled.

Knight was the general manager of the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies before he was hired as Hawks' director of basketball operations before the 2002-03 season. Knight was promoted to general manager after Pete Babthingy was fired in 2003. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

Jazz hope to spoil MVP Kobe Bryant's celebration
05/08/2008 | 08:41 AM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us LOS ANGELES - Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz hope to spoil Kobe Bryant's MVP celebration. More important, the Jazz hope to even the Western Conference semifinals with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night before the series moves to Salt Lake City for Games 3 and 4.

"If we can go out there and ruin their party a little bit by getting a victory, that helps us a lot," Boozer said. "Kobe is the MVP. He deserves the trophy. We just want to win the game."

The NBA made it official Tuesday — four days after the word was leaked — that Bryant had won his first MVP award. He'll receive the trophy before Game 2 at Staples Center.

Bryant played like an MVP in the series opener, getting 38 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the Lakers' 109-98 victory. He did much of his damage from the free throw line, making a franchise playoff-record 21 in 23 attempts.

"If we can keep him off the line, that would help us a lot," Boozer said. "We're going to do the best we can and try to give him different looks and try to be a little bit more aggressive with him, try to get the ball out of his hands."

That's not as simple as it might sound.

"I don't think anybody has been able to guard Kobe," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "He's just a great player. He can shoot the ball long range, he can shoot the 3-pointers way out past the 3-point line, he can put the ball on the floor. You come running at him and he catches you (by surprise). It's hard to go double-team him and keep him from doing everything he wants to do.

"He has the ability to maybe go for a quarter or so and just try and stay involved, then all of a sudden from a scoring standpoint he can put 20 points on you real quick."

Both teams believe they can play much better than they did in Game 1, and the numbers support that premise on both sides.

* The Jazz attempted 22 more shots than the Lakers, but finished at 37.9 percent from the field.

"We had some pretty good executed plays but couldn't make shots," Sloan said.

* The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers 58-41 including 25-8 on the offensive end.

"We didn't rebound that well against Denver," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, referring to the first-round sweep. "That's one of the weaknesses of our team."

* The Jazz committed 34 personal fouls, leading to the Lakers' 38-of-46 effort from the line. Utah made 22 of 30 free throws.

"We've got to make some adjustments and we're working on those today," Boozer said before the Jazz flew to Los Angeles. "We learn from our mistakes, that's one of the marks of this team. We're able to see what we did wrong and correct it next time around."

Speaking of numbers, the Jazz realize how difficult it is to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Only 13 of the 211 teams to lose the first two games have accomplished that feat.

"I'd love for us to go out there and get a win," Boozer said. "I think our team needs that. For us to come back (to Utah) with a split would be much better than coming back here 0-2." - AP

[AUSTIN316]

Billups leaves Pistons-Magic game early due to injury
05/08/2008 | 09:05 AM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us ORLANDO, Fla. - Detroit guard Chauncey Billups left the court with a strained right hamstring early in the first quarter of Game 3 of the second-round series against Orlando on Wednesday night.

The Pistons said Billups' return was questionable. He got tied up with Orlando's Jameer Nelson on a drive to the basket. Nelson's leg caught Billups', and the Pistons' All-Star fell to the court.

Billups is averaging 17.5 points in the postseason, second-best on the team. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

Magic rout Pistons to trim deficit to 2-1
05/08/2008 | 10:47 AM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Magic won't be swept by the Detroit Pistons again. Rashard Lewis made sure of it Wednesday night. Lewis scored a career playoff-high 33 points and the Magic broke down the Pistons' stout defense in a 111-86 victory.

Detroit leads the Eastern Conference semifinals 2-1, but it may have to play without All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups.

The Pistons lost Billups just four minutes into the game when drove to the basket and got tangled up with Orlando's Jameer Nelson. Nelson's leg caught Billups' foot, and the Pistons guard fell hard to the court with a strained right hamstring.

Billups, Detroit's steady floor leader and clutch 3-point threat, was averaging 17.5 points in the postseason and had 28 against the Magic in Game 2.

Game 4 in the best-of-sevens series is Saturday in Orlando. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

Kobe receives MVP trophy prior to Game 2 vs Jazz
05/08/2008 | 11:29 AM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us LOS ANGELES - Lakers star Kobe Bryant received his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before Los Angeles faced Utah in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.

"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P. "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."

The 29-year-old Bryant was a runaway winner of his first MVP award, receiving 82 first-place votes and 1,100 points to far outdistance New Orleans' Chris Paul in the voting of 126 media members. The results were announced Tuesday

Following the presentation, Bryant's wife and two young daughters presented him with a bouquet of flowers at center court. - AP

[AUSTIN316]

MVP Bryant leads Lakers past Jazz for 2-0 lead
05/08/2008 | 01:43 PM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers celebrated Kobe Bryant's MVP award the best way possible.

Bryant had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists Wednesday night, and the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 120-110 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and remain the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.

The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on Friday night and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.

Bryant received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.

"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P. "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."

The 29-year-old Bryant was a runaway winner of his first MVP award, receiving 82 first-place votes and 1,100 points to far outdistance New Orleans' Chris Paul in the voting of 126 media members. The results were announced Tuesday.

Following the presentation, Bryant's wife and two young daughters gave him with a bouquet of flowers at center court.

Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points, Pau Gasol scored 20, and Lamar Odom had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws — 22 more than the Jazz.

Seven Utah players scored in double figures, led by Deron Williams, who had 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the final minute, and 10 assists. Paul Millsap added a career playoff-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mehmet Okur scored 16 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 14. Okur and Kirilenko both fouled out in the final minute.

Carlos Boozer was held to 10 points — all in the second half. He played less than seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers 58-41 in Game 1, but lost 109-98. They won the battle of the backboards again 41-37, but shot 44.6 percent while attempting a season-high 101 shots — 33 more than Los Angeles.

The Jazz outscored the Lakers 11-4 to get within five points with just under six minutes to play. But a jumper by Sasha Vujacic, a 3-pointer by Fisher and a free throw by Gasol extended the Lakers' lead to 105-94 with 4:26 left.

A three-point play by Kirilenko made it 107-99 before Bryant fed Gasol for a dunk with 2:40 to go, and the Jazz weren't closer than six points after that.

The Jazz drew within nine points early in the third quarter before Bryant outscored them 9-4 by himself to make it 82-68. A 3-pointer by Williams with 1.5 seconds left in the third quarter trimmed the Lakers' lead to 93-83.

The Lakers led 55-40 before Williams made a 3-pointer for his only points of the first half. It was 63-49 at halftime, and it might have been worse for the Jazz had Millsap not scored 13 points — three more than his previous playoff high.

Williams and Boozer combined to average 39.9 points during the regular season and 35.8 points in Utah's first seven playoff games. They totaled three points in the first half of Game 2.

The Lakers made their first six shots, but trailed by one before Bryant scored six points and Odom added four during a 13-0 run that gave them a 25-13 lead. Boozer left with two fouls and Utah coach Jerry Sloan picked up a technical before Ronnie Brewer's jumper ended the spurt.

The Jazz drew within eight before two 3-pointers by Fisher and a basket by Ronny Turiaf made it 33-18 at the end of the first quarter. Boozer was scoreless when he went to the bench again just 19 seconds into the second quarter after picking up his third foul, and didn't return until the second half. - AP

[Ang Sarap Maging Atenista]

talo lakers knina sa jazz 6points ata lamang.... 2-1 na ngayon ang standing ng lakers...

[HumanClay]

I want to see Kevin Garnett win his first NBA titLe this year

[RedHunks½]

Spurs Swat Hornets to Tie Series 2-2

The Hornets' Game 4 win in Dallas in the first round was no harbinger of Game 4's to come. The hometown Spurs trounced New Orleans 100-80 on Sunday night to pull into a 2-2 series tie.

Tim Duncan was unstoppable in the paint, notching 22 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and three assists as San Antonio handed the Hornets their worst loss of the postseason. Duncan shot 10-for-13 from the floor. Tony Parker added 21 points and eight assists.

The Spurs had an even better night on defense, disrupting the Hornets' offense from beginning to end. Chris Paul, who finished with 23 points and five assists, found the lane locked down and was forced to play from the perimeter. But even that wasn't a safe haven for the Hornets -- Peja Stojakovic, who was limited to eight points in Game 3, ended up with just six in Game 4. David West added 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting.

New Orleans scored first, but the Spurs tied the game at four apiece at 9:44 in the first quarter before taking a lead they would never relinquish. San Antonio broke the game open in the second quarter, dictating the pace to take a 55-44 halftime lead. The Spurs outplayed the Hornets in nearly every aspect of the game -- outrebounding New Orleans 45-36, owning the edge in assists 27-12 and shooting 51 percent from the field compared to the Hornets' 40 percent.

The Hornets will look to bounce back Tuesday, when the series returns to New Orleans Arena for Game 5. Tip-Off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

[RedHunks½]

Jazz Beat Lakers in Game 4 to Tie Series at 2-2

Andrei Kirilenko scored on a three-point play and blocked Kobe Bryant twice in overtime to help the Utah Jazz hold off the Los Angeles Lakers, 123-115, on Sunday in Salt Lake City to tie their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal series at 2-2.

Lamar Odom followed up Bryant's miss with 4.6 seconds left in regulation to tie the ballgame, 108-108. Deron Williams had a chance to win it for Utah but his shot at the buzzer was blocked by former Jazz teammate Derek Fisher, who scored 10 straight for the Lakers in the fourth quarter.

In overtime Mehmet Okur scored two quick jumpers to give Utah a 112-108 lead.

The Lakers, meanwhile, who rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final four minutes to force overtime, struggled in the extra period and didn't score until a layup by Bryant with 1:10 remaining to cut Utah's lead to 112-110.

On the ensuing play, Kirilenko was able to sneak past Lakers defenders for a dunk and was fouled by Odom in the process. Kirilenko made the free throw for a five-point Utah lead, 115-110, with 35.5 seconds left in OT.

Williams led the Jazz with 29 points and 14 assists and Okur notched 18 points and 11 rebounds. Kirilenko finished with 15 points, while Carlos Boozer added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Bryant led the Lakers with a game-high 30 points and dished out 10 assists. Odom contributed 26 points and 13 rebounds, Pau Gasol added 23 and 10 while Fisher added 15.

Utah was 40-for-76 (53 percent) and had a huge advantage at the foul line, making 37 of 45 free throws. The Lakers got only 25 attempts from the line and missed 11 of them. The Jazz reserves also dominated the Lakers' bench, outscoring them 39-16.

The series shifts back to Los Angeles on Wednesday for Game 5. Tipoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

[RedHunks½]

Pistons Clinch Series with Home Win

The Detroit Pistons qualified for their sixth-consecutive Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday with a 91-86 home win over the Orlando Magic.

Orlando had the opportunity to close Detroit's lead to one in the final minute, but Tayshaun Prince blocked Hedo Turkoglu's dunk with 16 seconds remaining to seal the outcome.

Without Chauncey Billups, who was sidelined with a sore hamstring, the Pistons were led by Richard Hamilton with 31 points and Antonio McDyess with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Magic were led by Turkoglu, who totaled 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on the night. Dwight Howard notched a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds, but couldn't control the rebound after Prince's last-minute block.

Orlando outshot Detroit from the field, but committed 21 turnovers compared to just three for the Pistons.

Detroit will wait for the winner of the Boston-Cleveland series, which is currently tied 2-2.