NBA At 2: Jet Psyching Out LeBron?

The NBA Finals are truly where legends are born, and after getting off to a slow start in the series Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry is starting to look like something of a legend.

After being stifled by the defense of Miami's LeBron James in the first three games of the Finals, Terry started running his mouth, more to get himself charged up than anything else. It worked, too. After saying he didn't believe LeBron could contain him for seven games "The Jet" scored 17 points in Game 4, including the two free throws that iced an 86-83 win for Dallas. He also scored eight of the Mavs' final 17 points, he was just getting warmed up.

Game 5 saw more of the same from Jet, who looked to upstage LeBron at every turn. Despite James' tough defense Jet again came up big in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of his 21 points in the final frame. None were bigger than the three he scored on a trey he somehow managed to drill while LeBron flew in his face, a shot that put Dallas up 108-101 with 33 seconds left and assured them of a 3-2 series lead as the Finals shift back to Miami.

"He played great," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle after the game. "He played great. During period where Dirk was out of the game, we were going to him, and he was delivering. Those are critical stretches because it's tough when Dirk is out of the game. But it's the total game that we've been preaching to Jet really since the playoffs began and tonight he did a terrific job."

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After topping the Heat yet again, this Rose is in full bloom

Within the larger confines of The Race To The MVP, a dash to the More Valuable Player Award broke out Thursday night at Chicago's United Center.

That's More Valuable, rather than Most, because in this case it was a comparative competition rather than a superlative. The Race is a generous form, with spots for 10 MVP candidates even though the NBA's official ballot allows for only five. But with Derrick Rose and LeBron James running 1-2 -- in that order -- atop The Race for weeks now, it seemed appropriate that the showdown of their teams, the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat, might narrow the MVP focus in laser-like fashion.

Members of the committee, all of whom were in the house, weren't the only ones who saw it that way.

"So would it be safe to say that the result of tonight's big matchup between Miami vs. Chicago (in Chicago) will determine who the #1 ranked guy on the Race is tomorrow?" e-mailer "Yoon Mi" wrote. "I can't wait cause it is going to be an awesome game and a possible playoff preview. "Personally I agree with ESPN's award watch that LeBron is the MVP right now but I agree with you on the other 2-10 rankings. Hopefully LBJ can prove me right tonight with a big road win and send Chicago to a second consecutive loss. Cheers!"

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NBA : Chicago Bulls making their “moves”

This year’s trade market was one of the busiest as well as biggest in the NBA history. With big names like LeBron James and Chris Bosh moving to Miami Heat, NBA witnessed a lot of buzz lately. Some fans consider the move would be successful whereas others have opposite views. The Miami Heat has come up with big signings, with other teams following its footsteps.

Trying to recapture the days in which they were the only dominating force in the NBA, the Bulls intended to sign LeBron James, who is expected to bring the same royals as Michael Jordan once did. After failing to sign King James, the Chicago Bulls came up signing Carlos Boozer to further boost their talented squad that lacked experience. LeBron joined the Miami Heat that couldn’t manage to get past the first round playoffs. Not only did the Bulls sign Boozer but came up with another amazing signing that strengthens three scoring abilities by bagging Kyle Korver, a three-point specialist from the Utah Jazz.

Not only this, the Bulls also managed to trade away a few players from their squad so that they could rotate the players and every person in the team could play without any conflicts.

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LA Lakers A Long Way From Repeating

Despite Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade’s utterance that the Los Angeles Lakers are the favorites to repeat as NBA champions, Kobe Bryant’s team shouldn’t just be handed the trophy now. The road as a defending champion is always longer and more difficult than the previous one.

There are more expectations and thus more pressure. The mentality of fans is “If the Los Angeles Lakers won the title last year and kept every significant piece on their roster, why can’t they do it again?”

The answer is twofold. For one thing, a bullseye is inevitably placed on the back of each defending champion. It’s now squarely affixed between the numbers of the purple and gold jerseys. Especially on the back of Kobe Bryant’s 24.

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Will Shaquille O’Neal take Boston Celtics to another championship title?

NBA: Will Shaquille O’Neal takes Boston Celtics to another championship title?

The Los Angeles Lakers is a team that is cherished by the basketball nation and is given the highest regard for procuring the top most elite players and nurturing them into world class championship winners for more than 50 years. Till date LA Lakers have remained a consistent franchise, reeling in more fans by the end of each year. It is a franchise with such a strong aura that whoever enters it does not want to leave.

However there were those who took the daring step and opted out; Shaquille O’Neal is one of those audacious players. According to media speculation he wanted to leave the team because he did not like sharing his stardom with fellow team mate Kobe Bryant which led to a heated brawl between the two.

He departed from the LA Lakers to join the Miami Heat along with superstar Dwyane Wade, although he was able to lead the team to win a championship title adding to his 4th title. He soon left the team after an alleged feud with the head coach Pat Riley in 2008. Basketball purists believe any chance Shaquille O’Neal had of building a dynasty was finished after he left the Lakers.

Shaquille O’Neal has suffered since he left the Lakers, joining Miami Heat followed by 2 other teams, Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The All-Star could have teamed up with LeBron James and win another championship ring, unfortunately the opposite happened. Shaquille O’Neal scored only 11.5 points per game in this year’s playoffs making his lowest score average ever.

Shaquille O’Neal hit the free-agency market this year after the playoffs; the once remarkable player was now a desperate player who nobody wanted to sign. The ‘Big Diesel’ is now 38 years old and is hungry for another title, rumours had it he wanted to go back to the Miami Heat and join the freshly formed All-Star trio including Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

The 7’1” big man was struggling to a find a team this season that will welcome him aboard and give him the same respect he once got in the Los Angeles Lakers, but nobody seemed interested in the aging star. However two days ago something happened that no sports analyst or basketball pundit had predicted, Shaquille O’Neal was signed on by the legendary team Boston Celtics. He was given a 2 year contract worth $3 million, proving the fact that Shaquille O’Neal is extremely concerned about his legacy and the fact that his former teammate, now rival Kobe Bryant has one more Championship title than him.

Accepting a minimum wage contract, putting his ego aside is as likely as the world is going to end in 2012. An ego so big that he left 2 teams because he could not cope with his former teammates, an ego so big that has left him delusional thinking he has another shot to the title.

Shaquille O’Neal has once again created hype in the NBA; his presence in the Boston Celtics has led many to believe he could now actually embed his name deeper into the league. With Kevin Garnett returning to the team after a successful knee surgery followed by star veteran players like Paul Peirce, Ray Allen, experts say the Diesel actually has a shot at winning another title.

It is no secret that Shaquille O’Neal is the oldest player in the league and deteriorating as days go by. Nevertheless, it is a fact that he once was one of the top most scorers in the NBA, and was also one of the most dominating centers in the NBA history. Basketball pundits say you never know the old fiery Shaquille O’Neal may get back into action and grab the Boston Celtics reigns taking them to the upcoming championship. The MVP recently told press he still has a year or two left in him, that statement will be proven true or false in the upcoming match vs. Miami heat which takes place on 26th October 2010. So fasten your seatbelts NBA fanatics because it is going to be one hell of a battle.

Former Cavaliers superstar LeBron James says thank you to Cleveland, Akron | NBA

AKRON, Ohio — LeBron James climbed on a bicycle Saturday morning and fastened his safety helmet.

Perhaps surprisingly, he didn't need it. The only people who turned out for James' fifth annual "King for Kids Bikeathon" in downtown Akron were the ones who continue to love their hometown hero.

Wearing a red "Enjoy Akron" shirt and shorts, the 25-year-old LeBron James pedaled down Main Street to cheers from a crowd that was significantly smaller than in years past, but the day was without any major protests or disturbances.

It was the first public appearance in Akron for the 2-time league most valuable player since he left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat last month — a decision that left much of Northeast Ohio feeling hurt and betrayed.

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NBA : Who will win Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat?

NBA : Who will win Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat?

The Boston Celtics, defending Eastern Conference champions, are scheduled to play vs. the Miami Heat on 26th of October 2010; as if the Heat’s newly formed trio was not enough of a juncture.

This year was tough for the Boston Celtics as they lost the playoffs to the LA Lakers in the last 5 minutes followed by their star player Kevin Garnett getting injured and Paul Pierce’s contract ending. The Boston Celtics fans feared deeply that the team was on the verge of breaking but who thought the tables would turn once again.

Kevin Garnett reportedly had a successful knee surgery and plans on returning to the court soon while Paul Pierce extended his contract and the biggest news ever since the Miami Heat trio was formed is, Shaquille O’Neal announced on the Celtics official site that he is ecstatic to join the team.

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Siena's Kenny Hasbrouck to Sign with NBA Miami Heat

Kenny Hasbrouck has always been focused on the NBA.

The Siena grad didn't even want to talk about playing overseas until he first gave the NBA everything he had.

That effort is now paying off.

Tomorrow, Hasbrouck will sign a contract with the Miami Heat a deal that will put him in training camp with all-stars Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh.

The deal, which could pay Kenny upwards of $200,000, is not guaranteed until December 1st.

"I am grateful for it to finally happen, to finally put my name on the paper where I know I am going to be secure for at least a couple months. So, it's good." Kenny Hasbrouck told FOX23 during his visit back to Siena College today.

Kenny Hasbrouck was Miami's leading scorer in the Vegas Summer League averaging 13.6 PPG to go with 2.4 RPG and 2.4 APG in 5 games.