Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:11:55 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Basketball :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/basketball istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-redeem-team-wins-basketball-gold/84474/ Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:37:34 EST They came, they saw ... they survived. Though the "Redeem Team" didn't close with the grand flourish some had hoped, the American men's basketball team completed its return to the top of the mountain with a 118–107 triumph over Spain today to win the Olympic gold medal. This game felt like a coronation after the Americans had pulverized all comers to date, but the Spanish team didn't seem to get the script and nearly pulled a shocking upset of a team it had lost to by 37 points in Pool play... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/argentina-is-redeem-teams-last-remaining-test/84311/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Bang. Swish. Swish. Swish. Free throw. Layup. Layup. Swish. Ballgame. In the blink of an eye, America turned a competitive game against Australia into a laugher, going on a 19-0 run bridging halftime to turn a tight, feisty game into a 116-85 rout and advance to the semifinals of the men's Olympic basketball tournament. It was part of a day that couldn't have gone better for the U.S. — not only did they win easily, but their two main rivals for the gold medal, Spain and Argentina, both suffered... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/europe-provides-players-with-lucrative-second/84308/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST It has been 33 years since high school, college, and the NBA had a legitimate choice when it came to where they wanted to play professional basketball. In 1975, a high school player could go to college or into the American Basketball Association. A college player could leave school early and have either the NBA or the ABA offer him a huge — by 1975 standards — pro contract. And NBA players could jump over to the ABA, and vice versa. Since the NBA's absorption of four ABA teams in 1976, players... BRIAN MAHONEY http://www.nysun.com/sports/kobe-leads-american-team-to-semis/84275/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:37:16 EST BEIJING — Don't doubt this American men's basketball team — and sure don't challenge them, either. Especially if it's going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form. Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men's American Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 today. America will play defending champion Argentina or Greece on Friday night for a spot in Sunday's gold medal game. Locked in what looked like another tough game in Australia, the... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/much-work-left-to-do-on-both-sides-of-river/86842/ Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It's training camp, and normally that's the time for sunny optimism and glass-half-full thinking about how this year can be better than the last one. But in the case of the two local teams, it's also where the happiness about each team's recent change of direction runs into the grim reality that they're each on the first mile of a long road of rebuilding. Take the Knicks, for instance. Their fans are euphoric that Isiah Thomas has been deposed, and rightfully so: His reign of incompetence was... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/knicks-may-get-even-worse-before-they-get-better/86599/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It seems like one of the cruelest jokes that the basketball gods could play on Knicks fans. After making the local fanbase endure Isiah Thomas's four-and-a-half year reign of error as team president and coach, the Knicks appeared to have good reason for hope with the hiring of veteran NBA executive Donnie Walsh as president and hot shot Mike D'Antoni as coach. Yet, the 2008-09 Knicks might finish with a worse record than some of the recent, decrepit squads that have taken the floor at Madison... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/walsh-showing-patience-in-dismantling-of-knicks/85623/ Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST You can say this about Donnie Walsh: He's patient. While Isiah Thomas arrived in a blaze of glory, making a blockbuster trade for Stephon Marbury within days of taking over as team president, Walsh's first few months in office have been much quieter. The only significant change has been the inevitable firing of Thomas and hiring of Mike D'Antoni as head coach, followed by two relatively low-wattage pickups in draft choice Danilo Gallinari and point guard Chris Duhon. Meanwhile, the... JAY COHEN http://www.nysun.com/sports/favorite-son-knicks-trade-for-ewing-jr/84937/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:29:50 EST Talk about pressure. Patrick Ewing Jr. is following in the footsteps of his famous father again. The New York Knicks acquired the younger Ewing from the Houston Rockets on Friday in exchange for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis, one of the most widely panned picks in franchise history. "Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me," Ewing Jr. said in a statement. "It has always been my dream to play for this team. My goal is to show the coaches that I... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/bcs-hopes-can-be-derailed-early-for-these-programs/84809/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST One aspect where college football has its professional cousin beat is the lack of a preseason. College teams can, and do, schedule games against cupcakes to ease into the campaign. But others open with make-or-break games that can dash Bowl Championship Series aspirations before the season is three hours old. Even schools that are opening against overmatched opponents need to be wary — just ask Michigan about Appalachian State last season. The 2008 season officially kicks off tonight with 14... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/starting-now-team-usa-is-0-0/84174/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Okay, now for the hard part. Team USA completed its domination of the preliminary round of the Olympic men's basketball tournament yesterday with a 106-57 annihilation of Germany. The U.S. was the only unbeaten team, going 5-0 with an average victory margin of 30 points, and no opponent could stay within 20. And for that they get ... absolutely nothing. When the quarterfinals tip off tomorrow, everybody is 0-0. Should the Americans lose, they won't even end up with a medal — as happened to... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/us-must-avoid-overconfidence-as-it-marches/84073/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST The U.S. basketball team plays Germany this morning — and it couldn't matter less. Thanks to their 119-82 shellacking of Spain on Saturday, the Americans have already clinched the top seed in Pool B and a quarterfinal date on Wednesday, most likely against Australia. The American side can spend the next two days reminiscing about the embarrassment they handed to the defending World Champions, a team with seven current or former NBA players, one NBA All-Star, and no chance on Saturday. And in... BRIAN MAHONEY http://www.nysun.com/sports/team-usa-rains-on-spain-in-119-82-basketball-rout/84008/ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:09:54 EST BEIJING — Four down, four to go. The American men's Olympic team is halfway back to the top of the basketball world. And not even the world champions — on paper anyway — could give the Americans a game. Unleashing a lethal 3-point barrage for the first time in Beijing, the Americans turned the marquee matchup of the preliminary round into another romp, beating Spain 119-82 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in their group. LeBron James scored 18 points for America (4-0), which hit seven of... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/americans-get-revenge-on-greece-now-eye-spain/83951/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST We don't use the word "Dream Team" anymore, but yesterday the U.S. men's basketball team was positively dreamy. The 92-69 blowout against Greece showed what this team is capable of against an opponent they deem worthy of their full attention, as the U.S. dominated the paint, ran the break with precision and hit just enough three-pointers to loosen up Greece's zone for shots in the paint. Greece, of course, has been on this team's radar for the past two years, ever since a 101-97 upset in the... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/despite-routs-us-has-room-for-improvement/83785/ Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST International basketball is a shooter's game thanks to the shorter 3-point line, and if there's a concern for USA Basketball right now, it's the inability of its guards to take advantage of that. Yesterday's 97-76 win against an overmatched Angola team is another example. While they steamrolled the Angolans in the open court, the starting backcourt of Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant offered up more question marks for what may happen against the far better competition they're about to face next... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/us-works-out-kinks-and-steamrolls-china/83544/ Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST One day of hoops down, and it's so far, so good ... well, unless you're a Nets fan. The American team overcame an initial burst of enthusiasm from a Chinese team playing in front of its home crowd and dominated the second half en route to a 101-70 victory in the opening game of pool play. The Americans again swim in the shallow end of Pool A tomorrow morning when they face Angola; after that, the competition ramps up quickly. As for the Nets side of things, there was somebody on the Chinese... ANDREW BAGNATO http://www.nysun.com/sports/redeem-team-dunks-past-china-in-olympic-basketball/83539/ Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:40:18 EST BEIJING — In one heartpounding minute in the first half, LeBron James dunked off a nifty underhanded feed from Dwyane Wade. Then Kobe Bryant flew in and jammed. Then it was Chris Bosh's turn to rattle the rim. As the backboard swayed, some might have recalled the fabled Dream Team. The final score — America 101, China 70 — might also draw comparisons. Who's worried about the 7-for-29 shooting from beyond the arc? Just toss it up and throw it down. This was the biggest basketball game in China's... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/team-usa-gets-wake-up-call-before-olympics/83276/ Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Maybe, in hindsight, Team USA's struggles against Australia yesterday in their final exhibition game will be a good thing. Maybe they'll learn from it and be better prepared for their Olympic opener on Saturday against China, and perhaps it will spur them toward the gold medal everyone's expecting. At the same time, the Americans' 87-76 win over the Aussies — whose best player, Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut, sat out with an ankle injury — also laid bare the same weaknesses that have... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/does-a-globalized-nba-need-its-stars-in-beijing/83027/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST The commissioner of the NBA, David Stern, has a dilemma on his hands. As commissioner — and in having a close ally in Val Ackerman, who runs USA Basketball and is a former commissioner of the WNBA — Stern probably would like to see America easily win the gold medal in basketball at the Beijing Olympics. It would be good for business, domestically. But Stern cannot get out in front and cheer the Americans on: It's not a tidy move, considering that basketball consumers in Canada, Europe, South... TOM HAYS http://www.nysun.com/sports/referee-donaghy-gets-15-months-for-betting/82818/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:29:27 EST A former NBA referee, Tim Donaghy, was sentenced to 15 months in prison today for setting off a gambling scandal that tarnished the reputation of the league and raised questions about the taint of betting on the sport. The sentencing in Brooklyn federal court closed a chapter in a scandal that convulsed the NBA, with the league angrily denying Donaghy's claim that corruption among referees runs even deeper. Donaghy's lawyer asked the judge for probation. He had faced up to 33 months in prison... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/knicks-make-a-very-rare-salary-dump/82761/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST A salary dump? By the Knicks? Yes, apparently anything is possible in today's NBA. As Hell's denizens shoveled out from the blizzard, the Knicks waved bye-bye to forward Renaldo Balkman yesterday in a deal that ships him to Denver in return for a 2010 second-round draft pick and guards Bobby Jones and Taurean Green. What the Knicks get out of it, really, is just being rid of the obligation to pay Balkman. Both Jones and Green have contracts that aren't guaranteed for the coming year, which is... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/there-is-a-method-to-the-nets-offseason-madness/82551/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Nets fans: I know you must be confused. The Nets dump Richard Jefferson, in a clear rebuilding move ... and then turn around and sign three veteran free agents and trade one of their young guys? Does this really make any sense? Actually, it does, believe it or not. But it might take a while to get there, so let's get started. Team president Rod Thorn and GM Kiki Vandeweghe are operating with two separate goals in mind — first, to get well under the cap in the summer of 2010, and second, to have... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/a-new-drive-high-school-to-europe-to-nba/82171/ Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST If you're looking for the free-agent move with the most long-reaching consequences for the NBA, it isn't Elton Brand's move to the Sixers, nor Baron Davis's jumping to the Clippers, nor even James Posey's defection from Boston to New Orleans. In fact, it wasn't even an NBA signing. But the inking of guard Brandon Jennings by Pallacanestro Virtus Roma of the Italian League could end up having far-reaching consequences for both the NBA and college basketball, because he may prove to be the tip of... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/report-donaghy-made-134-calls-to-a-fellow-ref/81898/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy made more than 100 phone calls to a fellow official at the same time he was providing information to gamblers during the 2006-07 season, Fox News reported yesterday. Citing court documents and phone records it obtained, Fox reported Donaghy placed 134 calls to referee Scott Foster between October 2006 and April 2007, the period during which he has confessed to betting on games or passing on game information to gamblers. It's not known what information was... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/which-restricted-free-agents-may-move/81782/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The first full week of the offseason has come and gone and left tremors, especially in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The Los Angeles Clippers gained guard Baron Davis and lost forward Elton Brand, who bolted for the 76ers after enough he said/he said drama to fill a season's worth of a daytime TV drama Those two — plus Gilbert Arenas, the Washington Wizards guard who re-signed with Washington — comprised the top tier of free agents. The rest of the pool of unrestricted free agents — players who... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/seattle-move-shows-that-fans-just-dont-matter/81593/ Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST In the aftermath of the deal between Oklahoma City-NBA franchise holder Clayton Bennett and the city of Seattle, which allowed Bennett to break his lease with the city's "financially inadequate" basketball arena, there is one question that needs to be answered: Why didn't fans, the very people who support professional sports, have a seat at the table? Didn't Bennett and Seattle officials consider the loyalty of the SuperSonics fans who have put their hard-earned dollars into the franchise?... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/free-agent-signing-may-create-new-force-in-east/81487/ Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Could another All-Star power forward be coming to the rescue of an Eastern also-ran? It sure seems that way. Last year it was Kevin Garnett reviving the Celtics, and this year it may be Elton Brand's turn. With decision day coming this morning, a report by ESPN.com's Marc Stein last night said Brand will leave the forlorn L.A. Clippers and accept a five-year deal from the Philadelphia 76ers that would immediately transform them into an Eastern Conference powerhouse. Brand faced three alluring... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/duhon-deal-shows-walsh-is-walking-the-walk/81318/ Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Guard Chris Duhon is a better player than a quick glance at his numbers suggests, but it is the "how" more than the "who" that makes him an important addition to the Knicks. We're in an odd time in the NBA offseason — word about all signings is unofficial until the July 9 announcement of the salary cap and luxury tax ceilings — but Duhon's agent Kevin Bradford has told many press outlets that his client has agreed to a two-year deal for the full mid-level exception (about $5.8 million a season... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/after-settlement-supersonics-will-relocate/81240/ Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST SEATTLE — The SuperSonics will move to Oklahoma City for the 2008–09 season as part of a settlement with the city of Seattle, ending a contentious relationship that resulted in a trial in which the judge was due to issue her ruling yesterday. The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and the Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay up to $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the KeyArena lease between the NBA team and the city. The team's name and colors... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/lebrons-shadow-looms-over-free-agent-market/81022/ Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST And they're off! At 12:01 a.m. today, the starter's gun fired and the race to nab the NBA's top free agents began. Execs from the league's 30 teams began calling marquee players around the league to woo them to their respective sides, with the hopes of landing the likes of Gilbert Arenas or Corey Maggette. While neither of the two local teams figures to be in the race for a player of that ilk, it's an important time for the Knicks and Nets as well. For New York, free agency is the next big test... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/with-draft-over-knicks-now-explore-options/80949/ Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The Knicks went into Thursday evening's draft with a ton of question marks. Their selection of Italian forward Danilo Gallinari only adds to them. Gallinari was selected sixth overall after the guards that Knicks team president Donnie Walsh coveted — Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, and Russell Westbrook — were taken during the first five picks. The choice of Gallinari is one of those "best available athlete" choices rather than a selection to fill a void on the team. Gallinari does fill a need for... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/nets-steal-knicks-thunder-on-draft-day/80841/ Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST As a result of yesterday's NBA draft, I thought we'd be writing about Danilo Gallinari and Brook Lopez, but the Nets stole their thunder before the draft even started. Hours before the festivities began at Madison Square Garden, New Jersey made a decisive move into its new, post-Jason Kidd future, trading Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. Simmons is a free-agent bust who has two years and $20 million left on his contract, while Yi is a soft but talented... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/how-the-first-round-may-go/80638/ Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Last week, one season ended. Tomorrow, another begins. And for the dregs of the league — that means you, Knicks and Nets fans — tomorrow's NBA draft (7 p.m., ESPN) is of far more importance than the just-concluded playoffs. It is in the draft that rebuilding plans are hatched, and franchise saviors found — witness a year ago, for instance, when Boston's draft-day trade of the no. 5 pick for Ray Allen began its amazing rebound from doormats to champions. So it is without further ado that we... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/bryant-james-wade-top-us-basketball-roster/80548/ Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant has a shot at another big prize after falling short of the NBA championship, and he'll have plenty of help along the way. LeBron James is there. Dwyane Wade, too. They will lead a U.S. Olympic basketball team that was announced yesterday and hopes to capture the gold medal in Beijing in August after a third-place showing in Athens four years ago. The team already has "re-established itself" on an international level, the managing director of USA Basketball... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/for-knicks-draft-is-first-step-in-long-climb/80462/ Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST For everybody except Boston Celtics fans, the NBA Finals are drifting off into memory, and it's time to focus on the draft. Not much has changed for the Knicks since the late rounds of the playoffs took center stage: The team is still picking sixth in a draft that contains only four surefire talents who could make an immediate impact on this team. That means the new team president, Donnie Walsh, and new coach Mike D'Antoni have their hands full. They will need to sit tight until draft night to... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/will-lakers-celtics-meet-again-next-june/80290/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST BOSTON - Yes, it can be done. That's the greatest thing about Boston's one-year turnaround from a 24-win team to a world champion. In a league where champions normally come from a very short list that almost any pundit could provide months before the season begins, Boston's immediate U-turn upset the apple cart and reminded the league's other losers (such as the Nets and Knicks, for instance) how quickly things can change. Of course, this didn't happen completely out of the blue. The off-season... Robert Asahina http://www.nysun.com/sports/celtics-crush-lakers-131-92-for-nba-championship/80218/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST In one of the most decisive victories in NBA history, the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, on Tuesday night. Before a wildly cheering hometown crowd, the Celtics crushed the Lakers both offensively and defensively, leading by 30 to 40 points throughout much of the second half. In the first half, the Celtics were virtually unstoppable. Kevin Garnett had 17 points on 8 for 12 shooting, as well as 6 rebounds, and Paul Pierce had 10 points and 9 assists. The Celtics went on a... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/for-celtics-a-career-defining-victory/80231/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:16:47 EST BOSTON – It was a dream end to a dream season. The Boston Celtics, who finished last in the Eastern Conference a year ago, are NBA champions after thrashing the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 Tuesday night to win the best-of-seven series, four games to two. If this were a boxing match, it would have been stopped in the second round. Boston hammered the Lakers with a crushing 26-6 run to close the first half, limiting L.A. to one basket in the final 7:32 of the quarter, to open up a gaping 58-35 lead... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/rivalry-renewed/80219/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST While in New England among old friends last weekend, everybody kept talking about the Finals. This wouldn't be news — except that they were talking about the 2009 Finals. My pals figured that the 2008 Finals were in the bag, and I wasn't going to dispute them since no team — much less a storied franchise such as the Celtics — has coughed up a 3-1 lead in the Finals. But they were talking about next year's Finals already as if a rematch between the Celtics and the Lakers was preordained. Every... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/despite-injuries-signs-point-to-a-boston-win/80142/ Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST LOS ANGELES — If any civic leaders in Boston are reading this, I have just one thing to say: Get the duck boats ready. No, the Celtics did not clinch the title on Sunday, losing Game 5 of the NBA Finals to the Lakers, 103-98, but the celebration was merely delayed, not denied. Although the Lakers were able to stave off elimination for a night, they did little to dent the notion that Boston is the superior team and will close things out on its home court in tonight's Game 6 — leading, of course... JIMMY GOLEN http://www.nysun.com/sports/lakers-squeak-out-victory-103-98-head-back/80057/ Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:11:35 EST LOS ANGELES — Paul Pierce took the Boston Celtics to the brink of another improbable comeback and then let it slip out of his hands. The All-Star scored 38 points in Game 5 of the NBA finals against Los Angeles on Sunday night, but twice in the final minutes let Kobe Bryant slap the ball away as the Lakers held on to win 103-98 and force the series back to Boston. Game 6 is Tuesday night, and the Celtics would have another chance to close out their 17th NBA title on Thursday night if they need... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/usa-soon-to-decide-whom-to-bring-to-beijing/79972/ Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST LOS ANGELES — The intrigue is beginning for the Beijing Olympics, and it's not all about protests, either. While the NBA Finals steal all the headlines, USA Basketball quietly announced this week that it will select all 12 players for the U.S. Olympic roster before the team goes to minicamp in Las Vegas on June 27. That's a departure from the original strategy of having a pool of 16 players try out for the team — a process that USA hoops tsar Jerry Colangelo instituted as a key component of his... TOM WITHERS http://www.nysun.com/sports/celtics-come-back-from-24-down-stun-lakers/79955/ Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:30:32 EST LOS ANGELES — In their comeback season, the Celtics saved the biggest one of all for the NBA finals. Boston 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. A rivalry between the league's two most storied franchises — with some of the game's biggest names and biggest moments — now has its biggest rally. No team had... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/even-if-donaghy-is-lying-change-is-needed/79871/ Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST One of my favorite adages is "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you." A slight variation of that applies to the latest news involving disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. It might go, "Just because you're a scoundrel and a criminal doesn't mean what you allege isn't true." Donaghy has pleaded guilty to two felony counts for giving bookies inside information and recommendations on games he officiated, and in papers submitted in U.S District Court on... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/before-game-4-adjustments-needed-on-both-sides/79872/ Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST LOS ANGELES — When it comes to the playoffs, adjustments are the name of the game. And for the Lakers and Celtics, the tactical changes they make to respond to the other team's moves are going to be a big factor in determining who wins tonight's Game 4 at Staples Center. Los Angeles survived Game 3, 87-81, to cut the Celtics' lead to 2-1, and a couple of key adjustments by Lakers coach Phil Jackson were major factors. For starters, he switched up his defensive assignments by putting Kobe Bryant... MARTIN JOHNSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/new-coaches-face-different-but-dire-tasks/79712/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST It's unusual for teams with high expectations to hire untested head coaches. But it's now happened twice in recent days, as the Chicago Bulls have named Vinny Del Negro to their long-vacant coaching position, and the Detroit Pistons promoted assistant coach Michael Curry to the top job on their bench. Although both Curry and Del Negro had long careers as role players in the NBA, the situations that led to their hiring couldn't have been more different. Del Negro was hired after what seemed like... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/refs-encouraged-to-make-false-calls-donaghy-claims/79714/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST NBA referees, influenced by cozy relationships with league officials, rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games, a former referee at the center of a gambling scandal alleged yesterday. Without identifying anyone or naming teams, Tim Donaghy also claimed the NBA routinely encouraged refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results, but discouraged them from calling technical fouls on star players to keep them in games and protect ticket sales and television... TOM WITHERS http://www.nysun.com/sports/lakers-fight-back-to-win-game-3-of-nba-finals/79769/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:02:06 EST LOS ANGELES — On his floor and on his game, Kobe Bryant revived the Los Angeles Lakers — and the NBA finals. With his team one loss from having to make an impossible climb, Bryant was close to MVP form, scoring 36 points on an assortment of spins, drives and jumpers and reserve Sasha Vujacic added 20 points as the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 87-81 in Game 3 on Tuesday night. A change of time zones, jerseys and attitude did wonders for the Lakers, who staggered home from Boston in an 0-2 hole... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/lakers-cant-blame-referees-for-this-deficit/79658/ Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST BOSTON — It's helpful that Justin Timberlake is a regular at Lakers games, because when the series resumes in Los Angeles tonight he can convey an important message to coach Phil Jackson: Cry me a river, Phil. Following a 38-10 free-throw disparity in the Lakers' Game 2 loss to the Celtics, L.A.'s coach went off on the zebras, saying the crew of Bob Delaney, Ken Mauer, and Dan Crawford weren't giving his squad a fair whistle. "Leon Powe [got] more foul shots than our whole team does in 14... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/knicks-best-bet-in-nba-draft-is-to-trade-down/79574/ Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST While the Celtics and Lakers are busy reliving the NBA's glory days in the 1980s, the local teams have pressing matters to deal with as well. The NBA Draft is just around the corner, and almost immediately after that the free agent feeding frenzy begins. So although the Nets and Knicks stopped playing a long time ago, they've actually been busy of late. In particular, the Knicks are an interesting topic. New team president Donnie Walsh goes into draft day holding the sixth overall pick, but... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/pierce-ok-for-game-2/79504/ Sun, 8 Jun 2008 12:24:05 EST WALTHAM, Mass. — Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce is ready to go for Game 2 of the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Pierce took part in Sunday morning's shootaround at the team's practice facility and showed no ill-effects of the right knee sprain that sent him to the locker room in a wheelchair during Game 1. Pierce was wearing a white sleeve over his knee as he played pickup with Sam Cassell at the end of practice. Coach Doc Rivers says Pierce will be fine. The news isn't so...