AP
In none of the four major North American sports is it easier to repeat as champion than in the NBA. Over the past 25 years, in both hockey and baseball, there have been just three repeat champions. In the NFL, there have been four. In that same period, the NBA has seen 10 champions defend their titles.
So when the defending champs go down the way the Dallas Mavericks did in the first round of this year’s playoffs—in a sweep to the Oklahoma City Thunder—it’s a little baffling, even though we were all prepared for this outcome after witnessing the approach the front office took in the offseason and the way the team played in the regular season. Dallas had three major free agents (Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler and J.J. Barea), and lost all three....
The Boston Celtics spent last week in enemy territory, daring to venture into Los Angeles to spend some time together. They scrimmaged at UCLA, ate lunch at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles and hung out at the homes of Paul Pierce... more »
On the day before the Heat start again, the Thursday before they roll out basketballs in practice as champions, here was their coach showing everyone how to approach this new world. Erik Spoelstra had been sitting at a table... more »
Dwyane Wade sat for questions first at the Heat’s annual media-day sessions Friday, the fruits of respect and seniority, and near the end a disembodied voice instructed reporters, “Last question.”It was LeBron James... more »
NBA teams playing preseason games overseas open training camp Friday. Everyone else begins early next week.And just like every October, each team has pressing issues that need addressed by the time the season tips off Oct.... more »
Ten and 12 may be the new lucky numbers in Las Vegas. Those are the jersey numbers of recent Lakers acquisitions Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, otherwise known as the saviors of a franchise that stumbled in the Western Conference... more »
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