OCR Text |
Show DAILY Saturday, May 31, 2008 HERALD C3 2008 NBA PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD Lakers get a break before NBA Finals John Nadel THE ASSOCIATED LOS ANGELES night. "He has made some key trades, obviously the Pau one (four months ago), which when I talk to other people around the league and I say it was a great trade, they look at me and laugh and they don't want to call it a trade. They want to call it ... a donation or something like that." After Bryant demanded to be traded, the situation calmed down until Lakers owner Jerry Buss told reporters during training camp in October he was listening to offers for Bryant, angering the superstar once again, prompting him to leave the team for a couple of days. Bryant heard some boos at Staples Center before the 3 Lakers' season-openin- g loss to Houston, but now, all he hears from the home crowd are cheers and chants of PRESS Kobe Bry- ant was positively giddy. The Los Angeles Lakers star and his teammates, resplendent in caps and honoring their Western Conference championship, were celebrating on the Staples Center floor as Jerry West spoke to the crowd. West, The known as Mr. Clutch during a Hall of Fame career with the Lakers, presented his former team with the conference championship trophy following its 100-9- 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. "I've seen a lot of great players in my life, but you people in L.A. are very privileged to see this young man here, Kobe Bryant. He's something spe- cial," West said. "A dream come true, the answer to a prayer," a beaming Bryant would tell the fans a few minutes later. v :. ; .: 95-9- v f ' v 1 "MVP, MVP." "X Bryant scored 10 of his 39 points in the final 3:32 of the MARK J. TERRILL Associated Press g victoLakers' Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant right celebrates ry over the Spurs. They rallied with teammates as they raise the Western Conference from a deficit to win the opener, and Championship trophy after winning Game 5 of the NBA second-quarte- r defiWestern Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs a cit to win the fifth and final Thursday in Los Angeles, game. So, now, the Lakers are getThe two have been close a trade the following day on ting a week off before opening ever since, even after West left a national show, ultimately the NBA Finals next Thursday " 0 the Lakers following the saying he'd prefer to play on night. Pluto rather than return to season, so the heartfelt Bryant and O'Neal, one of embrace they shared following Los Angeles. the best 2 punches in NBA A few weeks earlier, Bryant history, teamed up to lead the Thursday night's ceremony was sincere. Lakers to three straight chamimplored the team to call on West to help general manager pionships starting in 2000, but The Lakers earned their Mitch Kupchak improve the O'Neal was traded a month first NBA Finals berth since 2004 exactly one year after roster. after they lost to the Pistons in How things have changed. June 2004. Bryant called the team's front "Mitch has done a terrific office a mess" on a local raWhat's happened since that dio show. He would demand time boggles the mind. job," Bryant said Thursday - series-clinchin- third-quart- West was the Lakers' general manager 12 years ago when he pulled off a deal even greater than the Pau Gasol heist, acquiring Bryant from Charlotte for center Vlade Divac a couple of weeks after the NBA draft. Divac was expendable because the Lakers were about to sign free agent Shaquille O'Neal. Bryant, the 13th overall pick in the draft, had just graduated from Lower Merion High outside Philadelphia and needed a mentor as he headed to Los Angeles. West was perfect for the job. 1999-200- Playoff schedule First Round EASTERN CONFERENCE Jackson, arguably the most successful coach in NBA history, wasn't invited back, and the Lakers signed Rudy Tomjanovich to a five-yecontract. But Tomjanovich barely made it through half a season before stepping down, Phil AiUntal Boston 4, Sunday, 81 104 Atlanta 20: Boston AprH Wednesday Apr 23 Boston 96 Atlanta 77 Saturday April 26 Atlanta 102. Boston 93 Monday Aprd 28 Atlanta 97. Boston 92 10, Atlanta 85 Apnl 30 Boston Wednesday, Friday May 2 Atlanta 103. Boston 100 Sunday. May 4: Boston 99. Atlanta 65 ar Detroit 4, Ftuladelphil 2 FtiiBoeipnia 90. Detroit 86 Apnl 23. Detroit 106. Philadelphia 25 Ptiiiadelphii 95. Detroit 75 Fnday, Apnl Sunday, Apnl 27 Detroit 93, Philadelphia 84 81 Detroit 98. Ptiiiaoelpnia 29: Tuesday, Apnl Detroit 100, Philadelphia 77 Thursday. May April 20 Sunday. citing health Concerns. After the Lakers failed to make the playoffs in the 2004-0season, Jackson was rehired. Derek Fisher left after the loss to Detroit, signing a deal with the Golden State Warriors, where he played two years before being traded to Utah. Fisher had three years worth $21 million remaining on his contract last summer when he asked the Jazz to void the deal so he could move to a city where his daughter, Tatum, could receive treatment for a cancerous tumor in her eye. He returned to the Lakers, and played a key role in their return to elite status. Only in Hollywood. "We all share in this," Bryant said. "It is not me at the forefront, That's just not how we roll." The Lakers have rolled their way into the NBA finals for the 23rd time since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1961, and the 29th time overall. They have won 14 championnine in Los Angeles ships and five in Minneapolis. "I think it is really a victorious point in time," said Jackson, whose team has a 3 record this year in the playoffs, at Staples Center. including "Never a dull moment with r these boys." 5 free-age- nt 12-- Wednesday. Orlando 4, Toronto 1 April 20: Onando 114, Toronto April 22 Orlando 104, Toronto Thursday. April 24 Toronto 108. Orlando Saturday April 26 Orlando 106. Toronto Sunday Tuesday, 102, Toronto April 28: OrBndo Monday, 88 100 103 94 94 92 Cleveland 4, Washington 2 Saturday. Apnl 19 Cleveland 93. Washington 86 Monday April 21 Cleveland 116. Washington 86 Apr) 24: Washington 108, Cleveland 72 Sunday Apnl 27 CleveBnd 100. Washington 97 Wednesday. Apnl 30 Washington 88, Cleveland 87 fnday. May 2 Cleveland 105. Washington 88 Thursday. WESTERN CONFERENCE LA Lakers 4, Denver 0 Apnl 20 LA Lakers 128. Denver 114 Apnl 23 L A Lakers 122. Denver 107 Wednesday Saturday, April 26: LA Lakers 102. Denver 84 Sunday Monday. 28 LA April Lakers 107, Denver New Orleans 4, Dallas New Orleans 104. 101 1 Dallas 92 Apnl 19 Apnl 22: New Orleans 127. Dallas 103 Friday, April 25 Dallas 97. New Orleans 87 Sunday. April 27: New Orleans 97. Dallas 84 Tuesday, Apnl 29: New Orleans 99, Dallas 94 Saturday. Tuesday. San Antonio 4, Phoenix 1 Phoenix April 19. San Antonio 117. Saturday, 115.20T Tuesday. April 22: San Antonio 102. Phoenix 96 15. Phoenix 99 Friday. Apnl 25: San Antonio Sunday, April 27: Phoenix 105, San Antonio 86 Tuesday, April 29: San Antonio 92, Phoenix 87, .. Utah 4, Houston 2 April 19: Utah 93, Houston 82 April 21 Utah 90, Houston 84 Thursday, April 24: Houston 94, Utah 92 Saturday. April 26: Utah 86, Houston 82 Tuesday, April 29: Houston 95, Utah 69 Saturday, Monday. May 2: Utah 112, Houston Friday, 91 Conference Semifinals EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit 4, Orlando 1 Saturday, May 3: Detroit 91. Orlando 72 Monday. May 5: Detroit 100, Orlando 93 Wednesday, May 7: Orlando 111, Detroit 86 Saturday. May 10: Detroit 90. Orlando 89 86 May 13: Detroit 91 Orlando Tuesday, 8-- 0 Boston 4, Cleveland 3 Tuesday, May 6: Boston 76, Cleveland 72 Boston 8: 89, Cleveland 73 Thursday. May Saturday. May 10: Cleveland 106, Boston 84 12: Cleveland 88. Boston 77 Monday, May Wednesday. May 14: Boston 96, Cleveland 89 69 92 May 16: Cleveland 74, Boston May 18: Boston 97, Cleveland Fnday, Sunday. WESTERN CONFERENCE Celtics through some stuff and we're still standing," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. The loss might lead to changes on a Detroit team that has looked the same on the court for four seasons. Billups played well and Richard Hamilton scored 21, but the rest of Continued from CI The Celtics are in the NBA finals for the first time since losing to the Lakers in 1987, the third meeting in a four-yea- r span. lead in The Pistons blew a their teammates had lackluster efforts the fourth quarter and lost in Game 6 especially Rasheed Wallace. of the conference finals for the third At one point Billups had 2 1 points, straight year. They were eliminated on matching the total for the rest of the their home court for the first time dur- 'team.. Wallace scored just four points on run that included a trip ing a to the conference finals each year and shooting and had three turnovers in what might've been his last game as the 2004 title. "This is really tough," said Chauncey a Piston and could've been Flip Saun29 ders' last as Detroit's coach. President Billups, who scored a playoff-higof basketball operations Joe Dumars points. "We had it, and we didn't get will likely make some sort of moves on over the hump." Boston entered the series without a the bench, the court or both. "I'm sure that's something Joe and I road win in the postseason, then beat will sit down and evaluate," Saunders Detroit on its home court twice to win said. the grueling series. The NBA's team also rallied from a fourth-quartWallace made three trips to his deficit for the first time in locker with reporters surrounding it seven chances during the playoffs. before finally saying something to the media without taking "It was probably the best thing because now we can say we have gone six-ye- h top-seed- Brian Mahoney the finals. "It's a dream come true, man, just thinking about it. I Boston's new Big Three think that rivalry really revolutionized the game of basketreached the NBA's big stage. And just like their predecesball, and now I'm a part of it." It will be the 11th championsors, they'll share it with the Los Angeles Lakers. ship meeting between the franThe Celtics and Lakers are chises, with Boston winning 16 titles eight of its NBA-bemeeting again in the NBA finals, with Kobe and KG takagainst the Lakers. But Los Angeles won the last two, in ing their place alongside the 1985 and '87. likes of Magic and Bird in the Boston earned its first trip most storied rivalry. league's "It means everything to Bos- since by beating the Detroit ton fans," Celtics forward Paul Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. The Pierce said. "To me, I think Celtics ended the series with an that's what pretty much got 1 me started in basketball. Grow: victory Friday and will host Game 1 of the finals on ing up in Los Angeles, watching the Lakers and the Celtics, Thursday night. Kevin Garnett, Pierce and and it's ironic, just being a Celtic, growing up, now you're Ray Allen, Boston's three are all in the finals playing against the Lakers in ASSOCIATED PRESS st 89-8- All-Star- s, ' Sunday, 58-al- . I Billups' three-poi- play pulled 'If A X 70-6- 0 May San Antonio 4, New Orleans 3 May 3: New Orleans 101 San Antonio 82 May 5: New Orleans 102. San Antonio 84 0, New Orleans 99 Thursday, May 8: San Antonio San Antonio 00, New Orleans 80 Sunday, May New 13: 101 Orteans San Antonio 79 Tuesday, May Monday. Thursday, Monday, May 5: San Antonio 99, New Orleans 80 May 19: San Antonio 91 New Orleans 82 Conference Finals 83-7- 9 seconds. EASTERN CONFERENCE Boston vs. Detroit Tuesday, May 20: Boston 88, Detroit 79 Thursday, May 22: Detroit 103, Boston 97 Saturday, May 24: Boston 94, Detroit 80 Monday: Detroit 94, Boston 75 Boston 106, Detroit 102 Wednesday: Fnday: Boston 89, Detroit 81, Boston I GARY Press MALERBAAssociated and they fell short of another with a loss to the Pistons in 2004. They fell on hard times after that, following the trade of Shaquille O'Neal, missing the postseason in 2005 and getting knocked out in the first for the first time. Garnett and Allen were acquired in offseason trades, and together with Pierce led the Celtics to the largest turnaround in NBA 2000-02- history. Boston won only 24 games in 2006-07- , but led the NBA with a 6 mark this season. However, the Lakers have been the dominant team in the postseason, compiling a 12-- 3 record. Los Angeles eliminated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, wrapping up the series with a 100-9- 2 victory on Thursday. Kobe Bryant, the league MVP, scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and is averaging 31.9 points in the postseason. Bryant helped the Lakers win three straight titles from 66-1- , round the next two years. A frustrated Bryant criticized the front office following last summer's loss to Phoenix and said he wanted to be traded, but instead the Lakers kept him and upgraded the team around him. Los Angeles brought back Derek Fisher, Bryant's teammate on the previous championship teams, then pulled off a major trade during the season by acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis. The Celtics haven't won a title since Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish led Lakers win Finals Boston Celtics vs. LA. Laker June 5: LA Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m. Sunday, June 8: LA Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m. 10: Boston at LA Lakers, 7 p.m. June Tuesday, Thursday, June 2: Boston at LA. Lakers, 7 p.m. Boston at LA Lakers, 7 p.m., if 15: June Sunday, necessary 17: LA Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m., June Tuesday. if necessary 19: LA Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m., Thursday, June it necessary Thursday, them past Houston in 1986. Boston and the Lakers of Magic Johnson, James Worthy and dominatKareem Abdul-Jabbed the NBA in the 1980s: From 1980-8the two rivals won all but one of the nine NBA chan three for Boston, pionships five for Los Angeles (and one for the Philadelphia 76ers) and met for the title three times in four years. "I remember it like it was yesterday," Garnett said. "I'm looking forward to this." The Lakers have won 14 ar CELTICS 89, PISTONS 81 BOSTON (89) Pierce Rondo 17, Cassell 2, House R DETROIT (81) Prince 21 7127 S. 400 W. 2 Midvale 81. 2989 13 Boston Detroit 81 Goals Pierce (R.Allen Rondo Cassell Posey Prince Detroit Hamilton (Billups Wallace Fouled Out None Rebounds-Bo- ston 50 (Pierce 8), Detroit 41 (Wallace 10). Assists Boston 14 (Garnett 4). Detroit 19 (Billups 6). Total Fouls Boston 28. Detroit 22. Technicals Boston Garnett Perkins. A 22,076 (22.076). nine in Los championships Angeles and five in .1 Minneapo- Check The Daily Herald! lis. Boston, which won both meetings during the regular season, also will host Game 2 before the series moves to Los Angeles for Games everyday 3-- 91 Toll Free wfww.brlghterrooms.com Open .4..y Mon-F- m 5 and by appointment 'J'JJx &U3 ' Low Monthly Payments Rates and prices are better than ever, which means is a great time to get into a beautiful new home at Countryside Estates in Santaquin Utah. that now 801-566-12- 9-- tin ikuih ' tills iiiUXt 1 1 Only 15 minutes south of Provo - scenic east bench location - multiple floorplans to choose from many custom features and amenities - starting from the mid $200's Call for more information on our current dealt and incentives and to visit our model homes. StratField dT www.strattieldhomes.com '- - 'Is Wallace 29, Hamilton 7, Afflalo 4, Maxiell 0, Totals 0, Rallift for new homes LLC 6, 10, McDyess 4, Billups 5 0, Hunter Stuckey .is Interest Rates 3, 4. Totals 2, Posey 0, Powe 5 JWMrfjW Low Allen 89. Take your tax rebate and invest your money in the best asset you have - Your Home. Bright Concepts 16, Perkins 2 Brown 27, Garnett So Much More Than Just a Skylight. 3 85 series NBA Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, center, drives for a layup as he is defended by Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) and Paul Pierce during the second quarter Friday. wins series WESTERN CONFERENCE L.A. Lakers vs. San Antonio May 21: LA Lakers 89. San Antonio Wednesday, Friday. May 23: LA. Lakers 101, San Antonio 71 Sunday, May 25: San Antonio 103, LA Lakers 84 Tuesday: LA, Lakers 93, San Antonio 91 Thursday: L A. Lakers 100. San Antonio 92, LA SOLATUBE ' 10 Utah 1 Saturday, De- troit to with 2:24 left, then the Pistons wasted a chance to get closer. Tayshaun Prince grabbed a loose ball after a Boston miss and turned the ball over when James Posey surprised him from behind and snatched it away. "He looked to his left, put the ball out and I just snatched it," Posey said. Pierce made two free throws on the possession, putting the Celtics up by six with 1 Vi minutes to go. The Pistons failed on their down the stretch and couldn't take advantage of Garnett and Pierce missing three free throws in the final 40 1 5. 0T 23, LA Lakers Wednesday, May 14: LA Lakers 111, Utah 104 Friday, May 16: LA. Lakers 108. Utah 105 Sunday, again in the NBA Finals It's Celtics-Lake- rs THE LA Lakers 4, Utah 2 May 4: LA Lakers 109. Utah 98 Wednesday, May 7: LA. Lakers 20, Utah Friday, May 9: Utah 104, LA. Lakers 99 "That's the end, man," Wallace said. After it was l, Detroit closed the third quarter with a 10-- 2 run and took its first lead since midway through the opening quarter. Just when it seemed the Pistons lead might be in control with a early in the fourth, the Celtics scored nine points in less than 2 minutes and went on a 194 run that put them ahead 7974. -i i AV 4,I Vi !:'. m our classifedsl |