Lebron James Network

Mario Chalmers had just completed yet another strong performance this postseason. As he was about to hop on the cart that taxis players from the locker room to interview podium following Wednesday’s victory, he couldn’t help but crack a joke to the driver. “You need to put some spinners (rims) on this,” Chalmers said. “Hook it up.” This is Chalmers, the brash, overconfident jokester who has evolved from liability to legitimate third-scoring threat for the Miami Heat. With Chris Bosh sidelined the past seven games, it has been Chalmers filling the scoring void with three-point shooting and drives to the basket. Suddenly, his play is starting to overshadow his sometimes testy relationship with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Chalmers is averaging 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the playoffs entering tonight’s Game 3 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. His much-publicized, on-court screaming matches with James and Wade are now ...

01:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, June 1, 2012 By KEVIN McNAMARA Jourrnal Sports Writer The ammunition for Celtics fans is almost too much to bear. Like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson before him, LeBron James gets all the calls. It’s how the league does business, right? Protect the stars. Rajon Rondo can get slapped across the face driving to the rim late in an overtime game and not get a call. Tickle LeBron in the back and he’s ushered to the line. After two games of the Eastern Conference finals, the numbers have the Celts talking to themselves and their fans ready to lynch anyone in a zebra jersey. As coach Doc Rivers said after a 115-111 overtime loss in Game Two, “Listen, it is what it is. LeBron James took 24 free throws tonight and our team took 29.” James has hoisted 33 free throws in the Heat’s two wins. Boston’s three best players â€" Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett â€" have combined for 30. A physical beast ...

By KEVIN CLARK The New Orleans Hornets won just 32% of their games last season and ranked 24th among the NBA's 30 teams in attendance. The team has been such a financial mess that the NBA, which took it over last year, had to run its operations all season while looking for a buyer. They were, in short, not a well-run franchise. So here's their reward: On Wednesday, the Hornets earned the right to draft one of the most surefire superstars in years, Kentucky's Anthony Davis. The concept of a player draft isn't unique to the NBAâ€"it's a fixture of every major North American team sport. For the most part, drafts are a fair way to promote competitive parity between teams: They prevent rich ones from hoarding talent while allowing struggling teams to have the first crack at the best young players. But when it comes to the modern NBA, the draft (and its much-ballyhooed "lottery" system) has created something unique to major sports leagues: A unive...

Updated: May 31, 2012, 9:53 PM ET By Michael Wallace | ESPN.com W2W4: Heat-Celtics NEXT VIDEO W2W4: Heat-Celtics W2W4: Heat-Celtics Highlight Of The Night Highlight Of The Night Smith: 'Rondo Is The Boston Celtics' Smith: 'Rondo Is The Boston Celtics' Were Heat That Good Or Celtics That Bad? Were Heat That Good Or Celtics That Bad? MIAMI -- Coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday that complaints from opposing teams about the Miami Heat 's favorable free throw disparity have been frustrating, but that they won't stop LeBron James and Dwyane Wade from attacking the basket and forcing referees to make calls. "Everybody knows how we want to play," Spoelstra said before the team traveled to Boston for Game 3 on Friday. "And if we can get some of those in the open court, get to the rim, get to the free throw line, it's not like this is something new right now. We're the league leader i...

by Ben Watanabe on Thu, May 31, 2012 at 5:22PM Doc Rivers is a very rich man, and he would like to keep it that way. The Celtics coach would not bite on several questions about the foul disparity between his team and the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, staying away from any response that could net him a fine from the NBA. The Celtics were whistled for 33 fouls to the Heat's 18, and attempted only 29 free throws to the Heat's 47. They picked up another technical foul, their fourth non-team tech of the series, and were called for seven personal fouls before Miami picked up its first foul more than 10 minutes into the game. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were second and 22nd in the NBA in free throw attempts during the regular season, respectively, so the Celtics anticipate the Heat getting their share of foul shots. Rivers cannot be pleased with the volume of free throws the Heat have gotten or the disparity between his own team's free t...

LeBron James took the final shot in regulation last night. He missed. And then he and Dwyane Wade banded together in overtime like Batman and Robin (or Batman and Superman, or whatever incredible tandem of superheroes I can mention without making one more important than the other) and they took a commanding two-game lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. What a game.  Instead of talking about the overtime battle, a day later people are still talking about the shots that James missed. Not the four huge offensive rebounds, the 34 points, 10 rebounds or seven assists, and not the victory, but that he didn’t hit the shot to finish things in regulation because that is what matters. Newsflash: The Heat won the game. It doesn’t matter.  Enough with this clutch crap. Had the Celtics pulled out the victory, the criticisms of James would be just as annoying but more understandable. Today though? Enjoy two teams fighting for a victory, enjoy Rajon R...

Updated: May 31, 2012, 5:30 PM ET By Michael Wallace | ESPN.com Highlight Of The Night NEXT VIDEO Highlight Of The Night Highlight Of The Night Smith: 'Rondo Is The Boston Celtics' Smith: 'Rondo Is The Boston Celtics' Were Heat That Good Or Celtics That Bad? Were Heat That Good Or Celtics That Bad? LeBron's Thunderous Block Leads To Wade 3-Point Play LeBron's Thunderous Block Leads To Wade 3-Point Play LeBron James blocks Paul Pierce's shot, leading to Dwyane Wade going down the court for the layin and the foul. MIAMI -- Coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday that complaints from opposing teams about the Miami Heat 's favorable free-throw disparity have been frustrating, but that they won't stop LeBron James and Dwyane Wade from attacking the basket and forcing referees to make calls. "Everybody knows how we want to play," Spoelstra said before the team traveled to Boston for Gam...

Updated May 31, 2012 2:50 AM ET MIAMI (AP) Back and forth they went in overtime, Rajon Rondo and the Miami Heat . HEAT VS. CELTICS Heat work overtime for Game 2 win Witz: This won't cut it in Finals Tomasson: LeBron escapes critics Photos: Game 1 | 2 Heat postgame video: Game 2 Celtics postgame video: Game 2 NBA Playoff Central Rondo scored. The Heat answered. Then again. And again. Eventually, Rondo missed, one of the rare times he didn't deliver on an unforgettable night. Moments later, the Heat took the lead for good, finally able to close out a wild Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. LeBron James scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored eight of his 23 points in the extra session and the Heat rallied from 15 down to beat the Boston Celtics 115-111 on Wednesday night - taking a 2-0 lead in the series by pulling off the biggest comeback in franchise postseason history. ''One of the best games I...

MIAMI â€" Dwyane Wade led a comeback from a 2-0 series deficit in the 2006 NBA finals. LeBron James rallied his team from two games down to win the Eastern Conference crown a year later. So they know this East title series is not over. As the series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Friday, Miami expects to see the best the Celtics can muster. A 44-point, 10-assist, eight-rebound night from Rajon Rondo went for naught in a 115-111 overtime loss in Game 2, as Miami held serve at home. Only 14 teams in NBA history have rallied from an 0-2 hole to win a series, and the Celtics haven't done it since 1969. But Wade and James know it can happen, and the Celtics believe they're capable as well.

Mario Chalmers had just completed yet another strong performance in this postseason. As he was about to hop on the cart that taxis players from the locker room to interview podium following Wednesday's victory, he couldn't help but crack a joke to the driver. "You need to put some spinners (rims) on this," Chalmers said. "Hook it up." This is Chalmers, the brash, overconfident jokester who has evolved from liability to legitimate third-scoring threat for the Miami Heat . With Chris Bosh sidelined the past seven games, it has been Chalmers filling the scoring void with 3-point shooting and drives to the baskets. Suddenly, his play is starting to overshadow his sometimes testy relationship with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade . Chalmers is averaging 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the playoffs entering Friday's Game 3 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Go Heat! Win Miami Heat fan gear. Heat jersey, tshi...

Tim Legler, NBA Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler discusses Celtics-Heat, LeBron James, the officiating in Game 2, Kevin Garnett, Spurs-Thunder, Tony Parker, Kevin Durant and more. Brian Windhorst, NBA Play Podcast ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst weighs in on Celtics-Heat, LeBron James, some of the questionable calls in Game 2, Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce and more. Bob Ryan, NBA Play Podcast The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan talks about Rajon Rondo's performance in the Celtics' loss to the Heat, the officiating in Game 2, Paul Pierce, Mickael Pietrus and more. John Crotty, NBA Play Podcast Heat analyst John Crotty covers Miami's win over Boston, the officiating in Game 2, LeBron James' performance in the fourth quarter, Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo and more. Mary Schmitt Boyer, NBA Play Podcast The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer dishes on how the NBA draft lottery works. Boyer says there is no way that ...

FOX Sports Exclusive Updated May 31, 2012 1:11 PM ET Consistency separates the Spurs from the Heat . On a nightly basis, you know exactly what to expect and what you’re going to get from Gregg Popovich’s squad. The Spurs trust their system of unselfish ball and man movement. It’s as if they’re on autopilot and the only possible variable is individual effort within the system. Popovich’s in-your-face coaching style stabilizes the effort. System plus effort equals 20-game winning streak. In Miami, there is no offensive system and the effort, particularly on the offensive end, varies significantly depending on the night and the opponent. We saw evidence of these facts Wednesday night when Rajon Rondo almost single-handedly knotted the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had been on a four-game tear of Spurs-like ball and man movement. They’d whipped the Pacers three straight to close out one playoff series ...

Imagine playing your biggest game but having nothing to show for it? Rajon Rondo posted a stat line never before seen in NBA playoff history. He was on the court for every second of a game that finished more than three hours after it started. He scored more points in a single overtime than anyone this season. His night was called incredible, amazing and unbelievable â€" and that was by the Miami Heat. And when it was over, Rondo could only express disappointment that the Boston Celtics needed more. LeBron James scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored eight of his 23 points in overtime and the Heat took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-111 win over the Celtics on Wednesday night, overcoming what will surely go down as the best game of Rondo's career to move within six wins of an NBA title. "We lost," Rondo said, shrugging off talk of the historical ramifications of his night. "Simple as that." Rondo...

It seems to me in sport there are losses. There are losses that our moral victories. And then there are demoralizing. Losses. I suspect I don't know that's for sure but I suspect last night's overtime setback in. Miami. Qualifies as the latter a demoralizing loss and not because the Celtics don't have heart. Or grit and balls. But for me the take away it was and I guess probably for some of the celtics' all the Celtics deep down in their heart. They know that they can't play much -- They can't play much better than that shortly Rajon Rondo I don't think can play any longer than he played last night and it's still. Wasn't enough to beat the heat doesn't qualify as a demoralizing loss for basket. But I think it's all the above I think -- moral victory too because I didn't think they have this in -- did you. Do you think they had this and I'm. Not there may be back here exactly right and and I do think. That day I post game and ...

To the surprise of absolutely no one, LeBron James is the betting favorite to win NBA Finals MVP. Of course another 44 points, 10 assist, 8 rebound game by Rajon Rondo may skew things a bit. Of course the Celtics have to advance. Here courtesy of sportsbook.com (via covers.com ) are the current odds: LeBron James : +150 (win $150 on a $100 bet) Tony Parker : +200 Kevin Durant : +500 Manu Ginobili: +750 Tim Duncan : +1,000 Dwyane Wade : +1,000 Paul Pierce : +1,200 Rajon Rondo : +2,000 Russell Westbrook : +3,000 Chris Bosh : +3,000

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'Hatfields & McCoys' miniseries outscores LeBron James By Hal Boedeker , Staff writer 9:23 a.m. EST, May 31, 2012 The "Hatfields & McCoys" miniseries rode out a winner Wednesday night in the Orlando TV market. The History production starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton  averaged 196,600 viewers. The three-part miniseries has been a giant hit for History. Nationally, the first two parts each drew more than 13 million viewers. The Miami Heat - Boston Celtics game on ESPN  placed second in Orlando with 116,500 viewers. LeBron James and the Heat won, 115-111, to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox drew 83,800 viewers. It was a tight race for the fourth place among CBS'"CSI" with 64,500 viewers, the premiere of CBS' "Dogs in the City" with 63,500, ABC's"The Middle" with 63,300 and CBS' "Criminal Minds" with 61,900. ...

Updated:  May 31, 2012, 7:10 am ET By HOOPSWORLD Basketball News & NBA Rumors That set the stage perfectly for (LeBron) James to deliver a winner. But with the ball in his hands and the chance to win, James missed two shots in the final 20 seconds of regulation. First, a contested lay-up that rimmed out after he set a high screen for Wade and rolled hard to the hoop. “(Dwyane) D-Wade was able to hit me on a pass to the rim, and I missed the lay-up,” James explained. “I felt I had a good look at it, but I was kind of off balance.” After saving the possession by securing the offensive rebound, James isolated on (Rajon) Rondo at the top of the key, running out the clock before launching a step-back jumper over the smaller defender. His shot rimmed off as the buzzer sounded. “I had a great look at it at the end of regulation, it just didn’t go down,” James said. The second shot was an opportunity at a signature moment but also a horribly p...