Basketball Topics

Spurs tear into Grizzlies in Game 1

May 21, 2013

Spurs tear into Grizzlies in Game 1

The San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference finals resembling the past champions who’ve been there so many times before. The Memphis Grizzlies looked like the first-timers still trying to adapt to their first conference finals appearance. Tony Parker had 20 points and nine ...

Yokohama captures first-ever bj-league title

May 20, 2013

Yokohama captures first-ever bj-league title

by Ed Odeven

One team’s quest for a first title has ended. The other team’s fight will continue next season. The Yokohama B-Corsairs outplayed the Rizing Fukuoka in Sunday’s bj-league championship game, controlling the tempo for larger stretches and making enough timely baskets to fill an instructional ...

Captain Kabaya picks up MVP award

May 20, 2013

Captain Kabaya picks up MVP award

by Ed Odeven

Masayuki Kabaya, the Yokohama B-Corsairs captain, knocked down five 3-pointers — all five attempts — in a mesmerizing 35-point performance that had fans from both teams dropping their jaws in astonishment. Kabaya was named the playoff MVP after helping Yokohama capture its first championship, ...

Pacers knock out Knicks in six

May 20, 2013

Pacers knock out Knicks in six

Indiana spent the entire season perfecting its defense. On Saturday, it produced the biggest payoff for the Pacers in nearly a decade. Roy Hibbert’s block of Carmelo Anthony’s dunk attempt midway through the fourth quarter spurred an 11-2 run that rallied the Pacers to ...

May 20, 2013

Coach K not ruling out return

Mike Krzyzewski is no longer ruling out a return as coach of the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Though the Duke coach had repeatedly said he wouldn’t be back after last summer, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says they spoke about a week ago ...

Burns heroics give B-Corsairs shot at championship

May 19, 2013

Burns heroics give B-Corsairs shot at championship

by Ed Odeven

Unbelievable energy. Splendid self confidence. Never-wavering faith in his abilities or his teammates. Those are ingredients to success for Draelon Burns, the Yokohama B-Corsairs’ super substitute. Burns buried a remarkable three buzzer-beating shots to close out the three final quarters, and his team needed ...

Fukuoka blows out Kyoto, clinches spot in title game

May 19, 2013

Fukuoka blows out Kyoto, clinches spot in title game

by Ed Odeven

It is impossible to hide their collective desire to win a championship. For the Rizing Fukuoka, the intensity of their 55th game this season produced a collective trademark that was evident since the start of the 2012-13 bj-league season: Reggie Warren’s fiery leadership, Julius ...

May 19, 2013

Mayor: Deal to sell Kings signed

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Friday that the deal to sell the Kings to a group led by software tycoon Vivek Ranadive has been signed. Johnson helped assemble the new ownership group in a bid to keep the Kings in California’s capital city, a ...

Knicks dig in, force Game 6

May 18, 2013

Knicks dig in, force Game 6

Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks broke out just enough to stay in it. Anthony scored 28 points and the Knicks avoided elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 85-75 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 on Thursday night. Reserves ...