NBA NEWS

Inner Ear Infection Keeps ‘Big Ben’ Doubtful for Celts-Cavs’ Game 3

Serioux returns to big changes

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Heat Rookie Beasley Returns to Contact Drills

MIAMI, July 5 (AP) - Michael Beasley resumed contact drills with the Miami Heat summer league team Saturday afternoon, his first regular basketball activity since slightly cracking his sternum three days earlier.

His status Monday for the summer-league opener in Orlando against the Chicago Bulls - and Derrick Rose, who went No. 1 overall in the June 26 draft, one spot ahead of Beasley - remains listed as day-to-day.

Beasley was struck by a teammate's elbow in a defensive drill Wednesday, causing the injury. The former Kansas State star, who averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in his lone college season, had only participated in non-contact work since.

Valsecchi returns to Durango seat

Heat Rookie Chalmers a Quick Study

MIAMI, July 5 (AP) - Everywhere Mario Chalmers goes these days, someone asks about The Shot.

You know the one. Down by three, 2.1 seconds left, NCAA title game, Kansas vs. Memphis. Chalmers gets the ball near the top of the key, lets fly over the outstretched arm of Memphis guard Derrick Rose and waits for the crowd to roar. They did, the Jayhawks head to overtime and minutes later, they're the national champions and Chalmers is the hero of the Sunflower State.

"The biggest shot in Kansas history,'' Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It'll never be forgotten.''

Fast forward 2 1/2 months. Somehow, on NBA draft night, Chalmers felt he was forgotten.

Fortunately for him, the Miami Heat remembered.

Now, Chalmers starts anew. Drafted 34th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and subsequently traded to the Heat for two second-round picks and cash, the boyish-looking 6-foot-1 guard who grew up amid the long winters of Anchorage now heads to sultry South Beach. He expected to be a first-round selection - and so did the Heat, who had him ranked 12th on their draft board - but both sides couldn't be happier with the outcome.

"For them to think that highly of me, it's a great honor,'' Chalmers said.

Chalmers will likely see plenty of minutes this coming week at summer league in Orlando, where the Heat will play five games in five days starting Monday. Sure, most eyes in the stands at Miami's summer games will likely be tuned on No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley - Chalmers' rival from Kansas State this past season - but the Heat will be paying attention to what Chalmers can do as well.

Upgrading the point guard position is one of Miami's top priorities this summer. Incumbent starter Jason Williams is an unrestricted free agent and isn't a guarantee to return, backup Chris Quinn is a restricted free agent who may be lured elsewhere, and Marcus Banks - whom the Heat got last season in the deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix and brought Shawn Marion to Miami - is still considered to be a bit of an unproven commodity.

Chalmers knows opportunity is knocking.

"We don't want to put too much on his shoulders, but he definitely shows some good leadership qualities out there,'' new Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He's very good at communicating and talking to his teammates. Pays attention, he knows what's going on, you can tell he's a highly intelligent guy.''

Oh, and he can flat-out play, too.

His shot in the NCAA championship game - which immediately began being mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan's jumper for North Carolina against Georgetown in 1982 and Keith Smart's baseline make in the final seconds of Indiana's 1987 title-game win over Syracuse - is hardly the only highlight from Chalmers' three seasons at Kansas.

Chalmers scored 30 points in the Jayhawks' win over Texas in the league title game this past season. But even with a Most Outstanding Player award from the Final Four on his resume, Chalmers' college calling card was defense: He was the 2007 Big 12 defensive player of the year, held Texas star guard D.J. Augustin to 1-for-13 shooting in a regular-season meeting earlier this year, and holds Kansas' single-season record for steals (97, set in each of the last two years).

"I take a lot of pride in my defense,'' Chalmers said. "I think that starts with my mom. Growing up, she always instilled in me defense and my dad always instilled offense. I just tried to use them both and that's why I'm the player I am today.''

Somehow, though, he kept slipping on draft night, a fact that wasn't lost in the Heat draft room.

After drafting Beasley, they tried to obtain another first-round pick to take Chalmers, but couldn't close any deals. So then the deal was struck with Minnesota, but before the Timberwolves could actually take Chalmers, there was one more hurdle to clear.

Portland picked 33rd overall. The Trail Blazers' general manager, Kevin Pritchard, was the starting point guard on Kansas' national title team in 1988. Surely he would take Chalmers and dash Miami's hopes, right?

Not quite.

Portland picked Memphis' Joey Dorsey. The same Joey Dorsey who slumped in disbelief when Chalmers' 3-pointer sent the title game to overtime and denied the Tigers a championship.

Talk about irony.

"There's a lot to like about Mario and I don't think we thought we'd be in position to add him to this team,'' Heat general manager Randy Pfund said.

What happens next is up to Chalmers.

He can shoot and he can defend, two things Heat president Pat Riley absolutely craves from his point guards. So even though the first-round dream didn't happen, he could very easily find himself playing alongside Dwyane Wade quite a bit in Miami.

Chalmers clearly likes that notion.

"Anytime you come from a small town like Anchorage, Alaska, and step into the big time at the University of Kansas, it's a great honor but at the same time you're going to be a little nervous,'' Chalmers said. "Right now I'm just trying not to be nervous. I'll just use what I used at Kansas and apply it here.''

Heat Rookie Beasley Returns to Contact Drills

Slump Won’t Stop Allen From Shooting

Arenas Ends Season, Bowing to Bone Bruise and Poor Performance

Friday, July 4, 2008

Reports: Arenas Agrees Deal with Wizards

WASHINGTON, July 3 (AP) - Gilbert Arenas is accepting less money from the Washington Wizards, invoking an attitude far, far removed from the world of his working-class fans.

"What can I do for my family with $127 million that I can't do with $111 million?'' he told The Washington Post.

The unpredictable three-time All-Star point guard, in vintage Agent Zero fashion, told the Post and the Washington Times on Thursday that he has agreed to re-sign for $111 million over six years, considerably less than the maximum deal he said the Wizards offered him when the free agency period began on Tuesday.

Arenas negotiated the deal from China, where is traveling as part of promotional tour for a shoe company, and did so without an agent.

"I'm basically giving back $16 million,'' Arenas told the Washington Times. "This is in line with what I've been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams. I don't wanna be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can't do anything about it.''

Arenas became a free agent after opting out of the final year of his six-year, $65 million contract at the end of last season. He initially said he was opting out to receive a max contract, but he later indicated he would be flexible in negotiations.

Arenas also said that he would not re-sign unless the team retained two-time All-Star forward Antawn Jamison. The Wizards lived up to that part of the bargain Monday by giving Jamison a four-year, $50 million deal.

Arenas has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the NBA when healthy, but a major knee and an overzealous rehabilitation sidelined him for most of the last season. He had a first surgery on the knee in April 2007, tried to come back too soon and had a second operation in November. He missed 66 games before returning late in the season, but he had to shut himself down again during the first-round playoff series against Cleveland.

Arenas has vowed to be more cautious about his rehab this time, and the state of his knee didn't appear to devalue his worth in talks with the Wizards.

The Wizards cannot comment on talks with Arenas or announce the deal until a league-mandated moratorium expires next week.

Arenas has averaged 22.8 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his seven-season NBA career. He was known as much for his tantrums as for on-court play when he came to Washington from Golden State in 2003, but he began to display more maturity as he developed into a take-over-the-game player with a knack for hitting buzzer-beating shots. Although he still has his many quirks - yelling "Hibachi!'' after making a big shot is just one of many - he has helped the Wizards became a playoff regular.

Arenas' deal means the Wizards will have room to sign other players - including free agent guard Roger Mason - and still remain under the league's luxury tax.

"It's a relief,'' Arenas told the Washington Times. "It was a burden at the same time. Your whole city is depending on you, wondering if you're going to make the right decision. I'm a franchise player and sometimes franchise players need to make franchise decisions.''

‘Canes send Cole to Oilers for Pitkanen

Hurricanes sign Ruutu to one-year deal

Sabres sign goalie Patrick Lalime to two-year, US$2-million deal

Wizards’ Arenas Opts Out of Final Year of Contract

Report: Paul, Hornets Agree to New Deal

NEW ORLEANS, July 3 (AP) - Chris Paul and the Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons.

Lance Young, Paul's agent, said Paul agreed to a three-year extension with a player's option for a fourth year. The total value of the deal is $68 million.

Paul, who recently completed his third NBA season and has been selected to play for the United States in the Olympics, has one season remaining on his current contract. Under league rules, the first day the Hornets can formalize Paul's new contract is July 9.

Paul and Young met with Hornets general manager Jeff Bower at the team's training center in suburban New Orleans on Wednesday, but Young, who is based in the Washington, D.C., area with the sports management and marking company Octagon, flew home Thursday morning without the final details nailed down.

Young said he had a conference call with Bower in the afternoon and a final agreement was reached a few hours later.

The Hornets will pay Paul the maximum allowable under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, starting at 25 percent of the salary cap for the first year of the extension, with 10 percent raises thereafter.

Last season, Paul led the NBA with averages of 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals. He was the Hornets' second-leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points in helping the Hornets reach a franchise-record 56 regular season victories.

His performance landed him in his first All-Star game, which was hosted by New Orleans.

Paul's play on the court, combined with his charismatic presence at numerous community events, may have saved pro basketball in a city that was in danger of losing its professional teams after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005.

The New Orleans Arena routinely sold out during the second half of last season and the playoffs.

The Hornets also have sold more than 5,000 new season tickets for next season. The Hornets now have about 10,000 season-ticket holders, the most they've had since moving to New Orleans from Charlotte for the 2002-03 season.

With Paul's future in New Orleans secure, the Hornets expect to be busy in free agency, having traded their only draft choice last week to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for $3 million, which they intend to spend on a proven player.

The hope is that top available players will seize the chance to join Paul, a proven playmaker who has helped teammates David West and Tyson Chandler flourish while leading the Hornets to within one victory of reaching the Western Conference finals.

Rossi ‘90 percent’ sure to stay at Yamaha

Moose extend affiliation with Salmon Kings

Scott Expects to Return as Hornets Coach

Parker vs. Paul is Matchup to Watch

Philadelphia Flyers re-sign forward Riley Cote, defenceman Randy Jones

Paul Powers Hornets to Another Easy Win over Spurs

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Report: Davis on Verge of Signing with Clippers

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1 (AP) --Baron Davis is on the verge of signing a long-term deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, a day after the point guard shocked the Golden State Warriors by opting out of the final season of his contract to become a free agent.

Though Davis refused to directly confirm an ESPN.com report that he has agreed to sign with Golden State's Pacific Division rivals, he left no doubt about his upcoming move to Southern California.

Davis already was speaking about the Warriors in the past tense Tuesday night before attending the private Bay Area premiere of "Made in America,'' a documentary he produced about gang life in his native Los Angeles.

"It's tough, but you have to do what's best,'' said Davis, his usually bushy beard trimmed short. "You have to do what's fair. I'm happy with where I'm going. A big reason is because of the impact and the things that I can do going forward. I knew I could have done them here and created all kinds of good things and positive things in the community, and ultimately, me going home helps me make an impact on young kids.''

The 29-year-old Davis, a former UCLA star who has never made a secret of his desire to play in his hometown, averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds while playing in all 82 games last season for the Warriors, who finished with 48 wins - the best record by a non-playoff team in recent NBA history. A year earlier, Davis was the catalyst for Golden State's trip to the second round of the playoffs, ending a 12-season postseason drought and including a stunning upset of top-seeded Dallas in the first round.

On Monday, Davis surprised the Warriors and most league observers by opting out of the final year of his long-term contract, turning down $17.8 million for next season to become an unrestricted free agent. The Clippers were quick to pounce, offering a long-term deal to the oft-injured, playmaking point guard who helped transform the Warriors' fortunes in just 3 1/2 seasons with the club.

Clippers forward Elton Brand also opted out of his contract on Monday, but Los Angeles is expected to make a strong push to sign the veteran forward. And Brand immediately expressed his desire to stay with the Clippers.

With Davis and Brand, the Clippers would have a talented core - albeit a middle-aged group by NBA standards, and one with significant injury histories.

Sharks sign Pavelski, Roenick, Boucher

Marian Hossa signs with Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings

Ducks sign Carter to new deal

Wizards’ Arenas Opts Out of Final Year of Contract

Lakers Not Counting on Bynum Any Time Soon

Monday, June 30, 2008

Ariza Exercises Option To Stay with Lakers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Forward Trevor Ariza, acquired in a November trade with Orlando, has exercised his player contract option to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He appeared in 24 games for the Lakers before breaking a bone in his right foot on Jan. 20. He missed the rest of the regular season and 11 playoff games before returning for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

Ariza averaged 18 minutes a game in the regular season before being hurt, with averages of 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.08 steals. After he came back in the postseason, he set career playoff highs with six points and five rebounds in Game 4 of the NBA finals.

Rossi ‘very likely’ to stay at Yamaha

Rossi ‘90 percent’ sure to stay at Yamaha

Jagr cloudy on Rangers future, but expects to keep playing

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Gallinari Ready for Pressure of Playing in New York

GREENBURGH, N.Y., June 27 (AP) -- Sure, New York will be tough. Danilo Gallinari believes he is ready, since there was plenty of pressure playing in Milan.

Especially since he wore the same number as a giant of Italian hoops - who now happens to be his coach.

Gallinari proved to be worthy of wearing Mike D'Antoni's No. 8 back home, and hopes to win over the fans that jeered him on draft night when he dons a Knicks jersey with the same number next season.

"I think it is two different worlds,'' the 19-year-old Gallinari said Friday at the Knicks' training center. "There is a lot of pressure in Milan and a lot of pressure in New York. So I'm going to different places, but same place.''

And not an easy one. Fans at the draft booed loudly when the Knicks took Gallinari on Thursday with the No. 6 pick, and that was nothing compared to what he'll hear if he doesn't produce right away next season.

"I think Danilo and I and Mike understand that he's going to have to answer all those questions by how he plays, and understand that he's a young player like all the other rookies and it'll be gradually better,'' Knicks president Donnie Walsh said.

Walsh said he got a strong recommendation from former coach Isiah Thomas after a European scouting trip, citing Gallinari's poise in crunch time at such a young age.

"Basically at the end of games, they gave him the ball and he made the plays,'' Walsh said. "For a guy that's that big, that's unusual.''

Playing under D'Antoni should help Gallinari adjust to the NBA. D'Antoni was a star player and championship-winning coach in Italy, where he was once a teammate of Gallinari's father, Vittorio. On the phone after the pick, D'Antoni began the conversation in what was still pretty good Italian, Danilo Gallinari said.

"He played so many years in Europe and Italy, so he knows where I am from, where I come from, and he's probably the right guy to help me, the right coach to help me,'' Gallinari said.

Gallinari doesn't know D'Antoni well, but certainly knows of him. And when he showed up in Milan as a teenager and asked for No. 8, Gallinari was constantly reminded that "Mike D'Antoni is a legend in Milan.''

"Some pressure about that,'' Gallinari said.

Unlike Kobe Bryant, who used to wear No. 8 in honor of D'Antoni, Gallinari's choice of the number had nothing to do with his new coach. He picked it for his birth date - Aug. 8, 1988.

The Knicks believe Gallinari will be a good fit in D'Antoni's system because of his outside shooting ability. Listed at 6-foot-8, though Walsh said he's closer to 6-10, Gallinari shot 40 percent from 3-point range last season for Armani Jeans of Milan, averaging 17.5 points in Italian A-1 League play.

D'Antoni's offense depends on having shooters at every position, and Walsh recognized the Knicks didn't. Perhaps when he bulks up, Gallinari can be used as a perimeter-shooting power forward, the way Shawn Marion was under D'Antoni in Phoenix, where he developed into an All-Star.

Gallinari and Walsh both said a doctor told them the forward could grow another inch, perhaps making him as big a threat on the interior as he is from the outside.

"And he's a very, very good shooter,'' Walsh said. "So I think the combination of being able to take it to the goal and then shoot from the outside, for a guy that big I think is going to be a pretty lethal combination once he gets the strength and all that.''

Henin withdraws from Italian Open, fined

Jankovic wins second Italian Open

Knicks Subdue Bobcats for Third Straight Victory

Bryant Leads Lakers to Game 3 Win

L.A. Lakers 87, Boston 81 (F)

LOS ANGELES, June 10 (AP) -- Magic Johnson looked very nervous. Across the court, Jack Nicholson fidgeted with his sunglasses, Sylvester Stallone squirmed in his seat and nearly everyone else styling in shades of purple and gold was on edge.

The Los Angeles Lakers, kings of the Western Conference, were in real trouble, end-of-the-season kind of trouble.

Kobe Bryant pulled them out of it.

On his floor and on his game, Bryant revived the Lakers - and the NBA finals.

Bryant scored 36 points with an MVP-worthy performance, Sasha Vujacic added 20 points and the Lakers, teetering on the brink of falling into an impossible hole in the NBA finals, beat the Boston Celtics 87-81 in Game 3 on Tuesday night.

L.A.'s brightest sports star, Bryant was California cool.

"What I tried to do with my teammates is just stay calm,'' he said. "It wasn't the end of the world. They did a great job of defending home court. We knew we had to come here and do the same. They feed off of my confidence and I have all the confidence in the world that we can come here and win.''

A change of time zones, jerseys and attitude did wonders for the Lakers, who staggered home from Boston in an 0-2 hole and couldn't afford to fall any further behind in the first best-of-seven matchup between the league's marquee teams since 1987.

No team in NBA playoff history has ever overcome an 0-3 deficit.

Bryant made sure the Lakers won't have to.

And this time, the superstar got some help.

Vujacic, the self-proclaimed "Machine,'' made three 3-pointers, including a crucial one from the left corner with 1:53 left that gave the Lakers an 81-76 lead. Pau Gasol finally flexed his muscles with two inside baskets in the fourth quarter and Derek Fisher, who took an $8-million pay cut to come back and play for the Lakers, made two free throws with 1:33 remaining as the Lakers held on.

"We just wanted to play,'' said Bryant, whose only glaring flaw was an 11-of-18 night from the foul line. "I don't think anyone was feeling desperate.''

Game 4 is Thursday night at the Staples Center, where the Lakers are 9-0 in the playoffs and unbeaten in 15 games since March 28.

But it took everything they had to keep that streak alive as the Celtics, two wins from their 17th NBA title but only 2-8 on the road in this postseason, made the Lakers play a more physical, Eastern Conference-style game and nearly walked away with a win.

Ray Allen scored 25 points - 15 on 3-pointers - for the Celtics, but only one-third of Boston's Big Three showed up.

Kevin Garnett scored 13 points on just 6-of-21 shooting and Paul Pierce, playing a short drive from his childhood home, had only six points, missed 12 shots and was in foul trouble all night.

"As bad as we played, we still had opportunities,'' Allen said. "That's the positive. We can look at it, but I don't think on either side of the floor we were good. We had so much more room for improvement.''

The Celtics enjoyed a huge disparity from the line in Game 2, shooting 38 free throws to 10 for the Lakers.

But the whistles were more well-balanced as Los Angeles took 34 free throws to Boston's 22.

After Garnett's dunk brought the Celtics within 83-78 with 1:28 to go, Bryant made sure that it was he who took L.A.'s next shot. He drove on Allen to get some space, pulled up and drilled the kind of jumper he has practiced tens of thousands of times.

Eddie House, who gave Boston big minutes when Rajon Rondo went out with an injury, countered with a 3-pointer, and suddenly the Lakers' glitzy crowd, which included Nicholson in his familiar courtside seat, grew uneasy.

But Bryant calmed their twitching nerves quickly.

On the Lakers' next possession, Bryant, whose shot wouldn't drop in Boston, backed down in the lane and dropped in a short jumper to make it 87-81.

House missed for Boston, both teams committed silly offensive fouls in the closing seconds, and when the final horn sounded, the Lakers could finally relax.

Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson knew whom to credit for the win.

"I think undoubtedly it's the leadership of Kobe Bryant,'' he said. "He was aggressive right from the start, put the defense on its heels.''

Los Angeles is trying to become the fourth team to come back from an 0-2 deficit, and with two more games at home, they've got a chance to turn this renewed rivalry around.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers figured Bryant would take over the series at some point, but he didn't expect Vujacic, who scored a combined 16 points in Games 1 and 2, to be such a factor.

"Kobe was fantastic but I thought Vujacic was the key to the game,'' he said. "I said before we are going to have to win a game when Kobe Bryant plays well. We know that. But when that happens, we have to shut off the other avenues.''

This game won't be remembered as one of the better ones in the storied Lakers-Celtics rivalry, but it did have a few moments of the physical nastiness that defined their matchups during the 1980s.

"It was not a beautiful ballgame,'' Jackson said. "That's a transition game from East Coast to West Coast. But we'll have a day to catch up tomorrow and hopefully both of us will play better basketball on Thursday night.''

With the Lakers down two and running out of time in the fourth, Bryant took a pass from Luke Walton at the top of the key. Knowing he was about to try a shot that could have lasting importance, Bryant gathered himself, measured the rim and let fly with a 3-pointer that gave Los Angeles a 69-68 lead with 6:55 left.

Fisher made two free throws and Bryant, who had missed seven from the line, knocked down two more foul shots as the Lakers went up 73-68.

Pierce grew up in Inglewood, Calif., where he learned to play in the shadow of the Fabulous Forum, the Lakers' former home where Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and "Showtime'' had an extended run of championship seasons.

But Pierce's finals homecoming was homely.

The Celtics' star forward, who came in averaging 25 points in the series, went just 2-for-14 and missed all four 3-pointers.

Despite his struggles, the Celtics were only down six early in the third quarter when Rondo went down with a sprained left ankle. As he laid on the floor, his teammates rushed over to check on Rondo, who limped off the court without aid - or a wheelchair - like Pierce famously needed after hurting his knee in the opener.

House, who hadn't played a minute in the series, replaced Rondo and drilled a 3-pointer and Garnett scored underneath before finally making a jumper as Boston took a 51-49 lead. Moments later, Allen stuck a 3-pointer that sent Boston's bench bounding onto the floor when the Lakers had to call a timeout.

The Lakers didn't have to endure the deafening chants of "Beat L.A.'' Instead, they warmed up to Randy Newman's "I Love L.A'' and Los Angeles fans screamed "Boston (Stinks)'' every chance they could.

Notes: Informed that Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who sat courtside and within a few feet of the Lakers bench in Game 2, blogged about Bryant criticizing his teammates, Jackson said he wished fans were further back. "I've been against that for as long as I've been coaching,'' he said. "Those people don't belong there, somebody is going to get hurt. But that becomes part of what the NBA is about, being close to the action and close to the scene. We have to suffer the consequences because of it.'' ... American Idol winner David Cook sang the national anthem.

Panthers trade captain Jokinen to Coyotes

Celtics Squash Late Lakers Rally for 2-0 Lead

Bynum’s Return Should Make Lakers Stronger

Red Bulls’ quick answer dooms LA

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Banner 17: Celtics Add to Record Championship Haul

BOSTON, June 18 (AP) -- When the Boston Celtics built a new practice facility, they surrounded the court with their 16 NBA championship banners and left a blank space for No. 17.

The message was a bit too subtle for Doc Rivers.

The Celtics coach turned a spotlight on the empty spot on the wall at the beginning of this season so there would be no doubt about the team's goal.

"They can turn that thing off now,'' guard Ray Allen said early Wednesday morning, his left eye still red from the first-half face-raking and the postgame champagne spraying that accompanied Boston's title-clinching, 131-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Allen returned to the floor after getting poked in the eye and scored 26 points, including an NBA record-tying seven 3-pointers, Kevin Garnett had 26 points with 14 rebounds and Finals MVP Paul Pierce scored 17 with 10 assists on Tuesday night as the Celtics smoked the Lakers like one of Red Auerbach's legendary victory cigars.

A year after winning just 24 games, then drawing bad luck in the draft lottery, the Celtics completed the most dramatic turnaround in NBA history with a Game 6 blowout that was equally impressive.

It was the 17th title for the league's most-decorated franchise, but it was the first for Pierce, Garnett and Allen; for Rivers, after nine full seasons as a coach and 13 as a player; and for the owners who named their group Banner 17 when they took over in 2002 and now have to consider whether they set their sights too low.

"If I changed it I would change it to Banner 20 to set the right tone,'' owner Wyc Grousbeck said in an e-mail on Wednesday. "But Red always said the first one was his favorite, and in honor of our first one we are going to stay with Banner 17.''

It was also the first title for Celtics general manager Danny Ainge also since hanging up his sneakers and putting on a suit.

"I just feel happy for the players,'' said Ainge, who won twice as a Celtics player in the 1980s. "They put so much time and hard work into it.''

So did Ainge.

His was an oddly timed hire, in the middle of the 2003 playoffs, and he immediately concluded that the team competing for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals wasn't good enough to go much further. He began dismantling the roster, acquiring draft picks, prospects and expiring contracts without apparent regard to how they would fit together.

The Celtics did what they could last season to improve their chances in the draft lottery, but they landed the worst-case fifth pick in a two-star draft. Unable to convince Garnett to come to a struggling team, Ainge traded the No. 5 pick for Allen.

Suddenly, the Celtics' prospects look a whole lot better to Garnett.

After signing him to a contract extension that would keep him in Boston through 2012 -- there was no deal without the extension - Ainge made an unprecedented 7-for-1 trade with Minnesota GM Kevin McHale to complete the new Big Three that won it all in its firs try.

"It's a team that's easy to fall in love with,'' Ainge said after the celebration. "They have a lot of guys who are real caring people, that care for one another genuinely. They play together and play hard and I'm glad to be a part of it.''

Ainge and Rivers have all five starters signed for two more seasons, and all but Allen are in the fold for 2010-11. Sixth man James Posey is the key free agent, though midseason acquisitions P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell are also unsigned for next year.

The bigger question is whether the Big Three, so hungry after a decade of watching other teams celebrate, can come back and do it again.

The original Big Three of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and McHale -- the same McHale who handed Garnett to his former teammate -- won three times in the 1980s, reaching the finals four years in a row from 1984-87, but never repeated.

"I know what it means to win a championship as a Celtic, and the place championships hold in the history of the franchise,'' Bird, now an executive with the Indiana Pacers, said Wednesday. "I'm also pleased for Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers and his staff, knowing where they were last year and then making the decisions to put them in position to win the team's 17th title.''

Hockey transactions

Slump Won’t Stop Allen From Shooting

Kobe: "It Ain't Over"

LOS ANGELES, June 14 (AP) -- With the same purpose as one of his in-your-face jumpers, Kobe Bryant leaned into the microphone.

He promised more NBA finals games to come.

"The series ain't over,'' he said. "It's far from over.''

Faced with long odds, Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the practice floor Saturday for the first time since Game 4, when the Boston Celtics stormed back from a 24-point deficit to win and take a 3-1 lead in this reborn rivalry.

The Lakers have run out of time and tomorrows. It's either win Game 5 on Sunday or pack away the sneakers for summer.

No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals, and even if the Lakers can stave off elimination and win at Staples Center, they'll have to play Games 6 and 7 in Boston, where the Celtics are 12-1 this postseason. Since the league switched to the much-debated 2-3-2 format in 1985, no team has won the last two games on the road.

Their climb is a steep one, and if the Lakers have any chance of mounting a comeback, Bryant, the league's MVP and the game's most transcendent player, most criticized personality and most unstoppable force, must be the one to lead them.

If he's feeling any pressure, Bryant isn't showing it.

The Black Mamba is as cold-blooded as ever.

Bryant was relaxed and jovial during a news conference at the club's practice facility in El Segundo. The three-time champion, whose every gesture and facial expression made toward teammates gets overanalyzed, cracked jokes during a 10-minute session with the media.

Bryant insists the Lakers have moved on since their Game 4 collapse. There's no time to dwell on what happened, all that counts now is what happens next.

"We've got to take care of business on Sunday,'' said Bryant, who spent much of the past two days relaxing at home with his family. "So what are we going to do? How am I going to get my teammates in the right frame of mind, make sure they're energetic, and that's what it's been all about.''

Bryant said he spent much of the past two days reading a Harry Potter book to his daughters.

"It was awesome,'' he said. "He had more problems dealing with Voldemort than what we have dealing with the media and the Celtics.''

Boston is one win from its 17th NBA title and first in 22 years, but the Celtics are wary of Bryant. They've done a decent job of containing him through four games - his only breakout was a 36-point performance in Game 3 - but they know Bryant can single-handedly beat them if their not careful.

"We're up 3-1 and we know we have a lot of basketball to play because Kobe is on that team,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He's the scariest player in the NBA in a lot of ways, so you're fearful of him all the time. A respectful fear.''

Bryant didn't score from the field in the first half of Game 4, which the Lakers led by 18 at halftime and by 20 with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter. In the second half, Paul Pierce asked to guard Bryant, a defensive switch that allowed Ray Allen to get his offense going and have his best game of the series.

Pierce's size seemed to bother Bryant, and with none of the other Lakers able to carry the scoring load, Bryant tried to take over down the stretch but couldn't.

"I reached into the hat and couldn't pull the rabbit out,'' he said.

Allen will likely start on Bryant in Game 5, but Rivers plans to throw different defensive looks at the superstar.

"One guy will not guard Kobe Bryant,'' he said. "It's just too hard. It's too much work, and it takes all the energy out of that one guy.''

Rivers respects Bryant, the player. He respects Bryant, the person, too.

But for all the 29-year-old's brilliance, his 10 All-Star game appearances, two scoring titles and ability to do things on the court that others can only dream of, Bryant can't seem to win over his critics. He hasn't helped his image by demanding to be traded last summer, and there is a segment of fans who have never warmed up to him following his arrest five years ago in Colorado on rape charges.

And then there's his behavior on the court. Bryant is tough on his teammates, some say too tough. If one of the Lakers doesn't perform up to Bryant's expectations, he'll let them know about it with a few well-chosen words, a what-was-that? shoulder shrug or glare.

He's demanding and driven, not unlike Michael Jordan, the player with whom Bryant is so often - fairly or unfairly - compared.

One man has a unique perspective on the two icons. Phil Jackson coached them both.

The Lakers head honcho, who has won nine NBA titles, said it takes some thick skin to be able to handle a teammate constantly pushing you to do better. But he has no problem with Bryant's penchant to require perfection from those around him.

"That's an energy that a lot of players can't stand up to, but we try to find players that can,'' he said. "It's very challenging and I think it's very aggressive and I think it's good. Having lived with it for a period of time with two different types of players, I can endorse it.''

Part of the Lakers' success, Bryant feels, is that they are brutally honest with each other. He believes his teammates can handle his heat, and don't take his prodding personally.

"Our relationship is great,'' he said. "I think people pay attention to it a lot more than you do when you lose than when you win. When you win it's great leadership. When you lose, it's ... you're a tyrant. You've got to take it and roll with it.''

Derek Fisher was Bryant's teammate for eight seasons before spending two with Golden State and one with Utah. He re-signed with Los Angeles as a free agent last summer. On the eve of what could be the Lakers' final game of 2008, Fisher was asked if Bryant was a better teammate than before he left.

"Wow,'' Fisher said, laughing. "Sounds like everybody is getting their what-happens-if-we-lose stories together, huh? A lot of Kobe questions.''

In Fisher's eyes, Bryant has grown into a committed team leader and credits his off-the-floor maturity as a father as the primary reason.

"I just think that he's gotten older, he's in the 30 club almost now,'' Fisher said. "I just think he has a great understanding of who he is and what it takes to be the best.''

And starting with Game 5, the Lakers need Bryant to be better than ever.

Wolves Nip Albany’s Playoff Hopes 50-33

BMW set to extend Kubica’s deal

Friday, June 27, 2008

Nets Extend Qualifying Offer to Nenad Krstic

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., June 27 (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent center Nenad Krstic on Friday, allowing them to match any contract proposal from another team.

Krstic had major knee surgery during the 2006-07 season. The injury limited him to 45 games last season, when he averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Krstic was the Nets' first-round selection in the 2002 draft. He joined the Nets in 2004 and has averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds over the past four seasons.

Falcons Partner With Executive Valet

Rockets’ McGrady Has Minor Surgery

Celtics Squash Late Lakers Rally for 2-0 Lead

Boston 108, L.A. Lakers 102

BOSTON, June 8 (AP) -- Banner No. 17 is halfway to the rafters. The Celtics are two wins from another NBA championship.

And maybe a little lucky to be there.

Paul Pierce, darting around the parquet floor with ease, scored 28 points, Boston's defense mobbed Kobe Bryant long enough and unknown Leon Powe scored 21 points as the Celtics held off a remarkable Los Angeles rally for a 108-102 win over the Lakers on Sunday night. The Celtics have a 2-0 lead in these trip-down-memory-lane NBA finals.

The Celtics had to work every second to get the win.

The Lakers trailed by 24 with less than 8 minutes to go, but pulled to 104-102 on two free throws by Bryant with 38.4 seconds left. But Pierce made two free throws, then blocked a jumper by Sasha Vujacic, and James Posey made two free throws with 12.6 seconds left to ice it for Boston.

"I think we got kind of complacent with the lead,'' Pierce said. "We weren't staying aggressive. We let them pick up their pressure. We stopped guarding. We got to take a lesson from this fourth quarter to keep playing regardless of the score and finish the game.''

Boston was 27-for-38 from the line, while the Lakers were 10-for-10.

Pierce wasn't slowed by a sprained right knee suffered in the series opener, when he was carried from the court and plopped into a wheelchair. The Boston captain paced the Celtics, who are back in the finals for the first since 1987, when Larry Bird was the main man and gasoline cost 91 cents per gallon.

As usual, Boston's Big Three -- Pierce, Ray Allen (17 points) and Kevin Garnett (17) -- were the ringleaders but Powe, a second-year reserve had the game of his career, adding his 21 points in 15 minutes that may make him a Celtics fan-favorite for life.

Powe, who played a total of 68 seconds during one stretch of 13 games during the season, scored six points to close a 15-2 run ending the third quarter that gave the Celtics a 22-point lead, a burst had the Lakers California dreaming. At one point in the fourth quarter, Boston fans discarded the familiar chants of "Beat L.A.'' for cries of "Le-on Powe!''

Rajon Rondo had 16 assists and Garnett added 14 rebounds for the Celtics, back in the finals for the first time since 1987.

Game 3 is Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the Lakers are 8-0 in the postseason and have won 14 in a row at home since March 28. Bryant had better hope the rims there are a little kinder than the ones in TD Banknorth Garden.

"We knew we had to get this win this was a big win going out West,'' Pierce said. "Our mind-set is to get Game 3 and try take away their confidence and win this series in L.A.. We knew it was going to be tough, but nobody said it was going to be easy.''

Bryant, who pledged to bounce back from a sub-par Game 1, scored 30 points -- 13 in the fourth -- on 11-of-23 shooting. In four losses to Boston this season, Bryant is just 35-of-93 from the field and can't seem to get the same easy looks he enjoys against every other team.

Pau Gasol had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who were down 95-71 with 7:55 when they mounted a comeback that fell just short.

Bryant's 3-pointer made it 102-91 and then the self-proclaimed "Black Mamba'' slithered down the lane for two quick baskets that got the Lakers, who scored 41 points in the final 12 minutes, within 104-95. The Celtics, meanwhile, began to stand around on offense, thinking the game was in hand.

It was anything but.

After Vujacic hit a 3-pointer, Vladimir Radmanovic made a steal and dunk to make it 104-100 and Celtics fans, who had been dancing moments earlier, began to panic. None of Boston's players seemed to want the ball as it moved around like a hot potato before Rondo missed a jumper with 44 seconds left.

Bryant's free throws brought Los Angeles to 104-102 before Pierce slashed down the lane and got fouled by Derek Fisher. As a few of his teammates locked arms on the bench like a college team trying to advance in March, Pierce knocked down both foul shots. Then, on defense, he got just enough of Vujacic's shot from the left wing with 14 seconds left.

Posey was fouled on the play and calmly made his two free throws. The Lakers rushed the ball down but missed on a couple jumpers, and when the final horn sounded, a collective sigh of relief rushed through the exits as the Celtics and their fans left the building confident, if not shaken.

Called "unstoppable'' by Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Bryant got off to another slow start. He missed his first two shots, one an uncontested layup underneath and was unable to get the looks he wanted as the Celtics followed the MVP around like a pack of hungry wolves on the hunt.

Bryant was just 1-of-4 from the floor when he was called for pushing off on Allen -- his second personal foul -- and spent the final 1:59 of the opening period a few seats away from Jackson. Soon, Bryant was joined by Lamar Odom and Jackson was forced to give his reserves extended early minutes.

They weren't good ones.

The Lakers' heralded bench bunch struggled, and the Celtics took advantage. Trailing by two after one, Boston opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run, capped by Pierce's 3-pointer. As bad as Los Angeles was playing, the Lakers hung around and closed within 41-37 on Gasol's three-point play.

But Pierce knocked down another 3, Allen followed with one of his own and the Celtics closed the half with a 13-5 burst to open a 54-42 halftime lead.

Notes: Jackson, a renowned world traveler who often reviews trips to his destinations, was asked for an overview of his extended stay in Boston, where the weather this week ranged from chilly, October-like conditions to sweltering heat. "It's very green,'' Jackson deadpanned, drawing laughter at the reference to the Celtics' primary colors. "Boston Commons, the Public Gardens. Very green.'' ... Among the celebrities in attendance: Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling -- wearing a Larry Bird jersey, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, NFL quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Vince Young and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Lester, a cancer survivor who recently pitched a no-hitter, was honored during a timeout in the second quarter.

Bryant Leads Lakers Past Spurs in Game 4

Conquest Ground ThunderBirds 59-49

Pioneers Blaze Past Conquest 69-27

Lakers Survive Celtics’ Rallies

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Lakers, Celtics Look to Play Better in Game 4

LOS ANGELES, June 11 (AP) -- Maybe the NBA finals should book an appointment with one of Southern California's finest plastic surgeons.

After a shabby, sluggish Game 3, featuring enough air balls and air-headed plays for seven games, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers could use a few nips, tucks and lifts. Another good night's sleep or afternoon nap might help, too.

"It wasn't the prettiest game,'' said Celtics center Kevin Garnett, who missed two dunks and seems to have left his shooting touch back in May.

For two franchises that have combined for 30 titles won by a Who's Who of Hall of Fame hoopsters, it was indeed a night to forget.

But playing in front of Jack, Denzel, Hef and the rest of their celebrity-laden crowd in Staples Center, where they're 9-0 in the postseason and perfect over the past two months, the Lakers, despite missing 13 free throws, pulled within 2-1 in the reborn rivalry series with an 87-81 victory Tuesday night.

Boston, for its many warts, which included a 35 percent shooting performance, still had a chance win.

As the teams practiced for Thursday night's Game 4, several players blamed the six-hour flight from Boston to Los Angeles for the sloppiness.

"I think most of the players out there struggled physically,'' Lakers center Pau Gasol said. "You could tell the travel and Game 2 and 3 being so tight together, going across the country pretty much is an overseas trip. It was like going back to Spain. I think that was a factor.''

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, too, noticed players may have been feeling the affects of jet lag and fighting fatigue.

"This was the first game that I had four or five different players during the game signal to pull them out,'' he said. "I had to blow a timeout, one that I didn't want to use late. I thought it was a very tough turnaround and I think rest is very important.''

One guy seems refreshed. Kobe Bryant soared as usual.

The Lakers' superstar scored 36 points, and showing why he's the league's MVP, did what he had to do to get his team back into the finals. Bryant went 12-of-20 from the floor, dropping jumpers, hanging in the air to sink floaters and drawing double teams to set up his teammates.

However, only one of them - Sasha Vujacic - matched Bryant's production. The 24-year-old came off the bench and scored a career-high 20 points, but "The Machine,'' as he dubbed himself, was the only Lakers player besides Bryant to rise to the occasion in the must-est of must-win games.

Los Angeles' other four starters - Gasol, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher - combined for 22 points on 7-of-28 shooting. For the second straight game, Odom was plagued with foul trouble, which forced Lakers coach Phil Jackson to distribute the forward's minutes to others.

"I have to stay aggressive,'' Odom said, "but it's hard to when you're not out on the floor.''

The Celtics have their own problems, like getting Garnett going and hoping that Paul Pierce, who had a horrid homecoming in Game 2, doesn't choke under the pressure of playing in front of folks from his neighborhood in nearby Inglewood.

There's also the playing status of point guard Rajon Rondo, who injured his left ankle early in the second half of Game 3 and was kept out of practice on Wednesday.

Rivers said if the speedy Rondo is slowed by the injury that backups Eddie House and Sam Cassell would see more time. Rivers also may use Tony Allen, who hasn't played in the series but did a solid job of guarding Bryant during Boston's two wins over Los Angeles during the regular season.

Cassell is one of the few Celtics with championship experience. He won two championship rings with the Houston Rockets and has been trying to tell his teammates to relax and not be overwhelmed by the enormity of the finals.

"It's the same game, it's just a bigger stage,'' Cassell said. "You're not at your high school auditorium any more. This is Carnegie Hall.''

And so far in the series, Garnett hasn't appeared ready for it.

The Celtics' inspirational leader has displayed his usual intensity and has been his customary force on the boards. But he's just 22-of-62 (36 percent) and missed 15 shots in Game 2. Without Garnett as an offensive threat, the Celtics have to count on Pierce and Ray Allen to carry the scoring load.

"We've got to get Kevin going, clearly,'' Rivers said. "He's shooting below 40 in the series, and that's something he doesn't do. Paul, I honestly never worry about a lot offensively. He's a great offensive player. He had a tough night, and he'll get it going.''

Pierce admitted feeling nervous in his return to L.A., and his stats line: 2-for-14 from the field, 0-for-4 on 3-pointers, six points in 32 minutes, reflected it. He said he wasn't bothered by the sprain knee he suffered in Game 1, but the strain of being home may have been too much.

"I was probably a little more anxious than normal being that I'm at home in front of more family and more friends,'' he said. "I've got to block that out and go out there and leave it on the court. I've done it in the past, I've been out there and played and played well, and it's time for me to do it again.''

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Red Bulls’ quick answer dooms LA

Galaxy confident even without stars

Galaxy looking for scoring balance

Celtics Storm Back, Take 3-1 Lead

Boston 97, Los Angeles 91 (F)

LOS ANGELES, June 12 (AP) -- This was how the Boston Celtics of yesteryear - Cous and Russell and Bird and Hondo and the Chief - would do it. Digging deep, they fought for every loose ball, scrapping with grit and guts, champions clad in green.

These Celtics are no different.

And they are just one win from another NBA title.

"Yeah,'' Kevin Garnett said. "I can taste it.''

In their comeback season, Boston saved its biggest one of all for the finals.

The Celtics rallied from a 24-point deficit and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-91 on Thursday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this history-rich series and move within one victory of a 17th championship that seemed impossible a year ago.

"I don't want to get overjoyed,'' Paul Pierce said. "I want to go out there to try and win Game 5 on Father's Day and then I'll be able to breathe. Right now, I'm waiting to exhale.''

He's not alone.

A rivalry between the league's two most storied franchises - with some of the game's biggest names and biggest moments - now has a rally for the ages.

No team had ever overcome more than a 15-point deficit after the first quarter, and Elias Sports Bureau said it was the largest comeback in the finals since 1971. One thing's for sure, it will forever be remembered in the annals of Celtics-Lakers lore.

When the final horn sounded, Pierce, an L.A. kid playing in front of family and friends, doubled over in exhaustion and exuberance. The Celtics, the team he stuck with through 10 years, including a 24-win season in 2006-07, had done the impossible.

"It's definitely a great win, one that you're going to put up there in the library and break back out one day for your kids to watch,'' Pierce said. "But I want nothing more than that ring right now.''

Pierce scored 20 points, Garnett had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Ray Allen had 19 points, two coming on a marvelous reverse layup in the fourth as Boston's Big Three, thrown together last summer by general manager Danny Ainge to revive a franchise accustomed to hanging banners from the rafters, put the Lakers on the brink of a summer vacation.

It took an epic comeback to do it, and now the Celtics can reclaim their place atop pro basketball with a win in Game 5 on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

No team has ever recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the finals.

Kobe Bryant scored 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting but the league's MVP couldn't rescue the Lakers when they needed him most. Lamar Odom had 19 points - 15 in the first half - and Pau Gasol, whose addition in a midseason trade was supposed to give the Lakers their final piece to complement Bryant, had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Trailing by 18 points at halftime and seemingly done when they fell behind by 20 with 6:04 left in the third quarter, the Celtics outscored the Lakers 31-15 in the third quarter to pull within 73-71 going into the fourth.

The remarkable rally was reminiscent of what Los Angeles did in Game 2, when the Lakers trimmed a 24-point deficit to two in the fourth quarter before the Celtics regrouped to open a 2-0 lead. But Boston had another 12 minutes to finish off theirs, and the green-and-white did.

"Some turnaround in that game. The air went out of the building,'' said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who was asked what he told his club afterward. "Well, it's not over. This is not over. The series is not over.''

Boston's comeback included a 21-3 run over the final five minutes, fueled by two 3-pointers from Eddie House, who was getting more playing time because of Rajon Rondo's tender left ankle. The Celtics were still down by double digits with 2 minutes left in the third but closed the quarter with a 10-1 run, capped by P.J. Brown's dunk - a slam that could be felt all the way back to Boston's North End.

The Celtics finally caught the Lakers at 73-all on Leon Powe's jumper in the lane with 9:05 remaining, tying the score for the first time since it was 2-2 in the first minute.

At that point, the Lakers looked lost, confused, you name it. And when House hit an 18-foot jumper with 4:07 remaining, the Celtics had their first lead, 84-83. Boston's bench erupted, Lakers fans gasped and it was just a matter of time before they were heading out of Staples Center wondering what went wrong.

Allen, one of the game's purest shooters, then drove to the basket and made a reverse layup as dramatic as the Celtics' comeback.

"It was huge,'' Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "It was really supposed to be a middle pick-and-roll with Kevin and Ray, and Ray waved Kevin off because he liked the matchup that he had already, so he didn't want to bring another defender in to help. It was a great call by Ray. The layup was just tremendous.''

Bryant, who except for a 36-point performance in Game 3 has been an ordinary superstar in his try for a fourth championship ring, didn't score in the first half. He tried to rally the Lakers and got them within 89-87 with one of his patented twisting layups. But James Posey drilled a 3-pointer for Boston to make it 92-87 with 1:13 left. Derek Fisher's long jumper got the Lakers within three.

But Pierce was fouled and made two free throws, forcing Jackson to call a timeout with 47 seconds to go. As the Lakers headed toward their bench, Pierce pumped his fists, flexed his muscles and let out a yell.

At the other end of the court, Bryant hung his head.

"They were determined not to let me beat them tonight,'' he said. "I saw three, four bodies every time I touched the ball.''

Surrounded by Hollywood stars on their own back lot sound stage, the Lakers were seeking their 10th straight win at home in the postseason and were about to drop the "if necessary'' tag from Game 6. Now, they have to hope they can force the series back to Boston.

For the third time in this series, commissioner David Stern met with the media before the game. It was an unusual step for the league's long-tenured leader, who went on the offensive to defend the integrity of NBA officials under fire in the Tim Donaghy scandal.

Maybe the next investigation should focus on what happened to the Celtics in the first quarter.

L.A's crowd, notorious for arriving late, leaving early and spending more time text messaging and talking on cell phones than clapping, was much more involved than in Game 3. They roared when Lakers Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar presented the game ball to officials and were on their feet when Los Angeles blasted to a 16-6 lead.

By then, Odom had scored eight points, doubling his total from Game 3 and the enigmatic forward finished the first quarter having made all six field goal attempts and scoring 13 points. Moments later, Garnett went out with his second personal, and with the NBA's best defender on the bench, the Lakers ran wild.

Odom made consecutive jumpers from the top of the key to put Los Angeles ahead 26-7. The Lakers eventually pushed their lead to 45-21 when Sasha Vujacic, whose 20 points sparked his team in Game 3, nailed a 3-pointer and it was the Boston Massacre, West Coast style.

But the Celtics wouldn't quit.

"Once we got the lead, obviously, we were thrilled to death,'' Rivers said. "As far as we were down, nothing was going right for us, and we just hung in there.''

Notes: Some of Hollywood's brightest stars glimmered, including the usuals: Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington and Dyan Cannon. They were joined by former NFL star Jerry Rice, actress Jennifer Garner with husband Ben Affleck, singer Justin Timberlake and Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart. ... The Celtics and Lakers finished with the best records in their respective conferences. It's the first time teams with the top marks have met in the finals since Indiana and Los Angeles in 2000. The last team to have the league's top record and win the title was San Antonio in 2003. ... Two hours before tipoff, two seats in the lower bowl were going for $3,500 apiece through an on-line ticket brokerage.

Lakers Survive Celtics’ Rallies

Pioneers Blaze Past Conquest 69-27

Pierce-led Celtics Eliminate Pistons in Six

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