On VIP Breakdown: Michael Jackson’s Last Video Shoot in Pictures

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The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic four games to one in the NBA Finals, earning the team’s 15th NBA title.  Put in a historical perspective, they are now 15-15 in NBA Finals match-ups and are second only to the Boston Celtics and their 17 NBA titles for most championships by a franchise.  Phil Jackson also moved ahead of Red Auerbach for the most titles by a head coach, winning his 10th NBA title, the fourth with the Lakers.  His other six came with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. Perhaps, most importantly, Kobe Bryant won a title with Shaquille O’Neal… okay, it’s only important to all those that hated on Kobe and said he couldn’t win a title without Shaq (this group includes Shaq himself), well, in your face!

Bryant was a symbol of will and determination and getting the job done.  In fact, such ferocity and competitiveness hadn’t been seen since Jordan took the court.  And now, the monkey is off his back and if the Lakers can somehow sign both Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom, the Lakers could win a few more championships.  Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are locked in and provide great interior presences, Derek Fisher looks as if he can still play for a few years and it looks like Jordan Farmar will be ready to take up the PG mantle.  Contractually, Jackson only has one more season left, but if the core group of players can stay intact, don’t be surprised if he signs another extension.  This season, Jackson seemed less stressed because of team chemsitry and the lack of two alpha males (Kobe and Shaq) going at it.

Congratulations to the Lakers and their fans.  And to all the Kobe haters, bite it!


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Manu Ginobli
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Orleans Hornets on Monday by a score of 91-82. With the victory, the Spurs will advance to the Conference Finals round of the NBA playoffs, while the Hornets will go home swallowing the bitter pill of defeat.

Click to continue reading Spurs Eliminate Hornets From Semi-Finals


Lebron James guards Paul Pierce
On Sunday the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to the Conference Finals round of the playoffs. Paul Pierce was the star in this one; he scored 41 points, with four rebounds and five assists.

“It is a great feeling,” Pierce said after the game. “We knew this was going to be a tough, tough series.”

Click to continue reading Celtics Defeat Cavaliers, Move On To Conference Finals


Tony Parker
Tony Parker scored 32, dishing out 11 assists with 2 steals en route to a 101-98 San Antonio Spurs victory over the Sacramento Kings.

“We had a tough loss against the Lakers, so we needed this,” said Parker. “We got Utah next. The West is so hard that we need to get as high a seed as possible.”

Click to continue reading Parker Leads Spurs Over Kings


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Now that the season’s winding down, every single game is more important than the last for the New Jersey Nets. Tonight Vince Carter continued to lead his team to a playoff berth, scoring 27 points with 6 rebounds and 7 assists in a 106-91 victory over the New York Knicks. Carter wasn’t the only net to have double digits in points though; Nenad Kristic scored 22 and Richard Jefferson scored 26. With the victory the Nets improve to 30-41 while the lowly Knicks sink to 19-51.

Click to continue reading Nets Defeat Knicks, Inch Closer To Playoff Spot


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Chris Bosh scored 28 points, Jamario Moon nabbed 7 rebounds, and Jose Calderon dished out 7 assists en route to a 107-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. On the night the Raptors were 40-81 from the field, and blocked 4 shots. The Wolves, who at one point lost 5 consecutive games this month, are now 12-44, and a far cry (23.5 games) from first place in the Northwest Division.

“If we just get back T.J. to where he was and Jose keeps playing like he is, we’re going to be tough to beat,” Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said before the game.

Click to continue reading Raptors Embarrass T’Wolves 107-85


Vince Carter
At the trading deadline, the New Jersey Nets showed confidence in Vince Carter, opting not to deal him but to rather tell him to step up as a team leader.

“We’re not going to move him (Carter). Not before the trade deadline, anyway,” Nets’ General Manager Rod Thorn said of Carter. “I’m not saying we’ll never move anybody, but we’re not going to move him (now).”

Tonight Carter proved his place on the team, shooting for 24 points with 9 rebounds and 5 assists in a 102-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Richard Jefferson helped as well, scoring 36 buckets and making 2 steals. Another contributing factor was point guard Marcus Williams, who has been filling in at the one guard since the trade of Jason Kidd. New acquisition Devin Harris isn’t quite healthy yet, he’s on the DL with an ankle sprain. In 34 minutes of play, Williams scored 8 points with 13 assists.

“They were good and they’ve only played a few games with Marcus Williams,” Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers said. “He’s not Jason Kidd, obviously, but I think he’s going to be a good point guard. When you have wings like Jefferson and Carter, you are always going to be in the game.”

Click to continue reading Jefferson, Carter Help Nets Down Pacers


Kirk Snyder as a member of the Hornets
Today Kirk Snyder was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for former slam dunk contest champion Gerald Green, who’s new team is the Houston Rockets. Snyder and Green were said to be very unhappy regarding their amount of playing time. Snyder’s only played in 9 games this season for the Rockets; he averaged 8 points per game in 2005 with the New Orleans Hornets. Green’s making 5.1 points per game at this point this season, averaging just over 12 minutes of court time. Green made 10.4 points per game last season with the Boston Celtics, a season where he played 81 games.

“If I had another year left guaranteed, I wouldn’t be as concerned about this year,” Green said shortly before learning of the trade. “But as a free agent, and I’m not playing, it’s tough for me because I know this could be my last year. I didn’t want it to go like this.”

Click to continue reading Kirk Snyder Dealt to Timberwolves


Von Wafer with Linas Kleiza
Its been a busy NBA trading deadline. Von Wafer was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers for Taurean Green, who will play for the Denver Nuggets. Each guard is 22 years old, and hasn’t played much in 2008. Green’s averaged just 5 minutes and 30 seconds of court time, while Wafer’s only received an average of 4.3 minutes per game.

“We want to thank Taurean Green and wish him all the best for the future, which I think will be a bright one in this league,” said Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard. “We had a positional need to fill with some of the injuries we’re having to endure and with Von Wafer we think we’re getting a player who can provide us with some offensive firepower.”

Click to continue reading Von Wafer Dealt To Portland


Brezec goes for a block
Backup point guard Juan Dixon will now battle for court time for the Detroit Pistons. Today Juan was traded to Detroit for center Primoz Brezec. Averaging just 12 minutes a game for the Toronto Raptors, Dixon also scored 4.3 points a game. Dixon was drafted in 2002 by the Washington Wizards with the 17th overall pick in the first round. Brezec averaged just 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds this season in an average of 5 minutes and 47 seconds of action this season with Detroit.

“It’s important we have players that want to be here,” Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said. “Dixon and his representatives made it clear that he didn’t.”

Click to continue reading Juan Dixon Sent to Detroit For Primoz Brezec


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