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Chris Paul barely misses in Game 1 vs OKC

Here’s the Los Angeles Times on Clippers point guard CP3 and the great things he did last night:

Chris Paul

Tired from a grueling seven-game first-round playoff series?

Not Chris Paul and the Clippers.

Exhausted from the dark cloud that enveloped them at every turn?

Not Paul and the Clippers.

Paul orchestrated an impressive show of force Monday night that carried the Clippers to 122-105 demolition of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of a Western Conference second-round playoff series.

His 32 points in only 27 minutes 44 seconds propelled the Clippers to a resounding win in the opener of the best-of-seven series at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Even more impressive was his shooting. Paul made his first eight three-point attempts and finished eight for nine, and hit 12 for 14 shots overall as the Clippers snatched the home-court advantage away from the Thunder.

Chris Paul goes wild in Clippers Game 1 win vs Thunder

Here’s the Los Angeles Times on Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who put up a monster performance Monday night in a Game 1 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder:

He’s spent three seasons as Los Angeles’ most unappreciated star, loved by Clippers fans but scorned everywhere else, even booed at Dodger Stadium by Lakers fans who — and this is starting to get a little silly — have little respect for greatness that isn’t wearing their uniform.

Chris Paul entered this postseason famous for a ring he doesn’t have, a city he doesn’t own, and a television commercial featuring a twin brother who doesn’t exist.

Maybe that’s why, on a wind-stopping Monday night in Oklahoma City, he spent three hours shouting, “Enough.”

Enough of the talk that he’s too injured and weary to lead the Clippers to NBA greatness, as the smallest starter ducked his head and shouldered them to a stunning 122-105 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener of their second-round series.

Enough of the idea that his sore hamstring and thumb limit him offensively, as he missed just two of 14 shots and just one of nine three-point attempts, scoring 32 points in the best pure shooting postseason game of his career.

Enough of the talk that he’s too slow defensively, as he led a swarming Clippers defense that deadened the dazzling Thunder offense into 18 turnovers, resulting in 23 points.

Enough, enough, enough of the idea that Donald Sterling has anything to do with this anymore.

Michael Carter-Williams wins 2013-14 NBA Rookie of Year

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that Michael Carter-Williams has been named 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year. He joins Allen Iverson (1996-97) as the only players to win the award in franchise history. Carter-Williams earned 104 of a possible 124 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters selected by the NBA.

“Michael made an immediate impact on the court this season, but his dedication, professionalism and contributions to both the organization and the Philadelphia community make him all the more deserving of this 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year award,” said Sixers Managing Owner Josh Harris. “This is an incredibly proud moment for the 76ers and one we are thrilled to share with him, the city and our fans.”

“Michael performed and represented the Sixers organization this past season in a manner befitting of the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year,” said co-Managing Owner David Blitzer. “He never stopped working – from the moment he burst onto the national scene in our home opener through the final horn at last game of the season – and we are proud to congratulate him on this well-deserved award.”

Carter-Williams was the 11th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2013 NBA Draft. The last “double-digit” draft pick to be named Rookie of the Year was Mark Jackson, who was the 18th overall pick by New York in 1987. The only other players who were drafted 10th or later and went onto win Rookie of the Year are Jamaal Wilkes (1974), Woody Sauldsberry (1957) and Don Meineke (1953).

“By opening night, it was clear to us that Michael belonged. This award marks a lifetime of hard work, from Hamilton to St. Andrew’s, and Syracuse to the Sixers,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Sam Hinkie from an international scouting trip. “We congratulate him on this unique achievement and look forward to helping him put in the work necessary to garner even greater success in the future.”

In his NBA debut against Miami on October 30, 2013, Carter-Williams had 22 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and nine steals. He became just the third player in NBA history to reach those stats in a single game. The nine steals tied the franchise record and were the most by a player in his NBA debut.

Carter-Williams went onto be named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from October 29 through November 3. Shaquille O’Neal is the only other rookie to be named Player of the Week to start his career. Carter-Williams was also named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the combined months of October and November, as well as January, March and April.

For the season, Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists (tied for 11th in NBA), 6.2 rebounds and 1.86 steals (sixth in NBA). He became just the third player dating back to 1950-51 to lead rookies in points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game, joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61) and Alvan Adams (1975-76).

Carter-Williams joined Robertson and Magic Johnson (1979-80) as the only players to average at least 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in their rookie season.

Stephen Curry sticks up for Warriors coach Mark Jackson

Here’s the Bay Area News Group reporting on the Golden State Warriors, who lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs:

In the moments after the Game 7 loss, Stephen Curry wouldn’t go as far as to call the Warriors’ season a success.

But Curry, whose All-Star season lifted the Warriors to a 51-win regular season, was clear in saying that he believed Mark Jackson “deserves to be our coach” and return next season.

“I love Coach more than anybody, and I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair,” Curry said. “And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like that were to happen.

“I’m going to voice my support for Coach, if you’ve got anybody that asks me about it all summer.”

And so began what could be an offseason of change for the Warriors, who have a decision to make on Jackson as he enters the final year of his contract.

Heat and Nets set to begin 2nd round battle

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the Nets and Heat:

The droning chant will have to wait until the series moves to Barclays Center for Saturday’s Game 3.

But an argument could be made it has been ringing in the Miami Heat’s ears for months.

“Brooookl-lyn! Brooook-lyn! Brooook-lyn!”

An early-round matchup the Heat thought they had avoided with their No. 2 East playoff seed, until some late manipulation by the Brooklyn Nets, is at hand, the best-of-seven conference semifinal series starting Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

No team this season, at least when it came to wins and losses, had the Heat’s number like Brooklyn, sweeping the four-game season series, as well as winning both preseason matchups.

And, yes, it means Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are back as playoff rivals, this time in Brooklyn black instead of Boston green, complete with the enduring playoff respect and contempt that long has heightened these postseason matchups against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“It will always be there,” Wade said after Sunday’s practice, a session completed before the Nets defeated the Raptors 104-103 at Air Canada Centre in Game 7 of that series. “I don’t think there will be a moment where it won’t, just the competitive nature of those guys.”

Terrence Jones emerged nicely for Houston Rockets this season

Here’s the Houston Chronicle Blog reporting on Rockets forward Terrence Jones:

michael redd

By the end of the season, Rockets forward Terrence Jones had his routine down.

Before every game, he would take a few shots on the court, then headed to the dining room to get a plate of his favorite pasta. He sat at his locker, watching video of that night’s opponent on a large screen in the locker room while eating dinner and listening to music in his headphones. Under his practice shirt, though, his heart was pounding.

Jones was calm like a seasoned veteran before every game, but he was also eager like the 22-year old second-year NBA player that he is.

At the start of the season, Jones was one of the players on the list of forwards who would have to step up and fill a role for the Rockets this season. At the end, he was the Rockets’ regular starter and a reliable piece of the puzzle they have been trying to build.

Paul Pierce block helps Nets edge Raptors in Game 7

paul pierce

Paul Pierce blocked Kyle Lowry’s shot from the lane on the final play of the game, and the Brooklyn Nets held off the Toronto Raptors 104-103 in Game 7 on Sunday to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

The Nets will begin the conference semifinals at Miami on Tuesday night to play the two-time defending NBA champion Heat.

Leading by one point, Brooklyn used its final timeout after failing to inbound the ball. On the second opportunity, Shaun Livingston tried a lob pass to Pierce, but Terrence Ross got a hand on the ball and then knocked it off Pierce and out of bounds for a turnover.

Toronto used a timeout and gave the ball to Lowry, whose driving shot was blocked by Pierce as time expired. Lowry lay prone in the key as the Nets surged onto the court in celebration.

Joe Johnson scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Nets.

— Associated Press

Clippers tune out Donald Sterling scandal and advance in playoffs

Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting on the Clippers, who’ve had more than basketball on their minds lately:

Clippers

The weight of the Donald Sterling saga did not pull the Clippers all the way down.

Instead, the Clippers summoned all they had left in their collective tanks to grind out a 126-121 Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at Staples Center.

With six players scoring in double figures, the Clippers won the first-round best-of-seven series, four games to three.

The Clippers advance to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. They’ll face the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 1 on Monday night in Oklahoma.

“I just thought with all this stuff, this team just needed this win,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said, referring to the Sterling controversy. “I mean, we grinded.” …

Sterling’s comments about blacks continued to envelop the Clippers even after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned the team’s owner for life and instructed the other NBA franchise owners to force him to sell the team.