James, the player everyone loves to hate, was very impressed by Griffin’s exploits.

“Dunk of the Year! @blakegriffin just dunked on Kendrick Perkins so hard!!! Wow! I guess I’m No. 2 now. Move over #6,” James tweeted, apparently referring to his own dunk the day before over Chicago Bulls point guard John Lucas III being relegated behind Griffin’s poster-quality jam.

Well, Perkins didn’t appreciate Bron’s enthusiasm.

“You don’t see Kobe (Bryant) tweeting,” Perkins said, according to the report. “You don’t see Michael Jordan tweeting. If you’re an elite player, plays like that don’t excite you.

“At the end of the day, the guys who are playing for the right reasons who are trying to win championships are not worrying about one play. They also are not tweeting about themselves talking about going down to No. 2,” Perkins added, according to the report. “I just feel [James] is always looking for attention and he wants the world to like him.”

Or he could be expressing his admiration of a great individual play by a talented NBA player. This comes across as attacking LeBron for the sake of attacking him. Kobe and Jordan might not be tweeting OMG, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t jump out of their chairs when they saw Griffin’s dunk. Hell, anyone with a pulse would be amazed by such an amazing slam.

Perkins has a right to be annoyed, but whining about a random tweet sounds like something, well, Lebron would do.

Source: ESPN.com

Anthony leads the Knicks in both scoring  and assists. His 22.3 points per game ranks seventh in the league. Without him in the lineup, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler will have to pick up the offensive slack, along with reserve forwards Josh Harrellson and Jared Jeffries.

Stoudemire  is averaging 18.2 points, which is his lowest total since the 2005-06 season, and he is currently away from the team to mourn his older brother, who was killed in a car accident early Monday morning. Until he returns, the Knicks will be without their top two scorers and starting forwards.

The Knicks were supposed to contend for the Atlantic conference title after a resurgent 2010-11 season that saw them qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2004. However, the beginning to the lockout shortened season hasn’t gone very smooth.

Through 25 games, New York sits in third place in the division with a 10-15 record, eight games behind the first-place Sixers and four back of the Celtics. Head coach Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced attack hasn’t lived up to the billing. A season after averaging 106.5 points per game, they are netting only 95.0 thus far.

Injuries in the backcourt and not adequately replacing Chauncey Billups at point guard has hampered their ability to run an up-tempo offense. Second-year guard Jeremy Lin provided a spark the last two games, totaling 53 points and 15 assists, but he’s hardly a finished product.

The Knicks travel to Washington on Wednesday to face the 5-20 Wizards.

Source: ESPN.com

The truth of the matter is simple: a lockout was inevitable and necessary. The financial landscape in the NBA has been in disarray for years. The separation between the haves and have-nots has never been wider. A handful of teams need to be folded. Overseas preseason games should be scrapped. But these “solutions” only scratch the surface of what will be required to reach an agreeable settlement that will once again steer the league down a path of profitability.

The fans don’t care about decimal points and dollar signs. Neither do the thousands of workers across the country who earn a living at NBA arenas. All they care about is seeing basketball return in October. However, the odds of that happening appear to be long.

Owners must find a way to improve the revenue sharing system without placing the bulk of the monetary burden on the players. Meanwhile, players have to concede salaries will have to be slashed, especially when stiffs like Yi Jianlian and Hasheem Thabeet earn over $4 million per season.

Unlike the NFL, this lockout carries with it an ominous tone. Football will return, eventually. Training camps might be delayed and frivolous preseason contests could be lost, but all signs point toward a deal being done prior to September. It’s in the best interest of both sides to not miss any regular season games and both sides are fully aware the irreparable damage lost games would inflict on the country’s most popular sport.

Conversely, NBA owners are prepared to eighty-six the season. The players don’t want that to happen, but they are bracing themselves for the worst-case scenario. Stay tuned for weeks and months of heated name-calling and finger-pointing. It’s going to get nasty.

The sad part about this whole mess is that some or all of the renewed interest in the sport could evaporate if things turn ugly. The rise and fall of the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant’s and Derrick Rose’s ascension. The Mavericks magical run. It was a season to remember and one worth watching. After years of lying dormant, the NBA finally emerged from the ginormous shadow left by Michael Jordan’s departure. Until now.

Welcome to the new America. The land of the bankrupt and the home of the unemployed.

According to NBA Players Association head Billy Hunter, the union made one last proposal to the owners but in his words ‘the gap is just too great’. Now the league is in the same situation as their NFL counterparts–all business is on hold including free agency which would have started tonight at midnight. The last time the NBA experienced a lockout was in 1998-1999 which reduced the regular season to a 50 game schedule.

The two sides reportedly are far apart on every major issue including revenue sharing, salary caps, etc. Union executive committee member Matt Bonner said:

“We tried to avoid the lockout; unfortunately, we couldn’t reach a deal.”

The lockout isn’t officially ‘on’ until midnight, but after the two sides were unable to reach any sort of agreement during a three hour meeting on Thursday NBA Players Association head Billy Hunter said that it was all but certain:

“It’s obvious the lockout will happen tonight.”

Hunter did add that the league and the players plan to meet again within ‘the next two or three weeks’ but gave no concrete timetable or process of where the negotiations will go from here. If the NFL is any guide the next month or so will be primarily posturing from one side or another to show that they’re “serious” and not afraid of a long work stoppage. As the months go by, however, and the start dates for training camps draw closer you’ll likely see some movement. When players are faced with the reality that they might miss some paychecks and owners start considering the possibility of a shortened season, you’ll start seeing even greater movement.

In the meantime, however, there won’t be any type of player transactions including free agent signings, until a new collective bargaining agreement is finalized. As has been the case with the NFL in recent months, all of the news related to the sport will involve lawyers and negotiations.

Best

Derrick Williams (#2, Minnesota) – The T-Wolves desperately tried to move the pick, but as the clock ticked away couldn’t find any takers. So, they went with he safest and smartest bet. Williams is a legit small forward in the pros and should evolve into a nice complement to Kevin Love. If Ricky Rubio proves he can handle the point guard duties, Minnesota could be the next Oklahoma City in the West. Now all they have to do is unload Michael Beasley and find a head coach.

Jimmer Fredette (#10, Sacramento) – The Kings were oh so close to relocating to Anaheim a few months ago. They need someone to help fill the seats. Fredette, in the short term, should solve those problems. Fighting for the ball with Tyreke Evans is an issue that will need to be addressed, but the white knight brings discipline to a team starving for maturity.

Kawhi Leonard (#15, San Antonio – via trade w/ Indiana) – The Spurs looked old and slow in the playoffs. Mainly because they are old and slow. Leonard is a athletic forward who can score and rebound. And all it took to get him was giving up backup point guard George Hill. Savvy move by a savvy organization known for blasting home runs on draft night.

Chris Singleton (#18, Washington) – The Wizards have many holes to fill in their roster. Adding one of the top defensive players available is a solid decision. Singleton isn’t flashy, but he will get down and dirty in the low blocks. If he can develop a jump shot, he should contribute quality minutes on a nightly basis.

Jordan Hamilton (#26, Denver – via trade) – Normally, guys who slide in the first-round raise an eyebrow no matter which team selects them. Hamilton was thought to be a Top 15 talent two weeks ago, but questions about his attitude and work ethic caused him to tumble. Bottom line: the Nuggets get an extremely athletic  player they can ease into the rotation. It’s the proverbial low risk, high reward pick.

Worst

Jonas Valanciunas (#5, Toronto) – Grabbing a 19-year-old European forward lacking strength and a perimeter game who might not even play in the US next season won’t do much to make fans forget that Chris Bosh now resides in Miami. The good news is the Raptors will have a shot to redeem themselves next year when they have another Top 5 choice.

Klay Thompson (#11, Golden State) – Jerry West must have been on a bathroom break when the Warriors made this pick. Hey look, another guard on a team with zero front court presence. Brilliant! Maybe the plan is to start five guards who love to launch from long range. If this is the case, then Golden State are big winners.

Markieff Morris (#13, Phoenix) – There’s little doubt the Suns need rebounding help and Markieff brings a powerful body determined to battle inside. That being said, brother Marcus and Kawhi Leonard were both on the board and would’ve been wiser choices. Unless Markieff turns into another Tyson Chandler, this was a bad pick.

Nikola Vucevic (#16, Philadelphia) – There must have been truth to the rumor the Sixers were considering a Andre Iguodala for Chris Kamen trade a few weeks ago. Well, they got the plodding white center they wanted in Vucevic. Congratulations. At least he’ll be good for six fouls a night.

Kyle Singler (#33, Detroit) – Singler is the quintessential Duke draftee — meaning not overly impressive when stacked up next to legitimate NBA talent. If the Pistons are hoping this will offset the potential departure of Tayshaun Prince, they will be sorely mistaken. Singler is a poor man’s Mike Dunleavy, which isn’t a glowing endorsement, in case you were wondering.

Who goes number one? – It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that Duke’s Kyrie Irving will be the first of what could be many players chosen to fill the cavernous void left by LeBron James in Cleveland. Despite playing less than a dozen games as a freshman, Irving’s speed and scoring prowess are what teams covet in a modern-day point guard. The cupboard is extremely bare, so the Cavs could also select Arizona’s Derrick Williams, who some pundits believe is the surest bet, and still come away looking good. With Baron Davis’ future cloudy, Irving will be the pick and help alleviate the need for a legit offensive weapon.

Will the Lakers make a move? – The early exit from the playoffs provided incentive for the Lakers to inject some youth in their aging lineup. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum have all been linked in a variety of trade scenarios. Forget Bynum, he isn’t going anywhere. Gasol is probably safe, although his vanishing act versus Dallas is a concern. Minnesota appears willing to move out of the number two spot. Derrick Williams in purple and gold would be a major coup, but Odom and/or Artest plus future picks isn’t enough ammunition. However, trading for a top 5 selection isn’t L.A.’s only option.

Where will Andre Iguodala go? – It seems like the Sixers have been trying to unload Iggy the minute he signed a 6-year, $80 million contract in 2008. His declining offensive numbers over the last three seasons hasn’t done anything to dispel those beliefs either. He’s one of the league’s most versatile players and at 27, is still in his prime, which should make him a valuable commodity to teams searching for a skilled wing player. A team like, say, the Lakers. Philly is banking on its young trio of Thad Young, Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner to lead them to bigger and better things. Iguodala will be  dealt; it’s just a matter of when.

Jimmermania! – The most talked about draft entry isn’t Irving or Williams. It’s BYU’s white knight, Jimmer Fredette. Where will he go? Is he a true point guard? Can he defend NBA talent? Will he be the next Steve Nash? These questions and a myriad of others surround the sharp-shooting Fredette. If Utah doesn’t go guard with the number three pick, Jimmer might be the guy at 12, if he’s still on the board. Charlotte and Milwaukee both need perimeter scoring, but neither has expressed much interest. If he slips past the Jazz, Phoenix and the Knicks are likely destinations. Wherever he ends up, he’ll continue to be a polarizing topic on conversation.

The Jerry West factor – Don’t be fooled by Jerry West’s “consultant” title. The Warriors didn’t bring “The Logo” aboard to make suggestions. He will be a key decision maker during tonight’s proceedings. Monta Ellis and Steph Curry are fun to watch, but one of them is expendable. Ellis has already been rumored to be on the block, although new head coach Mark Jackson said earlier in the week Ellis wouldn’t be moved. Whatever. Jackson has little to no say in the front office. West could pursue Rudy Gay, who he acquired on draft day 2007 while with Memphis. He could also try to dump David Lee’s bloated salary and nonexistent defensive skills on a desperately stupid franchise. Or he could stand pat and nab a big man who can defend the low blocks. West will try to make some noise for a team starving for a dose of upward mobility.

Tonight’s draft gets underway at 7:30pm, Live on ESPN.

Already widely considered one of the all-time greats, Dirk Nowitzki cemented his legacy. After thirteen seasons, ten All-Star appearances, a 2007 league MVP award, the big German can add a Finals MVP and championship ring to his brilliant career. He dominated the fourth quarter and shined when the spotlight was brightest.

Jason Terry’s twelve-year career has seen him win a Sixth Man of the Year and develop a reputation as one of the game’s deadliest long range snipers. He willingly accepted his role for seven years in Dallas and never lost his  confidence, despite the scrutiny of previous playoff collapses.

Jason Kidd’s return to Dallas in 2008, 14 years removed from his first stint, was kind of an afterthought. Some pundits labeled him finished. An accolade-filled career that included a pair of Finals losses with the Nets was an impressive resume for a player entering his twilight. However, Kidd missed only five starts in the last three seasons and solidified a lineup desperate for poise and leadership.

Like Kidd, Shawn Marion took on a limited role in Dallas. An elite scorer and rebounder in Phoenix, Marion played aggressive defense and used his savvy and versatility at both ends of the floor. It’s not easy to set aside what made you a star, but “The Matrix” did so without flexing a selfish muscle.

Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson finally responded to coaching. J.J. Barea channeled his inner Manu Ginobili. Peja Stojakovic took a seat on the bench.

Rick Carlisle and Mark Cuban assembled an actual team, not a bunch of individuals with monstrous egos. Talent can get you to the Finals, but it takes a collective to hoist the trophy. A lesson the Miami Heat might want to learn before next season.

It would be easy to point a finger at Wade’s health as the reason for Miami’s defeat. However, he did return and score a team-high ten points in the fourth quarter. He endured the pain, toughed it out, and yet it wasn’t enough to overcome the Mavericks long-range barrage which resulted in 13 made three-pointers.

It would be easy to once again lay the blame at the feet of LeBron James. Despite a triple-double, he still hesitated to attack the basket and was nowhere to be found down the stretch. With Wade clearly laboring, it would have been the perfect situation for the King to affix his crown and take over.

The truth is Wade’s injury and LeBron’s MIA status can’t account for Miami’s deplorable defense. Dallas shot 56.5% from the field, including 68.4% from beyond the arc. The guard trio of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and J.J. Barea hit 10-15 three-pointers and combined to net 51 points. Dirk Nowitzki was, well, his usual dominant self, dropping 29 and converting all ten of his free-throw attempts.

The extra day of rest might be all that’s needed for Wade to get right, and for the team to clear their collective head. The Heat are 9-1 at home in the playoffs, so the crowd will be on their side. That’s the glass half full perspective.

The glass half empty viewpoint is Miami is on the brink, one game away from seeing their season end. A hobbled Wade has never boded well for the Heat in previous postseason series. That being said, the time for excuses is over.

Source: ESPN.com

The disinterested body language, sour puss gaze and lack of focus is much more problematic than missing a couple jumpers. The unwillingness to aggressively attack the basket, shying away from the ball in crunch time and inability to assert himself with a championship on the line is more disturbing than clanking a free throw.

It’s as if LeBron has purposely faded into the background as the series progresses. His point totals, field goal percentage and three-point percentage have declined in each of the four games. His fourth quarter vanishings are becoming commonplace.

Yielding to big brother Dwyane Wade is one thing, but removing himself from the game both mentally and physically is inexcusable for a player with LeBron’s skill and pedigree. Not when Dirk Nowitzki, battling the flu and a torn finger tendon, is asking for the ball and delivering down the stretch.

All-time greats don’t hang their head in frustration and allow themselves to be non-factors in pressure packed moments. Those foolish enough to compare LeBron to Michael Jordan must have short memories. Jordan never moped or pouted when things weren’t going his way. He never not wanted the ball when his team needed him most. He never avoided taking the big shot with the game on the line. He didn’t always make the big shot, but he never stopped shooting.

Of course, this speaks to the questions that have followed James his entire career. Is he mature enough to lead a team to a title? Can he handle the criticism that comes with superstar status? Does he possess the poise and confidence to be the best player on the floor every night?

Until he proves otherwise, the answers to those questions will be a resounding “no.” Letting Wade do all the dirty work is a cop out. It might be the correct strategy to win a championship, but it does nothing to improve LeBron’s already tarnished legacy.

Terry has yet to convert a shot in the final quarter of the Mavericks two losses. Sharpshooting Peja Stojakovic has played only 26 minutes thus far and is 1-5 from the field. J.J. Barea has scored 13 total points, one less than he did in the Game 5 victory over Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals. Brendan Haywood missed part of Game 2 and all of Game 3 with an injured hip flexor.

Some of these struggles can be attributed to Miami’s stifling defense. LeBron James has successfully used his size and strength advantage to shut down Terry in critical stretches. However, Terry’s confidence doesn’t appear to have been shaken by his play or Nowitzki’s words.

“It’s a call to arms. One man’s not going to win it,” Terry said. “Obviously, the big-wig [Nowitzki] is going to need to get some help, and I’m going to tell you this — that we will be there in Game 4.”

It better be there for tonight’s Game 4 because a 3-1 deficit will be nearly impossible to overcome. Dallas is a perimeter team. They can’t fall back on dumping the ball inside to low post playmakers. If they fail to knock down three-pointers, they won’t win the series.

Offensive troubles are only part of the problem. Dallas has allowed the Heat to hit 28 three-pointers. Limiting Dwyane Wade, James and Mario Chalmers has to be a priority. Wade and James are givens, but Chalmers has picked up the slack with James Jones and Mike Miller ailing by netting 8-19 shots from beyond the arc.

Game 4 tips tonight at 9pm in Dallas. The Mavericks are 3-point favorites.

Source: ESPN.com