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The Lakers made it look easy last night. They stomped Denver, 119-92, to advance to the 2009 NBA Finals.
“We saved the best for last,” said LA Coach Phil Jackson afterwards.
That was most obvious on offense. The Lakers shot an amazing 57 per cent from the field. Kobe Bryant led the [...]

Maybe this isn’t the year that LeBron James gets his first NBA championship ring. Until LeBron and his Cleveland Cavaliers met the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Playoff Series, it sure looked like it might be LeBron’s year.
The Cavs produced the best record in this regular season at 66-16. That secured the [...]

With one second left on the clock, you can hope to make a game winning shot. But is it realistic to expect that is enough time? Isn’t that the type of situation which gave berth to the phrase “there is only time to put up a prayer.”
If LeBron James is on [...]

When the clock struck 2:30, Boston Coach Doc Rivers pulled his stars Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. There was still 2:30 left in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals Sunday but the Celtic coach felt a 20-point deficit was too much to overcome.
It was strange to see the Celtics not battling to the [...]

Turns out the Boston Celtics are not the only ones with a little lucky charm on their side. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals Thursday proved Orlando has a little magic on their side, too.
The Magic evened the series, 3-3, with an 83-75 come-from-behind win that forced a seventh game Sunday night in [...]

“Trust the pass,” said Doc Rivers afterwards. “I tell my guys all the time, trust the pass.”
The Boston Celtic coach was reflecting on the last play of Sunday’s NBA playoff game with the Orlando Magic. Paul Pierce trusted the pass and it saved the Celtics from a loss that would have put them [...]

Sometimes it is the size of your desire that matters most. Sunday the desire of a 6-foot, 160 pound guard helped fill a huge void left by an injury to a 7-foot-6, 310 pound center.
The setting was game 4 of the NBA playoff matchup between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. [...]

It has been a real turnoff to see the street fight mentality in the NBA playoffs.
There seems to be an attitude that it is OK to play excessively rough in the playoffs. It is playoff basketball. You hear this from the players, coaches, commentators and many fans.
But it has dampened my enjoyment. [...]

The 16-team field that started out the NBA playoffs in late April is now down to eight teams. First round playoffs concluded over the weekend and without missing a dribble, the second round has already started.
Two teams were pushed to a Game 7 before making it into the NBA’s elite eight second round, the [...]

The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics dodged a bullet and the Chicago Bulls in their first round playoff matchup. The Celtics won Game 7 Saturday to advance to the second round.
After four overtime finishes in the first six games in this series, another close game wouldn’t have surprised anyone. The underdog Bulls started [...]