Sunday evening in New Jersey the Nets are hosting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before the game, LeBron spoke with InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner and other reporters.
Dwyane Wade was brought up and it was mentioned (by our main man Ken Berger of CBS) to LeBron that as long as both he and Wade are in the Eastern conference the two can never meet in the Finals.
“I don’t know… it doesn’t matter,” said James. “Whatever happens, we go against each other. Maybe… we’ll play against each other in practice. I don’t know. That’d be fun, wouldn’t it?”
Now, LeBron paused after that “maybe” before the practice statement, as if he was thinking carefully about what he was going to say next, knowing full well media members lik me would relay it back to the entire fan world aned cause about a billion discussions to break out.
After the interview was over, LeBron yelled over to an inquisitive reporter that he did not say that he said he is headed for Miami, but then said that he is not saying Wade is coming to Cleveland.
Then, he left.
Enjoy discussing this, NBA fan world.
More Cavs stuff late tonight here on InsideHoops.com.
The Arlington Heights Daily Herald (Mike McGraw) reports (via blog): John Salmons continues to be almost shockingly efficient. In the last four games, he’s averaged 28.0 points and shot 63.1 percent from the field. Some people figured he averaged 18 points in Sacramento only because he got so many opportunities with a horrible team, but he’s been even better with the Bulls. His assist total is minuscule, but I don’t see that as a problem right now. Rose, Gordon and Kirk Hinrich spend so much time handling the ball that when Salmons gets it, it’s usually time to make something happen before the shot clock runs out. The best thing about Salmons is he’s had an almost even mix of outside shots and drives to the basket. He’s got a quick first step and finishes very well near the hoop. Tough to complain about his game. He outscored Bryant and Paul Pierce in games this week.
The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: After surgery, two weeks of bedrest, a lot of reality television shows and “Daddy Day Care” with his three kids, Amare Stoudemire said he should be 100 percent in one to two months. When he does return to the court, it will be with protective eyewear – for good this time. “Absolutely, seal the deal,” he said. “I’m wearing goggles from here on out. It’s funny I talked to my trainer when I was about to put those Oakley goggles down. I said, ‘What are the odds of me getting poked in the eye again if I didn’t wear these goggles?’ ” His surgeon, Pravin Dugel, said the “ragged tears” in Stoudemire’s eye indicated that the retinal tear was caused by trauma but that it was new and old trauma. Stoudemire had been poked in the eye during camp by Boris Diaw and also by Al Thornton in his final game this season.
The Akron Beacon Journal (Marla Ridenour) reports: With his fifth point of the game, the first of two made free throws this afternoon in a 102-96 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Zydrunas Ilgauskas became the fourth player in Cavs history to score 10,000 points. A 10-year veteran from Lithuania whose career almost ended before it began because of fractures in both feet, Ilgauskas joined LeBron James, Austin Carr and Brad Daugherty in that exclusive club. During the next timeout, the Cavs saluted Ilgauskas and the sellout crowd of 20,562, which included Browns quarterback Brady Quinn, rose to its feet. Ilgauskas stepped onto the court at Quicken Loans Arena and raised his index finger, perhaps to salute back.
The AP reports: Halftime “tweets” seem to be the latest NBA fad. Suns center Shaquille O’Neal posted a note on his Twitter feed before a home game against Washington on Saturday night, suggesting he planned to post to the popular social networking Web site during halftime. And sure enough, a brief message was posted on Shaq’s feed before the third quarter. “Shhhhhhh,” it read. It was the same message O’Neal delivered when asked about his Twitter plans before the game. When told Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry already knew about it, O’Neal bent over, leaned against the locker-room wall and groaned loudly, saying his plans were blown.