February 2013 – Page 16 – NBA Blog

Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies

Jerry Buss had been a chemist and a mathematician long before he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. The self-made millionaire with a head for business and an impresario’s heart assailed the NBA with every skill he acquired along the way.

With his personal alchemy and charisma, he blended two generations of marquee basketball stars and big-name coaches into 10 championship teams. His financial wizardry allowed him to pay top dollar to get the best players and keep them together without a huge personal fortune.

Buss built a glittering life for himself and the Lakers, playing a huge role in the NBA’s move from a second-tier pro sport into can’t-miss Hollywood entertainment while polishing his oddly nicknamed franchise into a glamorous global brand.

Magic, Kareem and Big Game James. Kobe, Shaq and Pau.

They were the stars, but Buss created Showtime.

The applause still hasn’t died down.

Buss, who shepherded the Lakers from their 1980s dynasty through the current Kobe Bryant era while becoming one of the most important and successful owners in pro sports, died Monday. He was 80.

”Jerry Buss was more than just an owner. He was one of the great innovators that any sport has ever encountered,” said Pat Riley, who coached four of Buss’ 10 title teams. ”He was a true visionary, and it was obvious with the Lakers in the ’80s that ‘Showtime’ was more than just Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It was really the vision of a man who saw something that connected with a community.”

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

Chris Paul becomes first Clippers player to win NBA All-Star Game MVP

Chris Paul became the first Clippers player to be NBA All-Star Game MVP, scoring 20 points and handing out 15 assists in the West’s 143-138 win over the East.

Paul is the third player to have at least 20 points and 15 assists in the league’s annual showcase, joining a couple Hall of Fame point guards, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.

Paul made 7-of-10 shots and went 4-for-5 from 3-point range. He sank two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the West build a double-digit lead.

“Pretty special,” Paul said. “It’s something I’ve never done and it’s something that I definitely, coming into the game, I wasn’t trying to achieve or thinking that it might be possible.”

Paul already had the best per-game assists average in All-Star history (12.4). He had nine assists and plenty of fancy dribbling the first half and his niftiest moves came right before one of his only mistakes.

— Reported by Chris Duncan of the Associated Press

Spoelstra says decision to start Bosh in All-Star game was easy call

Some fans questioned the decision to start Bosh, but his coach made no apologies.

“That’s an easy decision,” Spoelstra said. “My loyalties are with the Heat.”

Spoelstra’s players are ready to repay his loyalty once the scores really matter and the chase for another title picks up.

“We’re the best team in the league,” Bosh said. “We have to make our run to start our title (defense). We have everybody intact. Everybody’s comfortable. We just have to continue to work on our chemistry.”

James agrees. “We want to continue to play our game,” James said. “We want to continue to get better each and every game and not waste an opportunity when we get on the floor and play as a team. If we do that, we’ll be OK.”

— Reported by Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)

Andre Drummond has eyes on slam dunk title

Raptors rookie swingman Terrence Ross already has a challenger for his slam-dunk crown.

Pistons rookie Andre Drummond tossed his hat into the ring Friday morning, saying he was hoping to compete in the dunk contest this season before a stress fracture in his lower back ended that dream.

“That was my goal to be in the dunk contest,” Drummond said. “I can’t really do that now, so hopefully next year.”

Ross won the slam-dunk title Saturday night as part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend. Drummond watched from courtside.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Jeff Van Gundy thinks Dwight Howard had it good in Orlando

If Dwight Howard knew then what he knows now, he would probably still be with the Orlando Magic.

Or so says ESPN and ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy, who says Howard’s struggles with the dysfunctional Los Angles Lakers probably makes him pine for his glory days in Orlando.

“I think he thought he wanted a big market, but I think what he’s realizing is that he needs a smaller environment where the fans and media overlook whatever weaknesses he has,” Jeff said on our Open Mike radio show. “He had it great in Orlando, and I think only after you leave do you realize just how good you had it. Unfortunately, you can’t go back home again.

“Those years in Orlando, you could have made the case that no one was more valuable to a team than Dwight Howard was to the Magic. That guy could have been the MVP a couple of times and should have gotten stronger consideration for what he accomplished. For whatever reason, I think he’s lost his way.”

— By Mike Bianchi, columnist for the Orlando Sentinel

2013 NBA All-Star Game Recap: West beats East 143-138

LeBron James had the ball in his hands and a comeback on his mind.

Kobe Bryant blocked those plans – twice.

He may not leap like Blake Griffin, but Bryant can still get up when he needs to, especially when the defenseless part of the All-Star game is over and it’s time to stop somebody – even the league’s best player.

Bryant blocked James’ jumper, turning it into a dunk by Kevin Durant that helped the Western Conference put away the East 143-138 on Sunday.

On Michael Jordan’s 50th birthday, the players most often compared to him turned the final minutes into a 1-on-1 duel, and it went to Bryant – the guy Jordan said he’d pick between the two.

”It was a great block,” Durant said. ”I haven’t really seen any MVP get a jumper blocked like that. It was a really great play.”

Chris Paul had 20 points, 15 assists and won MVP honors, and Durant scored 30 points. Griffin finished with 19, joining his Clippers teammate, Paul, in creating Lob City deep in the heart of Texas…

Bryant added a second late block of James, the MVP of the 2006 game here after leading a big East comeback. This time, he scored 19 points but shot only 7 of 18 after making 60 percent of his shots in six straight games before the break…

Carmelo Anthony led the East with 26 points and 12 rebounds…

[James] Harden had 15 points in his home arena, where the sights of the game were on the floor and the sounds were at the rim – which shook repeatedly after thunderous dunks for most of the game before, as usual, players tried to make some stops down the stretch…

Bryant finished with only nine points but had eight assists. Griffin shot 9 of 11 from the field and didn’t miss until trying to violently throw one down from a few feet away from the basket.

Indiana’s Paul George scored 17 and Kyrie Irving had 15 for the East.

[Chris] Bosh finished 3 of 9. Wade had 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting, the best performance of the three Heat players in the starting lineup.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

“You just want to play fast,” Paul said after carving up the East with 20 points and 15 assists to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the annual All-Star game on Sunday.

“I like to throw the lob. I like to see guys hit threes. When we’re out on the court with all that fire power, why wouldn’t you want to make passes?

“You’ve got KD (Durant) filling one of the lanes, you’ve got Blake, Kobe on the wing. There’s nothing like it.”

Paul led the Western Conference to a 143-138 victory, hitting seven-of-10 shots from the floor to complement his pass-first game that had the East playing catch-up all night.

LeBron James, the high-scoring Miami forward who bagged 19 points in a losing effort, called Paul’s performance “unbelievable”.

“He’s one of the best players we have in this league,” offered James. “The number one point guard. It doesn’t surprise me what he did.”

— Reported by Steve Ginsburg of Reuters

Paul told Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer and last year’s All-Star game MVP, to expect to see the ball in his hands.

“I told KD early in the first quarter, ‘Man, if they score anything, you run. I’ll get you the ball, you score. I want to be the one to give it to you,'” recalled the Los Angeles Clippers guard.

“In games like this it’s so up‑tempo and fast paced, a guy like me that’s a facilitator, I enjoy it.”

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks paced the East with 26 points, followed by Miami guard Dwyane Wade, who had 21, and LeBron James, who added 19.

Durant hit 13-of-24 shots to lead the West to a third straight victory in the annual showcase that features little defense, a lot of dunks, and plenty of assists for anyone who decides to pass.

— Reported by Steve Ginsburg of Reuters

Following three quarters of recreational defensive intensity, the closing stretch of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game mimicked many of the fourth quarters of All-Star games past: The players got serious about winning.

And as is usually the case, that effort was most evident on defense. While Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant pushed the Western Conference’s lead to 136-126 with his late breakaway dunk, it was Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant who ignited the fast break with his block of Heat forward LeBron James.

“I’m known for my defense,” said Bryant, who recorded two blocked shots and two steals in the Western Conference’s 143-138 win over the Eastern Conference. “I can defend. I’m pretty smart with my defense.”

All-Star Game rookies were served noticed of the shift in seriousness once the starters began trickling back into the game midway through the fourth quarter. Following a first half punctuated by alley-oop dunks, the fourth quarter served as a stark contrast, particularly on defense.

— Reported by MK Bower of the Sports Xchange

2015 NBA All-Star Game location may be New York City

The All-Star Game appears to be headed back to the Big Apple.

The Knicks and the Nets have both applied to host the All-Star Game, and deputy commissioner Adam Silver said last night that it’s likely that one or the other will be hosting the event in 2015, the next year that is available.

When Silver was asked if that was the case, he responded with a simple, “Yes.”

New Orleans is hosting the game next year.

Silver, who is set to take over for commissioner David Stern next February, said that the league would still have to make sure it could secure the proper logistics, including hotel space and availability at the Javits Center for its Jam Session.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

David Stern discusses his favorite NBA All-Star memory

Presiding over his final state of the league news conference at All-Star weekend, Commissioner David Stern, who will step down on Feb. 1, 2014 for Adam Silver, was asked his favorite All-Star memory.

“This is my 37th All-Star (Game). The first was 1976 in Philadelphia,” said Stern, who assumed his current post on Feb. 1, 1984. “And I would have to say my favorite memory — actually compounded and grown to present day — is awarding Magic Johnson the MVP trophy in Orlando in 1992. Giving sweaty Magic Johnson a big hug right after he hit the last 3-pointer — and still being able to hug him because he’s alive every time I see him. That is at the top of the list. And it will not easily be dislodged. Even though I enjoy every All-Star (Game), that one will resonate for the rest of my life.”

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

Kevin Garnett will not waive his no-trade clause

The Boston Celtics can discuss a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers or any other NBA team all they want, but Kevin Garnett says it won’t matter. Asked Saturday if there was any circumstance or team that could entice him to give up his no-trade clause and leave Boston, Garnett said, “No.”

Even so, the Clippers still believe they can get Garnett to accept a trade if the Celtics tell him they want to make a deal, a source told Yahoo! Sports.

“If Boston came to him with the trade and he knew they wanted to do it, he would change his mind,” the source said.

Publicly, at least, Garnett was pretty clear about his desire to stay in Boston.

“If it’s up to me,” Garnett said, “I will live and die green all day.”

— Reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

Billy Hunter voted out as director of NBA Players Union

Billy Hunter was ousted unanimously as executive director of the union by NBA players, who said Saturday they will “no longer be divided, misled, misinformed.”

“This is our union and we have taken it back,” players’ association president Derek Fisher said.

Fisher said it was a day of change for the union, one which had seemed inevitable since a review of the union last month was critical of Hunter’s leadership and urged players to consider whether they wanted to keep him.

They didn’t.

“We want to make it clear that we are here to serve only the best interests of the players,” Fisher said. “No threats, no lies, no distractions will stop us from serving our memberships.”

In brief remarks, Fisher said a new executive committee was elected, and he will remain as president. The Spurs’ Matt Bonner is vice president, Miami’s James Jones is secretary-treasurer and the Nets’ Jerry Stackhouse is first vice president. The Clippers’ Chris Paul and Willie Green, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Denver’s Andre Iguodala, and the Hornets’ Roger Mason, Jr. are vice presidents.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Derek Fisher, who has been at odds with Hunter, will remain president of the union, but was aggressively challenged in the meeting by Brooklyn Nets guard Jerry Stackhouse. Stackhouse criticized Fisher for his role in the union’s troubles.

Stackhouse was elected first-vice president. Miami Heat forward James Jones is treasurer. San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner, Los Angeles Clippers guards Chris Paul and Willie Green, New Orleans Hornets guard Roger Mason and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will make up the union’s next executive committee.

Hunter’s dismissal will likely set up a legal battle between him and the union for the remaining $10.5 million on his contract.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports