Poll: Will The Heat Beat The Pacers Without Bosh?
The Heat fell to the Pacers at home Tuesday evening by the score of 78-75 with Chris Bosh sidelined due to an abdominal muscle strain. The series, now even at one game a piece, heads to Indianapolis where the Pacers went 23-10 during the regular season and are currently 2-1 during the playoffs. Bosh, 28, had been especially strong for the Heat during the first round of the playoffs where he averaged 14.7 PPG and 6.8 RPG in just over 30 minutes per contest.
Game 2 of the series between the Heat and the Pacers saw Miami's two superstars live up to their billing with a combined 52 points and 15 rebounds in the losing effort. The Heat bench failed to shoulder any of the load as five players, including Mike Miller and Shane Battier, gave the team a total of 15 points. Ronny Turiaf, inserted into the starting lineup in the wake of Bosh's injury, struggled to provide quality minutes during his brief time on the court in which he committed more fouls (four) than points scored (three).
What do you think? Can LeBron James and Dwyane Wade elevate their level of play and get increased production from the bench to overcome the absence of Bosh to beat the Pacers?
Free Agent Stock Watch: Ramon Sessions
As the Lakers struggled in Game 1 against the Thunder on Monday evening, Ramon Sessions' future with the team remains slightly ambiguous. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Cavaliers, Sessions proved to be a strong upgrade at the point guard position over the aging Derek Fisher as he infused the Lakers' backcourt with youth and energy. The former Nevada star holds a player option for next season at $4.55MM after averaging 11.3 PPG and and 5.5 APG in 64 games this past year.
Sessions' departure from Cleveland allowed for the 26-year-old guard to assume a consistent starting role for the first time in his career and thrived upon his arrival in Los Angeles. His style of play is predicated on driving to the basket and using his 6-foot-3 frame to post up his opponent. Health has not been a serious concern for Sessions as he's demonstrated an ability to stay on the court and fight through lingering injuries throughout his career. He earned $4.26MM during the 2011/2012 season and will potentially look to get a contract that exceeds his player option for next year by signing a multiyear deal this summer.
While Sessions is clearly a strong young talent with many dynamic aspects to his game, there are still areas of weakness that keep him from being a complete player on both sides of the ball. Sessions lacks a reliable jump shot and stays away from taking many three-pointers, both of which decrease the amount of points he contributes on a nightly basis. Defensively, Sessions uses his quickness to his advantage as he's an average defender who doesn't accumulate many steals and struggles to defend post players given his slight build.
Sessions proved enough with the Lakers during the regular season that his sporadic performances thus far during the playoffs may not be enough to deter the fifth-year player from declining his player option. The Lakers will likely be one of his chief suitors regardless of Sessions' decision, unless Los Angeles decides to blow up their roster in the wake of a potential sweep by the Thunder. In such a situation, the Lakers would attempt to trade Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol with hopes of landing Dwight Howard and may pursue a veteran point guard like Steve Nash in an effort to provide Kobe Bryant the best chance to win another ring.
Sessions spoke with the media during the first round of the playoffs about coming to the Lakers, how he's handled his new role as a starter and his thoughts for the future. "It's definitely something that's not in the back of my mind right now because I'm trying to focus on the playoffs," Sessions said on the eve of Game 4 [against the Nuggets]. "It's not even a concern. I don't know what's going to happen. I know it's coming. "It's something I'll deal with."
Whatever team ends up with Sessions can expect 28 to 32 minutes per game with 12 to 15 points and approximately 5 to 6 assists per contest. He has shown that he can handle the starting point guard position on a squad full of superstars and big personalities during his brief tenure in Los Angeles. Look for Sessions to decline his player option this offseason and re-sign with the Lakers on a multiyear contract.
Mavs Notes: Carlisle, Free Agency, Donnie Nelson
It's been a busy day for owner Mark Cuban and the Mavericks as they locked up head coach Rick Carlisle to a four-year extension earlier on Tuesday. The move marks the first of many for the 2011 NBA champions as they were swept by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavs will likely feature a vastly different lineup come the fall, so let's head to Dallas to catch up on the latest news and happenings at the American Airlines Center.
- It's time for the Mavs to put together a plan of attack for the offseason now that Carlisle's contract status has been addressed, writes Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. The team must look to get younger and explore every avenue possible to convince Deron Williams to join Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. Regardless of which players end up on the Mavs' roster, Carlisle's biggest task as head coach will be to provide strong communication as he looks build team unity.
- After signing his contract extension, Carlisle hit the radio to chat with ESPN's Galloway and Company about the team's goals for free agency this summer, tweets Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Carlisle stated that the Mavs will look to add a player to the roster that will make Nowitzki the second-best player on the team. Entering the 2011/2012 season, Nowitzki was ranked the fifth-best player in the entire NBA by ESPN.com's TrueHoop Network.
- With countless decisions ahead of him this offseason, Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson is relieved that one of the team's most pressing concerns has been addressed in the re-signing of Carlisle, reports Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. "Rick is simply one of the top coaches in the league today," Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told The News. "He's embraced this community, established a winning culture, and has taken this franchise to a place it's never been."
Douglas’ Contract May Impact Knicks’ Offseason
The Knicks decision to pick up Toney Douglas' team option for the 2012/2013 season on January 25 may impact their financial flexibility this offseason, writes Jim Cavan of The New York Times. The former Florida State star was struggling at the time but the team was left with few options at point guard as Linsanity was still a few weeks away from captivating the attention of the entire league. Douglas was relegated to the bench for the majority of the remainder of the season but will still cost the Knicks $2.1MM next season, limiting their options as they look to retain a series of free agents and add backcourt depth this summer.
Alex Raskin of NJ.com points out that while Douglas can be limited offensively, his defense could be an asset for the Knicks if rookie sensation Iman Shumpert misses significant time to start next season. While this is a nice bonus for the Knicks, it does not provide them with the type of point guard they are looking for to help complement Lin's skill set and foster his continued growth as a player. Simply put, the Knicks would be in a better position to attract the likes of Steve Nash, who resides in Manhattan during the offseason, if they hadn't picked up Douglas' option back in January.
Douglas began the 2011/2012 season as the Knicks starting point guard but quickly lost his job to Shumpert, who finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year vote announced early Tuesday. The Knicks explored trading Douglas in March when he fell out of the team's rotation thanks to strong play by Jeremy Lin but were unable to find a suitor. The 26-year-old point guard averaged 6.2 PPG and 2.0 APG in 38 games while playing a career-low 17.3 minutes per contest.
Celtics Notes: Allen, Rondo, Garnett
With first round playoff action still underway, the Celtics kicked off the second round of the playoffs with a 92-91 victory over the Sixers at home on Saturday. Thanks to 29 points from Kevin Garnett, the Celtics were able to overcome a poor shooting performance from Paul Pierce to secure the win. Let's head up to Boston and catch up on the latest news and happenings at the Garden.
- Celtics swingman Mickael Pietrus has been dealt a cold hand in recent weeks, but according to CSNNE.com's A. Sherod Blakely, Pietrus isn't the least bit worried about it.
- While injuries have impacted the second half of Ray Allen's 16th season in the league, the former UConn star is thankful to still be in the league after so many years, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Allen, 37 later this summer, is one of the few players from the 1996 NBA draft that is still making a contribution to a team. “Sometimes with the other guys, they played two years, they played five years, they played nine years,’’ Allen said. “And they don’t seem like they lasted as long as they should, but some guys get to professional basketball and they just get burned out.
- Barbara Matson of The Boston Globe says Rajon Rondo didn't know what to expect out of himself after failing to take a nap prior to Saturday's game against the Sixers. The result? The former Kentucky star had the eighth triple-double of his playoff career after getting off to a slow start and not finding his stride until the fourth quarter.
- Garnett says he has no life beyond dedicating himself to basketball and it's paying huge dividends for the Celtics, reports ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg. “I have no life at this point," said Garnett. "I go home, get treatment, come back in here, study tape, film — no life at all. This is what it is.” With no distractions whatsoever, Garnett has been dominant on the court with 28 points and 14 rebounds in the series-clinching victory over the Hawks and similarly strong numbers Saturday night against the Sixers.
Andre Miller Will Weigh His Options
Headed home for the offseason after losing to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Saturday night, Nuggets point guard Andre Miller is facing uncertainty this summer with free agency looming. He spent the season as a backup to Ty Lawson, but still showed flashes of brilliance when afforded the opportunity against the Lakers. After adjusting to his new role this past season, Miller must decide what he wants to do next as he enters the twilight of his career, writes Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post.
"I'll keep my options open," Miller said. "At this point in my career, if I'm going to be a backup, I'm going to be a backup on a championship-caliber team. Obviously, this team is a good team that's going to get to the playoffs, but the thing is if they are committed to getting to that next level to compete for that championship."
Miller, 36, averaged 9.7 PPG and 6.7 APG in a season that saw the former Utah star log the fewest minutes per game since his rookie year with the Cavs. During the first round of the playoffs against the Lakers, Miller dialed back the clock in Game 5 when he scored 24 points and notched eight assists in the team's 102-99 victory. If Miller doesn't return to the Nuggets, look for the guard to potentially sign with the Knicks, Pacers or Heat.
Poll: Will The Lakers Beat The Thunder?
Fresh off their victory over the Nuggets on Saturday evening, the Lakers will head to Oklahoma City on Monday for Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs to take on the Thunder. A re-energized Pau Gasol has the Lakers looking dangerous even against a heavily-favored Thunder squad.
The return of Metta World Peace in the final game of the series proved to be critical to the Lakers' success against the Nuggets and could potentially be a difference maker against the Thunder. The Lakers will also need improved play from Ramon Sessions or he could continue to lose minutes to Steve Blake, who put together an outstanding performance Saturday night at the Staples Center. Andrew Bynum showed flashes of brilliance at times against Denver but still needs to prove that he can play at a high level for an entire series, not just a few games.
What do you think? Will Kobe's supporting cast be able to come through against the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden as they did against the Nuggets in Game 7?
Lakers Notes: Pau Gasol, World Peace, Steve Blake
Facing elimination from the playoffs, the Lakers put together a strong performance Saturday evening to beat the Nuggets by the score of 96-87 and advance to the second round. Strong play from Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum allowed for the Lakers to win Game 7 at the Staples Center. Before they head to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder, let's head out to Los Angeles to catch up on the latest from the Lakers.
- After a season of turmoil in which he nearly ended up with a different team, Gasol dialed back the clock Saturday night and delivered one of the biggest performances of his career, writes Lee Jenkins of SI.com. In order to get ready for the game, Gasol had coaches go at him in the paint while wearing football shoulder pads during practice on Friday. The drill was a success as the Spaniard scored 23 points to go along with 17 rebounds and six assists.
- Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports says Metta World Peace was ready to get back on the court and lift his teammates after sitting for seven games due to suspension. While he was unapologetic about his actions toward James Harden, World Peace showed no signs of rust on the court as he scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds in the victory.
- Steve Blake channeled his inner Kobe Bryant with the effort he put together against the Nuggets on Saturday, reports ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin. The former Maryland star took his play to the next level by shooting 5-for-6 on three-pointers for a career-playoff high of 19 points. Without Blake, the Lakers would be watching the second round of the playoffs on television rather than heading to Oklahoma City on Monday for Game 1.
Knicks Notes: J.R. Smith, Phil Jackson, Anthony
The Knicks face a series of offseason questions ranging from which players they will keep to help fill out their bench to whether Mike Woodson will return as head coach. Let's head to Madison Square Garden to check in on the latest headlines and stories making noise in New York City.
- The Knicks are hoping J.R. Smith doesn't opt out of his $2.5MM contract and returns to the team next season, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. The former Nuggets sharpshooter is a strong fit for the Knicks because he's comfortable coming off the bench as the team's sixth man. Smith, 26, averaged 12.5 PPG during the regular season but struggled during the playoffs against the Heat where his 3PT% was just .179.
- Berman says Knicks owner James Dolan is foolish for not taking the opportunity to call Phil Jackson to see if the legendary coach had any interest in leading the Knicks next season. While Jackson is still recovering from knee replacement surgery, nothing would have been lost by Dolan calling the former Knicks forward to see if he wanted to assume the reigns from Woodson. Berman fears that the Knicks will be no better than the Woodson's Hawks teams except with die-hard fans and sellout crowds.
- The Knicks will have to build their roster around Carmelo Anthony if they have any hope of beating the Heat during the playoffs in seasons to come, writes Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News. It's not so much that Anthony is the savior to the team's struggles but rather that the team has invested so heavily in him with the players they traded and the contract he signed that it would be too early to give up on him. Lupica says the team will need to get creative to find additional talent to add to the team's roster heading into next season.
Odds & Ends: Woodson, Van Gundy, Jazz, Perkins
With an exciting night of NBA playoff madness still underway, we take a break from the action to catch up on the latest news and happenings from around the league.
- Mike Woodson has done more than enough to get a shot at coaching the Knicks for an entire season, writes Neil Best of Newsday (subscribers only).
- Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today says Stan Van Gundy would like to return to the Magic next season but realizes that decision is not entirely up to him.
- The Jazz could have a busy offseason ahead of them as they look to add depth at the point guard and power forward positions, reports HoopsWorld's Derek Page.
- The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry thinks Kendrick Perkins' health is a big question mark as the Thunder look ahead to the second round of the playoffs.
- The Plain Dealer's Mike Pettica has the latest updates on the Cavs' plans for the upcoming NBA draft.
- Mavs center Brendan Haywood discusses in a radio interview why adding Deron Williams to the roster would pay huge dividends for the team in the immediate future.
- The signing of Shane Battier has proven to be fruitful for the Heat especially considering the defense he has been playing against Carmelo Anthony, writes Kevin Armstrong of the New York Daily News.