Inside Hoops – Page 2074 – NBA Blog

Andrew Bynum hurting as Finals begin

David Lassen, special to the Press-Enterprise, reports:

Andrew Bynum was limping, with his injured right knee heavily bandaged, after the Lakers’ practice Wednesday, raising new doubts that the procedure to drain fluid from the swollen joint would make a difference.

“Whether it was successful in keeping his knee not swollen over this period of time, you know, that may not happen,” Jackson said.

Bynum had limited participation in Wednesday’s practice, but said he can “do anything when it comes to a game. There’s nothing I physically can’t do; it’s just the pain level and the muscle shutting down. But come game time, all that goes out the window.

“In practice, it’s more just preventing a major injury.”

Lakers driven by memories of 2008 NBA Finals loss to Celtics

David Lassen, special to the Press-Enterprise, reports:

As the Lakers open the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics tonight at Staples Center, they are driven by the memory of their six-game loss to the Celtics in the 2008 Finals, yet careful to note these teams — winners of the past two NBA championships — are not the same ones that squared off two years ago.

Lakers driven by memories of 2008 Finals loss to Celtics

“That thought of defeat is the first thing that comes to your mind,” said Pau Gasol, looking back to 2008, “so that triggers a point that is sore, and should get us going.”

Kobe Bryant casts the memories of 2008 less in terms of the pain of defeat and more as the lesson that helped propel the Lakers to their success against Orlando last year.

“It’s things that we’ve carried with us from the series,” Bryant says, “in terms of how to play as a unit at both ends of the floor, the kind of tenacity you need to play with.

“Those are the kind of things that we learned from there that we still carry with us.”

Raptors hire P.J. Carlesimo

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have added veteran NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo as an assistant to head coach Jay Triano’s staff. Carlesimo brings 35 years of coaching experience to the Raptors, including 13 seasons in the NBA.

This will be the second time that Triano and Carlesimo have worked together. Carlesimo was the head coach and Triano his assistant of the USA Basketball Select Team in 2007 and 2008.

“I got to know P.J. and had the opportunity to watch him work with USA Basketball,” said Triano. “He is highly respected within the NBA coaching fraternity. He possesses experience at all levels of the game which will make him a great addition to our coaching staff.”

Carlesimo spent five seasons (2002-2007) as Gregg Popovich’s lead assistant with the San Antonio Spurs where they captured three NBA titles. He also served as the head coach in Portland (1994-97), Golden State (1996-2000) and Seattle/Oklahoma City (2007-09). Each of Carlesimo’s three teams in Portland finished in the top three in the NBA in rebounding totals. All three teams also held opponents to under 100 points, with each season lower than the previous year. His 1998-99 Golden State squad set franchise records for defensive field goal percentage (.420) and fewest points allowed (90.8).

Prior to joining the NBA in 1994, Carlesimo was the head coach at Seton Hall University for 12 seasons. He led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament in six of his final seven campaigns. He was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1989 after his squad finished 31-7, and advanced to the NCAA Championship Game. In addition, he was named Big East Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989.

New York Liberty to have Foxwoods logo on game jerseys

The New York Liberty today announced a new multi-year premier partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino, North America’s largest resort casino. As part of the partnership Foxwoods will receive prominent logo placement on the Liberty jersey, a first-of-its-kind partnership for an Eastern Conference WNBA team and the first resort casino to have branding on the front of a professional sports team jersey.

“The New York Liberty has a passionate fan base in the world’s largest media market, and we are thrilled by the opportunity this partnership presents to promote our brand to WNBA fans, the team’s loyal followers and the New York Metropolitan area at large,” said chief marketing officer for Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises Robert Victoria. “As North America’s largest resort casino and the East Coast’s premier entertainment destination, Foxwoods always strives to align itself with other best-in-class industry leaders, and we’re confident we’ve done just that with this partnership of the Liberty and its home venue, the legendary Madison Square Garden.”

The Foxwoods name and logo will appear on the front of the Liberty’s home and road jerseys as well as shooting shirts for all games, providing the company with premium brand exposure to fans in-arena and other consumers via national and local media coverage and television broadcasts. The Liberty will debut its new uniforms when the team takes on the Connecticut Sun on Friday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m.

“We are excited to welcome Foxwoods Resort Casino as the premier partner of the New York Liberty. This partnership between two premium brands and industry leaders is a perfect match, bringing together one of the world’s largest resort casinos and ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena.” said Scott O’Neil, president, MSG Sports. “This innovative new partnership provides Foxwoods with a powerful platform that connects an entertainment destination with our incredibly loyal and passionate Liberty fans and New York.”

Added Carol Blazejowski, president, New York Liberty: “We are very proud to partner with Foxwoods Resort Casino and welcome their support of the Liberty and WNBA. We look forward to strategically integrating the Foxwoods brand across all of our business platforms and developing a partnership that will be great for our team and fans both on and off the court.”

The partnership helps build presence for Foxwoods in the New York area and beyond, with brand integration across all of the Liberty’s promotional and marketing platforms, including extensive presence in-arena during Liberty home games with courtside LED signage, logo presence on-court, a feature on GardenVision, and Foxwoods branded on-court contests. In addition, Foxwoods will be promoted to the thousands of passersby daily on The Garden’s outdoor marquees on 7th and 8th Avenue.

Miami Heat hire Tim Hardaway

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning are officially a tandem again for the Miami Heat.

Only now, they’re making moves in the community and front office instead of on the court, where they led the Heat to division titles and perennial playoff appearances two decades ago.

The Heat confirmed Hardaway’s hiring Tuesday saying he would be the team’s Community and Corporate Liaison. Hardaway rejoins Mourning, who last year was brought in to work as vice president, player development.

Although the team never announced Hardaway’s hiring, he has made appearances at community events since April and was introduced as a `Heat legend.’

Dwyane Wade, business partners settle lawsuits

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Attorneys have reached a settlement agreement in a series of cases involving Heat superstar guard Dwyane Wade’s business deals.

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Peter Adrien announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached in all the cases involving Wade and plaintiffs and former restaurant partners Mark Rodberg and Lauren Hollander.

The settlement was announced during the trail accusing Wade of breaching his contract to a chain of D. Wade Sports Grill restaurants. Wade was accused of failing to meet his marketing obligations to the restaurants, two of which opened, but closed within months in 2008.

Tyreke Evans caught driving over 100 mph

The Sacramento Bee reports:

Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans was briefly detained for reckless driving Monday evening after California Highway Patrol officers said they clocked the NBA Rookie of the Year at more than 100 mph on Interstate 80.

Officers drew guns and ordered Evans and his passenger out of Evans’ 2010 black Mercedes-Benz S550, said Lizz Dutton, CHP spokeswoman. Evans’ windows were tinted black and officers could not see inside the vehicle, so they performed a felony stop with guns drawn, she said.

Evans’ handcuffs were removed once officers determined there was no threat, Dutton said. It is illegal to tint the windshield and driver’s and passenger’s side windows, according to the CHP.

Evans, 20, was cited for reckless driving.

Dwight Howard might not play for Team USA in FIBA World Championship

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via blog):

Dwight Howard acknowledged Monday that he might not play for Team USA in the FIBA World Championship late this summer in Turkey.

“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do,” Howard said after the Orlando Magic completed their exit day at RDV Sportsplex.

Howard initially had made a public commitment to playing in the tournament, but his thoughts appear to have changed.

The Orlando Sentinel reported on April 26 that Howard might forego the tournament, which will be held Aug. 28 to Sept. 12.

Kobe has extra motivation to beat Celtics

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports:

Kobe Bryant should be motivated more than any Laker in the series that tips off Thursday in L.A., since he missed 15 of 22 shots in that Game 6. From then until the Lakers defeated Orlando last June, Bryant heard that he could not carry a team to a title without Shaquille O’Neal.

“The Celtics challenged us two years ago,” Bryant said. “Now it’s a test to see how much we’ve grown.”

But this is a much different Laker team. To counter the Celtics’ frontcourt size, they’ll need center Andrew Bynum, who has been slowed by a knee injury and did not play in the playoffs in ’08.

Game 6: Lakers eliminate Suns

The AP reports:

Get ready, Boston, for a rematch with Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant wrapped up a magnificent series with 37 points, Ron Artest added 25 and the Lakers held off the Phoenix Suns 111-103 on Saturday night to win the Western Conference finals…

Bryant scored nine points in the final 2 minutes, including what looked like an impossible 23-footer with Grant Hill in his face and 34 seconds to play. The basket put Los Angeles up 107-100 and the scrappy Suns were finished…

Amare Stoudemire, in what may have been his last game with the Suns, scored 27 points but struggled to a 7-of-20 shooting night. He can opt out of the final year of his contract and has said chances are “50-50” that he will play elsewhere next season.

Steve Nash added 21 points and nine assists in his 118th playoff game, the most for anyone who has never reached the finals…

Channing Frye had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who have reached the finals only twice in their history and never have won a championship. Goran Dragic scored 10 of his 12 points in a fourth-quarter rally that got Phoenix within three points…

Phoenix cut the lead to single digits only once in the third quarter, 74-65 on Stoudemire’s two free throws with 5:38 left. The Lakers responded with an 11-2 run, Artest’s layup in traffic making it 85-67 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the quarter.

The AP reports:

Los Angeles will be going for its second straight title and No. 16 overall. The Celtics still have the edge, hanging their 17th banner with their victory two years ago in six games.

“We remember more than anything losing on our home court, a situation where we had some defensive lapses and they took advantage of it,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “This year we have homecourt advantage, and we look forward to the rematch with great intensity.”

The AP reports:

The Suns trailed by 18 in the second half and 17 going into the final quarter. An offensive outburst by Goran Dragic and strong play by Amare Stoudemire in the fourth helped Phoenix pull to within three with just over two minutes to play, but it couldn’t get any closer.

Phoenix hurt itself in the second quarter when it shot 38.9 percent and scored only 19 points, the fewest it has put up in any quarter this series. After trailing by only three after the first quarter, the Suns went into halftime down 65-53.

Phoenix trailed by at least nine the entire third, and its deficit ballooned to 18 on Ron Artest’s hook shot with 2:24 left in the quarter.

Fans discussed this game live as it happened in this forum topic.