Suns lose big in New Orleans without Nash, O'Neal

What do you get when you subtract your starting point guard and your starting center from an NBA lineup? It isn’t a difficult equation to figure out. You don’t need a calculator, and you don’t need to flip to the back of the book to find the answer.

For the Phoenix Suns, the answer was a 104-91 loss on the road to the New Orleans Hornets. It marks the first time since 2006-07 that the Suns have lost three games in a row in the regular season.

Steve Nash stayed in the team hotel with the flu, and Shaquille O’Neal sat out his third game of the season to rest because of a back-to-back. That left rookie Robin Lopez making his third start of his career at center, and Leandro Barbosa starting in place of Nash at point guard.

To say the Hornets were looking to capitalize on the Suns’ misfortune might be an understatement. New Orleans came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter, outscoring Phoenix 35-21. Chris Paul scored 12 in the opening period, and finished the game with 24 points and 15 assists.

But credit does need to be given where it’s due, and you’ve got to hand it to the Suns for not rolling over and chalking the game up as a loss from the start.

Phoenix made a furious comeback in the second quarter, starting the period on a 14-2 run, and not allowing New Orleans to score a field goal until halfway through the quarter. They rallied to take a one-point lead for a moment, and found themselves down just 51-50 at the half.

The wheels came off again in the third quarter though, and the Hornets proved to be too much for the short-handed Suns to handle.

The third period posted another disparity, with New Orleans outscoring Phoenix by 12, and that was enough to lead the Hornets to their sixth straight win over the Suns dating back to last season’s four-game sweep.

For lack of other offensive options, Amare Stoudemire got his wish to be the featured scorer of the team, and had a game-high 26 points on 11 for 19 shooting.

Unfortunately, Stoudemire’s presence was only felt on the offensive side of the ball, as he pulled down just four rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Yes Mr. Evans (my high school math teacher), that’s one rebound every 10 minutes. He had more fouls (5) and more turnovers (6) than he did rebounds.

It wasn’t just Stoudemire that had trouble controlling the glass however, as the Hornets out-rebounded the Suns 45-30 in the game. New Orleans’ David West was the only player to reach double-digit rebounds as he pulled down 14 to go along with his 23 points.

For the second straight meeting, the Suns allowed three different Hornets to scored 20 points or more in the same game. Along with Paul and West, Peja Stojakovic made five three-pointers (5 for 9) on his way to 24 points. In their first meeting on October 30^th, Paul and Stojakovic were joined by Morris Peterson as the 20+ scorers (West had 18 points).

Grant Hill contributed the most complete game for Phoenix, scoring 17 points while dishing six assists and six rebounds. Barbosa had 19 points, and Matt Barnes, who came off the bench, was 5 for 11 from the field with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Robin Lopez was nearly invisible in his 20 minutes on the court. He scored just two points on his only shot attempt, didn’t manage a single rebound, and had four fouls, three of which were in the first half.

The Suns (11-8) will have O’Neal back in action tomorrow night, and hope to have Nash back as well to face the Dallas Mavericks (9-8) for the first time this season.

The NBA mafia will look after them:head coach PJ Carlesimo

Eddie Jordan and PJ Carlesimo deserved better. The former was fired on Monday after Washington opened the season 1-10 without their best player and starting centre. The latter's tenure in Oklahoma City ended messily when he was dismissed late last Friday night after a league-worst 1-12 start. Head coaching is a ruthless business. Failure, at some point, is the only certainty, outside of taxes and death. Barely a month of the NBA season has gone. They will not be the last victims.

For Carlesimo, an exit from the newly-monikered Thunder was nigh on inevitable. He came into a horrible situation when he was named as head coach of the then Seattle Sonics, 16 months ago, a franchise riddled with uncertainty off the court ahead of its relocation to Oklahoma, and underpinned by youth rather than experience on it.

Having served as an assistant in San Antonio for five years - as close as the transitory world of the NBA comes to stability - Carlesimo could have taken the easy option and remained at Gregg Popovich's right hand, rather than leaping into the abyss for a third crack at the (usually) thankless task of being The Man rather than just a No2.

Jordan, despite leading the Wizards to four consecutive playoffs (and making them relevant again in DC), was a mere victim of misfortune. Having to rely on kids to fill-in for grown-ups, he should have had more time. But there are no rules in this side of the game.

But don't weep for PJ or Eddie. Don't fear for their future or lose sleep, worrying that they might not recover. They won't rest idle long. The next pay cheque will arrive, sooner rather than later. Because, inevitably, the NBA famiglia takes care of its own.

In this club, once you're in, and have acquired some semblance of lustre, there'll be a welcome, some place. The basketball bench business is a nepotistic world where informal dynasties are spawned, mentors look out for their pupils, debts are accumulated and favours called in.

Of the 28 (non-interim) head coaching incumbents, only 10 are enjoying their first crack at the top job. The same number are having their second shot at the gig and Larry Brown, somewhat greedily, is on his ninth. Plenty of discarded chiefs are awaiting the carousel's next spin.

So Jordan could be reunited with former cohort Byron Scott in New Orleans once the terms of his separation are finalised. And even if Popovich cannot create a vacancy to bring Carlesimo back, Mike Brown – another Pop disciple – may find some room. If not in Cleveland, the door will open. It always does.

And so it should for Carlesimo, one of the finest instructors in the game, someone who visibly enjoys instilling knowledge as much as its acquisition. He's always been approachable, even just to explain a minor point or emphasis. Maybe that's his problem. Put him in charge, and he evolves from a teacher into a tyrant, and the listening stops.

Yet in truth, no-one – not a Red or a Phil or a Riles – could have done much more than him in Oklahoma City. The Thunder's three core performers are all under 22, proficient offensively but not quite there yet at the other end. They've had to pack their trunks and relocate from a city that exemplifies the future of America to one associated with its wild past. Times have been tough but someone has to be accountable for their lethargy thus far. It costs less to pay off one than 15.

Carlesimo isn't the first to find that the firing line is an uncomfortable situ. There's a gulf between being the one with the job of helping it happen and the responsibility of making it happen. For every Phil Jackson, there's a Jim Cleamons. For each Hubie Brown, a Ron Rothstein. Even with Sir Alex, a Brian Kidd. There is no such thing as greatness acquired by association.

Looking around the NBA, plenty of hot seats remain. Remember last year, when Marc Iavaroni was the most prized assistant to step up, leaving Mike D'Antoni's staff to move to Memphis? As the Grizzlies stumbled, there was talk he wouldn't survive the summer. He still might not make it to Christmas. If that happens, a summons to the Knicks may be the best Yuletide gift he could wish for.

Like Carlesimo and Jordan, he can feel confident of keeping a roof over his head. It's rare that there's no second chance. Or third. Or more. John Calipari, Tim Floyd and Leonard Hamilton all came out of the college ranks and were summarily dispatched back with reputation sullied. Jerry Tarkanian, who took UNLV to a college championship, lasted just 20 games with San Antonio and was done with the NBA. Their crime? No prior connections on the inside of the mafia, no-one to put in a word.

Jordan will be high on the interview list next time a head coaching vacancy arises. Carlesimo, having had previously messy exits from Portland and Golden State, may not be in such demand. If nothing else, he is better off away from the Thunder. The ranks will close protectively around him and eventually offer him a seat on a bench more OK than OKC.

Robertson's accomplishments remain timeless as ever

"As I write this, basketball has entered a strange new century," Robertson writes. "The game has become international; it has become computerized and wireless and fiber-optic. Nobody knows what the next five years will look like, what heights players will be capable of reaching, how brightly they will shine. Whatever happens to the sport, I hope that the men who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to build the league will be remembered. I hope that people will never forget that when any man reaches for previously unattainable heights, he does so only because he stands on shoulders of those who came before.

Robertson wrote those words when he was 65 years old and 29 years removed from his final game as an NBA player and it's not difficult to understand his concern. When he called it quits after the 1973-74 season, Robertson held the NBA record for assists (9,887), was second only to Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list (26,710) and was one of the top 20 rebounders with 7,804. Now, Robertson's fourth in career assists, eighth in scoring and barely hanging in the top 60 for rebounds.

But Robertson, born 70 years ago today on a snowy Thanksgiving Day in Charlotte, Tenn., shouldn't worry about fading away.

In fact, in the five years since he penned that paragraph, Robertson's stature has only grown. Thanks to the all-around excellence of players from today's generation such as Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Robertson's Hall of Fame accomplishments have become that much more magnificent.

From his days at Indianapolis' Crispus Attucks High School to when he retired from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1974, Robertson's playing career could best be described as a great river: a steady and consistent confluence of excellence flowed from him.

Robertson wasn't flashy like Bob Cousy and was as fundamentally sound as any player before or since. When asked how he accumulated so many assists in his career, Robertson was said to reply: "I passed it to the open man."

Therein lay Robertson's genius. He made playing the point guard position seem simple.

And at the time, there was no precedence for what Robertson was doing: leading the first all-black team to an Indiana state high school title, averaging 33.8 points per game and winning National College Player of the Year in each of his three season at the University of Cincinnati.

He lead a veritable All-Star team to gold in Rome in 1960, and then notched a triple-double during the 1961-62 season (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists) for the Cincinnati Royals.

At the time, not even Robertson had known what he had done.

"There's a story attributed to baseball legend Willie Mays," Robertson wrote. "When Jose Canseco was honored in the 1980s for being the first man to hit forty home runs and steal forty bases in one season, Mays said, 'If I'd known that would be such a big deal, I would have done it a few times myself.'

"That comes close to expressing the bemusement I feel about all the attention on my triple-double season."

Imagine our bemusement, then, to know now that Robertson averaged a triple-double for the first five NBA seasons with 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game in 384 games. Stick that in your trophy case for a moment and gawk at it: 30, 10 and 10, every season for five years.

Could you imagine what ESPN would do with Oscar if he played today? They'd probably give him his own channel. He would own Nike ... and adidas. In this Internet world of today, how huge Robertson would be in Europe or China?

But that sustained excellence hadn't earned Robertson a title. Boston or Philadelphia always stood in Cincinnati's way. Then, in 1971, he teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Milwaukee.

"I was very aware of Oscar's overall excellence," Abdul-Jabbar said, remembering the trade that brought Robertson to Milwaukee from Cincinnati. "I just didn't know how he'd fit in with our team. I should have known better. There was nothing to be apprehensive about. He was a great overall player and a great leader. He pushed us. He'd get on our case if we didn't do our assignments. Having that kind of leadership is a key element to any team."

The Bucks went 66-16 in the regular season, became the first team to shoot better than .500 from the field (.509), cruised through the postseason at 12-2 and capped that incredible run by sweeping the Bullets in the Finals.

"I think that was an exceptional season," Abdul-Jabbar said. "In terms of efficiency in the playoffs, that was one of the best teams that ever played. A lot of people don't remember that very accurately because of the way things happened with the Knicks and Lakers in the mix."

Robertson would make one more trip with the Bucks to The Finals in 1974 before retiring at the age of 35.

It was then one could see what the river of Robertson's career had carved: basketball's Grand Canyon. You could not help but be stunned by the depth, breadth and the sheer beauty and excellence of it all.

"I think Oscar was really special because of his ability to do so many different aspects of the game well," Abdul-Jabbar said. "There are very few people who have the ability to score, set people up to score, rebound and defend. He was a complete player."

When Kidd adds to his career triple-double total of 101 (still 80 shy of Robertson's career mark) or James finishes the season with 30 points, seven-plus rebounds and seven assists per game, they're like tourists who spend a couple days, take some photos and leave, gobsmacked by what they have seen.

And only by getting as close as they do to Robertson's excellence do Kidd and James know how much they have left to accomplish.

So, on this day, 70 years after that snowy Thanksgiving Day when Robertson was born, let us give thanks for Oscar Robertson.

Because of him we know what true greatness looks like.

NBA: Iverson Traded To Detroit and new News

The rumors were barely a day old. The Denver Nuggets traded Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheik Samb.

Samb is a throw in and it is rumored that McDyess is unhappy and might be bought out. Denver is saying they definitely want McDyess to come and play for them.

On Celtic message boards, visions of McDyess are dancing in Celtic fans' heads already. He played for Ainge in Phoenix in 1997-98, and Danny has tried to acquire him for Boston before. He would be a perfect fit in Boston, if a rumored Denver buy out occurred.

At first glance, the Pistons traded away Mr. Big Shot for Stephon Marbury Lite.

But wait. The ramifications are deeper than the immediate transfer of existing talent.

There is the immediate impact...and there is the future.

Detroit comes out $17 mil to the good in reduced contract commitments as Allen Iverson has one year left at $21,937,500. They traded away $25,250,000(4th year team option not included) in guaranteed money to Billups and $13,826,100

Boston Celtics LIKE it when U overlook them

What do you get for winning a title, reviving the NBA's greatest franchise and proving all your doubters wrong?

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Picked to finish second this season is what you get.There's no end to the disrespect the NBA champion Boston Celtics have to endure. The team they're supposed to finish second to is the same Lakers team they rolled over in the Finals -- when the Lakers were favored too.

The Celtics, who finished nine games ahead at 66-16, weren't even the consensus pick a year ago in the East (ESPN's panel had them third behind the Pistons and Bulls.)

Gee, what does a storied franchise have to do to be favored these days?

"Oh, I don't care one way or the other," said Coach Doc Rivers last week when the Boston media brought it up. "We pick us. We picked us last year too."

Actually, he cares a lot, but that's their gift.

They never complain. They store it up, go out on the floor and take it out on whatever team is there. Like Mother Nature, it's not nice to fool with the Celtics.

The Lakers were not only favored last spring, they thought they had things in hand, not even bothering to hide their amusement at the local hyperventilating over Paul Pierce's wheelchair exit and heroic return in Game 1.

The Celtics didn't even react to Lakers Coach Phil Jackson ("Was Oral Roberts back there in their locker room?") before Game 2, aside from Rivers' oh-I-don't-care number ("Oh, I don't care. Aren't we skeptics anyway now about everything? So what the heck. Let it begin. . . . Lee Harvey Oswald did it.")

Only after the Lakers lost Game 2 did it dawn on them that they didn't have anything in hand. Nor did getting serious turn out to be the answer.

Without Andrew Bynum, it was as though the Lakers were en route to a bonus championship before Bynum came back and they really started dominating.

Meanwhile, the Celtics had Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Pierce in their first title shot, which, at their ages -- they're now 33, 32 and 31, respectively -- could have been their last.

Having won a title, they still look hungry. It's never an issue on a team that has Garnett, who looks even hungrier.

"I didn't think he could go to another level," said Pierce last week, "but he has."

Unfortunately for the Celtics, if hunger isn't an issue, they have others.

* Age.

Last spring, they had to acquire Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown, both 38, to back up their Three Thirty-Something Amigos.

Brown has retired and Cassell may have, sitting out the preseason while Rivers played second-year Gabe Pruitt, hoping not to have to turn to the creaky, non-defending Cassell again.

Pruitt shot 36%, so they're still in the hopeful stage.

Turner highs up NBA menu

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Turner Sports this week will unveil a multimillion-dollar rebranding campaign to raise the profile of the NBA’s digital assets as part of the network’s new deal with the league.

Turner will immediately debut the tag line “The Game Happens Here,” to boost audiences for NBA TV, NBA.com and NBA League Pass.

A central part of the effort will be the relaunch of NBA TV on the season’s opening night, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. ET. The network will unveil a new on-screen look, featuring new sets and graphics, and its new schedule will devote much more time to live studio programming, which will use some of TNT’s high-profile talent such as Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

Turner wants to draw more viewers to the channel by building themes on specific nights for NBA TV, much as TNT’s Thursday nights are devoted to the NBA. Tuesday nights will be “Fan Nights,” during which fans get to vote on which game NBA TV will cover. Turner is hoping to develop themes for two other nights, as well.

“We spent the last nine months talking with consumers and found out that the typical basketball fan views NBA TV as a secondary destination,” said Jennifer Storms, senior vice president of marketing and programming for Turner. “We need to make NBA TV a primary destination. We need to make sure that fans go to NBA TV on certain nights and at certain times.”

Ads feature the logos of
NBA TV, NBA.com and
NBA League Pass.

The moves are part of an aggressive marketing approach to increase the reach of the NBA’s digital assets. NBA TV has been stuck on sports tiers in only 15 million homes; the NBA does not disclose the number of League Pass subscribers but clearly sees growth potential there; and both Turner and the NBA are looking for ways to drive traffic to NBA.com, which has lagged the online presence of the NFL and MLB.

The centerpiece of Turner’s “The Game Happens Here” message is that the NBA’s digital assets cover every aspect of the NBA, from training camp through the playoffs. This message is embodied in a 60-second TV commercial that shows the highs and lows of last season for Kevin Garnett. The spot weaves Garnett’s on-camera quotes, beginning with training camp and continuing to after his Celtics team won a championship.

The commercial fades to black, then brings up the tag line: “The Game Happens Here.” Then, one-by-one, logos from NBA TV, League Pass and NBA.com appear on the screen.

“It’s important for us to give distinct and unique positioning and branding for our NBA Digital services,” Storms said. “We provide access inside these places. We can take fans on a journey like no one else.” Turner Sports used the Minneapolis-based agency Mono to help develop this campaign.

The aggressive advertising strategy comes nine months after NBA Entertainment and Turner completed a deal that shifted the responsibility of running the league’s digital operations to Turner, a move that meant relocating most of that business from Secaucus, N.J., to Atlanta.

Danny Meiseles, senior vice president of production, programming and broadcasting for NBA Entertainment, said 20 NBA employees moved to Atlanta and 50 employees left NBA Entertainment. The combined total NBA Digital staff in Atlanta and Secaucus is at 200, with nearly all in Turner’s Atlanta headquarters.Bryan Perez, senior vice president and general manager of NBA Digital, is leading the relaunch.

The NBA and Turner will promote the relaunch on both its digital assets and on Turner’s Thursday night NBA broadcasts. The network will also promote outside of its NBA media assets.

“We want to bring the fans closer and be very interactive,” Meiseles said. “There will be cross promotion on all NBA media assets. The goal is that every game matters.”

Referees report finds only Donaghy committed crimes

NEW YORK -- David Stern responded to a report on NBA referees Thursday by vowing to build the "most effective possible system" to monitor illegal gambling and preserve the game's integrity.

The commissioner ordered the investigation last August after former referee Tim Donaghy was accused of betting on games he officiated and providing inside information to gambling associates to win their bets. Donaghy began serving a 15-month sentence on Sept. 23 at a federal prison in Pensacola, Fla.

Stern promised to implement all the recommendations included in former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz's review of the NBA's referees operations department, the result of a 14-month probe that cost the league several million dollars.

"We will be up there with the very best. No one will have a better system than we do," Stern said on a conference call. "But all of that said, to the idea that, you know, criminal activity will exist every place else in the world except in sports is just something that we can't guarantee. But we're going to have the most effective possible system that's ever been devised."

The report recommended it include: a hot line to anonymously raise questions about gambling and game integrity issues; making available any complaints the league receives about refs _ beginning in the 2008-09 playoffs _ to both teams to avoid suspicions of bias; requiring officials to annually report their contacts among players and team personnel to the league so it can monitor fraternization.

The league already has made a number of changes, including restructuring its referees operations department and began posting officiating assignments the morning of games.

The report also suggests mandatory gambling education for players.

"We believe that gambling can expose the players and the league to significant risks, and therefore it is important that players be educated regarding those risks," the report said.

The 116-page document disputed Donaghy's allegations of specific misconduct and favoritism toward certain players and teams, but warned "because the potential for referee bias remains a threat to the integrity of the game, the league can do more."

It agreed with the federal government that there was no evidence Donaghy made any calls to affect the outcome of games after studying his work in 17 of them, including 16 during the 2006-07 in which it was believed Donaghy made picks.

It also backed the government's stance that referee Scott Foster wasn't involved in any of Donaghy's misconduct. Donaghy called Foster 134 times from October 2006-April 2007, but the FBI and Pedowitz were satisfied that Foster's description of their relationship as longtime friends provided a reasonable explanation for the calls.

NBA 2K9

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NBA 2K9 arrives from 2K Sports on October 10th, and by all accounts look set to maintain the standard of accuracy and realism the series is known for, but it's the host of new features which Visual Concepts has managed to cram into this year's release which has us most excited by the prospect of bouncing our balls again.

For example, in a rather interesting divergence from the usual structure of online play in sports games, NBA 2K9 allows full five-on-five competition over Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. Of course, this means that each player is restricted to a single avatar and must co-ordinate and co-operate with other players to achieve victory and play effectively.

There's got to be more to life than throwing balls through hoops...Nah.

There's got to be more to life than throwing balls through hoops...Nah.

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In accordance with the series' mandate for realism and authenticity, players will also be able to quickly push past opponents who seek to block them, with both actions being completely controlled by the player. In addition, players can even grab hold of the jersey of the player trying to push past, slowing them down and denying their evasion. Do this repeatedly, however, and the referee will call foul and blow his whistle in your sweat-soaked face.

The reward for playing well, co-ordinating your team mates, and conducting yourself in a sportsman-like manner is manifested in the form of a 'Team 2K' rating, which will proudly (or shamefully) announce to the online community your integrity, or lack thereof.

That is one impressive dome.

That is one impressive dome.

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In addition to these promising new features, Visual Concepts and 2K Sports have also implemented new ways to share customised players and interact online. Titled '2K Share', the mode will allow gamers to download, upload, and rate the created players that they browse online, derived from the reliably-thorough list of options, settings, and sliding bars the 2K franchises are known for.

Ultimately, those customised characters will look quite impressive, with nicely-detailed models sporting impressive textures and eerily-convincing facial feature animation. The crowds too have seen an overhaul, and now react with visibly more realism than any prior game in the series. The lighting engine is robust, and overall the game satisfies with respect to all the small details which sell the simulation. For graphics-junkies, NBA 2K9 should more than satisfy, and on the audio-side of things the title will be no slouch, featuring the contributions of reporter Cheryl Miller, analyst Clark Kellogg, and Kevin Harlan providing the 'colour commentary' (identities who might actually be familiar to some...possibly).

Dude, I think I'm in love with your armpit...

Dude, I think I'm in love with your armpit...

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Aside from the exciting prospect of enhanced online features and improved presentation, basketball fans can also look forward to the reliable mainstay features of the series, including the in-depth Franchise Mode which has itself been the subject of refinements and added functionality - and it is this overall attention to detail and fleshing out of features that should make NBA 2K9 an enticing prospect for basketball afficionados when it sees release in just a couple of weeks.

Australian forward Nathan Jawai will play for the Indiana Pacers

Australian forward Nathan Jawai will play for the Indiana Pacers for more details go to www.sforts.com

NBA: Celtics to face Lakers

: 31st May 2008

Pierce: Led the Celtics to victory in game six

The Boston Celtics will meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals after defeating the Detroit Pistons 89-81 to win the Eastern Conference.

Paul Pierce scored 27 points to help the Celtics overturn a fourth-quarter deficit and clinch the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Chauncey Billups finished with 29 points for Detroit, who lost for the third straight season in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference finals.

Ray Allen managed 17 points and Kevin Garnett added 16 as Boston reached the finals for the first time since 1987, when they also met the Lakers.

Los Angeles booked their place on Thursday when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 100-92 to win the Western Conference.

Led by reigning MVP Kobe Bryant, the Lakers ended the Spurs' reign as defending champions by winning the series 4-1.

The Lakers and Celtics - two of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA - have met on 10 previous occasions in the finals.

Anez Sez WELL DESERVED

Monday, Orlando Magic President and CEO Bob Vanderweide gave General Manager Otis Smith and Assistant GM Dave Twardzik contract extensions. The deals are well deserved!

Heck, I am of the belief that Bobby V. should have granted Otis a lifetime deal back in February of 2006 when Otis, somehow, dumped the mercurial Steve Francis and his gross contract on Isiah Thomas's doorstep. That deal, to me, should have earned Otis the Executive of the Year Award for the lifetime of Francis's contract.

Actually, Otis is being rewarded for a full body of work. He's built a nucleus of young, talented and winning basketball players here in Orlando. He's also being rewarded for playing a major part in altering the culture of this franchise. You sit down and talk with Otis and I guarantee you not a sentence goes by without him uttering the word "championship". This franchise is pointed upward thanks in large part to O!

Would Otis and Dave like a do-over in the drafting of Fran Vazquez in 2005? Sure. Was JJ Redick the pick in 2006? That's up for debate, though I am not willing to give up on JJ making an impact on this team just yet. The point is that I do not know of any perfect NBA execs...

Red Auerbach, the patriarch of the Boston Celtics, built that franchise on the strength of great drafts and shrewd trades. However, even Red had his share of blemishes. The ole Celtic fan in me still has a hard time forgiving the late and great Red Head for trading Danny Ainge to Sacramento for Ed Pinckney and Joe Kleine in 1989.

Speaking of Ainge, the current GM in Boston, Celtic fans were ready to run him outta Beantown on 'The T' after his C's recorded a scant 24 wins in 2006-2007. Yet, Ainge gets a little help from his friend Kevin McHale in trading for KG and all of a sudden the guy's a genius and the NBA's Executive of the Year.

Look at Mitch Kupchak in Los Angeles. Last May, after winning 42 regular season games and being eliminated from round one by Phoenix, Kobe Bryant demanded that his old buddy Jerry West take over for the embattled Kupchak. Kobe had one foot in Chicago in October. Yet, a few months later, Kupchak robs Memphis blind in getting Pau Gasol. Now, Kobe and Laker fans are smitten with ole Mitch as his Lakers go into the Finals series with Ainge's Celtics.

Go on down the line...Detroit's Joe Dumars, considered one of the best bosses in the NBA, is not without blemish. Joe would love a mulligan after drafting Darko Milicic in 2003 ahead of guys like Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.

The point is that in this fickle business of NBA basketball, everybody makes mistakes. The key to NBA front office longevity, though, is to make sure that the list of positives far outweighs the list of negatives.

Otis Smith has done just that.

The NBA finals begin Thursday night in Boston.

No games scheduled.

QUESTIONABLE

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says Tony Allen might not be back from an injury to guard Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the NBA finals begin Thursday night. The Celtics guard injured his Achilles' tendon in a post-practice pickup game during the Eastern Conference finals and hasn't played since.

CONTRACT EXTENSION

The Orlando Magic signed general manager Otis Smith to a multiyear contract extension. Smith was promoted to full GM in 2006, after sharing the title for a season with Dave Twardzik, who remained assistant general manager. The Magic also extended Twardzik's agreement, the team said Monday.

ZO'S FUTURE

Alonzo Mourning, whose season ended when he sustained severe knee and leg injuries in a game last December, said Monday that if his body gets healthy, he'd like to come back and play one more season before finally calling it a career. The 38-year-old Mourning averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 25 games this season for the Heat.

SPEAKING

"I get the pleasure of seeing him play every night, but they could have went a different way. I'm glad to see the organization stand behind a guy who has been able to give his all for them, for them to step up and actually give him some players and some help, so that he can reach his goals as a basketball player.'' - Boston forward Kevin Garnett on teammate Paul Pierce during the Celtics' day off Monday.

Indiana boy spells 'guerdon' to win spelling bee

Updated Fri. May. 30 2008 11:20 PM ET

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- As it turned out, Sameer Mishra provided more than just comic relief at the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee. He ended up winning the title.

The 13-year-old from West Lafayette, Ind., who often had the audience laughing with his one-line commentaries was all business when he aced "guerdon'' -- a word that appropriately means "something that one has earned or gained'' -- to win the 81st version of the bee Friday night.

"I don't know about comedy lines, but my parents have been telling me since the beginning that I should always stay calm, cool and collected,'' said Sameer, who likes playing the violin and video games, and hopes one day to be a neurosurgeon.

Sameer, appearing in the bee for the fourth time and a top 20 finisher the last two years, clenched both fists and put his hands to his face after spelling the winning word. He won a tense duel over first-time participant Sidharth Chand, 12, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., who finally stumbled on "prosopopoeia,'' a word describing a type of figure of speech.

Sameer was a crowd favourite throughout the tournament. When told one of his words in the semifinals was a dessert, he deadpanned: "That sounds good right now.'' He rolled his eyes and muttered "wonderful'' when told that one of his words had five different language roots. He once asked "Are you sure there are no alternate pronunciations?'' and later uttered "That's a relief'' after initially mishearing the word "numnah'' (a type of sheepskin pad).

And what did he have to say while hoisting the heavy trophy? "I'm really, really weak.''

Sameer is coached by his sister, Shruti, a high school senior and three-time spelling bee competitor. The first-place finish won him US$35,000 in cash and more than $5,000 in other prizes.

Third place went to Tia Thomas, 13, from Coarsegold, Calif., who was eliminated on "opificer'' (a skilled or artistic worker). She started the word with an "e'' instead of an "o'' and received a standing ovation and a hug from her mother. Tia was one of the favourites, appearing in her fifth and final bee after an eighth-place finish a year ago.

The finals were aired live in prime time on ABC, and it appeared for a while that the broadcast could run late into the night. Twenty-four of the first 25 words were spelled correctly, with the dictionary-familiar competitors breezing through words such as "brankursine,'' "cryptarithm,'' and "empyrean'' with barely a hitch.

Rose Sloan was so familiar with "alcarraza'' (a type of jug) that the 13-year-old from River Forest, Ill., couldn't stop laughing in glee when pronouncer Jacques Bailly uttered it. She was later eliminated on "sheitel'' (a wig worn by Jewish women).

Austin Pineda, 14, of Perris, Calif., was the only early casualty, putting an extra "l'' in "tralatitious'' (handed down) as he nervously twirled his bangs with his index finger.

It was somewhat surprising who didn't make the finals. There were no Canadians -- and no Matthew Evans.

Matthew, also a favorite to win in his fifth and final appearance, was stunningly eliminated during the semifinal round Friday when he misspelled "secernent,'' a word dealing with secretion and one that somehow eluded him as he studied his personal 30,000-word list. He ended it with "-ant.''

When the 13-year-old from Albuquerque, N.M., heard the bell, he slumped his shoulders, lowered his head and slowly walked offstage, a rare standing ovation echoing behind him. He stayed in the comfort room for more than a half-hour, and his eyes were still red when he emerged.

"It's disappointing,'' said Matthew, choking back tears. "I know a lot of people were rooting for me.''

All seven representatives from Canada were vanquished in a span of about 20-minutes in the first semifinal round. No Canadian has ever won the bee, but Canada always fields a strong contingent. Nate Gartke of Spruce Grove, Alta., was last year's runner-up.

"Seven up, seven down,'' said Pam Penny of Ancaster, Ont., whose daughter, 10-year-old Veronica, was eliminated on the French-rooted word "DetagGere.'' "Very disappointing. Especially for Canadians to go down on French words.''

Among the spectators was 94-year-old Frank Neuhauser, the winner of the first national bee in 1925. Asked to spell his winning word from 83 years ago, Neuhauser rattled off the letters to "gladiolus'' as if he were racing through his ABCs.

"It's an easy word,'' said Neuhauser, who attracted a long line of teen and preteen autograph-seekers. "Nobody could miss it, but the second (-place) girl did.''

Neuhauser's prize was $500 in $20 gold pieces. He also was feted with a parade through his hometown of Louisville, Ky.

"It was a lot easier back then,'' Neuhauser told the audience. "There were only eight competitors instead of 288. I'd never make it now.''

The 288 spellers that entered this year's bee was a record. Forty-five of them made it past the preliminary and quarterfinal rounds Thursday to compete on Friday.

Lakers-Spurs -- Game 5 Live Blog

Dave McMenamin is live blogging Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Spurs. Boxscore Photos Aftermath:As the Lakers congregated at halfcourt after beating the Spurs 4-1 to advance to The Finals for the first time since Shaq was still a 20 and 10 guy, there was a look of unbridled joy on Kobe Bryant’s face. This is what he always wanted. His team, playing with the same vigor and passion that he does, sitting just four wins away from his fourth ring – a ring that would sure to be sweeter than the other three because this one would come on his shoulders. Anybody is happy when they win a playoff series. I don’t want to make too much of this smile, I mean, D.J. MBenga and Ira Newble had wide grins on their faces too, but Kobe’s was just a little different. To see a guy who normally wears a scowl on his face from tip-off to final buzzer like a soldier wears camouflage look that genuinely happy, was, well, unprecedented. Have we ever seen Kobe this happy? When the Lakers had their threepeat, Kobe was in his early 20s and had to look cool when L.A. won. It was the Big Aristotle’s team and he was saying things like, “Can you digggg itttttt!” at the celebration parades. For O’Neal, it was a party. For Bryant last night, it was a payoff. He had the same satisfied look on his face that I imagine a carpenter to have when he sands the last rough edge off of the wooden rocking horse he painstakingly crafted for his kid. The Lakers are Western Conference champs because Bryant upped his regular season averages of 28.3 points on .459 shooting from the floor to 31.9 points on .509 shooting in the playoffs. That’s right, folks: He won MVP and is playing even better than the regular season version of himself. TNT’s Charles Barkley quipped after Game 5 that we could all forget Kyra Sedgwick because Kobe Bryant really is The Closer, after witnessing Kobe score 26 of his 39 points in the second half, including 17 in the fourth. We’d be remised not to mention the defending champs. The Spurs proved worthy adversaries. Tim Duncan did everything he could with a triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists), Tony Parker had 23 and three other role players reached double digits (Finley – 13, Thomas – 11, Barry – 11). Some of the blame will be put on Manu Ginobili, who was 10-for-38 in the Spurs’ four losses and 9-for-15 in the Spurs one win. But Bryant went out and delivered the knockout punch and then went back to his corner to celebrate with his teammates who did damage of their own in the ring. Pau Gasol has 12 points, five assists, four blocks and a career-high 19 rebounds. Lamar Odom had 13 points and eight boards. Radmanovic, Fisher, Vujacic and Walton combined to hit six huge 3-pointers. And Jordan Farmar chipped in eight points off the bench, including a key personal 6-0 run to chip away at a Spurs lead that had ballooned to 17 at the time. The Lakers are four wins away from their fourth championship since 2000. If you think Kobe’s smile was big now, wait till you see him when they finish the job. Game 5 Final: Lakers 93, Spurs 91 – L.A. beats San Antonio, 4-1 Kobe opens up the fourth with a 3-pointer to lift L.A.’s lead up to four points. Usually he starts the fourth quarter on the bench, but as Doug Collins said, Phil Jackson is keeping him in there from the start so he can go for the “knockout punch” early. The Bench Mob goes on a key 5-0 run thanks to a corner three from Luke Walton and a high-off-the-glass reverse layup by Jordan Farmar. It’s only a four-point Laker lead, but with the home crowd behind them, this could start to snowball. Kobe wills a drive to the hoop, pushing the Lakers’ lead up to six. Marv Albert, owner of the “a spectacular move” call for Michael Jordan’s hand change in mid-air against the Lakers in the 1991 Finals, just serenaded Kobe’s move with an emphatic “gorgeous scoop” call. Kobe follows the gorgeous scoop with a knock-down jumper from straight away, and Vujacic follows Kobe’s jumper with a straight-away three of his own off of a broken play. The lead is seven and growing. San Antonio isn’t backing down. A jumper by Barry and a layup by Parker make it a two-point game with four minutes to play. Manu misses a wide open look from three to give the Spurs the chance to go up by one. Kobe Bryant follows with a floater that doubles the lead back to four. That could be a key sequence we look back at when the game is over. Tremendous. Kobe boosts his game-total to 33 points with a near-impossible fadeaway from the foul line with Tim Duncan draped all over him. The Lakers lead by five. Next possession, Kobe layup. Lakers by seven, and a series-high 35 for KB24. Paul, my college buddy who is a die-hard Celtics fan, just e-mailed me to ask if the Lakers are really this good. Yes, they are. Boston might beat Detroit, but stopping this L.A. team will take more than just the luck of the Irish and the ghost of Red. The Spurs playoffs start with a big made three by Duncan and ends the postseason with a mild missed three. L.A. is back in The Finals for the first time since 2004. What a year for Kobe. From the trading block to four wins from his fourth championship. As Rob Peterson just put it to me: “Kobe should have been in Glengarry Glen Ross -- Always Be Closing.” End of Third Quarter: Lakers 64, Spurs 63 The Spurs looked ready to pull away, going up 10 to start the third quarter, but a Derek Fisher steal and layup followed by a Bryant jumper got the margin back to six. Both teams are playing a little sloppy. There are missed shots galore, empty trips to the free throw line, turnovers … this is an elimination game, people! Pass some Red Bulls around or something. Almost at the exact moment I finished typing that last sentence, Kobe buried a jumper to make it a four-point game and the Spurs responded with a Tony Parker catch-and-shoot make from the wing. Now the action is starting to live up to the billing. Game 4 was a break through for L.A. because it led from wire to wire and never relinquished its lead. The Spurs couldn’t do the same tonight. Kobe Bryant hit a three to draw the Lakers to within one and on the next possession faked another triple out on the wing, bringing Bruce Bowen to his knees, and allowing Kobe to traipse into the lane for a little pull-up to give L.A. the 61-60 lead. That’s an 18-point turnaround from the beginning of the second to the end of the third. San Antonio responded after L.A. took the lead to go back up 63-61, but Mr. First Quarter ended the third quarter with a three from the corner to put the Lakers back up by one. L.A. is 12 minutes from the Finals, San Antonio has 12 minutes to keep its back-to-back bid alive. Halftime: Spurs 48, Lakers 42 Hair update: Ronny Turiaf has a ponytail. That is all. The Spurs didn’t practice on Wednesday and they cancelled their shootaround today. It looks like they wanted to save their makes for tonight. They have pushed the lead to 33-16. We had an interesting discussion in the locker room today about the NBA’s plan to discourage defenders from flopping by fining them next season. I wonder how far that will extend? What about offensive players? Vujacic just got hit in the face by Ginobili and “sold it” by covering his head with both hands in feigned pain. Isn’t that the same thing as flopping, to an extent? Michael-Howard-Fin … Nope. Back rim. False alarm. Jordan Farmar goes on a personal 6-0 run to get L.A. back in the game with Bryant, Gasol and Odom all on the bench.