Basketball

It’s not uncommon in the NBA to have a team’s radio or television broadcasting crew unabashedly slant their coverage in favor of the home team. In fact, many clubs prefer it, even if the coverage can be off-putting to the more neutral observers forced to listen to a particular broadcast. The Pacers fall into this…

I think this is relevant because this is the philosophy that Danny Ferry wants to put into place in Atlanta Fundamental Dynasty: The San Antonio Spurs and the Moneyball theory Here is an excerpt from this article Has anyone ever noticed that the San Antonio Spurs seem to always have a collection of the same type of players in their system? Penetrating point guards who can knock down an open jump shot, shooting guards who are able to create their own shots, versatile small forwards who can defend guards but also possess a high career three point percentage, flexible power forwards who can defend in the post but also stretch the defense out on the perimeter and finally a center who can defend and score in the post. This article doesn't really go into detail about the organizational philosophy of the San Antonio Spurs, but I think this excerpt gives us a good idea of the skills we should be looking at in players the Hawks are looking to obtain. Here's another article by one of the sister sites here at SBNation. The process of evolution and the perfection of philosophy I think this is relevant because this is the philosophy that Danny Ferry wants to put into place in Atlanta Fundamental Dynasty: The San Antonio Spurs and the Moneyball theory Here is an excerpt from this article Has anyone ever noticed that the San Antonio Spurs seem to always have a collection of the same type of players in their system? Penetrating point guards who can knock down an open jump shot, shooting guards who are able to create their own shots, versatile small forwards who can defend guards but also possess a high career three point percentage, flexible power forwards who can defend in the post but also stretch the defense out on the perimeter and finally a center who can defend and score in the post. This article doesn't really go into detail about the organizational philosophy of the San Antonio Spurs, but I think this excerpt gives us a good idea of the skills we should be looking at in players the Hawks are looking to obtain. Here's another article by one of the sister sites here at SBNation. The process of evolution and the perfection of philosophy

Paul George/ LeBron James Incredible Playoff Moment From All Angles Check out the BIG dunk from Paul George and Lebron's 3 pointer at the buzzer from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals from every angle! About the NBA: Th... From: NBA Views: 301 125 ratings Time: 01:15 More in Sports

Hey babies. I'm in the process of moving so things will probably continue to be quiet this weekend. There's basketball tonight, though, and if you're watching, you can comment along here. It's Game 3 between the Grizzlies and Spurs, so check out Grizzly Bear Blues and Pounding the Rock as well.

The Blazers most likely will not have a chance to draft at number 10 (or better) again for several years. As such I consider it crucial for the Blazer franchise to keep the #10 pick and use it to pick the best player available. The Blazers need to consider both short term and long term. Most teams build success through the draft. These days most players do not stay in college long enough to really learn the basics of basketball. Most rookies need years to learn the NBA game. Fans also need to be patient. Very few teams have instant success with new additions to the team. The process of developing an NBA player takes time, hard work and patience. There are very few magical players who instantly make a team a title contender. Obviously free agent signings can add valuable pieces to a team. But Portland is not a choice city that promises media exposure and off the court activities. So significant summer signings of stars would be very unexpected and unlikely. Thus it is probably best for Portland to look to the draft to get quality players. Portland at the beginning of last year had a very inexperienced bench. As we all remember, the starting five did an excellent job. But they wore out from playing 40 minutes per game. Then injuries crippled the last months of the season. So having a capable bench is essential to a winning team if they are to be fit and ready for the playoffs. I was encouraged by the progress some of the Blazer rookies showed toward the end of the season. Victor Claver (dob 8/30/88) showed promise to be a steady force off the bench either as a stretch 4 or SF. Meyers Leonard (2/27/92) began to show he will be a solid NBA player. He is only 21 years old! Joel Freeland had a more difficult rookie year but he is only 26 after he started playing basketball about age 16 (http://nbadraft.net/players/joel-freeland). Will Barton (1/06/91) really was coming on at the end of the year. His early injury slowed his development but he made the most of his opportunities when he finally got playing time. Elliot Williams (6/20/89) is a big unknown as injuries have severely hampered his playing time and career. Williams is really just a rookie set to start his first full year in the NBA this fall. The players likely to be replaced with free agent signings and draft picks: Pavlovic (11/15/83), Nolan Smith (7/25/88), Jeffries (7/25/81) and Luke Babbitt (6/20/89). And what happens with JJ Hickson? Is Eric Maynor really the answer at back up point guard? Portland probably will have at least 4 new faces on their roster next season. The draft keeps talent growing. It brings young players who will develop under the very good coaching and teaching of Terry Stotts and his staff. Portland needs help at backup big man positions – power forward and center. But immediate perceived needs should be secondary to drafting the best player left on the draft board. And hopefully Neil Olshey and the Blazers will not worry if their pick is rated #24 by Chad Ford of ESPN or Draft Express. I like what Toronto did last year in drafting Terrence Ross at number 8 when he was projected at 14 or later. We will have to wait to see if this works out for them but they had the courage to pick out of the confines of the mock drafts. Portland fans have been patient and I fully expect them to wait while this team develops. Signing free agents to fill out a solid bench is the basic need for this summer. Just two solid rotation players will make a huge difference. Starters will be able to rest and be fresh for the end of a game and more importantly, ready for the last games of the season and the playoffs. Portland also has 3 second round picks: 38, 39 and 45. There are several interesting prospects who could make an NBA team and become rotation players. Remember Jeff Pendergraph and Dante Cunningham were picked in the second round of the 2009 draft and both became rotation players. Cunningham is now with the Timberwolves and Pendergraph plays for Indiana. Will

RT @KBergCBS: Cavs coach Mike Brown up next on @CBSSportsRadio's #EyeOnBasketball. Listen here:

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports Let me start off by saying that the Indiana Pacers played a great game. They came out aggressive and showed the maturity to fight off the champs run. With that said, the Miami Heat are giving themselves headaches. And while I would love to blame the referees for taking Miami out of the game, I can’t. The refs were equally bad on both sides of the floor — like they tried to overshadow the teams with calls. However that wasn’t the main reason they loss. Neither were the two late-game turnovers or the unexpectedly missed free throws (thanks Ray Allen). They helped to close the door but they weren’t the biggest excuse for it closing. Miami can thank a season-long problem for that one. They came out like they were ready to play then decided to coast. It felt like we were thumbing through a book that we all read before. They start off slow then try to finish quarters the same way Bernard Hopkins does, tip-toe through most of the day then try to end rounds with a flurry. The difference is that Hopkins actually plays defense while he plays possum. The Heat played none — making it harder to cap a comeback when their stars couldn’t execute. “We just didn’t finish the game like we’re capable of,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said (via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel). “We’re supposed to find a way to close out those games and we didn’t.” Case in point, Miami’s three-on-two fast break with less than two minutes left. It was a typical play that we’ve seen all season. LeBron James gets the ball and pitches it to Dwyane Wade as he runs the left wing. To his left is Mario Chalmers. Wade sprints to the middle of the lane, jumps in the air and tosses the ball to a wide-open Chalmers in the corner — and he bricks it. An advantage like that without a shot from Wade or James is a guaranteed win and that’s what it was — for Indy. With Game 3 looming, the Heat need to figure out how to stop the issues that plagued them during the win-streak. Please feel free to comment using the section below, or reach out to us using the hash tag #RML, for Rant My Life. Richard Nurse is a Miami Heat columnist for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @blackirishpr.

There was a critical play late in the Grizzlies’ Game 2 loss to the Spurs where Tony Allen was brought down by Manu Ginobili on a fast break attempt. Ginobili grabbed Allen’s off arm and dragged him out of the air to prevent an easy layup, causing Allen to fall awkwardly as he came to…