Cavs really need some luck for the draft. They must get one of the first two picks and have the Clippers pick get into the top 5.

Also hope a deal can be swung for another draft pick from Detroit, either this year, or ideally, their #1 for next season. That one would be a lottery pick in a deeper draft pool.

Bulls and Heat are headed for a ECF showdown.

That would be quite a series.

Would like to see that happen!

The CBA negotiations had absolutely nothing to do with who declared for the draft.

LeBron James, who has Heat one game from series sweep, has a message for Cleveland: 'Wasn't my team'

BY Stefan Bondy
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, April 22nd 2011, 5:58 PM


PHILADELPHIA - If you tell LeBron James that Cleveland was his city or the Cavaliers were his team, prepare for a quick correction.

The Akron native didn't wait for the end of a question Friday when a reporter referenced Cleveland as "your city." James' message was that he can't disown something that was never his.

"It wasn't my city. It wasn't my team either," he said. "I was just a player, you know, I helped get that franchise to leaps and bounds that they haven't seen before.

"But there were players before me - Mark Price, Larry Nance, Brad Daugherty and guys way before me. The city was not built on LeBron James."

The Cavaliers and their fans may have thought differently. As he led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, a 10-story tall mural of James was put up in downtown Cleveland. When he left for the Heat, fans who felt betrayed burned his jersey and team owner Dan Gilbert sent out a scathing email about James to season ticket holders.

They still haven't gotten over James' departure, if only because the Cavaliers went from having the best record in the league to the worst.

Meanwhile, James' vision of joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to title moved closer to reality with Miami's 100-94 victory Thursday over the 76ers, giving the Heat a 3-0 series advantage.

James reiterated his reason for his choosing South Beach.

"We came together to win championships. That's the only reason we're here."
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Lebron is scum.

Talented scum.

But scum.

Top Five NBA-Ready Point Guards

By: Luke Byrnes Last Updated: 4/21/11 1:21 PM ET


With the NCAA men's basketball season behind us and the NBA Playoffs underway, it is time to start preparing for the 2011 NBA Draft (even if there might not be a 2011-12 NBA season…). As HOOPSWORLD ramps up our continuing coverage of the draft, here is a look at the top five NBA ready point guards in the class of 2011.

Note: There will be some fluidity to this list, as well as those to come (Yannis Koutroupis will look at the shooting guards tomorrow), until the May 8th deadline to withdraw from the draft and maintain college eligibility passes.

1. Kyrie Irving, Duke – Coming into the 2010-11 NCAA basketball season, Kyrie Irving was hailed as one of the top incoming freshmen in the country, but wasn't receiving the same attention as some of his classmates (Harrison Barnes; Perry Jones, III). Quickly, however, Irving established himself as not only the alpha-male on a Duke team that won the 2010 NCAA title and returned a pair of All-America seniors in Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler, but the favorite to become the top pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The 6-2 dynamo led the Blue Devils in scoring (17.4 points per games) on .532 shooting while chipping in 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as Duke raced out to an 8-0 start. An injury to his big toe in the team's victory over Butler on Dec. 4, however, kept Irving out of Coach Mike Krzyzewski's lineup until some three and a half months later, when the Blue Devils took on Hampton in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. In just eight games, however, Irving put on full display his ability to dominate the best guards in the country while elevating himself to the top of nearly every mock draft imaginable. A solid athlete, Irving relies more on changing speeds than a lightning-quick first step to create space and can score in a variety of ways. While deadly in the open court, he is also effective in half court set, isolations and pick and roll situations. In eleven games with the Blue Devis, Irving shot nearly 53 percent from the floor and better than 46 percent from behind the three-point line. On top of his outstanding offensive game, the Australian-born Irving is fiercely competitive on the defensive end of the floor and shows the ability to be, at least, a solid defensive player at the NBA level. Not only is Irving the most NBA-ready point guard in the upcoming draft, he is the top overall prospect.

2. Kemba Walker, Connecticut – Each year, as the draft approaches, it seems as if the focus shifts from what a prospect does well (which we seem to talk about all season long) to what his weaknesses are (as scouts, coaches and executives evaluate talent). In the case of Kemba Walker, there are few weaknesses. Listed at 6-0, Walker is a bit undersized for an NBA guard but his size has rarely affected his ability to be an efficient scorer, playmaker or distributor at the college level, playing against top competition in the deep and talented Big East Conference . Walker possesses solid lateral quickness, good defensive awareness and a penchant for playing the passing lanes. On the offensive end, Walker is lightning quick and, with his terrific handle, is able to get to any spot on the floor. Deadly in the mid-range, Walker is equally adept at creating shots for himself and his teammates. While he was the primary (and at some points, only) scoring threat for Connecticut this season, he showed sound decision-making skills, averaging just 2.3 turnovers per game despite being the primary ball-handler for nearly 38 minutes per game. Strong, tough and fearless, he rebounded his position very well, averaging 4.4 rebounds per game during his three seasons in Storrs and 5.4 as a junior. One area in which Walker will have to continue to improve is as a perimeter shooter. He made just 75-227 three-point shots this season and never shot better than .339 from behind the arc as a member of the Huskies.

3. Nolan Smith, Duke – Although he doesn't have the same upside that some of the players on this list possess, Nolan Smith is the most complete point guard in the 2011 NBA Draft. The 6-3, 185 lb. senior can play both off the ball (where he played most of his college career) and on the ball, as he showed after teammate Kyrie Irving went down eight games into the season. Not supremely athletic, Smith uses craftiness and smarts to get past defenders and into the lane, where he can create shots for himself and his teammates. While his decision-making sometimes leaves something to be desired (5.1 assists, 3.2 turnovers per game this season), he was the predominant ball-handler for the Blue Devils for the majority of the season and was asked to carry the scoring burden on most nights after Irving's injury. Tough and gritty, where Smith distinguishes himself from the rest of the point guard prospects in his draft class is on the defensive end of the floor. He is extremely competitive and shows very good defensive fundamental, keeping opposing players in front of him with strong footwork and solid lateral quickness.

4. Brandon Knight, Kentucky – Not the ultra-quick point guard that John Calipari has recruited the past couple of seasons (like Derrick Rose and John Wall), Brandon Knight still possesses a quick first step which allows him to get by defenders and into the paint, where he can make tough shots in the mid-range or finish around the basket. An excellent shooter, Knight is equally effective pulling up off the dribble and spotting up, with a quick release. As he continues to improve as a decision-maker, something he will have to do in order to successfully run and NBA team, Knight has the size (6-3, 170) and shot-making ability to play off the ball as well. Defensively, the Kentucky freshman shows the quickness and fundamentals to be a solid defender, but must become more consistent in his efforts on that end of the floor. As the season progressed, Knight showed better decision-making skills as a passer and in terms of shot-selection, but still must improve on both as he moves to the NBA.

5. Jimmer Fredette, BYU – One of the most prolific scorers that college basketball has seen in recent history, Jimmer Fredette was a one-man wrecking crew over the past few seasons for BYU, leading the Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. The 6-4 senior led the nation in scoring, averaging 28.9 points per game, scoring at least 30 points 15 times including a 52-point performance against New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference Tournament on March 11. An outstanding shooter with unlimited range, Fredette must be picked up the second he crosses mid-court, putting tremendous pressure on opposing defenses. Fredette isn't particularly athletic by NBA standards but, because defenders can't give him any space to shoot, is able to get by defenders.

He is capable of knocking down threes, pulling up in the mid-range and draining shots in pick-roll situations. Perhaps most impressive is his ability to hit a wide variety of shots, both on and off balance, from seemingly anywhere on the court. A solid passer, Fredette is capable of making great passes, but is also turnover prone, something he will have to improve upon at the NBA level.

Defensively, Fredette lacks the foot-speed to stay in front college level point guards, let alone the top-flight athletes (Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, etc.) that currently reside at the point in the NBA. Fredette's high basketball I.Q., creativity and shooting ability make him an interesting NBA prospect.

Honorable Mention: Demetri McCamey, Illinois; Shelvin Mack, Butler; Malcolm Lee, UCLA; Reggie Jackson, Boston College

Magic's attempt to surround Howard with championship level talent has gone awry.

Been there, done that.

But maybe he won't quit on his team before departure.

Pluto:

About the Cavaliers ...

1. Cavs GM Chris Grant is headed to Europe this week to watch the playoffs in various pro leagues. He will be looking at prospects, including four center/power forwards (Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Bismack Biyombo and Jan Vesely) who are projected lottery picks. The Cavs have had several scouts look at the overseas talent, and this is Grant's second trip to Europe.

2. The draft will be a challenging puzzle, because most of the prospects are big men. The Cavs believe they are in good shape with Anderson Varejao, Semih Erden and Ryan Hollins at center. J.J. Hickson also showed he could play some center last season. Hickson joins Antawn Jamison and Samardo Samuels at power forward. They also have Luke Harangody. Odds are at least one of these big men will be traded.

3. But it wouldn't be a shock if the Cavs drafted a big man. Kentucky's Terrence Jones has entered the draft, and he led the SEC in rebounding (8.8 pre game). Like Derrick Williams, there is some debate about Jones' best position. But most scouts have both players listed at power forward.

4. The Cavs have decided they will draft the "best player available" and if it's a big man, so be it. They believe it opens up trade possibilities -- be it for the player they are picking, or a veteran big man. The Cavs need a small forward and a shooting guard, but they refuse to simply draft a player at that position to fill a need. They want real value for their two lottery picks.

5. The Cavs also believe most teams need big men and point guards, so it makes sense to stockpile both. That's why they'd love to add Duke's Kyrie Irving, Kentucky's Brandon Knight or UConn's Kemba Walker at the point -- despite having Baron Davis and Ramon Sessions. Byron Scott is willing to play two point guards together for meaningful minutes. Suppose they do draft Irving -- there will be a significant trade market for Sessions.

I don't know about the significant trade value of Sessions, at least for anyone decent.

MIAMI -- LeBron James has an answer for those who felt he gave less than full effort in last year's playoffs against the Boston Celtics: "That's corny."

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said he felt his former star quit against the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs last season. James played poorly in several games during the series and especially drew criticism for his play in Game 5 when the Cavs lost at home by 32 points with the series tied 2-2.

Windhorst: Can LeBron Reverse History?

LeBron James' second-round flop last year came against the Celtics at the same pressure point where the Heat now find themselves, writes ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst. Blog

• Series coverage: Heat | Celtics

"He quit," Gilbert said after James signed with the Miami Heat last summer. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."

Asked about that sentiment Saturday on the eve of his third series against the Celtics in the past four years, James was dismissive.

"That's corny," James said. "I don't understand that type of stuff."

Though the Heat-Celtics series, which starts Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, features seven current All-Stars and is laden with numerous future Hall of Famers, many are looking at it as a redemption chance for James. He lost to Boston in the second round in seven games in 2008 with the Cavs despite a 45-point effort in Game 7.

Last season James averaged 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists when the top-seeded Cavs lost to the fourth-seeded Celtics in six games. In the three consecutive losses to close out the series, James was just 18-of-53 shooting with 19 turnovers. He was fighting an elbow injury at the time but declined to blame his performance on it.

After those defeats, James said this series with the Celtics had become personal.

"It is personal," James said. "You don't want to keep getting beat by the same team; the same team sending you home to plan vacations."

Though he often relies on film work as part of his normal preparation, James said he has not watched the games from last season's playoffs against the Celtics. Instead, he has focused on the four games against Boston this season. And he planned to spend a large part of Saturday studying the film, looking for any edge.

“

James They play me the same way every time, they try to put two on the ball and force me to take jump shots. It has been the same way for the last three years.
” -- LeBron James, on the Celtics

"They play me the same way every time, they try to put two on the ball and force me to take jump shots," James said. "It has been the same way for the last three years."

The Celtics expected him to say nothing less.

"It would be personal for me," Boston forward Paul Pierce said. "I'm sure he's going to take it personal and you've got to expect his best."

Unwittingly or not, the Celtics played a huge role in setting up an offseason unlike any other in NBA history. Boston gave James a big push toward Miami for a strength-in-numbers approach with the Heat that wasn't possible during the two-time MVP's stint with the Cavaliers.

Collectively, James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh figure to rate a better chance, and that theory is about to get put to the real test. They left a combined $51 million on the bargaining table last summer, and victory in this best-of-seven series may make that money seem exceptionally well-spent.

"I think you've got two really good teams, two teams with a lot of will, two teams with a lot of pride," Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said. "And I think it's going to be a great series."

The Celtics have 17 NBA championship banners, and there's at least that many story lines for this matchup.

Boston's Shaquille O'Neal wants to come back from injury for this series, as does Udonis Haslem for Miami. The Heat know they need to find ways of getting Wade going against the Celtics, which didn't happen in the regular season. Boston wants to exploit what it figures to be a significant edge at point guard with Rajon Rondo over the duo of Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers.

More on the Celtics

Keep on top of the Green throughout the season with ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg. Blog

• Send Chris a question

And there's that small matter of the teams just plain not liking one another.

"Playoffs is a new season," Boston forward Kevin Garnett said. "New situations, new scenarios. So everything we've done up to this point is just history."

In Miami's case, the history is not good.

Not only did Boston oust both Wade (in the first round) and James (in the second round) from last year's playoffs, but the Celtics have won 18 of their last 21 meetings overall against Miami -- even after the Heat rolled to a 100-77 win at home on April 10, the lone time they knocked off the defending East kings in four matchups this season.

The dominance has extended into the playoffs, too.

Of the 15 players on Miami's roster, nine have been ousted from past postseasons by the Celtics, with James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas enduring that fate in both 2008 and 2010 with the Cavaliers. Only one player -- James Jones, a reserve with Indiana in 2005 -- knows how it feels to beat the NBA's all-time championship leaders in a playoff series.

"I look forward to the challenge," Wade said. "I know I haven't played well against this team. That's no secret."

In Boston's eyes, Miami's hopes may not be pinned on Wade or James. The Celtics say the key may be Bosh.

Sometimes the forgotten man in the series of megadeals that reshaped the Heat last summer, Bosh had three double-doubles in five games against Philadelphia in the opening round. When he gets to at least 10 points and 10 rebounds, the Heat win at a 77 percent clip (24-7).

"LeBron and Wade are LeBron and Wade," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "They're going to be great. They were great before the series, they'll be great during it and they'll be great after and this summer when you're talking about it, you'll say 'LeBron and Wade are great players.' That's not going to change. But when Bosh plays great, then their team is great. And so, he's a key guy for them."

Boston hasn't played for a week since sweeping the New York Knicks out of the first round, and the Heat had slow starts in all five games of their series against Philadelphia.

"We've prepared a long time for this," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's time to toss the ball up in the air."

Information from ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and The Associated Press was used in this report.

They're still playing basketball?

Boston and Miami now. It's REALLY getting interesting for us hoops fans.

Not for me. I've boycotted the NBA. But I might watch an elimination game that knocks the Heat out.

I will root for a Celtics 'threepeat' over Lebron.