NBA Basketball Headlines

Create-a-Caption: It’s important to look your best during the playoffs (Ball Don't Lie

A gentleman always breaks out his finest threads for special occasions like Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals; these Oklahoma City Thunder fans have given us all something to which we can aspire. Whether they inspired the postgame sartorial choices of lead guard Russell Westbrook remains an open question, as does what these three splendid Sooners were thinking and talking about as they watched their squad beat up on the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Since the question's open, it's up to you to answer it. Best caption wins a gentleman's entrance to a fancy soiree . Good luck. In our last adventure : Chris Paul is beside Blake Griffin, and Blake Griffin's beside himself. [read full article]

Posted Tue, 15 May 2012 11:10:13 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Finally, an Oklahoma City Thunder rap anthem that barely mentions the Thunder (VIDEO) (Ball

I count a total of four references to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Lost Boys' "Blue and Orange," the "ultimate OKC Thunder Anthem" that — while not really new, as it appeared in highlight clips during OKC's playoff run last year — is making the rounds in advance of the team's Game 2 tilt with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night: 1. The first rapper, a gent named Michael Garner, calls himself "Thunder true" at 0:45; 2. The second, whose name appears to be K-Yeags, says that "round here, we Thunder up" at 1:51; 3. The anchor leg of this rap relay, Grazie, confirms the Thundering up at 2:49; 4. Grazie then brings it on home with the song's first actual reference to a player on the team, Kevin Durant, at 2:55: "Damn right, we never miss / KD, no bricks." You'd think a track intended as a power jam meant to connect with Thunder fans and spur pride in a squad that looked murderous Monday night might actually have some connection to the team beyond the shirts worn by the dudes rapping, but apparently, you'd be wrong. Oh, well. The shirts are nice! [read full article]

Posted Wed, 16 May 2012 07:45:31 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Evan Turner loves getting his butt kicked (Ball Don't Lie)

Much has been made of the way the Philadelphia 76ers stood toe-to-toe with the Boston Celtics in the first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, storming out to a sizable lead in Game 1 before faltering late and dropping a one-point affair, then withstanding an early Celtics barrage on Monday night before locking down late to secure a Game 2 win . One of the key elements in Philly's strong close to the second game was Evan Turner. While the sophomore needed 11 shots to score 10 points on Monday and turned the ball over five times, he made several big plays at critical moments to help Doug Collins' team snare a split at the TD Garden and home-court advantage heading back to the Wells Fargo Center for Game 3 on Wednesday night. It was a hard game to win — and in some respects, as Turner told Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com , it's the kind of game the Celtics have taught the former No. 2 overall pick, who struggled mightily in the early going as a rook and in his first two career games against Boston, how to win. When Turner played against the Boston Celtics last season as a 22-year-old rookie on the Philadelphia 76ers, he was already familiar with his opponents from what he had seen of them on TV. Then the veterans introduced him to their game in the NBA. They tested the young guard during his first year in the NBA, a challenge he appreciates now. "Watching them on TV and playing against them is two different things," Turner told CSNNE.com. "First few times we played against them, they kicked our butts. One of the best things is getting your butts kicked and paying your dues. I can't say it enough — paying your dues and earning the right to play well and earning the right to play well versus them, that's the most important thing." [Marc J. Spears: Kobe Bryant won't blame fatigue on Lakers' blowout loss to Thunder ] This may seem like a far-too-positive stance on getting one's butt kicked, but it's precisely the kind of response that coaches and team executives want to see from a young player — acceptance of the struggles you've faced, willingness to learn from them and purposeful action toward changing the outcome next time. [read full article]

Posted Wed, 16 May 2012 14:25:54 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Lakers Must Shift the Momentum: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

After Game 1, the Los Angeles Lakers looked like they did not have a chance in this series against the Thunder. However, fans know that a seven-game series can quickly change direction as momentum shifts and certain players start to get hot. On paper, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the better team, and they showed it in Game 1 as they pounded the Lakers. Still, the Lakers have the talent and the experience to get back into the series. Working towards victories in this series starts with a shift in momentum. [read full article]

Posted Wed, 16 May 2012 14:42:00 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Harrington undergoes surgery on right knee (The Associated Press)

DENVER (AP) Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington underwent surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee on Wednesday. [read full article]

Posted Wed, 16 May 2012 14:43:10 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Nuggets forward Harrington has knee surgery (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington had knee surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be fit for training camp in October, the National Basketball Association team said. [read full article]

Posted Wed, 16 May 2012 15:07:07 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Coaches, owners have new voice in suggesting changes (AFP)

Rick Carlisle, coach of the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks, and Dan Gilbert, the club owner spurned by LeBron James, are among 10 people named on Wednesday to the NBA's new competition committee. [read full article]

Posted Wed, 16 May 2012 16:56:03 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

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