Why? Because it just needs to happen, to make my life complete. Oh, and Anthony needs to lead the Nets to a championship.

Everyone knows of the rumors of Carmelo coming to the Nets. And if you don’t shame on you. But if that happened, imagine how great that would be. That trade woud be up there with the Nets stealing Kidd and Carter from the Suns and Raps, respectively. I mean, Carmelo Anthony, one of the top young players in the game…for RJ? Are you kidding me? That’s a no-brainer. Carmelo’s twice the player Jefferson is. It’d be a dream for me, with my Nets-Orange fandom.

So, the other night, I caught the Lakers’ win over San Antonio, in L.A. How amazing was that? Who wasn’t surprised and amazed when the Lakers came back from a 20 point lead?! It was such a good win for L.A., though. For L.A.’s bench to make such a run, and Kobe to follow up by leading another run, thereby giving L.A. the victory was great. (As you can tell, I’m sick of San Antonio.)

Also, anyone else surprised with the improve game of Sasha Vujacic? Wow, what a player he’s become. His defense has improve greatly, and his shot selection is looking much better than it previously was. Not to mention those clutch free throws in Game 1. I used to think he was trash…I was definitely wrong about him.

Anyways, the Game 2 was tonight, and how thankful was I to hear that, while I on my walk, the Lakers had blown out the Spurs by 30 points! That’s the best thing I’ve heard since…well, since Kidd got traded for Devin Harris. I hope this trend of the Lakers whooping the Spurs continues, because I can’t stand the Spurs.

So, for the Pistons-Celtics series…shall we consider that over? With the Pistons’ win at Boston, home court advantage has shifted to the Pistons. Now, all the Pistons have to do is win at home in the rest of the series, and they’re the Eastern Conference Champs. Of course, the Pistons did lose one against the 76ers, of all teams. But Boston hasn’t won yet away from home. And I really doubt the Pistons are gonna underestimate the Celtics, as they know perfectly well what they’re capable of.

The keys to the Pistons winning this series is gonna be Chauncey and Sheed: For one, is Chauncey healthy enough to lead his team to the Finals, and will he be able to stay healthy throughout the whole series? Let’s hope so. And will Sheed step up to the call, and get the better of Garnett in the series? I think he will. He matched his average last night of 13 points, played good defense, and his teammates stepped up from the Game 1 blowout. I think that, as long as Chauncey’s fine and healthy, this series should be Detroit’s for the taking.

Since my hopes for a Hornets-Magic Finals were squashed in the second round, I’m hoping this round will make up for it, by providing with about an equally entertaining Lakers-Pistons Finals.

http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2251669

By Anthony Olivieri
PA SportsTicker Pro Basketball Editor

“The Big Three” was back for the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night - just not the way you remember them.

Paul Pierce scored 29 points, Kevin Garnett added 26 and 16 rebounds and the replacement member of the trio, Rajon Rondo, collected 20 and 13 assists as the Celtics held on for a 96-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Rondo’s outburst - which came in place of Ray Allen’s usual contribution to Boston’s celebrated triumvirate - came in the pivotal Game Five of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which Boston now leads, 3-2.

“He was the X-factor tonight,” Cavaliers superstar LeBron James said. “Rondo played an excellent game. Without Rondo tonight, it would’ve been a much tighter game. Rondo was the player of the game tonight.”

Rondo, who had made two 3-pointers in a game just once in his career, buried two in a span of 46 seconds to spark a 14-3 run that closed the first half and pulled Boston within 46-43.

The second-year point guard’s steal and layup just over a minute into the second half gave the Celtics their first lead of the game, and Pierce’s 3-pointer midway through the third snapped a 55-55 tie and put the hosts on top to stay.

The shot was part of a 23-10 burst, which Rondo capped with a runner for a 12-point bulge. And that wasn’t even the most impressive part of his night.

Rondo, whose one turnover came with 5:06 left in the first quarter, was remarkably efficient - a departure from his inconsistent play this postseason which has prompted Celtics coach Doc Rivers to yank around his minutes.

But even Rivers, a proficient point guard in his own right, was more confident after Wednesday’s win.

“Rondo was fantastic tonight,” Rivers said. “I thought spreading the floor for him at the start of the third quarter was good for him. … He just made great, great decisions for us tonight.”

Rondo isn’t the only one whose decision-making has been questioned. Critics have scolded Rivers for his inconsistent rotation which relies too heavily on reserve point guard Sam Cassell.

The veteran floor general, who has a penchant for big shots, is one of two Celtics with a championship ring. But Cassell tends to dominate the ball for Boston, which won 66 games in the regular season with an unselfish offense - orchestrated by Rondo.

As Rivers pointed out, Cassell is not exactly a lock-down defender, either.

“Well, we pretty much have given (Rondo) the keys all year, you know what I mean?” Rivers said. “Sam is struggling and, the (Daniel) Gibson matchup was killing us with Sam.”

Gibson scored just two points on 1-of-4 shooting before leaving with a right shoulder contusion after slamming into teammate Anderson Varejao in the fourth quarter.

But despite the absence of Gibson, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown thought Rondo had it going no matter who was guarding him - because, frankly, they hadn’t been actually guarding him the whole series.

Cleveland had employed an innovative defense which saw Gibson or guard Delonte West used as a roaming defender while daring Rondo to shoot. He made the Cavaliers pay in Game Five.

“Rondo comes down on two occasions; he’s wide open, he buries that shot,” Brown said. “And that’s the shot that we’ve been giving him on the back side, trying to get to him late.

“But he stepped up and knocked it down and then, on top of that, he was good. He got in the lane a couple times and found guys around the rim.”

As such, it was a good night for Rondo, even if Rivers isn’t exactly sure that he can replicate the clutch shooting performance. Reserve Eddie House had been the Celtics’ quick trigger all season.

But House, who has been relegated to the bench in Rivers’ new playoff rotation, could not get in the game as Rondo was playing his role to perfection - at least for one night.

“Those were shots that, when they go in, you love them,” Rivers said. “They probably gave him confidence. He had a great feel for the game tonight. I thought he made good decisions.”

Boston, which is 0-5 away from TD Banknorth Garden in the postseason, is looking for Rondo to bring his accurate shot on the road as it tries to close out Cleveland in Friday’s Game Six at Quicken Loans Arena.

“I don’t know when we will get (a road win), but we have Game Six,” Rivers said. “If not, we come back here to the Garden and we just keep playing. We won’t change anything, it wont affect us, we just keep playing.”

The same even-keel attitude can be applied to Allen, who, at least for the moment, is the forgotten member of the “Big Three.” He scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting Wednesday - but remains the team’s go-to guy in the locker room.

“(Rondo) was aggressive. But in Games Three and Four (at Cleveland), they left him open a lot,” said Allen, who has taken Rondo under his wing this season. “You can see when he is out there he thinks a little bit, he should attack if he has a shot.

“He will shoot it but he’s not sure if he should. Tonight, he just shot and he made the shot. They didn’t have an answer for us, they will have to adjust that.”

The NBA: Where Amazing Happens. This has never been more evident then in this years All-NBA first team.

MVP Kobe Bryant highlighted the star studded cast for the All-NBA first team. The lone unanimous selection is joined by Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. This is possibly the greatest All-NBA first team of all time, joining the All-NBA teams from the late 1980’s. This well rounded cast of players has lead their respective teams to a great 2008 NBA season.

For the third season in a row, and fifth of his career, Kobe Bryant was named to the All-NBA first team. This years MVP averaged 28.8 PPG, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds for the 57-25 LA Lakers. Kobe lead his team to their 19th pacific division title and a 15 game improvement.

Defensive player of the year Kevin Garnett led the Celtics to the best record in the NBA at 66-16. Garnett averaged 18.8 PPG, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Garnett’s defensive leadership and winning mentality has lead the Celtics to the greatest turnaround in NBA history. With a 42 game improvement, the Celtics have quickly become a force thanks to the mental toughness and leadership of Garnett.

Scoring title winner LeBron James makes his second career All-NBA first team. James who averaged 30.0 PPG is only the third player to average 30, 7 and 7. As the youngest player to score 10,000 points the Cavs are looking for another finals appearance looking for LeBron to bring it again this year.

Dwight Howard led the league in double-doubles with 69 and 20-20 games with 8. Howard was first in the league in rebounds with 14.2 to go along with 21 PPG and 2.2 blocks. Howard led the Magic to their first division title since 1996. Dwight also led the league in dunks with 267.

Chris Paul who led his team in assists, points and steals rounds out this years All-NBA first team. Averaging 21.1, 11.6 and 2.7, Paul lifted the Hornets to the number 2 seed in the West. Being only the second player since John Stockton to lead the NBA in assists and steals, this is Chris Paul’s first All-NBA first team selection.

Here are the rest of the All-NBA teams:

2007-08 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

2007-08 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Wow, talk about an unexpected blowout.

Let me start this out by saying that it was unfortunate that Chauncey Billups went down for Detroit in the 1st quarter. I’m all for having both teams at 100%, and having the truly better team win the series that way. Let’s not forget, though - Brian Cook, who became an important role player off the bench for the Magic before he got injured, is not available until the next round…but hopes the join the team by the middle of this series.  The Magic’s bench has been looking pretty weak this series…though, of course, Chauncey’s importance to his team is far greater than Cook’s.

Although Chauncey’s  injury was unfortunate, it was clear before he went into the locker room that this game was in control by the Magic from the beginning. They limited turnovers, established Dwight in the post, attacked the rim, made three’s, and defended well throughout the game. Dwight was getting his throughout the game, and taking to the Pistons when he got the chance.

The game started out strong by Jameer: he did exactly what was needed, and built upon what he did last game. He set the tone for his team, and helped them build an early lead. Rashard knocked down 3’s throughout the game, and the whole Magic team shot the 3 ball well, making 11 of 28 three pointers.

Rodney Stuckey had his best playoff game yet - with 18 points, playing in place of Billups. He took advantage of a big size difference between Jameer and himself, and got to line to sink 9 of 9 free throws. Rip Hamilton attempted to lead the team, along with Tayshaun Prince, while Rasheed had an off game and Maxiell struggled against Howard. At one point, the Pistons, led by Hamilton, Prince, and Stuckey, valiantly attempted to make a run at the Magic without their leader on the court with them. However, it was all in vain, as the Magic built onto their lead with 3 pointers and Dwight Howard’s dominance. The bench…well, to be more specific…Keyon Dooling really helped out the Magic during that stretch as well, by knocking down shots and playing some pretty good defense on Hamilton and Stuckey.

Hedo, Rashard, and Jameer combined their abilities to be play makers for the Magic and run the team, and they did a pretty damn good job, too: 15 assists, 3 turnovers; with 1 turnover from each player. The team as a whole took care of the ball well, ending up with only 11 turnovers…compared to 19 in the previous game. That’s a huge turnaround, and if they continue this throughout the series, then the Magic’s outlook for this series looks waaay better than it did after the first two games.

I hope Chauncey Billups is okay, and feels better after this game, because this wouldn’t be a good series without him. I wish him all the best in recovering for next game…or at least by the end of the series.

Also, I feel the need to add that the Hedo to Dwight alley-oop was sick. Pretty much summed up the game in one play: great passing by the Magic players, and great play down low by Dwight.

Amid the 3rd quarter “clock error” in Game 2 was the big picture as to why the Magic lost game 2: 19 turnovers to 16 assists, bad shots, and only 23 shots at the free throw line. Compare that to Detroit’s 23 assists to 8 turnovers, good shot selection, and 28 shots at the free throw line, in which they converted 86% of them, and you’ve got another loss for the Magic at Detroit.

So what went wrong exactly? Well, to start, Orlando kept on throwing the ball away. The Pistons had some good pressure defense, and the refs were allowing contact. Therefore, bad passes, incomplete plays, and Dwight getting more turnovers than trips to the free throw line. The Pistons played aggressive defense against Hedo, and his usual 4th quarter heroics were non-existent in Game 2. The Magic did catch fire from three-point land in the 4th quarter, but they eventually cooled off and their drives to the basket produced little.

For Game 3, the Magic need to start, first and foremost, with taking care of the ball. a 16 to 19 assist-to-turnover ratio is just ugly. Stay away from turnovers. Make smart passes - don’t just throw the ball away. If Dwight’s getting double- or triple-teamed, he needs to know when to pass the ball out to the perimeter, or a cutting player (such as Maurice Evans, the recipient of many assists from Howard in the regular season and First Round of the Playoffs).

In the Playoffs, Dwight has consistently done a few things: rebound, block shots, make easy shots down low, defend well, turn the ball over, and been inconsistent at the free throw line. Against Toronto, this was fine. His teammates, along with what he was doing right, could make up for what he was doing wrong. Against Detroit, however, it’s a different story. Dwight needs to limit his turnovers, as he did in Game 1. He also needs to pull of what he did in Game 2 - and make at least 70% of free throws. What his teammates need to do is feed him the ball. We saw what happened in Game 2 when he actually got the ball in the post - when he didn’t turn it over, he established a good post presence to keep the game close.

Dwight’s teammates, on the other hand, need to do something they’ve been doing the whole season: make open shots, make good, smart plays, and stay aggressive. This includes Rashard Lewis, who needs to get aggressive when going to the basket. Instead of lightly throwing the ball up…so that it could fall off the rim, he needs to just go up and dunk it in, or muscle his opponents to get the ball to fall in. Hedo as well: in Game 2, there were frequent attempts at which he was just throwing the ball up when he got close to the rim. Normally, he makes those, but when those aren’t falling, what he needs to do is go straight into the defense, and attempt to get a foul. Zero free-throws is unacceptable for a team’s primary ball-handler and play-maker.

Jameer, as opposed to his other teammates, had a great game in Game 2 - he made shots, attacked the basket, limited turnovers. He simply needs to continue doing what he was doing for the Magic, and build onto his good game.

For Detroit to win at Orlando, they need to continue doing what they’re doing…and not let up at all. We’ve seen their Achilles heel - their “cockiness”, which shows when playing down to an opponent. They need to remember the Sixers series, and not forget that these are Playoff teams - just because you’re favored by the media, and just because you had the second best record in the league, it doesn’t mean these teams will just roll over and die. They’ll put up a good fight. Orlando knows what it takes to win, and they have good leaders in Hedo, Dwight, and Jameer. They know what their capable of, and that’s something Detroit shouldn’t forget.

Game 3 should be a good indicator in whether or not Orlando has a chance to come back in this series. These next 2 games are must-wins for them.

 http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2195789

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) — Long considered the NBA’s most talented player, Kobe Bryant has been recognized as its Most Valuable Player.

In his 12th season, the superstar guard of the Los Angeles Lakers was awarded his first league MVP at a news conference Tuesday.

Bryant received 1,105 points, including 82 first-place votes, beating out New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, who finished second in the voting with 890 points.

Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett finished third with 670 points and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James received 438 points, finishing in fourth.

After sweeping the Denver Nuggets, Bryant’s top-seeded Lakers claimed a 109-98 victory against the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday. Bryant scored 38 points - including making a career high and franchise record 21 free throws.

Player, Team                   1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   Total
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers          82    32    11     2     -    1105
Chris Paul, New Orleans         28    64    31     2     -     889
Kevin Garnett, Boston           15    23    56    26     1     670
LeBron James, Cleveland          1     7    28    77     8     438
Dwight Howard, Orlando           -     -     -     7    39      60
Amar Stoudemire, Phoenix         -     -     -     3    18      27
Tim Duncan, San Antonio          -     -     -     2    19      25
Tracy McGrady, Houston           -     -     -     2    13      19
Steve Nash, Phoenix              -     -     -     4     6      18
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio       -     -     -     -     9       9
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas            -     -     -     -     5       5
Deron Williams, Utah             -     -     -     -     4       4
Carmelo Anthony, Denver          -     -     -     1     -       3
Paul Pierce, Boston              -     -     -     -     1       1
Rasheed Wallace, Detroit         -     -     -     -     1       1
Carlos Boozer, Utah              -     -     -     -     1       1
Antawn Jamison, Washington       -     -     -     -     1       1

http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2191010

HOUSTON (Ticker) — Rookie Carl Landry apparently wants to return for a second season with the Houston Rockets.

A restricted free agent this offseason, Landry hopes to re-sign with the Rockets, according to a report on the Houston Chronicle’s web site.

“This is where I want to be,” Landry told the Chronicle in a report published Sunday. “I love Houston.”

Although Landry, 24, can sign an offer sheet with any team, Houston can match the offer.

“It’s not my decision,” Landry told the paper. “It’s the Rockets’ decision. Both sides have to agree. But I love Houston - this is home.”

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey claims that the team will match any offer that Landry receives, according to the report.

Landry averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games this past regular season for the Rockets. The 6-7 forward also was one of the driving forces behind Houston’s 22-game winning streak, the second-longest run in NBA history.

“I think for a rookie I did a great job contributing to this team,” he said. “It’s only going to get better.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to working out, getting stronger, getting better, watching film and understanding the game a little better. Next year, I’ll be ready to be a better person and a better player.”

http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2182745

Sunday, May 4, 2008 11:19 AM

The following is the list of international players who have applied for early entry for the 2008 NBA Draft:

Alexis Ajinca, pf-c, Hyeres-Toulon (France)
Nicolas Batum, sf, Le Mans (France)
Rodrique Beaubois, pg, Cholet (France)
Mikheil Berishvili, sf, BC Vita (Georgia)
Omri Casspi, sf, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv (Israel)
Victor Claver, sf, Pamesa Valencia (Spain)
Nando De Colo, sg, Cholet (France)
Danilo Gallinari, sf, Armani Jeans Milano (Italy)
Serge Ibaka, pf, L’Hospitalet (Spain) Sergey Llin, c, Budivelnik (Ukraine)
Joe Ingles, sf, Melbourne S.Dragons (Australia)
Jonas Jerebko, sf, Biella (Italy)
Mladen Jeremic, sf, FMP Zelenik (Serbia)
Maxym Korniyenko, sf, Dnipro (Ukraine)
Luc Louves, pf, Orleans (France)
Rudy Mbemba, pg, Solna (Sweden)
Henk Norel, pf, Alicante (Spain)
Maxim Sheleketo, sf, VEF Riga (Latvia)
Giorgi Shermadini, c, Maccabi Tbilisi (Georgia)
Ante Tomic, c, Zagreb (Croatia)
Maysym Vikhovetskyi, pg, Dnipro (Ukraine)
Ronalds Zakis, sf, VEF Riga (Latvia)

________________________________
No. of players who declared in 2008: 22
No. of players who declared in 2007: 6
No. of players who declared in 2006: 10
No. of players who declared in 2005: 11
No. of players who declared in 2004: 10
No. of players who declared in 2003: 17
No. of players who declared in 2002: 14
No. of players who declared in 2001: 17
No. of players who declared in 2000: 8