Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/cfc-volkswagen-beetle.html
Tracy McGrady Scott Speed Yao Ming Robert Kubica Landon Cassill Boston Celtics
2011年5月31日火曜日
Hey, there's Greg Paulus!
The Duke coaching tree -- which is composed entirely of former Mike Krzyzewski players and assistant coaches -- hasn't fared well recent years. Quin Snyder was once the posterboy, but that took a drastic turn for the worse. Tommy Amaker never got Michigan on track. Jeff Capel appeared ascendant at Oklahoma -- Blake Griffin was really good --�only to resign and return to Duke amidst the wreckage of two ugly seasons and an ongoing NCAA investigation into the program. At this point, Mike Brey is the most successful branch on the Coach K oak, and none have come anywhere close to their mentor's success at the collegiate levels. Alas, coaching hope springs eternal in the careers of young men. And yes, I'm talking about Greg Paulus, the 2009 Duke graduate, point guard and former Syracuse quarterback, who entertained dreams of a career in professional football before returning to the college game as an assistant coach at Navy last August. After a year coaching up the Midshipmen, Paulus has taken a new gig: video coordinator for the Ohio State men's basketball team.
Paulus isn't exactly in line to take over at a high-major program anytime soon, but at 24, the former point guard is already making a sturdy climb up the college coaching ranks. So, hey, maybe Paulus is the next great member of the Duke coaching tree? There's a long way to go before Brey status becomes reachable, but the mantle is always up for grabs.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/31430/hey-theres-greg-paulus
Houston Rockets Jerry Stackhouse Michael Stephen Wallace Charlotte Bobcats Barnes Sadler A and W Ford
2009 BMW X3 Limited Sport Edition 150 hp Gas Engine Sport Seats
Press Release: BMW may be working on an actual M edition for the X5 and X6, but their little brother, the X3, doesn?t want to be left out. Like a good mother, BMW is going to make sure the little one gets to play along too, but it also knows the small X3 is just to little to handle the power of a big engine. That?s why the X3 gets to look like a Motorsport car. It?s called the X3 Limited Sport Edition, and it includes 19-inch M alloy wheels, M leather ...Source: http://www.distrocars.com/2009-bmw-x3-limited-sport-edition
Extenze Toyota Mikko Kozarowitzky Anthony Wayne Stewart Kevin Harvick Andrew Bynum Baron Davis
Heat F Miller's daughter out of hospital (AP)
Mike Miller is already celebrating, and the NBA finals have not even started. The Heat forward and his wife brought home newborn daughter Jaelyn from a South Florida hospital on Saturday afternoon, about two weeks after the baby arrived. Jaelyn had spent some time in the pediatric intensive care unit with four holes in her heart -- the condition is called a ventricular septal defect, Miller said --...
Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers 3M Ford Philadelphia 76ers Kevin Garnett
2011年5月30日月曜日
Has the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe been revealed?
Last year, at the Beijing Auto Show, BMW unveiled the Gran Coupe concept, an elegant 4-door vehicle that previewed the company?s future Mercedes-Benz CLS competitor. Shortly after, the company announced it would be followed by a production version sometime in the first quarter of 2012. Now, a series of patent images have been revealed that illustrate what the production version may look like. Yes, you guessed it, it’s actually very similar to the concept.
The new BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe will be placed between the current 5 and 7-Series and will keep some of the features that made the concept so attractive at the Beijing Auto Show earlier this year, including the frameless windows and B-pillar. We expect to see the same range of turbocharged six- and eight-cylinder engines, but an ActiveHybrid is also in the works.
If these rumors are correct, we should expect a production version at the beginning of 2012, most likely at the Geneva Motor Show.
Has the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe been revealed? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 May 2011 19:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/has-the-bmw-6-series-gran-coupe-been-revealed-ar110317.html
PRISM Motorsports Toyota Paul Fiercer Air Guard Ford Ray allen Mark Martin Orlando Magic
Heat F Miller's daughter out of hospital (AP)
Mike Miller is already celebrating, and the NBA finals have not even started. The Heat forward and his wife brought home newborn daughter Jaelyn from a South Florida hospital on Saturday afternoon, about two weeks after the baby arrived. Jaelyn had spent some time in the pediatric intensive care unit with four holes in her heart -- the condition is called a ventricular septal defect, Miller said --...
Pedro Lamy Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers 3M Ford Philadelphia 76ers
BMW M3 GTRS3 Candy Cane by Vorsteiner
We have seen lots of tuning updates for the BMW M3, but this is without a doubt the sweetest interpretation of the sports car. Tuning firm, Vorsteiner, threw a little sugar on the M3 and calls it the "GTRS3 Candy Cane" because of its pure white exterior combined with striking red elements, including red side mirrors, wheels, bits of the bonnet, and the BMW logo. It’s not every day we see a red BMW logo, but we think the company will forgive the color swapping for this ride.
Adding to the exterior look of the M3 is the new aerodynamic package. Vorsteiner strapped on a carbon fiber wide body conversion, a vented carbon fiber race hood, and a VRS carbon fiber boot lid. The lightweight titanium exhaust system and the new set of red V-309 Forged 5 Spoke wheels size 20" combined with Michelin PS2 Sport Tires 285/25/20 325/25/20 complete the look. A KW V3 EDC Coil over suspension system was also thrown in to absorb the bumps through CandyLand.
As for the engine, Vorsteiner has created two different stages to boost power, but specifics have yet to be revealed. What we do know is that Stage II is ready to pump out up to 620 HP, which is a good 200 HP over the standard version.
BMW M3 GTRS3 Candy Cane by Vorsteiner originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 May 2011 17:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/2011-bmw-m3-gtrs3-candy-cane-by-vorsteiner-ar110306.html
Kenneth William Schrader US ARMY Chevrolet Elliott William Ron Artest Sam Hornish Jr Roger Laurent
Charge circle becomes official
The move to a restricted area in college hoops has been in the works for years. Infamously, two years ago, the NCAA decided that an invisible restricted area under the rim -- something the referees would simply have to establish and police themselves -- was the best way to alleviate collisions and difficult block-charge calls near the goal. This was silly, of course, but because the NCAA didn't think member institutions had enough time to apply a simple semicircle of paint on their floors -- I'm still not sure why -- the creation of a real, actual NBA-style semicircle was delayed. No more. This week, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the implementation of a restricted area semicircle in Division I men's and women's hoops. Imaginations no longer required.
Divisions II and III will make the same change in 2012-13, apparently because those schools need more time to "plan and place the restricted-area arc in their home arenas." (Again, how hard is it to draw a semicircle in paint? Is it a money thing? Can someone explain this to me? I remain confused.) But the point is the rule is changing, the arc is going to be three feet in diameter, the low-post collision rate should drop and the game should open up as a result.
More than anything, though, referees tasked with making one of the toughest calls in all of sports -- the split-second block-charge -- will now have another tool for doing so. This is a good thing.
Meanwhile, the women's 3-point line is backing up a foot to 20 feet, nine inches, the same length as the current men's line, which was similarly extended a few years back. You may not care about that, but the data formed during the rules committee's research on the change is actually kind of interesting:
Last season, the committee asked teams to track the number of 3-point field goal attempts taken behind the 20-foot, 9-inch line and the current 19-foot, 9-inch line during exhibition games and 40-minute game-like scrimmages.
Data from 194 institutions (100 in Division I, 57 in Division II and 34 in Division III) showed that most of the attempts and makes came from behind the 20-foot, 9-inch line.
Of the shots tracked, teams were 1,046 of 3,203 (33 percent) from behind the 20-foot, 9-inch line. The data also revealed that teams were 546 for 1,823 (30 percent) between 19 feet, 9 inches and 20 feet, 9 inches.
It'd be fascinating to see similar data on the men's game. How does 3-point distance affect certain teams and certain shooters? Or does it matter at all? What have the changes in the men's game done since 2008? What would further lengthening do?
Bored statistics majors, unite: You have been called to action. Cancel your Memorial Day plans. I expect a report first thing Tuesday morning.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/31423/charge-circle-becomes-official
Denver Nuggets Mattias Ekstrom Jud Larson Memphis Grizzlies Lamar Odom Dwayne Wade
2011 Monaco Grand Prix is as tight as it gets [spoilers]
Filed under: Motorsports, Europe
2011 Monaco Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery
The funny thing about speed is that it's relative, at least in a cognitive sense. Sure, you can measure the pace at which a moving object travels over ground, water, air, or even space. But place a Formula One race car on a wide-open track-say, Turkey's Istanbul Park, for example-and it doesn't look or feel like it's going nearly as fast as the same car does along the tight, winding streets of Monte Carlo. That's what makes the Monaco Grand Prix so exciting. This year's especially, packed as it was with nail-biting action. Follow the jump to read how it went down.
Continue reading 2011 Monaco Grand Prix is as tight as it gets [spoilers]
2011 Monaco Grand Prix is as tight as it gets [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/29/2011-monaco-grand-prix-is-as-tight-as-it-gets-spoilers/
Jerry Stackhouse Michael Stephen Wallace Charlotte Bobcats Barnes Sadler A and W Ford Jordan Farmar
Friday Bullets
- Laker trainer Gary Vitti tells Lakers.com's Mike Trudell about Kobe Bryant's right knee, which sounds like it's due for a busy offseason: "His is an articulating cartilage problem. The way I describe that to people is that if you look at the end of chicken bone where it’s nice and white, well, that’s not bone, it’s cartilage. Sort of like a Teflon surface that when two bones come together, that cartilage is there so that bones don’t rub on each other. Now, the fact that it’s nice and white tells you it doesn’t have a good blood flow to it, and that means it cannot heal or regenerate. So, over time, as that cartilage wears away, you end up with osteoarthritis. Kobe doesn’t have an arthritic knee, but he has a knee that has some joint degeneration to it. His issues and his age are such that it eliminates some procedures, like microfracture and that type of things. But he is a candidate for certain other things, and we know all the procedures all around the world that are available to him, and the appropriate decisions will be made, he’ll have the best care."
- Convincing evidence that coaching matters more on defense than offense (Insider).
- The Rockets have reportedly offered their head coaching position to Kevin McHale. One factor: those who played for him as the Timberwolves' coach generally rave.
- Good call. Zach Lowe of the Point Forward on the Mavericks guarding the Heat:� "This might be the moment they finally miss Caron Butler."
- Russ Bengtson: "It’s not a hard and fast rule or anything, but if the best photo of you they can find for your basketball card is you getting boxed out, you’re probably not going to have a very long NBA career. Happy birthday, Stuart Gray."
- Locked out NBA players could be kept from their national teams because of insurance blah blah blah. Players want to play and fans want to watch. Selfish of NBA owners to shut that down to protect their investments. 'Cause they're not investments, they're humans and ... basketball players.� As if, you know, playing basketball is something you could reasonably expect a basketball player not to do -- while you're not paying him, no less.
- The Chris Bosh vs. Carlos Boozer matchup mattered.
- Vegas says Heat, but Monte Carlo says Mavericks.
- Ted Leonsis remembers his first job. I appreciate the line of conversation, but it has just a hint of walking uphill both ways to school.
- Jason Terry's tattoo is really glad the Mavericks made the Finals.
- Derrick Rose is a special dude. Honestly, just hats off to that guy. He spews love of the game, love of his team, and doing things the right way with just about every breath. Classy. We're lucky that we'll be watching him for a long time.
- On HoopSpeak, Ethan Sherwood Strauss does not believe in giving Bulls fans some time to grieve, and is serving up a quick and pointed post-mortem: "Despite all the bricks, turnovers and crunch time gaffes, Rose was failing correctly. He was screwing up actively, dominating the ball. We tend to respect the guy who takes shots and D-Rose lobbed an average of 24 of them. Of course, all that chucking compounds the '35 percent from the field' issue. The superstar might well have better helped his team as a passive 'role player,' only shooting when absolutely necessary. But I wonder: Would media members be making excuses for Rose had he hurt his team less by taking far fewer shots? Or would they rip him for not 'going down swinging'? A year ago, LeBron James suffered an infamous failure versus the Boston Celtics. His 'Game 5' was a tepid 14 field goal attempt, 15 point absence of a performance. Though James added seven assists and six rebounds, his passivity stoked outrage. Though James had a much better series than Derrick Rose just had, we won’t remember it that way. He failed incorrectly, leading to a dreaded 'quitter' tag. I wonder, would James have been judged less severely had he taken 30 shot attempts in that blowout?"
- The Thunder's ten-best 2011 playoff moments.
- A strong case that, for the sake of his reputation, Mike Brown would have been better off taking the Warriors job. I get the argument, and think it makes all kinds of sense, but to me the bigger point is that if your thing is coaching in the NBA, coaching the Lakers is a good gig. The risks are intensified, but in this job, you live for that, right?
- High payroll teams make the Finals.
- What the Bulls should have done in crunch time, in video.
- Matt McHale of Bulls by the Horns: "Seven seconds later, LeBron tied the game with a step-back 3. It was contested. It was -- to be completely fair and honest -- a bad shot. But it went in. This is where I point out that Miami started 3-for-12 from downtown … then James and Wade went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in less than a minute."
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29663/friday-bullets-181
Masami Kuwashima Luis Scola Kurt Busch Jason Kidd Oscar Larrauri Derek Fisher
2011 Monaco Grand Prix is as tight as it gets [spoilers]
Filed under: Motorsports, Europe
Note: Due to a technical issue, the addition of race photos to this post has been delayed
The funny thing about speed is that it's relative, at least in a cognitive sense. Sure, you can measure the pace at which a moving object travels over ground, water, air, or even space. But place a Formula One race car on a wide-open track-say, Turkey's Istanbul Park, for example-and it doesn't look or feel like it's going nearly as fast as the same car does along the tight, winding streets of Monte Carlo. That's what makes the Monaco Grand Prix so exciting. This year's especially, packed as it was with nail-biting action. Follow the jump to read how it went down.
Continue reading 2011 Monaco Grand Prix is as tight as it gets [spoilers]
2011 Monaco Grand Prix is as tight as it gets [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/29/2011-monaco-grand-prix-is-as-tight-as-it-gets-spoilers/
Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers 3M Ford Philadelphia 76ers Kevin Garnett
Thursday Bullets
- Before going any further, read all of this brilliant post by Rob Mahoney on the Mavericks' locker room following Game 5: "Nothing has changed…in a sense. Dallas believes in their championship hopes as much now as they did on Media Day. Yet to ignore the fundamental difference in the atmosphere both on the floor and within the belly of the American Airlines Center is foolish. There is a discernible difference, even if it exists most obviously in the cosmetics of media prevalence. The players don’t just talk of big games, but have lived them. We all dispense of hypotheticals, because in a most improbable scenario, the Dallas Mavericks are the first team in the NBA Finals. Things aren’t the same. They can’t be, and never will be again. There is a fundamental difference between today and yesterday, between the playoffs and the regular season, between this Mavericks team and the one we saw over 82 games. It may not be drastic, but this is more than just a step in a process for those same Mavs that started the season so full of hope."
- In case you were wondering, Shawn Bradley is a part-time cowboy at a livestock ranch.
- As always, Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh provide a must-read 5 things to watch in Game 5. Chief among them: What's up with Wade?
- New, potentially heartening information on Sacramento's stadium crisis (via Sactown Royalty)
- Tom Thibodeau says the Bulls are keeping their focus on the little things facing a big hole against Miami: "All you can think about is this game. That's it. First quarter, that's all we're thinking about. Be ready to play. And then the next step will be the second quarter. That's all I want our guys thinking about."
- John Krolik on the mercurial play of Mario Chalmers: "Here's the thing: For all his flaws, the Heat need Chalmers, both in the short term and the long term. His nearly flawless performances off the bench in Games 3 and 4 were key to the team's victories. And if the Heat want to get the five additional wins they need for a title, they will need Chalmers' active defense, his physicality, his outside shooting, his ability to create off the dribble and his fearlessness, even if some crazy mistakes accompany those attributes."
- Don't expect to Dallas to be blown out by either of its potential opponents.
- Translating Andrea Bargnani's translated quotation about wanting to leave Toronto
- Jason Friedman on the Mavs' super-clutch crunchtime offense: "When the going gets tough, Dirk does not become a black hole but rather the sun of the Mavs’ magnificent solar system." Extending the metaphor: if Dirk implodes in the Finals, the Mavericks' solar system would be in big trouble.
- Believe it or not, there's a whole series of great posts devoted to the New Jersey Nets' greatest playoff moments.
- After playing so well for almost the entire game, The Thunder's lack of hustle and execution sealed their fate.
- After 2007 the Mavericks were to be forgotten. This was the Thunder or Lakers' year, until it wasn't. The awkward but compelling narrative of Nowitzki and the Mavericks.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29608/thursday-bullets-210
Toronto Raptors Rajon Rondo Greg Biffle David Gilliland Furniture Row Chevrolet Regan Smith
2011年5月29日日曜日
2008 Honda Accord Coupe V6 3.5 L i-VTEC Engine 268 hp Aggressive Stance
Press Release: The all-new 2008 Honda Accord moves the world of mainstream transportation in a refined, dynamic and sophisticated direction with an expanded range of innovative technologies designed for more power, greater efficiency and enhanced safety across the entire lineup of sedans and coupes. Completely redesigned for 2008 with increased dimensions for a more spacious interior, the sedan styling theme expresses a powerful presence with sharp and strong character lines. The coupe is further individualized with an aggressive stance and unique proportions that create a muscular, sporty demeanor. “The all-new Honda Accord has ...Source: http://www.distrocars.com/2008-honda-accord-coupe-v6
Houston Rockets Jerry Stackhouse Michael Stephen Wallace Charlotte Bobcats Barnes Sadler A and W Ford
Aston Martin Rapide S
The spy photographers are out again and they’ve caught a special Aston Martin Rapide testing at the Nurburgring. Initial rumors on this vehicle suggested it was a facelift version of the luxury sedan, but it seems the news is even better. The company is preparing an even more powerful version of the Rapide that will drop the current 470 HP 6.0 Liter V12 in favor of the engine used in the DBS. This means we will get 40 HP more with the new S version. With the new 510 HP, the Rapide S will sprint faster than the current model which does the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.1 seconds.
Next to the engine improvement, the Rapide S will feature an even more aggressive front and rear fascia, a lower front bumper with an additional air intake and deep scoops, a more prominent boot lip spoiler and a reprofiled bumper.
The new Aston Martin Rapide S will go on sale in late 2012 and will be priced at about �200,000 or about $325,000 at the current exchange rates.
Aston Martin Rapide S originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 May 2011 16:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2012-aston-martin-rapide-s-ar110270.html
Jud Larson Memphis Grizzlies Lamar Odom Dwayne Wade Cleveland Cavaliers Elliott Sadler
East finals ratings up 46 percent (AP)
The Miami Heat won the series and plenty of television viewers in the Eastern Conference finals. The five-game series between the Heat and Chicago Bulls averaged 10.4 million viewers on TNT. That's up 46 percent from last year's Celtics-Magic matchup in the East, and up 33 percent from Lakers-Suns on TNT in 2010.
PRISM Motorsports Toyota Paul Fiercer Air Guard Ford Ray allen Mark Martin Orlando Magic
2011年5月28日土曜日
Aston Martin Rapide S
The spy photographers are out again and they’ve caught a special Aston Martin Rapide testing at the Nurburgring. Initial rumors on this vehicle suggested it was a facelift version of the luxury sedan, but it seems the news is even better. The company is preparing an even more powerful version of the Rapide that will drop the current 470 HP 6.0 Liter V12 in favor of the engine used in the DBS. This means we will get 40 HP more with the new S version. With the new 510 HP, the Rapide S will sprint faster than the current model which does the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.1 seconds.
Next to the engine improvement, the Rapide S will feature an even more aggressive front and rear fascia, a lower front bumper with an additional air intake and deep scoops, a more prominent boot lip spoiler and a reprofiled bumper.
The new Aston Martin Rapide S will go on sale in late 2012 and will be priced at about �200,000 or about $325,000 at the current exchange rates.
Aston Martin Rapide S originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 May 2011 16:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2012-aston-martin-rapide-s-ar110270.html
Pau Gasol Willi Krakau Pedro Lamy Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers
NC State guard will end up at Kentucky
When NC State coach Mark Gottfried and former freshman point guard Ryan Harrow announced their "mutual" decision to part ways through a transfer, the decision was analyzed largely from the school's side. Losing one of the best players from Sidney Lowe's best recruiting class? Just another challenge for the new Wolfpack coach to overcome. The coach recovered well in recent weeks, landing a commitment North Carolina native Torian Graham, the No. 45-ranked player in the class of 2012, and one Gottfried hopes will lead to further recruiting successes in the months to come. But what about Harrow? Where would the point guard's new, wide-open future take him? Turns out, Kentucky.
According to the Associated Press, Harrow announced his decision via Twitter Thursday, writing "I am a Kentucky Wildcat!"
It's a big get for Kentucky, akin to landing a high-profile point guard recruit for the class of 2012. Harrow will have to sit a year before he'll be eligible to play, per NCAA transfer rules, but when he does get on the court he could be the next in a line of successful Kentucky point guards.
Sure, Harrow doesn't come with the same accolades or talent as Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, Brandon Knight and 2011's promising Wildcat-to-be Marquis Teague. But he was the No. 8-ranked point guard in the class of 2010, and even if Kentucky does land another top-flight guard, Harrow will have the benefit of one year of college hoops experience and three years of college-level weight training and practice regimes. It will be interesting to see what that time -- plus the tutelage of a proven developer of point guards in John Calipari -- will do for Harrow's ability to make an impact at this level.
Brian Lee Vickers Franck Lagorce Miller Lite Dodge Mario Chalmers Russell William Wallace Jr Blake Griffin
Warriors' Curry has surgery on ankle (AP)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry had surgery on his right ankle but is expected to be ready by training camp in the fall. The Warriors said Wednesday the surgery was performed by Dr. Bob Anderson in Charlotte, N.C. Curry missed eight games last season because of multiple sprains on his right ankle.
Sacramento Kings Indiana Pacers Utah Jazz Claudio Langes Christopher Beltram New Orleans Hornets
BMW bringing four models to Frankfurt
BMW is rather busy preparing their lineup for the Frankfurt Motor Show this September. Apparently, they are showing up with no less than four world premiers: the M5, the M3 GTS sedan, the redesigned 1-Series, and the i3. So, if you plan on taking a trip to Germany during that period, you should definitely make a stop in Fankfurt to soak up all of the automotive goodness scheduled to appear.
While the first three models in the line-up are no surprise, the i3 will definitely steal the show. Unfortunately, it will not be a production version, but it will give us a good idea for what to expect in 2013. According to BMW, the i3 will be the world?s first volume-produced vehicle with a passenger cell made from carbon. It will feature an electric motor with an output of about 150 HP and a top speed of 100 mph. It is rumored that the i3 will have an autonomy of 160 miles.
BMW bringing four models to Frankfurt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 May 2011 15:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/bmw-bringing-four-models-to-frankfurt-ar110311.html
Boston Celtics kendrick Perkins Tony Raines New York Knicks Washington Wizards Miami Heat
Thunder still shocked after playoff exit (AP)
Kevin Durant knows all about how the Oklahoma City Thunder have been tabbed as the NBA's team of the future during a meteoric rise from league laughingstock to title contender. All through this season, he didn't want to think about the prospect of success down the road. He wanted it now. "I think the pieces are here.
Washington Wizards Miami Heat Bradley Reed Sorenson Stanley Ford Robert La Caze Josh Howard
2011年5月27日金曜日
First Cup: Thursday
- Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "It wasn't only the Western Conference championship, it wasn't only a return to the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks also achieved another franchise milestone on Wednesday night. They now become the most beloved basketball team in the world. Over the next few weeks, even Mark Cuban will be considered cuddly. Imagine that. ... In the end, the Mavs were more persistent, and, of course, more seasoned, but the Thunder was impressive. After the disaster of Game 4 on Monday night, the OKC kids shook it off, and came out ready to extend the series. The Mavs overcame the challenge, barely. Now it comes down to waiting on Miami. And waiting to become the most beloved basketball team in the world, at least for a couple of weeks."
- Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Owner Mark Cuban has been conspicuously silent during the Dallas Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals. He has avoided the media in the past two series against the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. But he couldn't avoid the ESPN crew on the floor for the Western Conference Finals trophy presentation Wednesday night. Cuban avoided the question about why he has been so quiet. He thanked the fans for their support and ended his turn at the microphone with a proclamation that drew cheers from the crowd. 'We ain't done yet!' Cuban exclaimed. The fans responded with chants of 'Beat the Heat.' "
- Jennifer Floyd Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Dirk Nowitzki stands for fundamental. And now Dirk, we just need you to do what Boston and Chicago and MVP Derrick Rose have mostly failed at accomplishing. Destroy the Evil Empire, the basketball devil,
The Architects of The Decision, the Miami Heat. 'Beat the Heat' echoed at The AAC in the giddy aftermath of the win. Yes, bring on Miami. And then beat Miami. I realize The Mavericks just barely and practically moments ago accomplished basketball magic and The Heat has not officially disposed of Chicago. They will, karma and fate dictate it so. Of course, this has to go through Miami. Nothing has been easy for the Mavs this season, not generating belief, not Game 4 in Portland, not this OKC series. So, of course, they have to go back to the scene of the crime to win a Championship. Of course, Dirk and Jason Terry and Mark Cuban have to go to Miami and stare down ghosts of Bennett Salvatore and memories of a Mavs collapse that has stalked this team in the ensuing years since June of 2006 and re-engage with Mr. Wade." - Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: "Young, young, young. The Thunder proved unequivocally in Game 4 that it is nothing if not young. Until Game 5. When the Thunder proved that it is tough, tough, tough. The Thunder is more tough than young. Of course, tough isn't enough this deep in the NBA playoffs. The Thunder lost 100-96 Wednesday night as the Dallas Mavericks won the Western Conference, sending the Thunder to an offseason of what-might-have-been and what-will-be. The Thunder just wasn't quite good enough, again failing to close the deal despite a late lead. And the Thunder just wasn't quite lucky enough; three loose balls went Dallas' way in the final 80 seconds. But what an answer to that historic collapse in Oklahoma City 48 hours earlier."
- Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman: "Scott Brooks went off script. Way off. Mr. Consistency had a night at the improv. With the Western Conference Finals and his team's playoff future hanging in the balance, the Thunder coach threw away his substitution plan. He left his bigs on the bench. He decided to play a little small ball. Darn near worked. The decision to go small helped Oklahoma City build a lead but in the end cost the Thunder the game. Dallas 100, OKC 96. On a night that the Thunder showed remarkable heart two days after a devastating meltdown, Brooks showed some guts of his own. He played to his squad's strengths even if it went against the norm. He gave his team its best chance to win even though the decision came with risks. 'I knew that in order to beat this team, we had to keep moving their feet, and we put as much quickness on the floor as possible,' Brooks said. 'I thought it gave us a chance to win this game.' Sure did."
- Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald: "Dwyane Wade delivered a message to Mike Miller after Game 4 Tuesday: 'I told him, ‘No matter what happened all year, at this moment, this was the best game you could have played for us.’ This is what we needed. He’s getting his confidence back.' Miller totaled seven points and missed 12 of 15 shots during these playoffs before scoring 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in Game 4 against the Bulls. He added a career playoff-high nine rebounds in 26 minutes. 'It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been waiting for this,' said Miller, who has called his injury-plagued season the most frustrating of his career. 'I made some big shots in big moments.' He did it despite his ongoing concern about the health of his week-old daughter Jaelyn, who remains in a Broward hospital intensive care unit with an unspecified complication that might require surgery. Miller has been spending much of his time at the hospital and getting very little sleep."
- K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: "Since winning Game 1 of the best-of-seven series, the fourth quarter has revealed some ugly truths, which has led to the Bulls' first three-game losing streak of the season. The Heat have outscored the Bulls 64-47 in the final period of the last three games. The Bulls have shot 16 of 49 in those fourth quarters for a paltry 32.7 percent. And MVP Derrick Rose is averaging four points on 2-for-11 shooting (18.2 percent) in the fourth quarter. 'Derrick will make the necessary adjustments,' coach Tom Thibodeau said. 'He'll be fine.' Thibodeau sounded like he could've been leading an Up With People recruiting meeting with his positive tint to virtually every question lobbed his way following a long film session and individual shooting at the Berto Center. But the fact of the matter is the Heat have closed games and the Bulls have not. 'We have to do a better job of finishing,' Thibodeau conceded. 'Derrick has made a lot of big shots for us all year. We have a lot of confidence in his ability. Every game we've played against them has been virtually the same -- hard-fought, comes down to the end. The team that can make a run and make some hustle plays usually wins. We just have to study, get ready for the next game and have the right approach.' "
- Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times: "Jimmy Buss should know that in the NBA, even $18 million can't buy credibility. In Buss' first publicized move as the Lakers' prince, he insisted on drafting Andrew Bynum, and then refused to trade him for another scorer this winter in a move that eventually led to the Lakers being steamrolled by the Dallas Mavericks. This second move is even riskier. If Brown doesn't work, the Bryant era could end amid the sort of steaming rubble that could take years to clear. If Brown doesn't work, the Lakers could not only lose their place among the NBA hierarchy, but also find themselves in a struggle for the local buzz with the surging Clippers, the newly purchased Dodgers and perhaps even the incoming NFL. The next few years represent an important bridge into a new Lakers era. This hiring has left that bridge unnecessarily rickety and swaying. Mike Brown is reportedly a great guy, and he is probably a great defensive basketball coach, but for a franchise whose successful leaders have all possessed pedigree and star power and big-game savvy, he doesn't seem to be a great fit."
- Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle: "Dwane Casey, Lawrence Frank and Kevin McHale, the three finalists, do not have name recognition issues in NBA circles. But which is the best candidate? Tough call. The three have such different backgrounds and experiences that not only is it a challenge to compare them, it is difficult to determine what the Rockets deem to be the most important qualities in a new head coach. If it's head coaching experience and toughness, Frank could be the guy. If it is fall-asleep-watching-game-tape-in-the-office dedication and defensive innovation, Casey could be the man. If it is a strong motivator who would garner immediate respect from players, McHale would be a solid choice. It is somewhat surprising that McHale, the best known of the trio, a Hall of Fame player who has been involved with the league for more than 30 years (more years than the other two candidates combined), seems to be the least favored among fans. Why do so many think McHale, who met with Rockets owner Les Alexander on Wednesday, would not be a good coach? He has had two short stints as a coach -- both as a midseason replacement for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Each time the team's record improved."
- Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun: "In an interview conducted in Italian and since translated by a Toronto newspaper, Bargnani is asked if he could play anywhere else in the NBA, where would he choose to play? The reply, according to the translation, has Bargnani first saying 'I want to stay in Toronto, at least this is the politically correct answer. If (I am) to go somewhere else, I’d like a warm-climate city and a team where I can actually play my role.' That response was published Tuesday in Toronto. On Wednesday, Bargnani’s press office sent a statement of clarification from Bargnani to the Raptors which was distributed to the local media. It read: 'I wish to personally clarify and correct an inaccurate portrayal of my words that recently appeared in the media. Much of what I said was taken out of context with respect to an entire conversation. I want to make clear my love for Toronto and that I consider the city a second home. I never said that I want to leave Toronto and I’m sorry if fans interpreted the inaccuracy that way. I am proud to represent Toronto and the Raptors organization. I appreciate what Bryan Colangelo and the organization has done for me during the past five years of my career. I will always continue to work to improve myself as a player in an effort to reward the organization and our fans with the best team possible.' "
- Gordon Monson of The Salt Lake Tribune "Some love the idea of Kevin O’Connor taking Jimmer. Others would roundly boo the pick. (When I recently asked O’Connor his thoughts, he declined to comment, naturally.) Hence, the Jimmer Fredette Game. After watching and covering Fredette in so many outings at BYU, and noting an evolving game, and an evolving personal opinion regarding his prospects as a pro, I now believe the Jazz would be wise to take him at No. 12, if he’s still on the board, and if they get a bigger man at No. 3. There’s a strong chance that a bigger man will be available to them with their initial pick, creating a shot at Fredette with the second. Some say the Jazz selecting Jimmer would put too much pressure on him to perform up to lofty expectations or on them to give him enough minutes to please certain segments of the home crowd. I disagree. Fredette and the Jazz aren’t weak enough to bow to that crap."
- Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The other day I wrote that it might be time for the Hawks to part ways with Josh Smith -- not just because he’s the most likely trade candidate in their core, but because it’s becoming clear that he’s getting tired of being blamed for everything when something goes wrong. The Smith-bashers in town favored the column. The Smith fans hated it, some taking it as another media assault on Smith. Fact is, as I wrote, I agree with Smith that he takes more blame for the team’s shortcoming than he deserves. But that column sparked immediate trade rumors, including this one: Smith and Kirk Hinrich to Los Angeles Lakers for Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest. Barring other moves, that would leave the Hawks with a starting five of Bynum (center), Ron Artest (small forward), Al Horford (power forward), Joe Johnson (shooting guard) and Jeff Teague (point guard). That trade is nowhere close to reality right now -- it was concocted by media members for the sake of discussion, and because it seems plausible. The Lakers could be looking to move Bynum after his postseason meltdown, and they also may pursue a deal for Orlando’s Dwight Howard, which would make Bynum expendable."
- Kate Fagan of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "It seems the only question with Thaddeus Young's potential as a starter is his lack of a definitive position. We're talking about him right now as a small forward, but he's proven effective as a backup power forward. It might make more sense for Collins and the Sixers to use him as the backup small and backup power forward and drop him 32 minutes a game (he played 26.1 minutes a game this season). As with many questions facing the Sixers, all of this depends on what kind of game Turner shows up with this fall, what kind of jumper Young shows up with, and what kind of moves the team makes to free up opportunities for each or both. But one thing is certain: the Sixers aim to bring back Young."
- Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald: "Born with an unusually narrow spinal canal, Marquis Daniels was told before he ever played an NBA game that occasional twinges and numbness would be a routine part of the experience. The former Celtics swingman just never thought this condition, known as spinal stenosis, would force him to question his future in basketball. But the prospects all changed just over four minutes into a Feb. 6 game against Orlando. Daniels collided with the shoulder of Gilbert Arenas and pitched forward onto the floor. He had experienced numbness in his extremities before, but never to what suddenly felt like a paralytic level. 'Yeah, I questioned if I would play again, that night when I was laying on the floor,' Daniels said this week from his home in Orlando, Fla., where he is awaiting the next step, a June 28 meeting with doctors, who are expected to clear the mellow, soft-spoken Floridian for full workouts and a return to the NBA. 'They said there was a good chance they could correct it, but I also had to wait,' Daniels said of the prognosis. 'That was the tough part. A lot of things went through my mind. But I just had to wait it out.' Though the surgery he underwent March 31 to open space in his spinal canal was considered a success, he looks upon the June 28 meeting as passage back to his career, a signal that he can resume workouts that aren’t limited to an elliptical machine. Daniels hasn’t experienced any numbness since the surgery. Only the anxiety leading up to that meeting remains. It helps that the Celtics haven’t stopped being like family."
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29565/first-cup-thursday-157
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