Inside Hoops – Page 1327 – NBA Blog

Sacramento Kings say goodbye to various employees

Shortly after the Kings announced the hiring of general manager Pete D’Alessandro, the restructuring of the organization’s business and basketball departments resumed.

As expected, several employees who worked under basketball president Geoff Petrie were released, including his son, assistant basketball vice president Mike Petrie, basketball vice president Wayne Cooper, scouting director Scotty Stirling, video coordinator Joe Cook, security guard Joe Nolan, property manager Steve Schmidt and administrative assistant Sheli Gottlieb.

The biggest surprise might have been media relations spokesman Devin Blankenship, a native Sacramentan who had been with the franchise for 13 years.

During the final months of the Maloofs’ majority ownership, when employees were fleeing by the dozens, anticipating a move to Seattle instead of a sale to the Vivek Ranadive group that meant the team would stay in Sacramento, Blankenship earned praise for his consistently helpful and professional manner.

Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Late Ray Allen 3-pointer keeps Heat alive

Danny Green left his man and lunged for the rebound. Tony Parker was a step late in recovery.

Together, the breakdowns gave Ray Allen a half-a-breath of space.

More than enough to play the hero — and save the Heat’s season.

Allen’s game-tying, physics-defying — and possibly career-defining — shot happened fast.

The scramble for a loose ball. Allen’s moonwalk to the perfect spot, just beyond the three-point line. And his impossibly quick catch-and-release.

Yet, as he told it later, the bucket was the result of a lifetime of practice.

“Believe it or not, I work on it quite often,” said Allen, who finished Miami’s 103-100 Game 6 Houdini act victory against San Antonio with 9 points, including two critical free throws in overtime. “I try to put my body in precarious situations coming from different parts of the floor, different angles to try to get my momentum going forward.

“When it went in, I was ecstatic,” he added. “But at the same time I was expecting to make it.”

Reported by Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald

NBA Finals Game 6 delivered amazing action in Miami

What a game, and how lucky we all were to witness it. LeBron James called it the best game he has ever played in. For me, it was the greatest game I’ve ever covered and I felt honored to be there covering it for The Herald and South Florida sports fans. James’ triple-double, his fourth in an NBA Finals, seemed like a minor footnote when it was all over. That’s how amazing and layered and thrilling Game 6 felt. James finished with 32 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 11 assists. He had 23 points in the second half and 16 in the fourth, carrying the Heat all the way to the finish line and setting the stage for Allen’s heroics.

James’ two turnovers in the final minute will be a focal point, but don’t let that take away from his amazing effort. After three-pointers by Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller to begin the fourth quarter, James willed the Heat back into the game. There were so many incredible moments tonight, but, for James, his block against Tim Duncan in the fourth will be a cherished moment if the Heat wins Game 7.

If the Heat wins Game 7…That’s what it’s all about now. Game 6 was unbelievable but Game 7 of the NBA Finals will top it just by simply being a Game 7. These moments come around once in a lifetime, Heat fans. Enjoy it. Savor it. Seriously, who’s going to sleep between now and then? Probably not me.

Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald (Blog)

Dwyane Wade hurts knee again, pushes through in Game 6

LeBron James had to dig deep to help salvage the Heat season and ward off another offseason of undeserved vitriol, and he had to do it mostly without his right-hand man, Dwyane Wade.

Despite a shaky first three quarters, James finished with a triple-double of 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Heat to a wild 103-100 overtime victory and force a Game 7 for the NBA championship on Thursday.

Wade, who despite a balky knee was coming off back-to-back games of 32 and 25 points, but clearly retweaked his sore left knee in an early first-quarter collison with Manu Ginobili.

Wade needed extended treatment during halftime and didn’t enter the game in the third quarter until 2:22 had expired with the Heat down five points. He finished with a pedestrian 14 points on 6-of-15 from the field with four rebounds, four assists and three turnovers.

“Yes,” Wade responded to a reporter asking if he hurt his knee. “Nothing, that we’re going to talk about.”

Reported by Harvey Fialkov of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Heat beats Spurs 103-100 in OT to reach NBA Finals Game 7

LeBron James saved a championship reign, canceled a celebration.

The toughest part now might be topping this performance in Game 7.

”It’s by far the best game I’ve ever been a part of,” James said.

He wouldn’t let the Miami Heat lose it – or their NBA title.

If the San Antonio Spurs want that, they’ll have to fight just a little harder to get it. One last game, winner take all.

James powered Miami to a frantic fourth-quarter rally and overtime escape as the Heat beat the Spurs 103-100 on Tuesday night to extend the NBA Finals as far as they can go and keep Miami’s repeat chances alive.

Losing his headband but keeping his cool while playing the entire second half and overtime, James finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, making the go-ahead basket with 1:43 remaining in the extra period…

Tim Duncan scored 30 points for the Spurs, his most in an NBA Finals game since Game 1 in 2003, but was shut out after the third quarter. He added 17 rebounds…

James was just 3 of 12 after three quarters, the Heat trailing by 10 and frustration apparent among the players and panic setting in among the fans.

Nothing to worry about. Not with James playing like this.

He finished 11 of 26, even making a steal after his basket had given Miami a 101-100 edge in the OT…

Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Tony Parker had 19 points and eight assists, but shot just 6 of 23 from the field…

Danny Green finished 1 of 5 from behind the arc after going 25 of 38 on 3-pointers (65.8 percent) in the first five games.

Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Monta Ellis tells Milwaukee Bucks he will opt out of contract

Monta Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent July 1 after informing the Milwaukee Bucks he is opting out of the final year of his contract.

Ellis had an $11 million option for the upcoming season. But he told the Bucks on Monday that he would not be exercising it.

Ellis was Milwaukee’s leading scorer with 19.2 points per game last season, his only full season with the Bucks. He also led the team in minutes (37.5 per game), and was the only Milwaukee player to appear in all 82 games.

Reported by the Associated Press

2013 Orlando Magic preseason starts October 9

The Orlando Magic will open the 2013 preseason at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday, October 9 against New Orleans. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

This marks the third time that the Orlando Magic have played a preseason game in Jacksonville, with their last trip coming in 2008. The remainder of the Magic’s preseason schedule will be released at a later date. Orlando will open training camp on October 1 at Amway Center.

Heat have no room for error versus Spurs in Game 6

They lost three times in three months in one of the most overpowering stretches the NBA has ever seen.

Now the Miami Heat have lost three times in five games.

So superb during the regular season, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat have to be something even more for the rest of the NBA Finals.

They have to be perfect.

”We look forward to the challenge,” James said.

The San Antonio Spurs can finish Miami off Tuesday night in Game 6, reaffirming themselves as one of the league’s greatest franchises.

If so, the Heat and their Big Three once again go from celebrated to devastated, just as they were two years ago when they came home from Texas facing this same predicament.

”We’re going to see if we’re a better team than we were our first year together,” James said.

The Spurs took a 3-2 lead with their 114-104 victory Sunday night. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were all brilliant again, and Danny Green added to what could become one of the most out-of-nowhere finals MVP campaigns ever.

One more victory makes the Spurs 5-0 in the NBA Finals, keeping pace with Michael Jordan’s 6-0 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to make it here multiple times and never lose.

Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Denver Nuggets name Tim Connelly executive VP of basketball operations

The Denver Nuggets have named Tim Connelly as executive vice president of basketball operations, team president Josh Kroenke announced today.

Connelly, 36, joins the Nuggets front office after three seasons as assistant general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, where he worked closely with general manager Dell Demps. Connelly’s duties included scouting, draft preparation, trade negotiations and player contracts.

“We are extremely excited to have Tim join the Denver Nuggets organization,” Kroenke said. “He comes from a great basketball background, possesses an incredibly strong work ethic and is a wonderful person. His passion and energy for the game of basketball are contagious and I am confident that he will be a great fit with us in Denver.”

Prior to his time in New Orleans, Connelly spent 10 years with the Washington Wizards organization, rising to director of player personnel. His role included overseeing scouting, salary cap and database management, player evaluation and assisting the vice president of player personnel with all front office duties.

A native of Baltimore, Connelly began working with the Wizards as an intern in the basketball operations department in 1996 and joined the team full-time as the assistant video coordinator in 1999. He became a full-time scout in 2000 and spent four years in that role before becoming the director of player personnel.

Milwaukee Bucks hire Nick Van Exel and Bob Bender as assistant coaches

General Manager John Hammond announced today that Bob Bender and Nick Van Exel will join Larry Drew’s staff as assistant coaches for the Milwaukee Bucks. Bender joins the Bucks after nine seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, including the last three with Drew as head coach. Van Exel also worked with Drew as a member of the Hawks staff from 2010-12 as the player development instructor.

“Bob and Nick were both important pieces of my staff in Atlanta, and I’m excited that they are joining me on the bench in Milwaukee,” said Drew. “Bob’s merits as a coach have been proven through his past experience, and Nick’s successful career in the NBA gives him a strong platform to mentor and coach our players. They will be dedicated to the task of teaching and building up our young men in order for the Bucks to put a hard-working, committed team on the court.”

Prior to his time on Atlanta’s staff, Bender was with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2002-04, first as their assistant coach/player development and then as an assistant coach on the bench. His coaching career began as an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, and he continued in the college ranks for 13 years.

Bender was first named a head coach at Illinois State in 1990, where he earned two Missouri Valley Conference Championships, one conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth. He then spent nine years at the University of Washington (1994-2001), where he directed the Huskies to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament from 1996 to 1999. Bender was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1996.

A Duke graduate and Quantico, Va., native, Bender is the only individual to play on two different teams in two different NCAA Championship games – one as a freshman on Bob Knight’s undefeated 1976 Indiana team and the other as a guard at Duke in the 1978 title game against Kentucky. He was drafted by the San Diego Clippers in the sixth round before his senior year, but did not play.

Kenosha, Wis., native Van Exel enjoyed a 13-year career as a player in the NBA, including 76 playoff games and one All-Star appearance (1998) from 1993-2006. He put up career averages of 14.4 points, 6.6 assists per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. Van Exel was selected by the L.A. Lakers in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft (37th overall) and was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 1994.

Prior to his two seasons as the Hawks’ player development instructor, Van Exel worked as an assistant coach at Texas Southern University during the 2009-10 season.