Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Ellis tells Bucks he will opt out of contract

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:55:43 -0400

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — The Milwaukee Bucks have lost their leading scorer.

Monta Ellis has informed the Bucks he won't exercise his $11 million option for the upcoming season, making him an unrestricted free agent July 1. The move Monday wasn't a total surprise, coming after Ellis rejected a two-year contract extension last fall.

There's a chance the Bucks could lose their second-leading scorer, too.

NBA Finals Game 5 viewership down from last year

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:59:47 -0400

NEW YORK — The NBA Finals' television viewership for Game 5 was down 12 percent from last year.

The San Antonio Spurs' 114-104 victory over Miami on Sunday on ABC was watched by an average of almost 16.3 million people. That's down from nearly 18.5 million for the Heat-Thunder series in 2012.

Miami clinched the title in Game 5 a year ago, and decisive games tend to draw more viewers.

Spurs' coach puts Pop into news conferences

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:48:02 -0400

MIAMI — During his team's Game 3 rout of the Heat, Gregg Popovich was shown on TV talking to his players while they were in the process of burying Miami with a stirring offensive display.

"When you're open, let it fly," the Spurs' coach told them. "Put your name in the paper."

A day later, San Antonio guard Gary Neal was asked about that bit of encouragement.

"That's what you guys hear," Neal said with a chuckle, implying the give-and-take isn't always so sunny.

Pete D'Alessandro begins 'dream job' as Kings GM

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:18:40 -0400

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pete D'Alessandro has wanted a leading role in professional basketball since his father first took him to watch Julius Erving and the old New York Nets on Long Island in the 1970s.

On his 45th birthday, that wish finally came true.

5 things to watch for in Game 6 of NBA Finals

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:41:53 -0400

MIAMI — Five things to watch for in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, as the San Antonio Spurs try to clinch their fifth title and end the Miami Heat's reign on Tuesday night:

___

Heat have no room for error versus Spurs in Game 6

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:34:38 -0400

MIAMI — They lost three times in three months in one of the most overpowering stretches the NBA has ever seen.

Now the Miami Heat have lost three times in five games.

So superb during the regular season, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat have to be something even more for the rest of the NBA Finals.

They have to be perfect.

"We look forward to the challenge," James said.

The San Antonio Spurs can finish Miami off Tuesday night in Game 6, reaffirming themselves as one of the league's greatest franchises.

Miami faces the Heat to stay alive

Brian Mahoney, Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:19:00 -0400

MIAMI — The Miami Heat weren’t supposed to be in this situation. Not now, anyway.

Coming home from Texas with their season on the line in 2011 was one thing. They were at the end of their first year together, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh still trying to figure it all out and clearly a long way from it.

But this season they were the NBA’s best team, one that lost three games in three months and made losing three times in one series look unlikely, if not downright unimaginable.

Scouting, development paying off for Spurs

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:35:13 -0400

SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs have long been the NBA's gold standard when it comes to drafting and development, preferring to roll up their sleeves and scour the globe to find the right players to slot into well-defined roles in San Antonio.

They have more international players on their roster than any other team in the NBA, and even their American players don't come straight from America to the league.

Trevor Mbakwe gets chance to work out for Wolves

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:30:48 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS — As an undersized power forward not that far removed from a major injury, Trevor Mbakwe has a lot to prove before he can establish an NBA career.

At least one prominent decision-maker doesn't need to see any more. Flip Saunders has made plenty of first-hand reviews.

Rice hoping D-League success helps on draft night

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:14:25 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Glen Rice Jr. already knows what to expect in his next job.

After spending last season competing against bigger bodies, more refined shooters and quicker guards than he ever faced in college, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard is now on the verge of becoming the first player to go from D-League star to NBA first-round draft pick.

New $15M scoreboards planned for Jazz arena

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:07:54 -0400

SALT LAKE CITY — Owners of EnergySolutions Arena are upgrading the home turf of the Utah Jazz with a new $15 million scoreboard system.

Officials with Miller Sports Properties, which owns the arena, made the announcement Monday afternoon.

The centerpiece of the new display system will be four high-definition screens in the center of the arena that run parallel to the court's sidelines and baselines.

Two longer screens will measure 42 feet long and 24 feet high, and two screens facing the baseline will be 26 feet long and 17 feet high.

Ticket prices heating up for final games in Miami

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:56:14 -0400

MIAMI — With the final week of the NBA season now here, ticket prices are going into overdrive.

The online ticket resale site StubHub showed just about 3,000 tickets were available for purchase on the secondary markets in Miami for Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

Standing-room only prices were bottoming out at $185. For an actual seat, the lowest price was $199. The cheapest seat in the lower bowl of the arena was going for $475.

Heat back on familiar, and shaky, ground in Finals

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:03:55 -0400

MIAMI — LeBron James has been here before, with dire results.

It was two years ago, the end of the first season of "Big Three" basketball in Miami. The situation: Heat down 3-2, hosting Game 6 of the NBA Finals, only two home wins separating them from what would have been James' first title.

Then, thud.

Nuggets hire executive Tim Connelly

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:21:17 -0400

The Denver Nuggets have settled on a general manager. Now, they can concentrate on finding a new coach.

The team announced Monday that Tim Connelly will take over for Masai Ujiri, who left to become general manager of the Toronto Raptors. Connelly's official title with the team will be executive vice president of basketball operations.

Bender, Van Exel follow new coach Drew to Bucks

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:41:05 -0400

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — Bob Bender and Nick Van Exel are following Larry Drew to Milwaukee.

The Bucks announced Monday that Bender and Van Exel will be assistants on Drew's staff. Bender also was an assistant during Drew's three years as head coach in Atlanta, while Van Exel was the Hawks' player development instructor from 2010-12.

Drew says the two were "important pieces" of his staff in Atlanta and will be dedicated to teaching Milwaukee's young players.

Back home, Heat try to stop a 5th Spurs NBA title

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:31:44 -0400

MIAMI — The Miami Heat weren't supposed to be in this situation. Not now, anyway.

Coming home from Texas with their season on the line in 2011 was one thing. They were at the end of their first year together — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh still trying to figure it all out and clearly a long way from it.

But this season they were the NBA's best team, one that lost three games in three months and made losing three times in one series look unlikely, if not downright unimaginable.

Spurs' Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for 3-pointers

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:53:14 -0400

SAN ANTONIO — Danny Green once wasn't good enough to be on the same team as LeBron James.

Now he's an NBA Finals record-holder, and a big reason why the MVP's chances of a second consecutive championship are in serious trouble.

Setting a Finals mark with 25 3-pointers, Green finished with 24 points and went 6 of 10 from long range in Game 5 against the Miami Heat, helping lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 114-104 victory Sunday night.

Tim Duncan closing in on 5th championship

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:51:55 -0400

SAN ANTONIO — It's all right in front of Tim Duncan now, and the big fella can feel it.

You can tell when he broke out that little spin move in the paint in Game 5 on Sunday night, a nimble little display of footwork that has mostly been in moth balls for the past four or five seasons.

You can tell by the elevation he got on a first-quarter dunk, one of the most emphatic he's had in years.

And you can tell by the glimmer that can't be hidden by the far-away look in his eyes when he talks about being one victory away from title No. 5.

Manu Ginobili sparks Spurs to Game 5 win

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:39:15 -0400

SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili ran onto the floor as fans stood and screamed.

He went to the bench, and they chanted his name.

The sights and sounds of so many San Antonio spring nights were back Sunday — and the real party might be just a few days away.

Ginobili broke out of a slump in a big way with 24 points and 10 assists in his first start of the season, and the Spurs beat the Miami Heat 114-104 to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals.

Spurs, Heat defined by stability at the top

Associated Press — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:12:49 -0400

SAN ANTONIO — Front offices across the NBA seem to be panicking a bit these days. Job security has long been an oxymoron for coaches in this league, but even by that what-have-you-done-for-me-lately standard, this offseason has been a particularly volatile one.

Twelve coaches have been fired since the season ended, including the coach of the year and five others who led teams to the playoffs.