Latest News Updates

Heat Sadly Head into Conference Finals Red Hot: A Fan's Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The Philadelphia 76ers wanted to avoid the Miami Heat when the playoffs started, and they clearly made the right call. Sixers fans like myself certainly can't see how they would have gotten to Game 7 of the conference finals if they faced the Heat first, instead of the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, now the Sixers have no way left to avoid Miami in the postseason - unless they lose to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 on May 26.

 

Thunder, Spurs bring connection into West finals (The Associated Press)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) When Clay Bennett was seeking a leader for his team that would one day become the Oklahoma City Thunder, he picked a rising star from a San Antonio franchise on the verge of winning its fourth NBA championship in a decade.

 

Kevin Durant is tired of hearing about the Spurs (Ball Don't Lie)

The Western Conference Finals, which tip off on Sunday, figures to be the best series of the playoffs so far. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have been the two most impressive teams in the postseason by a wide margin, losing a whopping one game between them and seeming to have very few, if any, major weaknesses. It's the kind of series where predicting who will win is almost besides the point — really, it's best just to watch some great basketball and enjoy whatever happens. In the meantime, though, we're all going to speculate about what might happen and how each team might attack the other. For the media, that means asking key players what they expect from the opposition. For some reason, Kevin Durant is tired of being asked these questions. From Darnell Mayberry for The Oklahoman (via SLAM ):

 

James, Bryant lead All-NBA team (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the All-NBA team, while Kobe Bryant earned his 10th first-team selection, tied for second on the career list.

 

Western Conference Finals Preview Capsule (The Associated Press)

A look at the Western Conference finals, which begin Sunday (with regular-season and playoff records):

 

Police say 16-year-old shot eight outside NBA game (Reuters)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - A 16-year-old boy is in custody and suspected of opening fire after an NBA game on Monday, injuring eight people who had gathered outside an arena to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Los Angeles Lakers, police said on Wednesday. The police said they expect to file charges against the youth of shooting with intent to kill the eight victims, after filing an affidavit in court on Wednesday detailing the evidence against the boy. The Daily Oklahoman newspaper reported on Wednesday that the boy confessed to the shooting, but that could not immediately be confirmed. ...

 

Lakers' disappointment could lead to makeover (The SportsXchange)

The Los Angeles Lakers are getting used to disappointment.

 

Parker says Westbrook hasn't faced PG like him yet (The Associated Press)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) It's the main event of the Western Conference finals: Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook, All-Star point guards having their best seasons yet. One going for a fourth NBA championship, the other still chasing his first.

 

James Harden is a cake now (Ball Don't Lie)

Over the past couple of years, lots of people have drawn comparisons between star San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and Oklahoma City Thunder swingman James Harden. Both are smooth lefties with deceptive quickness and a great shooting touch, both have won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award and both provide game-changing offensive options for their teams off the bench. The similarities are really uncanny ... and now, they are delicious. Because, like  Ginobili before him , Harden has been made into a cake: But unlike Manu, whose confectionery form was really just limited to his likeness being designed on top of a sheet cake, Harden's head is this whole cake , as we can see in the photo shared by GiANT Impact CEO Jeremie Kubicek and spread around these Internet streets Tuesday night by CNBC's Darren Rovell . Hit the jump for another look at the Thunder-themed treat, served up by the gifted and creative folks in the bakery at the  Homeland Stores market on  North May Avenue in Oklahoma City.

 

Thunder face West's best in climb toward top (The Associated Press)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder haven't found any shortcuts as they try to climb to the top of the Western Conference.