Baseball Sports: 2015

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

EuroBasket 2015: Great Britain lose all four games

Last updated at

Great Britain rounded off their EuroBasket 2015 campaign with another defeat, beaten 76-70 by Croatia.

The Brits had already been eliminated from the tournament after losing to Russia, Latvia and Serbia.

The early exit means GB, coached by Peter Buckle, can no longer qualify for next year's Rio Olympics.

Rachael Vanderwal was the side's top-scorer, amassing 20 points, while Temi Fagbenle managed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

"We had a tough ride during preparation with illnesses and injuries, which meant we only had our 12 together for two training sessions," said Buckle.

"It is nobody's fault, just circumstances."

Monday, June 15, 2015

NBA finals: LeBron James motivated by Cleveland drought

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James has scored 183 points in the first five matches of the NBA finals

Last updated at

LeBron James says Cleveland's trophy drought is a "huge motivation" as his Cavaliers side prepare for Tuesday's must-win game six against Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals.

Golden State's 104-91 victory on Sunday put them 3-2 up in the best-of-seven series, one win from the title.

Cleveland have never won the finals and James said he would be "commanding a lot from myself" to change that.

"I feel confident because I'm the best player in the world," said James.

Golden State have themselves not won the NBA title since 1975 and continued their recovery from 2-1 down in the series with victory in Oakland, where Stephen Curry was the star performer.

"I hope on Tuesday we can hold that trophy," said Curry, the NBA's this season. "We're not getting ahead of ourselves, but we know the sense of urgency of the moment. We're confident."

Sunday, June 14, 2015

EuroBasket 2015: Great Britain lose to miss out on Rio Olympics

Great Britain's Chantelle Handy was playing in her 100th match

Last updated at

Great Britain's women's basketball team cannot qualify for next year's Rio Olympics after being eliminated from the first round of EuroBasket 2015.

Sunday's 76-54 defeat by Serbia in Gyor, Hungary, was their third loss and means they will not meet their Sport England goal of a top-12 finish.

Sport England when its investment in the sport in 2014, but further funds hinged on that target.

They also lost to and

It had looked like Peter Buckle's side could still have a chance of advancing from the group if they won Monday's final game against Croatia by 10 points.

However, other results did not go their way with a surprise 68-62 victory for Latvia over Russia ending Britain's hopes.

Last month, GB player Azanian Stewart with the BBC when discussing the potential repercussions of missing out on the Olympics in 2016.

Friday, June 12, 2015

EuroBasket 2015: GB Women suffer Russia defeat

Last updated at

Great Britain women's EuroBasket 2015 campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 71-40 defeat by Russia in their opening group game.

GB centre Temi Fagbenle was also taken to hospital with an eye injury.

"There were still some real positives in that I thought we got better and we have got some rustiness out of our system," said GB boss Peter Buckle.

GB need a top 12 EuroBasket finish as they aim to secure further funding.

its investment in 2014 and which has set the top-12 target.

Great Britain player when talking about the future for her sport in a recent BBC Sport interview.

The first phase of EuroBasket 2015 consists of four groups of five, with the top three progressing into the second round of two groups of six.

The top four then go on to the quarter-finals as the tournament takes on a knockout format.

Kanye West wants to be BFFs with Steph Curry

Imagine a dinner party with Stephen and Ayesha Curry, and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, holding down the grown folks table. North West and Riley Curry, in all their cute-kid splendor, are playing on the ground next to them as a photographer captures every single meme-worthy facial expression.

It could happen. Kanye said in a recent interview with New York City's Hot 97FM that he wants to be friends with the reigning NBA MVP.

"I'm from Chicago," said Kanye, an avid Bulls fan, when asked whether he was taking the Cavs or the Warriors in the Finals. "I'm good friends with LeBron. I would like to be really great friends with Steph."

Kanye West will be here tonight sans Kim. Told he paid $16,000 for his ticket.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP)

Ever the businessman, Kanye, who's designed his own signature Adidas lifestyles shoes, also said Curry could upgrade his endorsement portfolio.

"I think he'd be an awesome Yeezy athlete. I think he could get rid of them Under Armours right quick. I'm sure the world would love to see Steph in some Yeezys."

Here's the full interview. Fast forward to the 4:40 mark to catch the good part.

Matthew Dellavedova went from 'goofy kid' to leader at Saint Mary's first

Matthew Dellavedova following his Cavaliers' Game 3 victory in the NBA Finals. Columbia University men's basketball coach Kyle Smith woke up and cried.

Smith didn't cry over Dellavedova's health; he knew the Cavs' scrappy point guard would be fine. Smith says he wept tears of joy, knowing that the point guard he coached at Saint Mary's College had played the game of his life on the NBA's biggest stage.

“He literally left it all on the floor," Smith told Sporting News, "and that’s exactly what we embodied at Saint Mary’s. He’s taken it to the highest level.”

On a Cleveland team plagued with injuries, the Australian has emerged as one of the most unlikely playoff heroes in recent memory. However, Smith and Dellavedova's old Saint Mary's teammates aren't shocked. To the people that have followed Dellavedova's career since his college days in California, he has always been the same tenacious player.

“We’re a little surprised from the standpoint of how impactful he’s been and how many minutes he is getting," said former Gaels guard Todd Golden, who did not overlap with Dellavedova at Saint Mary's but followed his career closely. "That’s obviously a product of the Kyrie injury, but we're definitely not surprised by how hard he is competing, how smart he plays, and how he is in no way scared of the moment.”

Even as a unheralded freshman, Dellavedova earned the respect of both his coaches and teammates through a relentless work ethic. The same effort has been frustrating Warriors point guard and NBA MVP Stephen Curry to the point that the record-setting 3-point shooter is making only 32.4 percent beyond the arc in the Finals.

Former Gaels center Omar Samhan was at first skeptical of his new teammate back in 2010, but he will always remember the exact moment Dellavedova won him over.

“I’ll never forget it," Samhan said. "I was worried because we graduated about eight players, and heading into my senior year I didn’t even recognize the team. But then Coach Bennett tells me, ‘Don’t worry, we got this really good freshman guard.’ Dellavedova walks in with his shaggy haircut, and he was even thinner back then — didn’t have the beard — so I say, ‘So this is the kid?’ I thought it was going to be a bust or a rough year, but I realized I was in for a pleasant treat with him.

“In the locker room he was a goofy kid and was kind of like a little brother, but once the games started, that role quickly changed. He was one of the leaders and carried himself just as a captain would."

Dellavedova finished as the Gaels' all-time leader in scoring, assists, games played, free throw percentage and 3-pointers. He was a key player on a Sweet 16 run as a freshman, when Samhan was the star, and played all 40 minutes in a second-round game when the No. 10 seed Gaels stunned No. 2 seed Villanova.

Dellavedova has made his niche in the NBA doing things that other players don't want to do, and his scrappiness — along with LeBron James' unbelievable play — has Cleveland two wins away from the city's first title in 51 years. He has been a big-game competitor for a while now, even if fans are only now taking notice.

“He facilitates everybody so well," Samhan said. "You see him doing it with LeBron, but that’s what he was doing as an 18-year-old at Saint Mary’s.”

Carmelo Anthony buys Puerto Rican soccer team

Carmelo Anthony can add "soccer owner" to his resume.

After , the Knicks forward announced Thursday that he is now the owner of Puerto Rico FC of the North American Soccer League.

"My passion for soccer has always been there," Anthony . "I just always kept it to myself and among my circle. Going to games, sneaking into games and just watching and being around the sport over the years.

"The more time I started spending in Puerto Rico over the past six, seven years I realized that there was kind of a void down there on my island. The island didn't really have anything that they could kind of call their own, that they could represent not just on the island but from a global standpoint."

Puerto Rico FC was disbanded in 2012 because of ownership and fiscal issues. Under Anthony's ownership, the team will play its first match in fall 2016.

Until then, the eight-time All-Star insists his new venture won't distract him from pursuing his first NBA title.

"," he said. "I'm very hands-on but it's more about taking the time now during the offseason. I spend a lot of time in Puerto Rico training. I'll do like a mini-training camp down there. Right now it's about putting the right people in place so that when I'm back to my regular job, basketball is my main focus. I'll have a solid group of people running (Puerto Rico FC) on a day-to-day basis."

Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha, Pero Antic due in NYC court in nightclub arrest case

Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha are due Tuesday morning in New York City Criminal Court for a hearing that is the next step before a trial date is set in the case stemming from their April arrests outside a Manhattan nightclub, .

outside 1 Oak in Chelsea, Sefolosha sustained that led to season-ending surgery. He says the injuries were caused by police.

Both players are charged with misdemeanor obstructing governmental administration. Antic also is charged with one count of disorderly conduct and one count of second-degree harassment. Sefolosha also is charged with one count of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct.

They have maintained their innocence and have declined further comment beyond an initial joint statement and the week after the incident.

Attorney Alex Spiro, who represents both players, declined comment on Tuesday to the Journal Constitution.

The incident happened about 4 a.m. on April 8 outside 1 Oak. Several were obtained and posted by TMZ Sports. Both Antic and Sefolosha have said the videos speak for themselves in declaring their innocence.

Wale is crossing up fans at Game 4 of the NBA Finals

The Cavs could use some backcourt help after losing Kyrie Irving, could Wale be the answer?

Watch the rapper go Uncle Drew on this fan outside of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Cult basketball legend God Shammgod would be proud.

Dellavedova, Lee exchange words and a shove during Game 4

Is Matthew Dellavedova a dirty player or does he just play hard?

The Cavaliers' point guard has become "Public Enemy No. 1" in the eyes of many fans for his "scrappy" play this postseason.

Whether it was the incident , being the catalyst for the collision that left Hawks' sharpshooter Kyle Korver with or with Korver's teammate Al Horford, Dellavedova has been involved in a handful of contentious moments throughout the 2015 NBA Playoffs.

He was involved in another one Thursday night during to the Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

As he made his way off the court at the end of the first qurater, Dellavedova crossed paths with Warriors forward David Lee. He leaned near Lee's shoulder and said something that did not go over well with the big man.

Dellavedova during Game 3, and while it is unclear what Dellavedova's motives were, whatever he said did not please Lee or teammate Stephen Curry.

The Australian guard finished with 10 points on 3-for-14 shooting.

With the series tied 2-2, the teams will travel back to the Bay Area for Game 5 on Sunday (8 p.m., ABC).

Steve Kerr lied, and the Warriors took advantage in Game 4

CLEVELAND — As he met with the media before the start of Thursday’s NBA Finals game, Steve Kerr had the air of a fellow who had something up his sleeve.

He was prodded by the gathered reporters, asked whether he intended to double-team LeBron James more. “Maybe, maybe,” he said. He was asked whether David Lee, who performed well late in Game 3, would appear more. “Yes, David will play,” he said. He was asked whether there would be a change in the starting five. “No,” Kerr said. “We’re going to start the same way.”

Two truths out of three ain’t bad. About that starting lineup?

“I lied,” Kerr admitted after the game.

Kerr bluffed deftly and instead played a surprise card — arguably the last in his hand — by making a lineup swap from center Andrew Bogut to wing Andre Iguodala in order to kickstart a stagnant Golden State offense. The result of Kerr’s trick play was the most Warriors-like game this team has put forth, and a 103-82 victory here at Quicken Loans Arena, evening the series at two games each and keeping the Warriors from a desperate NBA Finals situation.

If there was a reason Kerr and the Warriors held the advantage entering this series, it was the depth and length of his roster, the flexibility that comes with trusting your Top 10 rotation players. That became an even more acute advantage when Cleveland, already down Kevin Love to a shoulder injury, lost Kyrie Irving after Game 1.

But that has not worked out so simply for the Warriors against this Cavs bunch, and to win Game 4 Kerr had to dig deep. Iguodala had not started any of the 95 games in which he had appeared during the regular season and playoffs, and Lee had not been among those 10 rotation players in whom Kerr had trusted recently. Lee did not play in the first two Finals games.

Iguodala handled his addition to the starting group with gusto. He has been Golden State’s steadiest player throughout the series, and in Game 4 he was simply the Warriors’ best player. He scored 22 points and took advantage of frequent mismatches against Cleveland center Timofey Mozgov, going 4-for-9 from the free-throw line. Mozgov made the Warriors pay at the other end (28 points), but the small lineup forced the game to be played at Golden State’s pace, really for the first time all series.

The faster speed boosted the rest of the Warriors. Stephen Curry had 22 points, and the Harrison Barnes-Draymond Green combo, which struggled so badly in Game 3, bounced back to total 31 points on 10-for-20 shooting. The Warriors shot 46.8 percent from the field and made 40.0 percent from the 3-point line. After totaling 31 assists in the past two games, the offense had 24 assists in Game 4.

GAME 4: |

Kerr made a couple of other changes, too. He scrapped the use of his deep bench and instead mostly relied only on Lee (15 minutes, 28 seconds) and Shaun Livingston (24:30) off the bench. Leandro Barbosa played 6:57, while Bogut only played 2:48.

Asked how Kerr broke the lineup change to him, Bogut said it was simple: "'You're not starting.' That was it," he said.

Kerr also used double-teams on LeBron James far more than we had seen in the first three games, which was not very often. James came into the game averaging 41.0 points on 35.7 shots per game, but as the Warriors sent two men at him, he sought to pass more, and looked very human for the first time in this series, with 20 points on 7-for-22 shooting. Outside of Mozgov, the rest of the Cavs struggled, and Cleveland shot a paltry 33.0 percent from the field.

So Kerr only mostly lied — and, heck, if you tell a minor fib in pursuit of an NBA championship, you can be forgiven. . Kerr did play Lee more, though, and he did double-team James more. He told the truth there. But the biggest card he played was the Iguodala move into the starting group. And that was a top-notch bluff.

Jim Brown was moved by 'chosen son' LeBron James' gesture

Right before Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night in Cleveland, LeBron James turned toward Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown, put his hands together and bowed to the NFL Hall of Famer.

The showing of respect from one Cleveland icon to another made for a powerful moment for Cleveland sports fans, and especially Brown.

“It was one of my greatest sports moments,” . “It really was. I’m not a basketball player. I had one of the greatest seats on earth. I had no concept that LeBron even knew I was at the game. And when he made his gesture, it was just a great thing for an old guy.

“I’m 79 years old. One of the great things about age is about the young people behind you and the way they give you respect. It’s so important. When a superstar like LeBron in this day and age can take a moment to recognize you; that’s about as good as it gets. And what he did on the court – LeBron is magnificent.”

Brown was a member of the last professional team to bring a championship to Cleveland, the 1964 Browns, so he can sense the hunger for a winner in Northeast Ohio. And he thinks this scrappy Cavaliers team, led by arguably the bast player in the world, could be the team to feed that hunger.

“They’re going to let it all hang out. ... 1964 is too long ago,” Brown said. “Cleveland’s got the right scenario. The chosen son has come back home to deliver the championship.”

Cavaliers veterans upset about playing time in NBA Finals

Several Cavaliers are upset that coach David Blatt is not using more of the team's bench in the NBA Finals, .

Cleveland is tied 2-2 with the Warriors heading into Sunday's Game 5, but they've done it short-handed, following season-ending injuries in the playoffs to center Kevin Love and point guard Kyrie Irving.

While LeBron James has stepped up to an even higher level than usual, the Cavs have relied on a limited supporting cast. Multiple sources with the team told ESPN that coach David Blatt needs to go deeper into the bench to keep the team fresh.

Blatt has essentially relied on a seven- or eight-man rotation in the first four games, although he used rookie guard Joe Harris and veteran center Kendrick Perkins for the first time in the to the Warriors.

James even fielded a question about the player rotation following that game, in which the Cavaliers starters looked tired.

"That's the coach's decision if he decides he wants to go deeper in the bench," James said. "We haven't played many guys throughout this playoff run. I think it would help some of the guys that are playing some high minutes, for sure. Just give guys a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there. But I think the coaching staff will try to do what's best to help us be physically and mentally prepared for Sunday."

One player conspicuously missing from the Cavs rotation in the Finals is Shawn Marion. The 6-7 forward, who plans to retire after this series, has not yet played in the Finals.

Another Cavs player who has rarely ventured off the bench in the Finals is 6-8 swingman Mike Miller. After averaging 13.5 minutes per game in the regular season, he's played 4.7 minutes per game against Golden State. The feeling according to ESPN is that Marion and/or Miller could have seen more playing time in Game 4 when the Warriors enjoyed success going to a smaller lineup.

As for the Cavs looking tired in Game 4, Blatt said the schedule and injuries have taken a toll, but that's not a reason for the team's poor play Thursday.

"(It) was the third game in five days, including the trip back from the West Coast, and it seemed to have an impact on us," Blatt said. "We're thinner now than we were, but that's not an excuse. We haven't used it as an excuse yet, and we won't start now. We've just all got to pick it up."

Island Games 2015: Guernsey target women's basketball medal

Guernsey's women have won four medals at their last five Island Games

Last updated at

Guernsey's women's basketball team are aiming to at least make the final of this summer's Island Games.

The island have made the semi-finals in each of the last five games when there has been a women's competition, winning gold on home soil in 2003.

"Every time we go we think about winning a gold and this time is no exception," said coach Patrick Ogier

"We'll definitely be trying to get into that final and once we're there anything can happen," he added.

There was no women's competition in Bermuda two years ago, with Guernsey winning bronze in the Isle of Wight in 2011.

This summer's games in Jersey see Guernsey drawn in a group with 2011 gold medallists Menorca, Gotland and the hosts.

"All of us are in a good place, we're feeling positive, but we're not taking anything for granted," captain Gemma Batiste told

"We're not going in there thinking we're going to walk away with things. We've got some hard games coming up and some hard work to put in over the coming weeks."

ZOUMA - Would you let him leave on loan next season

Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero openly admitted he is "trying to get Kurt Zouma" this summer as he looks to strengthen the physical presence of his team. I ask Chelsea fan read this if you think you should consider letting him go on loan?

Zouma impressed everyone with his performance in defense and, surprisingly, also in the role of defensive midfielder (just ask Marouane Fellaini) this season. He answered the call and made a real name for himself with fans taking to heart.

However, at least for next season (and I would have to believe that this is the case of JT signing a new contract for one year) Zouma would have to settle for a place on the bench behind Gary Cahill and new JT as They seem the preferred choice of Jose Mourinho.

So where does that leave Zouma? It would be used in the same way next season by the manager and introduced to the side to play a key role in the games That's enough to Zouma when you have to play regularly to help in its development?

Besides the interest of the president of Sampdoria. Good talk recently, Massimo Ferrero revealed that he intended to appoint the legendary goalkeeper Walter Zenga as their new manager following the departure of Sinisa Mihajlovic and affected Zouma main objective.

His particular interest is as it seems and Sampdoria would be able to offer regular first Zouma football team in what will be a season with major European leagues all to come next year.

Players must be playing football regularly if they want to be considered for the tournament and I can not see that Zouma settle for the same stage this time at Chelsea.

Personally, I let myself go for a loan, because we cover defense season. Branislav Ivanovic defender Cesar Azpilicueta can play with the movement of the right side. Filipe Luis, if I could not still play left back or if the reports are correct, they could sign of Toby Alderweireld athletic and can play on the left or in the middle of the back.

What do you think we should do about Zouma Let him go on loan or play much next season at Chelsea? If so, it is instead of the band

I am interested in reading many of your opinions

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Drew Sullivan: Leicester Riders return possible for GB captain

Drew Sullivan was Team GB captain at the 2012 London Olympics

Last updated at

Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan has not ruled out re-signing for Leicester Riders for next season.

The 35-year-old spent three years with the Riders and was but he joined London Lions in 2014.

Leicester are considering an offer for Sullivan, who said he would "never say never" when asked about a return.

"I'm not saying it's going to happen but hypothetically I can see how what I bring to the table will fit into that group," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

Meanwhile, Sullivan's fellow forward Tyler Bernardini has said he wishes to stay for the second year of his contract despite speculation he will be leaving.

"I'm excited to be playing in my second year and see the team that the management is putting together," said the American.

"The club are looking after my situation here to grow with the club in the new arena next season."

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Houston Rockets: Basketball fans trapped for hours by flash floods

Fans stuck in Houston due to flash flooding

Houston Rockets beat Golden State Warriors 128-115 at the Toyota Centre on Monday

Last updated at

Basketball fans in Houston were trapped for hours inside an arena by flash flooding after watching their team win.

Nearly five inches of rain has fallen on the city since Monday evening.

Two hundred fans have been trapped for more than six hours

Fans were advised to stay in their seats because of the weather following Houston Rockets' win against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Western Conference Finals on Monday night.

The game finished at 22:35 local time but fans were still in the Toyota Centre six hours later.

USA Today reporter Sam Amick tweeted: "Dwight Howard is among those still stuck at Toyota Center. He stays far outside of town, so not safe to leave"

The Houston Chronicle reported that to ride out the storm alongside player Dwight Howard as rain continued to fall into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

"I don't think it's smart for anybody to try to be out in this weather," said Howard, who plays centre.

Fans congregated on one side of the arena as staff cleaned ahead of a scheduled Neil Diamond concert on Tuesday night.

Almost six hours after the game, Simone Eli, a presenter on KPRC 2 Houston,

The BBC Weather Centre said heavy rain began in Houston at about 21:00 local time and there have also been thunderstorms, while more heavy rain and tornadoes are forecast for Friday.

At least and hundreds of homes have been destroyed in flash flooding in the southern US.

Matt Musil from KHOU-TV tweeted from inside the Toyota Centre

Sunday, May 24, 2015

NYPD officers take no mercy against kids on the basketball court

Regardless of your opinion of the New York Police Department as a whole, you have to admit this is pretty cool.

A group of officers recently rolled up on a crew of teenagers in the Bronx and beat them mercilessly...on the basketball court.

The officers showed off an array of moves from stepback jumpers to "The Dream Shake" made famous by Hall-of-Famer former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon.

The kids also enjoyed it, posting their commentary about the encounter on social media afterward. It was the type of moment, involving law enforcement, that isn't seen too often. And, of course, (it is 2015 after all) someone pulled out a smartphone, recorded what transpired and posted it on YouTube for the world to see.

Check out the new uniforms the Atlanta Hawks could be wearing next season

The Atlanta Hawks reached new heights this season, garnering 60 wins and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

Next season, they could be donning some new threads. , "Atlanta Hawks, LP" filed to trademark a new logo Friday.

The Hawks will go back to their iconic Pac-man-themed symbol, first instituted in 1980, as their primary logo, beginning in 2015-2016, according to the report. They'll stick with red as a dominant color while dropping blue in favor of black and an eye-popping lime green.

The image above is a rendering of what the Hawks' alternate logo might look like.

Now, the team hasn't made any official announcement yet (it kind of has its hands full with the Cleveland Cavaliers and all) but if you want to check out some renderings of what could be the Hawks' new tops and bottoms come next season, checkout SportsLogos.net's full post

Lakers still expect Kobe Bryant to retire after next season

For months, rumors have been swirling that Kobe Bryant from professional basketball after next season.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak added some more weight to that notion on Thursday, saying that Bryant "indicated ... that this was it."

"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio, . "There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."

The 2015-16 season will be Bryant's 20th with the Lakers and he is slated to make $25 million. The shooting guard, who will be 37 in August, only played in 35 games this season before a shoulder injury .

"A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then," Kupchak said. "I talk to him from time to time ... and he is recovering. He's running. He's getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he's much closer to the end than to the beginning."

Even if he could, Kupchak said he wouldn't want to force a new deal on Bryant if he didn't want to stay.

"He hasn't indicated that he wants to continue to play," Kupchak said. "But if there is a player out there like that, that won't come here for that reason, then we don't want them. Every great player is demanding and focused, and if you don't want to play for a guy like him that's driven to do nothing but win championships and work hard, then you shouldn't be here. You should go someplace else."

LeBron James, Cavaliers take 2-0 series lead over Hawks

No Kevin Love, no Kyrie Irving, no problem for the Cavaliers.

Despite missing their starting point guard, the in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals at Atlanta. The loss puts the Hawks in front of a large mountain to climb, as only four teams in NBA playoff history have come back to win a series after losing the first two games at home.

LeBron James put the team on his back Friday in one of his most efficient games of the postseason. He finished one rebound shy of a triple-double with 30 points (on 22 shots), 11 assists and nine rebounds. It was his 74th career 30-point playoff game, tying with Jerry West for fourth-most all time. James showed off his versatility by scoring in a multitude of different ways.

"It was a collective team effort," James said on TNT. "We’re the No. 1 defensive team in the postseason, and that’s how we have to win — stellar defense.

"My guys came to play for me (Friday). Communication is huge. For the team, and for me as a leader, and we communicated well."

Tristan Thompson was a monster on the boards once again for the Cavs. He had 16 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Thompson also scored seven points and blocked two shots.

Matthew Dellavedova stepped in for the injured Irving and played well, scoring 11 points and maintaining a solid 4:3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Dennis Schröder came off the bench to lead the Hawks with 13 points in just 12 minutes. Jeff Teague, Al Horford and Kyle Korver scored 12 points apiece. Korver left the game in the third quarter when Dellavedova came down awkwardly on his right leg.

The Hawks are in serious danger of being swept, and if DeMarre Carroll and Korver remain banged up, it will be tough to beat whomever the Cavs put on the court.

Dellavedova and James showcased some excellent ball movement leading to a violent Timofey Mozgov slam:

Mozgov drops the hammer on !
— NBA (@NBA)

: Sunday at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT).

: Western Conference finals Game 3, Warriors at Rockets, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tristan Thompson's block on Kent Bazemore personifies Cavs' win over Hawks

The Cavaliers laid the smackdown on the Hawks on Friday night, defeating them 94-82 in Game 2 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals.

No play epitomized the Cavs' dominance quite like power forward Tristan Thompson's block on Hawks wing Kent Bazemore late in the third quarter.

Bazemore, known for his antics on the sideline as a member of the Warriors before becoming a key role player for the Hawks, barreled through the lane and took off with all the fervor you'd expect from someone bent on throwing down a highlight reel-worthy dunk. Well, footage of the play will be all over the Internet, just not for reasons Bazemore can be proud of.

That just wasn't right.

Game 3 is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET Sunday in Cleveland.

Zach LaVine shows off insane athleticism with a 44-inch vertical jump

After watching Zach LaVine dominate this year's , it should be no surprise to see the Timberwolves rookie guard jump ridiculously high.

But this is still pretty incredible.

LaVine got up for a 44-inch vertical jump at Peak Performance Project where he is working out for the second consecutive summer. It looks like the work is paying off.

A video posted by Zach LaVine (@zachlavine8) on May 23, 2015 at 7:50pm PDT

The scary part about that leap is LaVine adding "for now." Is it possible for LaVine to reach 50 inches? Can he jump over a building? Can he play Slamball without using the trampolines?

Commissioner Adam Silver, please make a rule that LaVine has to be in the dunk contest the rest of his career.

Stephen Curry breaks Reggie Miller's single-postseason 3-point record

Stephen Curry's dream season continues.

The newly minted NBA MVP set a new league record Saturday night by sinking his 59th 3-pointer in a single postseason, breaking the record previously held by Reggie Miller.

Curry entered the game needing two treys to break the record, which occurred with a second-quarter shot from the top of the key with 4:32 remaining.

It took Miller 22 games to hit 58 3-pointers back in 2000. Curry achieved the feat in his 13th playoff game this year.

Curry broke the single-season record for made 3-pointers with 286 in the regular season, breaking his own record from 2013.

His record-breaking 3-pointer Saturday night gave the Warriors a 49-32 lead over the Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

Russell Westbrook jams out to Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood'

Russell Westbrook and I have one thing in common and it's not our taste in fashion or insane athletic ability — it's our willingness to completely let loose and jam to some Taylor Swift in the car.

Indeed, the Thunder star recorded himself singing T-Swizzle's latest smash "Bad Blood" while he was cruising in his whip and it's fantastic.

Really, the question we should be asking is why wasn't Russell Westbrook in the dang music video? We all know he's had plenty of free time on his hands for the past month and a half or so. Maybe he's practicing for the remix.

A video posted by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) on May 22, 2015 at 3:06pm PDT

Westbrook needs to get up with rapper Kendrick Lamar and film a part two for this video.

Kyrie Irving will sit out Game 2 against Hawks

LeBron James will have to carry the load Friday night as the Cavaliers face the Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Friday that Kyrie Irving will sit out Game 2 with left knee tendinitis. Irving traveled to see Dr. James Andrews Friday and his diagnosis (tendinitis) was confirmed and a treatment plan agreed upon.

He will continue treatment and is currently listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Cleveland.

In the Cavs’ 97-89 Game 1 win Wednesday, Irving had 10 points and six assists in 27 minutes.

LeBron James addresses Michael Brelo verdict, asks for Cleveland calm

The Cleveland Cavaliers sit on the doorstep of the NBA Finals, up 2-0 on the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference finals. For a city that hasn't seen a major sports championship since 1964, this is huge.

But something much bigger, something far beyond sports is happening in Cleveland, and LeBron James is speaking out.

On Saturday morning, a judge found Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo not guilty of voluntary manslaughter after his, and his colleagues', actions resulted in the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams following a high speed chase in 2012. , 13 officers fired 137 shots at Russell and Williams that evening. They were unarmed, and as has become almost a given in these stories in recent months, they were black. Brelo, according to prosecutors, waited until the vehicle had stopped, stood on the hood and fired 15 bullets through the windshield.

The at 8:30 p.m. ET Sunday. TV coverage: TNT.

In the wake of a growing number of high profile cases of black people dying beneath the bullets or brutality of policeman — 12-year-old, Cleveland kid Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, take your pick — the verdict has left Cleveland's black citizens hurting.

Protests have remained peaceful as Clevelanders held mock funerals, formed a line across a major highway and gathered at the location of Rice's death.

And for them, LeBron James has a message: To keep the peace. As a native son of Northern Ohio and something of an ambassador to the city, he addressed the city's emotional tenor after practice on Saturday. Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com captured .

"Violence is not the answer, and it's all about trying to find a solution for good or for bad," James told reporters Saturday. "For me, in any case, anything that goes on in our world or in our America, the only people that we should be worried about [are] the families that's lost loved ones. You can't get them back. You can never get them back. We should worry about the families and how they're doing and things of that nature."

While James refrained from commenting specifically on the case, he did speak to the role he hopes sports can play in helping the city heal.

"Something that's going through a city that's very dramatic, traumatizing or any of that case, I think sports is one of the biggest healers in helping a city out," James said.

"Sports just does something to people. Either if you're a player, you're a fan, you just have something that has anything to do with that city, you just feel a certain way about rooting for a team that you love. And it can get your mind off some of the hardships that may be going on throughout your life or in that particular time and period. It just does that."

Game 3 between the Hawks and Cavaliers will come to Cleveland Sunday night. Undoubtedly, fans will bring signs celebrating James' play on the court and the Cavs' march toward the next and final step in the NBA playoffs.

But signs brandished in the streets of Cleveland on Saturday carried a different, more disturbing message: "Will I be next?" Four words that personify a fear increasingly being spoken as the national conversation on the relationship between the state and its black citizens touches city after city.

As for his fellow Northern Ohio natives, James understands he has a chance to lift them up — not just with basketball, but with his words.

"I know my position, I know my power, I know my responsibility," said James. "I take it very seriously."

So the question becomes: Can LeBron play both parts? Can he lift up a city with sports accomplishment, but also with his words? It's nearly impossible to ask of him. But in an era that often asks athletes to stay in their lane, to leave be the controversies brewing on the streets, it's refreshing to see James try.

To not just wear Cleveland on his chest, but let the city see his heart.

LeBron James jokes with pregnant woman sitting courtside

It was LeBron James' night.

Not only was he one rebound short of a triple-double in the Cavaliers' big win to take a two-game lead over the Hawks in the Eastern Conference finals, but the superstar was obviously enjoying himself on the court.

It was obvious in the first half when James, who was mic'd up, had to pump the breaks to avoid running into the fans sitting courtside. As he walked away, he noticed one of the ladies he just barely missed was pregnant. That's when he decided to (jokingly) offer some advice.

I doubt she'll sit courtside at a Hawks game again this season. Not because she won't want to, but because this series might not make it back to Atlanta with the way LeBron and Co. are playing. Just take a listen to how focused the Cavs star was during Game 2.

Yep, Cavs in four.

Tristan Thompson gives teammate Timofey Mozgov bloody nose after vicious dunk

As if the Cavaliers weren't beat up enough, they're bloodying each other up during warmups now, too.

Tristan Thompson went up for a vicious dunk against Timofey Mozgov before Game 3 between the Cavaliers and Hawks on Sunday. It was at that moment things got a bit more physical than either Cleveland player anticipated.

While Mozgov was going for the block, Thompson basically told his teammate, "You gon' learn today!"

Save it for the game, fellas.

Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving works out, 'questionable' for Game 3 vs. Hawks

Guard Kyrie Irving tested his sore left knee and a new, smaller brace Saturday but remains "questionable" for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday against the Hawks, Cavaliers coach David Blatt said ().

Irving, who had been playing through an injured right foot and left knee pain for most of the playoffs, sat out that gave the Cavs a 2-0 series lead. Hours earlier, he had flown to Florida to see Dr. James Andrews about the knee (the Cavs say the foot injury has largely healed).

Andrews confirmed the Cavs' original diagnosis of tendinitis but offered a "different interpretation" of how to treat the injury, team officials said. Irving is now taking a new medication, doing different exercises and wearing a brace.

Irving, who didn't speak to the media Saturday, did some shooting and took part in one-on-one drills against assistant coach Phil Handy and the team's development staff.

"He's questionable for [Sunday] and, you know, hopefully he responds well to the little workout he did [Saturday]," Blatt said.

Up 2-0 in the series with the next two games in Cleveland and the , the Cavs appear to be in a good position to rest Irving with an eye toward a potential berth in the NBA Finals, which would begin June 4.

However, Blatt said Irving's status for Game 3 would be determined by a doctor, not by the Cavs' situation.

"If he's able to play, then he'll play," Blatt said. "He's a big part of the team, and this series is not finished. But if he's not able to play, then he won't. That's the determining factor."

Irving's replacement, Matthew Dellavedova, scored 11 points with six rebounds and four assists in Game 2. Irving is averaging 18.9 points and 3.5 assists in the playoffs.

Cavaliers vs. Hawks Game 3: Time, TV info and analysis

While the Western Conference finals has the looks of an entertaining sweep, things could be on their way to getting ugly in the Eastern Conference

LeBron James and the Cavaliers trounced the Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 94-82, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. James was in top playoff form on Friday, demoralizing the crowd at Phillips Arena by scoring 30 points to go with 11 assists and nine rebounds. To make matters worse, Atlanta's Kyle Korver was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs Saturday after spraining his ankle on Friday.

Now, the series heads back to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers will look to sweep the No. 1 seed Hawks. Here’s everything you’ll need to get ready for Game 3:

The Hawks (60-22) raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a balanced attack, but have struggled to keep up with James and the Cavaliers (53-29) through the series’ first two games.

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals best-of-seven series, Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

TNT will broadcast the entire series.

It almost goes without saying that whoever is guarding James has to desperately avoid letting him get into the same rhythm he found Friday. James scored or assisted on 60 of the Cavaliers’ 94 points, according to ESPN Stats & Info, and he was one rebound shy of a triple-double. But the key matchup will be played at the rim, where Al Horford and Paul Milsap will need to figure out a way to rebound. The Hawks’ two key big men totaled just 11 combined boards in Game 2, allowing Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov to create second chances for the Cavaliers and deny them to Atlanta. If the Hawks have to rely on Mike Scott off the bench as their leading rebounder, as he was Friday, it could spell big trouble.

Game 1 -- Cleveland 97, Atlanta 89 (Cavs lead series 1-0)
Game 2 – Cleveland 94, Atlanta 82 (Cavs lead series 2-0)
Game 3 -- Sunday, May 24, Atlanta at Cleveland
Game 4 -- Tuesday, May 26, Atlanta at Cleveland
*Game 5 -- Thursday, May 28, Cleveland at Atlanta
*Game 6 -- Saturday, May 30, Atlanta at Cleveland
*Game 7 -- Monday, June 1, Cleveland at Atlanta
* if necessary

James nearly ran into a pregnant fan in the first row at Friday’s game, but pulled up and backed away from her slowly. In a telling display of just how loose James was, the star forward walked back over to her and joked that she should have a “do not disturb” sign on.

With Korver out for the rest of the playoffs, Atlanta finds itself in dire need of someone to step up and make 3-pointers. Korver was far and away their best perimeter shooter during the regular season, with a remarkable 49.2 3-point percentage. Meanwhile, Iman Shumpert and James Jones combined to shoot 7-of-11 from 3-point range for the Cavaliers in Game 2, where Cleveland shot 40 percent from distance compared to the Hawks 23 percent. Korver's absence won't make that disparity any easier to overcome, but Atlanta will have to bridge the gap somehow if it hopes to contend.

The Hawks took their first series against the Nets 4-2, and did the same to the Wizards in the second in a much more interesting fashion. A Paul Pierce last-second shot was waived off in Game 6 to send Washington home. The Cavaliers easily swept past a young Celtics team in the first-round, but it took them six games to eliminate the Bulls.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

GB games at women's EuroBasket to be shown live on the BBC

Stef Collins, who played for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London

Last updated at

Great Britain women's games at the 2015 EuroBasket in Hungary will be shown live by the BBC in June.

The team play four group games against Russia, Latvia, Serbia and Croatia with the winners of the tournament certain of a place at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

All games will be available on the Red Button and via the BBC Sport website.

GB guard Stef Collins said: "To know everyone back home will be watching will certainly be a huge confidence boost and can really inspire us."

GB last week and continue their preparations for EuroBasket with games in Bilbao later this month.

There are four places available in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the four teams that finish below the winners.

Performance chairman Roger Moreland added: "EuroBasket Women is an incredibly tough tournament and as a pathway to Rio, even more so.

"However this is our third appearance at the event and we have proven we can produce results."

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Manchester Giants: Yorick Williams replaces Jeff Jones

Yorick Williams played for England and Great Britain during his career

Last updated at

Manchester Giants have appointed Yorick Williams as head coach as replacement for the departing Jeff Jones.

The 39-year-old Mancunian started his career at the Giants in 1994 and also played for the club for one season during the 2013-14 campaign.

Williams has played for seven different British Basketball League teams, as well as Aris Thessaloniki in Greece.

"The Giants have done some great work in the last three years and I want to build on that," he said.

Jones, 60, just missed out on a play-off spot this season after a ninth-placed finish and which opens later this year.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Manchester Giants coach Jeff Jones steps down

Jeff Jones took over for his second spell in charge of Manchester Giants in 2012

Last updated at

Jeff Jones has stepped down as head coach of British Basketball League side Manchester Giants.

The 60-year-old was in his second spell in charge of Giants and his side just missed out on a play-off spot this season after a ninth-placed finish.

He has left to focus on work with Manchester's National Basketball Centre, which opens later this year.

"The development of British talent has been a priority for me since I came to this country," said Jones.

"The development of the club and the growth in junior participation is gaining momentum and will continue to expand.

"With the opening of the National Centre in Manchester, the future is very positive and provides an opportunity to continue that player development pathway."

Jones will also continue his directorships of Basketball England and the British Basketball Federation.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

GB women's basketball team finish with Serbia win

Temi Fagbenle scored 17 points and also managed eight rebounds against Serbia

Last updated at

Great Britain women made it two wins from three in the Lyon Tournament with a 62-53 win over Serbia.

An impressive defensive display helped them keep their EuroBasket Group C opponents scoreless for the last five minutes of the contest.

Temi Fagbenle top-scored on 17 points while Chantelle Handy finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

The win followed a 60-51 win over Slovakia on Friday and an 81-54 loss to France on Thursday.

They will continue their preparations for June's EuroBasket event with games in Bilbao later this month.

Scouting the NBA Draft Combine: D'Angelo Russell at No. 1?

CHICAGO — In many corners of the NBA, this week kicks off a championship season of sorts. With the arrival of this year’s NBA Draft Scouting Combine here on Chicago’s West Side, the prizes for several of the league’s year-long experiments in tanking are being poked and prodded for any sign of weakness.

The athleticism tests and workouts will be shown on Thursday and Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

While we could spend time lamenting the absence from the combine of players such as Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns and Emmanuel Mudiay, that seems pointless. There is some quality on hand this week, and there are a few storylines worth considering:

While the consensus is that the No. 1 spot in the draft will come down to centers Okafor or Towns, you will find some hemming and hawing when D’Angelo Russell’s name comes up.

“You know, the old saying is you always take the big guy, but there are some teams that I think would have to give Russell a long look,” one personnel man told Sporting News. “He just does everything from that guard spot, and the way the league is built now, you have to at least consider a guy like that.”

Russell is the most versatile backcourt player in the draft, a 6-5 combo guard who had the raw skills to develop into a legitimate point guard but is a 41.1 percent 3-point shooter. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists at Ohio State this year, and among the teams that would give him a long look should they win the top spot in the lottery are the Knicks, who see him as an ideal triangle-offense guard, and the Sixers, who traded away point guard Michael Carter-Williams in February and have a stockpile of big prospects.

We’ve got six Kentucky players on hand in Chicago, with Towns passing on the event. After him, it is likely that center Willie Cauley-Stein will be a lottery pick, and forward Trey Lyles has a very good chance, too. At the other end, twin guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison will be struggling to show themselves worthy of the first round, and center Dakari Johnson will be in the same boat.

The most intriguing Wildcat is Devin Booker, a perimeter scorer in a draft packed with size. There’s a chance that Booker gives Kentucky four lottery picks on draft night, because he is among the best shooters (41.1 percent on 3-pointers) in a class lacking them. In we had Booker sliding in the lottery for just that reason — a team like the Thunder is looking for perimeter help, and no one is more ready than Booker.

We’ve got four guys going into this group: Cliff Alexander, Chris McCullough, Chris Walker and Robert Upshaw.

There was so much promise among those four. And yet, we saw so little.

Alexander, a 6-8 1/2 power forward, was struggling with Kansas even before he was sent to the sidelines for an NCAA financial infraction involving an agent and a family member. Despite that, scouts still look at him as a potential first-rounder, if only because he’d shown so much promise coming out of high school. Teams in the back half of the first round will be eager to chat with him.

For McCullough, a 6-9 power forward, an injury that did him in. He’d gotten off to a good start at Syracuse, but tore his ACL in January and is still working his way back from surgery. He probably would have been better off going back to school next year and having a solid, healthy season, which might have gotten him into the lottery. Instead, he’s a question mark.

Walker might have been a case of more sizzle than steak all along. He had disciplinary issues at Florida, but even when he played, he was tough to figure. “He’s a great athlete, and he is big, 6-9, he has a lot of those things you look for,” one scout said. “But he doesn’t play basketball. There are guys who are raw like he is who make mistakes from trying too hard or just lacking experience. I don’t think you even see that from him. He needs to start from Square One with his development. He is a project.”

Earlier in the season, scouts were buzzing about Upshaw’s breakout performance with Washington, where he seemed to put away his maturity issues and come into his own as a draft sleeper. Then those maturity issues popped right back up, and Upshaw was booted off the team. He measured in at 7-foot with an enormous 7-5 1/2 wingspan, which makes sense for a guy who was leading the nation in blocked shots. He’s got potential. But he’s got problems. He’s going to have a lot of unpleasant questions to answer.