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Kendrick Nunn will likely play increased role for Heat in NBA Finals

The Lakers lead the Heat 1-0 in the NBA Finals, and Miami has some injury concerns. One of which could result in guard Kendrick Nunn getting more minutes than previously planned. The OC Register:

Already, the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed faced a precarious uphill push against the Lakers, the top seed out of the West. But the climb got steeper Wednesday, when three of their stars were banged up in a 116-98 Game 1 throttling in the bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Starting guard Goran Dragic is doubtful to play in Game 2 on Friday with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, and dynamic big man Bam Adebayo also is listed as doubtful after a MRI revealed a neck strain…

And they’ll likely also turn to rookie Kendrick Nunn, who provided a spark Wednesday, hitting 8 of his 11 shots for 18 points in 19 second-half minutes.

Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said he enjoyed Nunn’s gutsy performance in his Finals debut not only because it offered a reeling Heat team a glimmer of hope, but because of what it meant for the 25-year-old Rookie of the Year runner-up.

Nunn proved quite capable of starting for the Heat. He did it all season long, before an injury reversed things in the playoffs.

New Bulls GM says focus is on getting team back to relevance

The Chicago Bulls have a new general manager and a new head coach, and both of them have a lot of work ahead. Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times:

For the first time in years, talking to a Bulls general manager didn’t resemble an encounter with a used-car salesman who had just sold you a lemon.

But Marc Eversley isn’t naïve, either. All the ebullience that comes from having a new GM in place won’t mean a thing if this regime makeover doesn’t deliver. Gar Forman is gone, but Bulls fans’ high expectations remain.

Eversley said that’s just how the new front office likes it.

“We’re definitely trying to bring this team back to relevance, absolutely,’’ Eversley said Wednesday during a Zoom call with media. “This is the Chicago Bulls; it’s an iconic brand. There’s a tremendous amount of history. . . . It’s a responsibility, and we’ve embraced that.

“We made a gigantic leap in terms of making a commitment to the fan base by getting a coach with the qualities of a Billy Donovan. We’ve talked a lot about this not being a rebuild. We’re looking to retool this thing, and we think Billy is going to put us in a great position to do that in the foreseeable future.

‘‘So, yeah, there’s a little bit of pressure as far as responsibility in getting this franchise back to relevance, but we embrace that. We embrace that on a daily basis, and some of the decisions we’ve made on a daily basis kind of reflect that.’’

Lakers win big in NBA Finals Game 1, beat Heat 116-98

OC Register: “Your team just got walloped in the opening game of the NBA Finals, with injuries to three of your stars added to the insult — what can you say? “Right now, it doesn’t really matter what you say,” Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said after his team dropped Game 1, 116-98, a margin that doesn’t reflect how lopsided it was. “We get to work and get together tomorrow.” The most pressing problem for the Heat has to do with personnel. Big man Bam Adebayo played only 21 minutes before he left the game with a left shoulder strain and Jimmy Butler was hobbled much of the time with a sprained left ankle.”

OC Register: “Most concerning: Standout guard Goran Dragic reportedly suffered a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, likely when he’d dribbled into the lane looking to score.”

OC Register: “Kendrick Nunn was the lone bright spot on a dim night for Miami. The Rookie of the Year runner-up, whose playing time has been limited in the bubble after recovering from having the coronavirus and subsequently leaving the NBA campus for a personal reason unrelated to the disease.
But in Dragic’s stead, he looked more comfortable than the Lakers would have liked, finishing with 18 points in 19 minutes on 8-of-11 shooting.”

South Florida Sun Sentinel: “Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic received a preliminary diagnosis of a torn plantar fascia in his left foot after leaving in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s 116-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals… While cortisone injections could make it possible to return to the series, which continues with Friday’s 9 p.m. Game 2, Dragic is an impending free agent, which could factor into the approach.”

LA Times: “The Lakers are too big: They outrebounded the Heat by 18. The Lakers are too unselfish:They passed their way into so many open three-pointers that they made 11 of 17 at one point. The Lakers are too deep: They came back from that early deficit with LeBron James on the bench. And the Lakers are too, too much Anthony Davis, and who wants to bet he becomes the Finals MVP in his first try? Davis had 34 points, nine rebounds and made all 10 of his free throws. He scored 11 points in the first quarter when the Lakers most needed him and never slowed.”

OC Register: “It wasn’t just Anthony Davis, because he routinely picks on people his own size. It was LeBron James finding himself guarded by Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson (0-for-3), who must have felt like lion tamers carrying hamburger meat. Kyle Kuzma (6-foot-8) had free passage throughout the court, and when Miami tried to gang up on James and Davis, the Lakers just pushed the 3-point button and activated Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green. Lakers coach Frank Vogel went with his usual two-big lineup, with Dwight Howard starting alongside Davis, because he knew Miami would run out of footage before it went to the bench. At that point either Davis or Markieff Morris (6-foot-8) would be able to handle the center spot.”

Miami Herald: “The Lakers’ All-Star duo of LeBron James and Davis combined for 59 points, 22 rebounds and 14 assists. James finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. The Heat’s All-Star duo of Butler and Adebayo combined for 31 points, six rebounds and five assists. Butler was Miami’s best player Wednesday, finishing with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 shooting on threes, two rebounds and five assists.”

Miami Herald: “The Heat shot just 11 of 35 (31.4 percent) from three-point range in Game 1. Crowder (4 of 7 on threes) and Butler (2 of 4 on threes) combined to shot 6 of 11 from behind the arc. Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson finished 0 of 3 from deep and rookie Tyler Herro was 2 of 8 on threes.”

LA Times: “With 1:23 left in the game, the Lakers had a 17-point lead and substituted in Jared Dudley, Quinn Cook and JR Smith. James sat on the bench covered in towels, then got up to shake hands with each of his teammates as the clock expired. “We always guard against [complacency], but in particular because of how much respect we have for this basketball team,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We have great respect for those guys. We know that this is just one win. We’re happy that we got one win, but obviously we have to keep our foot on the gas.”

Goran Dragic injures foot in NBA Finals Game 1 Heat loss to Lakers

The Lakers won NBA Finals Game 1 in convincing fashion, and to make matters worse for the Heat, at least one of their key players suffered a real injury. One that can possibly be played through, but even so, it’s a tough situation. Here’s the Sun Sentinel on it:

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic received a preliminary diagnosis of a torn plantar fascia in his left foot after leaving in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s 116-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

According to a league source, the Heat were considering options going forward with the 34-year-old point guard who went into Wednesday’s game leading the Heat with a 20.9-point playoff scoring average.

While cortisone injections could make it possible to return to the series, which continues with Friday’s 9 p.m. Game 2, Dragic is an impending free agent, which could factor into the approach.

The Heat started strong in Game 1. Then the Lakers woke up, took a late first quarter lead, and never looked back. Dragic, a former All-Star, came off the bench as a super-sub this season, but has been starting in the playoffs. He’s a key part of the squad.

No surprise: Miami Heat doing well in NBA jersey sales since league restart

The Heat are having themself a year. On the court, and in the jersey sales department. Here’s the Miami Herald:

The Heat ranks fourth in team merchandise sales at NBAStore.com since the league restarted the season (from July 30 through Monday), the NBA announced Wednesday.

It marks the first time the Heat has been in the top five in team merchandise sales since the final season of the Big 3 era in 2014, when the roster included Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The Heat also has a player ranked in the league’s top 10 on the jersey sales list. All-Star forward Jimmy Butler ranks 10th, which was also determined based on NBAStore.com sales from July 30 through Monday.

And the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

The only teams with greater sales over that period were, in order, the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. The Heat and Lakers are playing for the NBA title in the league’s quarantine setting at Disney World, with the NBA Finals opening Wednesday.

Rounding out the Top 10 in team-merchandise sales, in order, were the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets.

Butler has a tall task ahead, especially if he winds up being the guy to guard Lakers superstar LeBron James in these Finals.

We’ll know in a few hours. Heat vs. Lakers NBA Finals Game 1 is tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ABC TV.

NBA draft prospect Devon Dotson discusses his game

Here’s the Charlotte Observer on a talented young guard’s preparation for the 2020 NBA draft:

Get off fried foods, learn to love granola and develop a consistent jump shot.

That is Charlottean Devon Dotson’s formula, as he trains in Las Vegas for the NBA draft. He’s working out at Impact Training, a facility many pros use in the offseason for skills refinement, conditioning and diet guidance.

Dotson won a state championship at Providence Day, playing with now-Boston Celtic Grant Williams. He went on to two seasons as the starting point guard at Kansas, succeeding Charlotte Hornet Devonte Graham in that role.

His biggest appeal to NBA teams will be his exceptional first-step quickness. But it’s his outside shooting that is a tougher sell in a league so mindful these days of shooting and spacing.

“Right away, I can bring a fast pace — I change the whole pace of a game. I’m a dynamic, quick guard who can get in the lane at will,” Dotson said in a media conference call Wednesday.

“And with my quickness, with my strength, I can get into an opposing guard (defensively) and make his night a little tougher.”

Ja Morant jersey sales on the rise

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant got attention all season thanks to play that earned him the Rookie of the Year award, and his jersey sales also serve to show that his popularity is on the rise. Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The league, along with the National Basketball Player’s Association, announced Wednesday that Morant was the only rookie listed among the NBA’s top 15 most popular jerseys since the league restarted in July.

He was 15th with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the top five. The results were based on NBAStore.com sales from July 30-Sept. 28.

Morant being the lone rookie on there was a mild surprise. Fellow rookie Zion Williamson led the NBA in memorabilia sold since his debut on Jan. 22 across the Fanatics network, which includes NBAStore.com.

Next up for the Gizzlies is the draft. With what would have been their No. 14 pick in the hands of the Celtics due to a trade, focus will be on free agency. Every key Grizzlies player is signed at least through next season, but the team could use help in the scoring department.

Chris Bosh discusses LeBron James going against the Heat

Lakers vs. Heat NBA Finals Game 1 is tonight. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting the words of retired NBA star Chris Bosh, who won championships with LeBron James as a member of the Miami Heat:

As for the James vs. Heat story line, Bosh called it “fascinating.”

“It’s basketball at its finest. There are no distractions. There’s nowhere to run,” Bosh said. “It’s just two great teams that are going to lock horns. As far as ‘Bron is concerned, he has been in the league so long. Of course, this is another stone that hasn’t been turned over. But yeah, there’s going to be a lot of emotions there having such a rich history, although brief, with the organization. Then seeing that same organization in the Finals, Pat being there, Spo, Kobe’s spirit is definitely there.

“Just kind of the story line, it’s fascinating and it’s really, really interesting. I’m really excited just to see some great basketball. That makes for some emotions going crazy, and that’s what’s going to be fun about it. I can’t wait to see how they handle everything and really what happens.”

List of Referees in the 2020 NBA Finals

The NBA has announced the 12 referees who will officiate the 2020 NBA Finals. Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat championship series is Wednesday, September 30 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Finals officials were selected by the NBA Referee Operations management team based on their performance throughout the first three rounds of the 2020 playoffs. Officials were evaluated after each round to determine advancement in this year’s postseason.

“Congratulations to this outstanding group on a well-deserved honor. A Finals assignment is the pinnacle of the profession for our officials,” said Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations. “We are grateful for their dedication to the game and the sacrifices they have made during an unprecedented season.”

The List of 2020 NBA Finals Referees

Tony Brothers (9th Finals)
Pat Fraher (1st)
Tony Brown (1st)
John Goble (4th)
James Capers (9th)
David Guthrie (3rd)
Marc Davis (9th)
Eric Lewis (2nd)
Kane Fitzgerald (2nd)
Josh Tiven (1st)
Scott Foster (13th)
Zach Zarba (7th)

Three of the 12 have officiated at least 10 Finals games: Foster (19), Davis (12) and Capers (10). The officiating roster also includes three first-time Finals referees, Tony Brown, Pat Fraher and Josh Tiven.

NBA officials Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott have been assigned as Replay Center officials for The Finals 2020.

Long-awaited return to NBA Finals for Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard

Every trip to the NBA Finals is special. Because for the vast majority of the league’s players, they don’t happen very often. Here’s the OC Register on a pair of key Lakers:

For Lakers fans, a return to the Finals for the first time in a decade is a reason to look back on a triumphant past. But reminiscing isn’t so fun for everyone in the locker room.

It’s also the first time Rajon Rondo has been back to the Finals since 2010. Back then, he was on the Boston Celtics team that fell under the crushing wheel of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the Lakers after taking a 3-2 lead.

“I think I blurred a lot of it out: It was ugly.” Rondo deadpanned Tuesday, as he took the stage ahead of the Lakers’ series with the Miami Heat. “But that’s a long, long time ago, and I look forward to obviously changing the chapter and continuing to go past this different chapter in my life and write a better story ending.”

When it comes to chapters in the Finals, there’s been a long gap for two of the team’s key veterans off the bench: Rondo (10 years) and Dwight Howard (11 years). In both cases, their last Finals-contending team was bested by the Lakers and Bryant.