June 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ira Winderman
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A weekly look at five talking points that have the league buzzing: 1. Bosh: Let's talk in 2010. Good for Chris Bosh. He took a stand. There will be no extension this summer, the Raptors power forward declared last week. Instead, his next contract move will come at the July 1, 2010 start of free agency. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have not been nearly as definitive, even though it is unlikely either would entertain an extension when they become eligible this summer, with July 12 the first day Wade could close such a Heat deal and July 18 the first day a Cavaliers extension agreement could be reached with James. The reality, though, is Bosh's preemptive statement preempts nothing. If ..."
May 31
Akron Beacon Journal
columnist Patrick McManamon
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There's always a feeling when watching the Cavaliers that LeBron James will figure or find a way to win the game. The other team might be good, might do this, might do that. But the Cavs have James. Well . . . it took one young, energetic, free-shooting, power-slamming team to obliterate that feeling. The Orlando Magic blew said feeling apart in the Eastern Conference finals, which ended Saturday night with the Magic's 103-90 Game 6 win at Amway Arena. James did all he could - putting up historic numbers, averaging 38.5 points in the series. But it was not enough. One simply cannot beat five. The one might be chosen and awarded and anything else you can think of, but one cannot beat five ..."
May 29
Akron Beacon Journal
columnist Patrick McManamon
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LeBron James dribbled at the top of the key. He dribbled some more . . . and some more. The shot clock wound down, and James waved Mo Williams away. The Cavs led 99-93 with 2:30 left in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. For brief parts of this game, James had looked tired, having played many games and many minutes - 45:30 in this game. But in the fourth quarter Thursday night, the Cavs gave James the ball and asked him to keep their season alive. As the clock ticked, James dribbled, then suddenly spun left and cut right on his way to the basket. There he met Dwight Howard, who jumped into James as he shot. The ball went in, Howard fouled out and following the free throw, the Cavs ..."
May 21
Cleveland Plain Dealer
columnist Bill Livingston
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His clothes as dark as his intentions when opposing linebackers were in his sights, Jim Brown sat at courtside Wednesday night at The Q. He was watching LeBron James, the first Cleveland player in a generation to be in the discussion with him for performing in a state of athletic power and grace. Brown, of course, was the signature player on the last Cleveland team to win a championship in a mainstream sport, the 1964 Browns. He was the decoy that day in a stadium that has been knocked down against a favored foe the Browns knocked off. Brown's mere presence opened the Baltimore defense for three touchdown passes from Frank Ryan to Gary Collins. Not once did Brown run off tackle after ..."
May 21
Cleveland Plain Dealer
columnist Bill Livingston
"
Before there was Michael Jordan, there was Jerry West. "Mr. Clutch" was the nickname he carried. He also became known as "The Logo," because the silhouette on the league's insignia was modeled on him. He couldn't go to his left, but it hardly mattered. With the game on the line, he shot like he couldn't miss, playing without fear, scoring without mercy. Sometimes, he would run off the court to the locker room with the ball on a game-winner still in the air. After his playing career, West was a great talent evaluator as general manager with the Lakers and a good one with Memphis. This week he became either a prophet or the ex-Lakers official in charge of prodding Kobe Bryant. "I look at ..."
May 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
columnist Bill Livingston
"
Before there was Michael Jordan, there was Jerry West. "Mr. Clutch" was the nickname he carried. He also became known as "The Logo," because the silhouette on the front of every NBA teams' shorts was modeled on him. He couldn't go to his left, but it hardly mattered. With the game on the line, he shot like he couldn't miss, playing without fear, scoring without mercy. Sometimes, he would run off the court to the locker room with the ball on a game-winner still in the air. After his playing caeer, West was a great talent evaluator as general manager with the Lakers and a good one with Memphis. This week he became either a prophet or the ex-Laker official in charge of prodding Kobe Bryant. ..."
May 15
Akron Beacon Journal
columnist Patrick McManamon
"
INDEPENDENCE:It used to be the shoes. Now it's the puppet. And the powder. LeBron James' new Nike commercial debuted this week, and word-of-mouth reviews give it high praise. It's deserved: It's very funny. James gave an impish grin at the thought of watching himself as a puppet. ''That's me,'' he said Wednesday after the Cavs practiced in the midst of another week off in the playoffs. If so, we have learned that he really is a chatterbox. These are the kinds of things that happen with a team that has a player like James. If he's not hosting an MVP news conference at his high school, he's debuting a commercial about himself done by puppets. Most important, he's leading a team that has a ..."
May 11
Charlotte Observer
columnist Patrick McManamon
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Perhaps a weird immunity is creeping into local psyches. It's an immunity sprung from the good fortune of watching LeBron James play basketball so often. Because the game he had Saturday night struck many as typical, and when sensational becomes typical, you know you've been around something quite a bit. The sound guy for Neil Young might say the same thing. But there are only so many LeBron James-type basketball players in the world, and every game seems to bring something unique and memorable. Saturday's 47-point effort in front of T.I. and other hip-hop stars among Atlanta's home crowd was extra special. "We're so spoiled," Zydrunas Ilgauskas said Sunday as the Cavs prepared for ..."