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After NBA Finals Game 3 win, LeBron James answers reporter question about shrinking in 4th quarters

By Jeff Lenchiner

After the Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks 88-86 on the road to take a 2-1 lead in the 2011 NBA Finals, Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did their usual shared post-game press conference. A somewhat challenging question was posed by a reporter to LeBron, who gave a pretty solid response. Here’s how it went:

Reporter: “LeBron, three games in a row for you, fourth quarter. Not much. That’s the moment superstars become superstars. Seems like you’re almost shrinking from it. What’s going on?”

LeBron James: “I think you’re concentrating on one side of the floor. And all you’re looking at is the stat-sheet. Honestly, I’m a two-way player. Tonight, D-Wade had it going offensively, so we allowed him to handle the ball. We allowed him to bring us home offensively. You [could] just watch the film again and see what I did defensively. And you ask me a better question tomorrow.”

(LeBron then covered his mouth, possibly to hide some laughter.)

Wade was spectacular tonight and finished the game shooting 12-of-21 for 29 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. LeBron shot just 6-of-14 for a quiet 17 points, just three rebounds, but nine assists. And very good defense. The Mavericks shot just 40 percent in the loss. Mavs small forward Shawn Marion hit a mere 4-of-12 shots for 10 points and little else.

The basic premise of the question actually was legitimate in the opinion of InsideHoops.com, in that LeBron has not scored much in the fourth quarters of the three 2011 NBA Finals games that have been played so far.

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Detroit Pistons fire coach John Kuester

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that John Kuester will not return next season as the team’s head coach. The decision was made following a meeting between ownership and the head coach.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make,” said Dumars. “I want to thank John for his hard work and dedication to the organization over the last two years, however, at this time we have decided to make a change.”

Kuester, who was named head coach on July 9, 2009, tallied a regular-season record of 57-107 in two season’s with the Pistons. He served one season in Detroit as an assistant coach under Larry Brown in 2003-04, helping the Pistons win the NBA Championship that year.

Dumars: “As our organization moves forward and prepares for the future, the search for our club’s new head coach is a priority and will begin immediately. However, at this time, we do not have a timetable for hiring a successor. We’ll conduct our due diligence privately and announce a decision when we’ve identified that individual.”

The AP reports: Kuester was hired in 2009 after two seasons as an assistant with Cleveland. He was also a member of Larry Brown’s championship-winning staff in 2004 with the Pistons, but his familiarity with at least some of the players was of little help as the team began to look increasingly dysfunctional late in his tenure. Kuester and Richard Hamilton had a falling out that sent the veteran to the bench for most of a seven-week stretch. The two appeared to be on better terms toward the end, but there was plenty of other drama.

More from the AP: Every healthy player started at least one game this season, and all except Ben Gordon received at least one DNP-Coach’s Decision. Kuester benched point guard Rodney Stuckey barely a week into the season and benched him again with just over a week to go when there was friction between the two. The low point was probably Feb. 25 in Philadelphia. Seven players missed at least part of a team shootaround, and Kuester played only the remaining six that night in a blowout loss to the 76ers.

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Maya Moore makes WNBA debut

The AP reports:

Candace Parker showed the Los Angeles Sparks just what they were missing during her long injury absence.

In her first game in nearly a year, Parker had 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Sparks beat the Minnesota Lynx 82-74 on Friday night in the opener of the WNBA’s 15th season…

The nationally televised game marked the debut of highly touted WNBA rookie Maya Moore, who led the Lynx with 21 points and
added four rebounds and four assists.

Moore led Connecticut to consecutive NCAA championships (2009-10), became the seventh women’s player to score over 3,000 career points, and was the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA draft.

She had six points in the final five minutes, including three free throws that tied the game at 73, and scored her team’s first basket with a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer on the right wing.

“I was a little anxious, but I was excited to play,” Moore said. “It was just exciting when the game started and you start making the first couple of shots, get into a rhythm, and you realize this is still basketball.”

Charles Oakley says Vegas assault led to back problem

The AP reports:

Charles Oakley, one of the NBA’s all-time tough guys, may not return to the Charlotte Bobcats’ bench next season because of a painful back condition he says was caused during an assault last year in Las Vegas.

Oakley, who was in his first season as an assistant coach, had to be carried from the bench before a game in San Antonio on March 19. He missed Charlotte’s final 13 games with a sciatic nerve problem.

The 47-year-old Oakley, still moving gingerly, attended Charlotte’s workout of draft prospects Saturday. As he contemplates surgery, Oakley said he told general manager Rod Higgins to consider replacing him on coach Paul Silas’ staff…

Oakley has sued the Aria hotel-casino, claiming he was beaten by security guards in May 2010. Oakley is convinced the incident led to his current condition…

The complaint contends five officers wrestled the 6-foot-9 Oakley to the ground and punched and handcuffed him after a verbal dispute over whether Oakley could return to a VIP pool area. It said Oakley was taken to the hospital with injuries to his neck, back, head and wrist. Oakley said Saturday two slipped disks suffered in the incident led to the sciatic nerve condition.

Raptors forward Amir Johnson undergoes left ankle surgery

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday forward Amir Johnson underwent surgery today to repair instability in his left ankle. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist at the OrthoCarolina Clinic in Charlotte North Carolina.

Johnson missed nine games, including the final five contests of the season, with a sore left ankle. He will conduct his rehabilitation in Los Angeles and is expected to be ready for training camp.

Johnson averaged career highs in points (9.6), rebounds (6.4), minutes (25.7) and starts (54) in the 2010-11 season. He shot .568 (281-465) from the field and led the team in blocks (88).

Donnie Walsh will leave Knicks position as president, just be consultant for 2011-12

The following is a statement from James L. Dolan, executive chairman, The Madison Square Garden Company, regarding the New York Knicks:

“Following a long series of discussions regarding his future role with the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh and I have mutually agreed that he will be leaving his position as president, basketball operations of the Knicks at the end of June. Donnie will remain with the team as a consultant for the 2011-12 season. In a relatively short time with the Knicks, Donnie made a tremendous impact, which will be felt for many years to come. We thank Donnie for his leadership, hard work and many contributions to the revitalization of the team.

“We will now begin an immediate search for a new president and general manager, but do not have a timetable for the decision. Glen Grunwald, the Knicks’ senior vice president, basketball operations, will serve as interim general manager beginning in July, overseeing all player transactions. With some of the NBA’s premier players, an outstanding coach and one of the league’s most passionate and loyal fanbases, we are extremely confident about the future of the Knicks franchise.”

The AP reports: Walsh and D’Antoni arrived in New York following the 2007-08 season and immediately went to work cleaning up the mess left by Isiah Thomas, who had served in both roles. For Walsh, that meant spending two seasons reducing one of the league’s highest payrolls, getting the Knicks far enough under the salary cap to afford two top players last summer. The Knicks got only Stoudemire but traded for Anthony in February and finished 42-40, their first winning record in a decade. They were swept by Boston in their first postseason since 2004, and the roster needs significant upgrades to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Walsh had said he wanted to return, but he has battled health problems and didn’t appear to have complete basketball control, with Dolan still relying on the advice of Thomas even after Walsh fired him.

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Nowitzki rallies Mavs to beat Heat in Game 2

The AP reports:

Dirk Nowitzki shook off an injury to his non-shooting hand and made the tie-breaking layup with 3.6 seconds left, and the Mavericks roared back from 15 points down in the fourth quarter to stun the Miami Heat 95-93 on Thursday night and tie the series at one game apiece.

“You can just sense it in us that we weren’t going to give up, we were going to be resilient,” Dallas guard Jason Terry said.

Capping a furious rally by scoring Dallas’ final nine points, Nowitzki made two late baskets left-handed—despite a torn tendon on his middle finger. He finished with 24 points, saying the finger felt fine…

Dwyane Wade had 36 points for Miami, but his desperation 3-pointer was off at the buzzer.

Game 3 is Sunday in Dallas.

Seemingly out of the game when the Heat led 88-73 with 7:15 remaining, Dallas held the Heat to just one field goal from there, a 3-pointer by Mario Chalmers with 24.5 seconds that tied it just 2 seconds after Nowitzki’s 3 had made it 93-90…

Terry, largely silent since the first half of Game 1, fueled the comeback with a couple of jumpers and finished with 16 points. Shawn Marion had 20 points for the Mavericks, who had lost four straight finals games in Miami since taking a 2-0 lead in the 2006 series…

Wade angered the Mavs, particularly Terry, when he held his follow through after his 3-pointer from the corner with 7:15 left capped a 13-0 run and made it 88-73. Though the Mavs said they were bothered by the Heat’s actions, James and Wade—who have already endured plenty of criticism for premature partying— denied that was the case this time…

Wade became the Heat’s career leader in postseason games with his 83rd. He had been tied with Alonzo Mourning. Teammate Udonis Haslem is third with 74 appearances. … Mavs backup center Brendan Haywood committed a foul 47 seconds into the fourth quarter and went immediately to the locker room with an apparent injury. … Miami has held opponents below 100 points in 16 of 17 games this postseason.

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Mike Miller and Mario Chalmers interviews between NBA Finals games 1 and 2

The Miami Heat lead the Dallas Mavericks 1-0 in the 2011 NBA Finals. Here’s what Mavs guard Jason Terry said on a practice day between games 1 and 2:

MIKE MILLER

Question: What is it about the home identity that you guys have?

Miller: We hope to keep that streak alive. It’s big, especially in the playoffs. Protect home court. Feed off the energy of the crowd. It’s a great place to play right now.

Question: What has changed the last six months that you guys have been so successful in fourth quarters these days?

Miller: It took time to grow. Obviously we’re still learning each other for the most part. Fourth quarter, our defense has been great so far. Big stops in the fourth quarter.

Question: Any problems with your shoulder?

Miller: Old age. No, I’m fine. There’s no effects.

Question: Did you guys work much on the zone?

Miller: A little bit. Obviously they play their zone. We play inside-out on the zone. Try to offensive rebound.

Question: Speaking of rebounds, you guys have been middle of the pack all season. Plus-10 last night.

Miller: Obviously for us, it limits their second chance points. Also gives us second chance points of our own. That’s big for us. We have to keep working on that as the series moves on.

Question: And they’re big.

Miller: They’re big and athletic.

MARIO CHALMERS

Question: Now being able to close out in the second half of fourth quarters, how have you guys been able to change what was happening earlier in the season?

Chalmers: Just focus in later. Let our defense step it up late and be our offense.

Question: Is there something in the Mavs’ defense you guys felt you could exploit?

Chalmers: Any time a team goes to the zone, you know you have an open look. Yesterday we were knocking them down.

Question: On the other side of that, did you guys work on the zone offense?

Chalmers: Not today. We didn’t. We talked about key points we can do.

Question: Is there anything magical happening here? You guys haven’t lost here in Miami during the playoffs.

Chalmers: Our fans. I think it’s our fans. They come out every night supporting us, cheering us loud and providing us with that extra energy.

Question: Can you talk about the confidence you have to take shots?

Chalmers: It’s good. It shows my teammates trust me. I want them to keep trusting me, keep working on that shot and keep trying to knock it down.

Jason Terry mini-interview between NBA Finals Games 1 and 2

The Miami Heat lead the Dallas Mavericks 1-0 in the 2011 NBA Finals. Here’s what Mavs guard Jason Terry said on a practice day between games 1 and 2:

Question: Jason, what adjustment are you going to make against LeBron for Game 2?

Jason Terry: Defensively, we have to be up and into him. Offensively I think he guarded me in the second half. We’re just going to be a lot more active. Looking for opportunities in transition. And then other than that, stand in the corner and let him guard me. I don’t want to give away all my secrets.

Question: Tyson was talking about how Miami lured you into their tempo in Game 1. What do you have to do to adjust that in Game 2?

Terry: We have to look for early opportunities and rebound the ball. When you give up as many points we did on second chance opportunities, then that doesn’t allow us to get into our transition game. So we’ve seen that on the film. It was a glaring stat. And it’s something that if we want to hoist that trophy up in the end, we’re going to have to get that corrected quickly.

Question: Jason, did you see when Dirk got hurt? Or did you notice that it affected him in any way?

Terry: No, it didn’t affect him. I seen when it happened. He swiped down. It was his left hand. He don’t use that anyway.

Question: Jason, how much has LeBron guarded you in the past?

Terry: Never, really. It was a big adjustment, something we weren’t prepared for. We seen it, we made our adjustment and we’ll be prepared in Game 2.

Question: Had you seen what he had done against Derrick Rose in the past and other guys? Can you talk about his ability to stay with smaller guys.

Terry: You know, with him he has a size advantage and he uses his strength very well. But he’s still quick. He’s still quick enough to kind of stay in front of you. But, again, this was the first time we’ve seen it against us. And so now we know what to do and make our adjustment. We’ll see if it works.

Ricky Rubio agrees to terms with Timberwolves

The AP reports:

Ricky Rubio is coming to Minnesota.

The Spanish point guard has agreed to join the Timberwolves next season, ending a two-year negotiation with the team that had a few stops and starts.

A person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday night that Rubio will play in the NBA next season. The person requested anonymity because neither Rubio nor the Timberwolves planned to make an official announcement while he continues to play for Regal Barcelona in the Euroleague playoffs.

The Timberwolves drafted Rubio fifth overall two years ago despite a buyout of his Spanish contract that topped $6 million. The enormity of the buyout caused Rubio to stay overseas rather than immediately come to the NBA, and there was talk that the precocious teenager did not want to play in Minnesota.

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