Sunday, March 27, 2011

NBA News 2011: Kentucky beats North Carolina

UK Basketball logo, recreated in SVG format, u...Image via Wikipedia
Kentucky spent 13 straight springs watching other schools play in the Final Four, a destination college basketball’s winningest program considers its birthright.

At most places, that’s hardly a drought.

In the Bluegrass, it’s a lifetime.

Brandon Knight scored 22 points and fourth-seeded Kentucky advanced to the Final Four for the first time since their 1998 national title with a 76-69 win over second-seeded North Carolina on Sunday in the East Regional final.

A season after falling a game short of the Final Four behind a roster filled with future NBA stars, the Wildcats are heading to the national semifinals for the 14th time behind the heady play of Knight and Harrellson’s emotional leadership.

Harrellson again held his own against North Carolina’s bigger, more heralded front line, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

Tyler Zeller led North Carolina with 21 points and nine rebounds and Harrison Barnes added 18 points, but the Tar Heels fell behind early and struggled to keep the hot-shooting Wildcats in check.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201103270413


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NBA News 2011: VCU stuns Kansas

Virginia Commonwealth University Rams athletic...Image via Wikipedia
VCU stunned the Jayhawks 71-61 on Sunday, becoming just the third 11th seed to make the Final Four. The Jayhawks had been the last top seed standing, but what looked like an easy path to the final weekend ended in a stunning collapse.

Kansas (36-3) hadn’t trailed by more than two points the entire tournament. With five minutes left in the first half, the Jayhawks trailed by 17.

Marcus Morris had 20 points and 16 rebounds, and his brother had 13 and 12. They played in disbelief as VCU, which ousted Florida State on 3-pointers on Friday night, used the long ball to bury the Jayhawks early this time.

The Rams hit 9 of their 12 3-pointers in the first half. Kansas trailed 41-27 at halftime and closed the lead to 46-44 with 13:11 left, but a 10-2 VCU run put the Jayhawks right back where they started.



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Saturday, March 26, 2011

NBA News 2011: Butler beats Florida in OT

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 19:  Head coach Brad St...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Of course Butler erased a late deficit. Of course the Bulldogs hit a clutch 3-pointer late in overtime. Of course they’re going back to the Final Four.

This is the Butler Way.

Shelvin Mack scored 27 points, including five in overtime, and Butler reached the Final Four for the second year in a row with a 74-71 victory over Florida on Saturday.

“This is a huge deal,” said Zach Hahn, whose two 3-pointers helped Butler stay close in the first half. “I don’t know that any other mid-major has ever done this. It’s hardly happened once, let alone twice. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

This game had another frantic finish.

“We just kind of stayed together, stayed the course, figured it out, and just played resiliently,” Butler coach Brad Stevens. “I’m incredibly proud of these guys. They carried their coach in a big way. … Our players did a great job, and (they are) just a special group. We’re really lucky that they’re Butler Bulldogs.”

Matt Howard scored 14 and Khyle Marshall added 10 for the Bulldogs (27-9), who showed again they simply won’t give in, climbing out of an 11-point hole in the last 9:25 of the second half.

Mack was playing through pain after rolling his left ankle in the first half and needed a small bandage on his forehead in the second half. He could not recall what happened to his head, only that it was bleeding when he came to the sideline.

That didn’t stop him from draining a crucial 3-pointer with 1:21 left in overtime to give Butler the lead for good at 72-70. He also had enough vigor left during the net-cutting ritual to do a mocking Gator chomp with his arms from atop a ladder.

“It’s a physical game. That’s what the NCAA tournament is all about,” Mack said. “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”



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NBA News 2011: UConn edges Arizona 65-63

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 12: Head coach Jim Calhou...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
With nine pressure-packed victories in 19 days, Connecticut has been on an exhausting sprint through the postseason for nearly three weeks now.

Turns out Kemba Walker and his Huskies aren’t slowing down until they get to Houston.

Walker scored 20 points, freshman Jeremy Lamb added 19 and Connecticut earned its second Final Four berth in three years, beating Arizona 65-63 Saturday to win the West regional.

Derrick Williams and Jamelle Horne missed 3-pointers in the final seconds for Arizona, allowing the third-seeded Huskies (30-9) to hang on after Lamb, the Huskies’ fearless freshman, scored six key points down the stretch.

After missing the NCAA tournament entirely last year, coach Jim Calhoun’s tireless team is headed to UConn’s fourth Final Four.

Williams had 20 points while battling foul trouble for the fifth-seeded Wildcats (30-8), who led with 6 minutes to play. After Lamb pushed the Huskies ahead and Walker hit a jumper with 1:13 left, Lamont Jones and Horne then hit late 3-pointers for Arizona, but the Wildcats couldn’t convert two good looks in the final seconds.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap;_ylt=AqBu6eN0NQsErN79VQ9UpsHevbYF?gid=201103260129


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Friday, March 25, 2011

NBA News 2011: North Carolina pounds Marquette

WASHINGTON - MAY 11:  University of North Caro...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
North Carolina got off to its customary slow start, then seized control to move within a game of reaching the Final Four for the third time in four years.

"I looked up at the clock and it was 10-8 their favor, and the next time I looked at the clock is when I went off at halftime and it was 40-15," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "I knew we were doing very well to say the least."

Those 15 first-half points were the second-fewest allowed by North Carolina in a half in 144 NCAA tournament games, and the Marquette's 20 percent shooting from the field came on 6-of-30 shooting that was the second lowest by an opponent in an NCAA tournament game.

Just a year after missing the NCAA party, the kids from Chapel Hill are ready to steal the show.

Zeller had 27 points and 15 rebounds, while John Henson added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the second-seeded Tar Heels in the rout at the Prudential Center. Harrison Barnes added 20 points and six rebounds.



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NBA News 2011: Kentucky eliminate No. 1 seed Ohio State

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 25:  DeAndre Liggins #34 of...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
The Kentucky freshman guard added to the Buckeyes' March misery by knocking down his second winner of the postseason, a 15-footer with 5 seconds left to lift the Wildcats to a 62-60 victory on Friday in the East regional semifinals.

Kentucky (28-8) will face North Carolina on Sunday for a trip to the Final Four.

"When it comes to crunch time, couple seconds left, the game is on the line, I just try to make good decisions," Knight said.

Regardless of how the previous 39 minutes went. Knight missed seven of his first nine shots and spent most of the night getting hounded by Ohio State counterpart Aaron Craft.

It hardly mattered in the end.

Ohio State's Jon Diebler hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 60 with 21 seconds remaining, but rather than call timeout Kentucky coach John Calipari opted to trust his players.

Knight, who knocked down a winner in Kentucky's second-round victory over Princeton, drove to his right then hit a silky 15-foot jumper.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310840194


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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Boxing News 2011: Vitali Klitschko KOs Odlanier Solis

Vitali Klitschko, WBC World Heavyweight championImage via Wikipedia
Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title with a late first-round knockout of Odlanier Solis, who injured his knee in the fall and insisted it was that -- and not the champion's punch -- that ended the fight Saturday.

Klitschko's right to Solis' left temple staggered the Cuban, who wobbled back then fell on his back and clutched his right knee.

Solis managed to beat the count but was unsteady on his feet as referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia of Mexico called the fight.

"It was a full blow," Klitschko said in the ring, with the crowd in Cologne's indoor arena booing.

Klitschko's punch came in the final second of the first round, after Solis hit him on the chin with a right.

"It was definitely my knee," Solis said, also in the ring. "It could be that I took a wrong step."

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6237456


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Friday, March 18, 2011

NBA News 2011: NBA Prospect Jerai Grant

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 10:  Trevor Booke...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Jerai Grant, 6'8, Senior, Power Forward, Clemson
12.4 Points, 6.7 Rebounds, 1.5 Turnovers, 1 Steal, 2.4 Blocks, 57.4% FG, 71% FT

Seeing nearly twice as many possessions this season than he did last season, Grant carved out a niche for himself as Clemson's top interior scoring threat. Spending the spring and summer working on his post repertoire, Grant showed developing footwork and the ability to score with basic drop-step and up-and-under moves. Converting 47% of his 3.2 post-up shot attempts per-game according to Synergy Sports Technology, Grant showed the ability to have his way with small front lines on the college level, but struggled against more athletic front-courts.

Grant's increased usage also extended to the midrange, where he attempted less than one jumper per-contest, but flashed the ability to step away from the rim for the first time. Lacking a degree of fluidity in his release, Grant didn't spend too much time facing up and putting the ball on the floor despite his quickness, but knocked down an occasion catch-and-shoot jumper and made significant strides at the charity stripe—boosting his percentages from 59% last season to 71%.

While Grant showed some degree of development in his skill level, his role at the next level won't include situations where he'll be creating offensive chances for himself, making his development as a post threat and jump shooter more of a bonus than a selling point. Ultimately, Grant will be asked to do many of the same things that we described as his strengths in our last report when he was playing next to Trevor Booker: catch and finish, rebound, set screens, and defend.

An explosive athlete, Grant is at his best when his teammates are creating shot for him at the basket. Finishing at a 62.4% rate around the rim, Grant is a hard-worker and does a nice job staying active down low. Showing very solid quickness, he does a nice job filling lanes in transition and flashing to the rim when he sees an opening.

Grant's mobility is a key part of his defensive presence as well. Possessing good lateral quickness and playing with very strong intensity, the Maryland native can hedge the pick and roll very effectively out on the perimeter, and deny penetration consistently from the midrange. He does a fine job in the post thanks to his length and leaping ability, but struggles to hold position against stronger players and is too susceptible to fakes at this point in his career. It will be important for him to continue to add the bulk necessary to defend the post in one-on-one situations and box out stronger forwards to augment his presence as a shot blocker and versatility on that end of the floor.



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NBA News 2011: NBA Prospect Chandler Parsons

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 17:  Chandler Parsons #25 of...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Chandler Parsons, 6'9”, Small Forward, Senior, Florida
11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 49% FG, 56% FT, 38% 3P

Chandler Parsons has developed into an intriguing all-around player, being named SEC player of the year while leading the Florida Gators to a 26-7 record and a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament. While Parsons scoring output has not taken the jump many hoped for, his all-around game has continued to show signs of progression.

Offensively, Parsons continues to increase his proficiency from long range, now converting 38% of his 3-point attempts, a career best. He still has a fairly long release, but he gets good elevation on his shot and does a solid job of making shots with his feet set—a crucial part of his evaluation as a pro prospect.

Parsons increasing ability to make spot-up jump shots increases the effectiveness of his dribble drive game, as he does an excellent job of utilizing pump fakes to open up driving lanes, showing an ability to hit a pull up jump shot or go all the way to the rim when the opportunity presents itself. When in the lane, Parson's ball handling and passing ability really shines. An excellent ball handler and decision maker for a player his size, Parsons' 4.4 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted ranks tops amongst all small forwards in our database.

He also does an extremely good job moving without the ball, continuing to improve as a catch and shoot player, making strong cuts without the ball, and doing a very good job off the offensive glass. A more fluid than explosive athlete, Parsons does a good job of finishing at the rim, keeping the ball up high and going up quickly off of offensive rebounds, wasting little time to allow defenders to react.

Defensively, Parsons appears to have above average lateral quickness, which will be needed to defend the perimeter when transitioning to the next level. He appears to have added some upper body strength during his time at Florida, but he still could use some lower body strength to help defend against more physical post players. He uses his length well, but at times can lose his focus or get outhustled by more physical players, something he must continue to work on.



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NBA News 2011: NBA Prospect Josh Selby

LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 29:  Josh Selby #32 of...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Josh Selby, 6-2, Shooting Guard, Freshman, Kansas
8.7 points, 2.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 2.3 turnovers, 38% FG, 37% 3P, 76% FT

Billed as an incredibly creative and explosive scorer with outstanding athletic tools coming into college, Selby has shown flashes of that potential, putting it all together for a handful of games this season, but has struggled heavily with inconsistency and turnovers.

In the half-court setting, Selby is a very dangerous scorer when he catches the ball on the move, having an outstanding first step to go along with strong change of direction ability and body control in the lane, making him very dynamic within the flow of the offense. The problem for Selby is this had made up just a small part of his game this season, as he's attacked the basket very infrequently, getting to the line and getting shots in the lane at a poor rate. He averages just 1.7 free throws compared to 7.9 field goal attempts per game, and according to Synergy Sports Technology, in the half-court setting he's attempted 95 jumpers compared to 30 shots around the basket.

Overall, he's converting just 39% of his 2-point attempts, which would be the lowest percentage of any player drafted in the last ten years, if he indeed decided to enter. Combine that with his paltry 37 free throw attempts in 22 games, and it's no surprise why Selby ranks as the least efficient scorer amongst players in our top-100 prospects ranking.

Selby's ability to create in isolation settings isn't something that has fully translated to the college level in the halfcourt, as he seems to have had some trouble adapting to the tougher defense, struggling with turnovers and not getting past his man as frequently as he was used to in high school. He's prone to committing offensive fouls by pushing off on spin moves and commonly loses control of the ball in not-so-difficult situations, something that's been exacerbated late in the season with his foot problems. His prolonged absence to start the year combined with the very short leash Bill Self has him on surely isn't helping matters, but it's clear that he hasn't been able to translate his scoring prowess at the high school level the way many expected him to.

As a shooter, Selby's done a solid job contributing for the Jayhawks, shooting a solid 36.9% on 3.8 three-point attempts per game, showing decent but occasionally sloppy mechanics and a great ability to put the ball in the basket. He's doing most of his work here spotting up, however, taking very few jumpers off the dribble and having less freedom to go out and create his own shot like he was known for the past.



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NBA News 2011: Draft Prospect Jeff Taylor

Thabo SefoloshaImage via Wikipedia
Jeff Taylor, 6-7, Junior, Small Forward, Vanderbilt
14.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.6 turnovers, 1 steal, .6 blocks, 45% FG, 72% FT, 35% 3P

From a production standpoint, Jeff Taylor isn't having the breakout season many expected from him in this, his junior year. His scoring rate has fallen slightly, his field goal percentage is down nearly 5%, he's rebounding worse (offensively) and he's getting to the free throw line much less frequently than he has in the past.

From an NBA standpoint, though, Taylor's prospects have never looked rosier.

Taylor's rising draft stock is attributable to one development in particular: the discovery of a jump shot. He was just 1-for-11 from beyond the arc as a sophomore, but Taylor has knocked down a solid 35% of the 113 3-pointers he's taken as a junior, demonstrating a serious learning curve and leaving plenty of room for optimism when analyzing his excellent shooting mechanics.

Taylor has always been one of the most athletic players in college basketball. He's spectacular in transition, a product of his excellent speed in the open floor and his highlight reel-caliber explosiveness. He has great size at 6-7 and an outstanding frame, showing the strength and toughness to finish through contact in difficult situations.

He still lacks polish offensively—his touch is just average and his overall scoring instincts leave something to be desired, particularly as a shot-creator–but Taylor has redeeming characteristics in other areas, which is enough to lead us to believe that he has what it takes to hold his own on the offensive end in the NBA.

Taylor has a rare blend of prototypical physical tools, excellent toughness and a very good feel for the game. He shows all the characteristics the NBA looks for in a complimentary wing player (a la Raja Bell or Thabo Sefolosha), but he is a far more explosive .

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Trending-Prospects-3182011--3651/


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Thursday, March 17, 2011

NBA News 2011: Free agents: 2011 and 2012

Jamal Crawford playing with the New York KnicksImage via Wikipedia
There are big-time decisions ahead for some of the NBA's brightest ballers. Tim Duncan, Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph, David West and Caron Butler, among many others, could all be had -- for the right price.

And there's even more in store in 2012: Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams and Steve Nash can all hit the open market, and 2008 draftees like Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Brook Lopez can join the fray as restricted free agents.



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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

NBA News 2011: Draft Prospect Harrison Barnes

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18:  Harrison Barnes #40...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Something that constantly needs to be mentioned when evaluating Barnes' potential at the NBA level are the intangibles he brings. Despite being just 18 years old, Barnes already plays with a tremendous amount of savvy, something that leaves great optimism regarding his future. He's a team player who displays an ideal temperament out on the floor, never getting too high or low in any given moment, and always playing with great self-confidence.

Anyone that has been around him states emphatically that his character is of the highest standard, and whoever drafts him can be fairly certain that he will represent them extremely well on and off the court. Despite the shortcomings mentioned, there is very little doubt that he will continue to work diligently on improving the weaker points of his game once he reaches the NBA. Considering his age, it's not a stretch to say that he still has plenty of room to grow as a player.

The biggest question mark teams might have about Barnes is whether he has the upside to be the best player on a NBA playoff team, or if he would be better suited playing a more complimentary role. His play in the NCAA tournament starting this weekend could go a long ways in shedding light on this topic, and will likely play a role in how high he ends up being picked—if he decides to enter the draft.



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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Boxing News 2011: Lee stuns McEwan

14,885 fans filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena ...Image via Wikipedia
Andy Lee knew he was in trouble going to the 10th and final round of his middleweight fight with Craig McEwan on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Arena at the Foxwoods Resort Casino.

His answer? To score a booming knockout in the top undercard bout on the show headlined by middleweight champ Sergio Martinez's title defense against junior middleweight titlist Sergiy Dzinziruk.

With a strong contingent of Irish supporters cheering him on, Lee rallied in the ninth to drop McEwan, a native of Scotland living in Los Angeles, late in the round.

McEwan, bleeding from a small cut by his left eye, survived, but not for long. He looked gassed as the 10th began and Lee went at him. Lee landed a tremendous left hand, McEwan dropped to his knees in bad shape and referee Steve Smoger called it off at 56 seconds.

Two judges had the fight 85-85 going to the final round while the third judge had McEwan ahead 86-84 of what had been an entertaining scrap.

"I was down, I was getting outboxed, I needed a knockout, or at least a knockdown in the 10th round," said Lee, a 2004 Irish Olympian who had once beaten McEwan during their standout amateur careers. "He was throwing a lot of punches. He caught me relaxing and he stunned me. I'm not that happy. I don't feel too good. I like to dominate. I had to dig deep. I didn't have my legs. I went back to the street. That's how we fight at Kronk."

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=6211550


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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Boxing News 2011: Miguel Cotto bests Ricardo Mayorga

LAS VEGAS - MARCH 12:  Miguel Cotto celebrates...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Ricardo Mayorga wanted to brawl all night long. Miguel Cotto saved his big punching for the final round.

Cotto fought with discipline for 11 rounds before unleashing a vicious left hook in the 12th round Saturday night that put an exclamation point on his successful defense of his 154-pound title against the wild-swinging Mayorga.

The hook dropped Mayorga to the canvas and he quit a few seconds later, ending an entertaining bout between two boxers trying to resurrect their careers.

"It was a really good fight with an amazing finish," Cotto said.

Cotto was ahead by five points on all three ringside scorecards entering the final round and seemingly headed to a win by decision. But he caught Mayorga in an exchange early in the round and, though Mayorga got up, he told referee Robert Byrd when action resumed that he couldn't go on.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6211668


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Boxing News 2011: Sergio Martinez drops Sergiy Dzinziruk

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - NOVEMBER 20:  Sergio Marti...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Martinez stopped Sergiy Dzinziruk in the eighth round, knocking down the Ukrainian middleweight three times Saturday night at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino.

Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stopped the bout at 1:43 of the eighth after Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif., sent Dzinziruk down for the third time.

"I was able to hit the gas and accelerate," Martinez said. "I got a new wind, That happens to every human."

After three uneventful rounds to begin the fight, Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 KOs) briefly went down on one knee at the start of Round 4 from a tap on the top of his head.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6211637


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Saturday, March 12, 2011

NBA News 2011: Barnes Scores 40

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12:  Harrison Barnes #4...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Harrison Barnes scored 40 points in North Carolina's 92-87 win over Clemson in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.

“He’s very analytical,’’ North Carolina coach Roy Williams said of Barnes. “He’s just bigger, faster and stronger. He never lost his focus in every practice. It just took a while to show up in his game.’’



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Monday, March 7, 2011

NBA News 2011: James Promises To Do Better

Dwyane Wade and LeBron JamesImage by Keith Allison via Flickr
For all the flexing and preening, the third-person proclamations and South Beach parties, LeBron James finally delivered these Miami Heat something pure and authentic in the privacy of the locker room: Full of emotion, he apologized for his big-shot, big-games failures and promised redemption.

“I told my team I’m not going to continue to fail them late in games,” James told reporters in Miami. “I put a lot of the blame on myself.”



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NBA News 2011: World Better Now

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat (in black) dribb...Image via WikipediaInside our locker room, we stick together; we're like brothers," Wade said. "We win together, we lose together. Outside, the Miami Heat are exactly what everyone wanted, losing games. The world is better now since the Heat is losing."

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?lc=NBA&c=1&TEAM_ID=&PLAYER_ID=&hd=20110307#STORY_31700

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NBA News 2011: Bynum is a Difference Maker

Photo of Los Angeles Lakers Andrew Bynum.Image via Wikipedia
(Kobe) Bryant said the 23-year-old (Andrew) Bynum, who is in his sixth season, "makes a huge difference. He's extremely active defensively. He was all over the place. I'm not sure how many blocks he had, but he alters a great deal of shots. We funnel everything to our bigs, so the more active he is, the better we are."

Bryant, who led all scorers with 26 points, also said Bynum is the Lakers' trump card -- the defensive-minded shot blocker who has the ability to give the Lakers favorable matchups against all potential playoff opponents.

"We have a natural shot blocker," Bryant said. "That's what he does. He has great timing, he moves his feet well and that's a big key for our team."



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Sunday, March 6, 2011

NBA News 2011: The best trade the Lakers didn’t make pays dividends

Andrew Bynum playing with the Los Angeles LakersImage via Wikipedia
Anthony is a transcendent talent and one of the best basketball players in the world. But all of his immense abilities wouldn’t have necessarily made the Lakers any better than if they had lost Bynum in the trade.

Bynum had three rebounds in the first 74 seconds of the game, include a rim-rattling dunk to start off the Lakers’ scoring. It was a statement the Spurs would struggle inside — and they did.

His height, especially when combined with Pau Gasol, remains the Lakers’ biggest single advantage over the Spurs. And it was never more apparent than in the first quarter, when Bynum personally matched the Spurs in rebounding and sparked them to a 17-8 advantage.

Although he scored only four points (on two shots), he grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked three shots and altered several more. And those numbers were accomplished in 26 minutes, 34 seconds as he was hampered at times with foul trouble.

“His length is superior,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “So is Pau. Together, they are a heck of a defensive tandem down there. They do a great job and that’s why they are NBA champions the last two years.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/06/five-quick-takes-the-best-trade-the-lakers-didnt-make-pays-dividends/


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NBA News 2011: Lakers reverse Spurs’ fortunes

Photo of the San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan. Cro...Image via Wikipedia
Given the opponent, there was little doubt the Lakers (45-19) needed this one. They had lost twice already this season to the Spurs, who were not only ahead of them in the standings but were beginning to recapture a bit of swagger in the series.

The Lakers earned the win with physicality — at one point, after blocking a George Hill attempt, Ron Artest literally flexed his muscles for the sold-out crowd — and with intimidation.

Popovich’s explanation for his unwavering belief in the Lakers is this: “Phil Jackson is still their coach. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol still play for them.”

To that list, add Bynum, the Lakers’ oft-injured wunderkind 7-footer. Sunday, Tim Duncan called him “the difference in the game.”

When Bynum wasn’t cleaning the glass, with eight rebounds in the first quarter, he was helping harass Duncan into two points on 1-of-7 shooting.

“They hit us in the mouth from the beginning,” said Spurs guard Gary Neal, who had a team-high 15 points. “By the time we realized it, it was the ninth round, and we were down on the scorecard.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/06/lakers-reverse-spurs%E2%80%99-fortunes/


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NBA News 2011: Trade that never was

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 29:  Andrew Bynum #1...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
“It is clear that these Lakers are broken,” wrote a Los Angeles Times columnist at the time, “beyond all chance of a championship.”

He thought a trade was the only way to fix the Lakers, and Bynum-for-’Melo was an obvious possibility. Why not swap a gimpy center for a scorer who could someday replace Bryant as the franchise centerpiece?

Over 75 percent of fans voted in favor of the trade in a poll on ESPN.com’s Los Angeles site, and an LATimes.com poll had similar results.

The Spurs would have voted for the trade, too. They always saw Anthony as beatable, as well as someone who would take the ball out of Bryant’s hands. Besides, the Heat game suggests the Spurs can handle multiple wing scorers.

But 7-footers? Just seconds into their first loss at home since November, the Spurs saw the impact. Then, Fisher missed, and Bynum grabbed the rebound and dunked.

Bynum went on to get 17 rebounds in only 27 minutes, and what he said afterward was as notable. “Their starters definitely quit,” he said.



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NBA News 2011: Boston Celtics May Own the East for Now

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 15:  Dwyane Wade #3 of t...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Still, the age and unpredictable nature of the Celtics isn't the only concern, as a much bigger threat looms in the rapidly growing conference known as the East.

Take the Chicago Bulls for example, a team Charles Barkley loves enormously.

"The best Eastern Conference team that I've seen this year, I think the Chicago Bulls are going to win the East," Barkley said in December. "I love what they're doing in Chicago".

That same thought is a mutual feeling throughout the NBA.  The Bulls are 42-18, second behind the Celtics.  Not only that, Chicago also features MVP front runner Derrick Rose, along with a player who is averaging 13.1 points per game, and also reaching superstar status, center Joakim Noah.

Next is the Miami Heat, Boston's new favorite opponent.

The Celtics have had LeBron James' number in the past three meetings, but sooner or later (perhaps not this season) the Heat will come together, and move past this era of brick shots and laughable losses at the hands of the NBA's giants.

Third on the list is the Magic, another one of Boston's mules.

Dwight Howard was shutdown during last year's postseason when Orlando faced Boston, but Stan Van Gundy's team is much more improved since then, especially in three point land.

Jameer Nelson has come up big in 2011, and the threats of J.J Reddick and Jason Richardson require much more attention than Vince Carter did a year ago.

The Knicks are a problem as well.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/627709-boston-celtics-may-own-the-east-for-now-but-serious-contenders-are-on-their-way


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