Derrick Rose wants to know if his Chicago Bulls are ready to establish a new NBA order, or if the post-season will again belong to the likes of the Lakers and Celtics or even, at last, LeBron James.
The Bulls finished the regular season with the best record in the league.
However, it remains to be seen how far they can go in a post--season that sees the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers vying for a three-peat and reigning — and aging — Eastern Conference champions Boston seeking one more title shot.
The Celtics and Lakers are trying to line up their third title clash in four years — a 13th overall.
Then there’s Miami, in search of a crown that would be the ultimate vindication of their free-agency created star trio, and Western Conference top seeds San Antonio, who led the league until a spring slump left them looking vulnerable.
Rose became the seventh player in NBA history to post averages of at least 25 points, 7.5 assists and four rebounds in a single season, joining heavyweights Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade and James.
However, he knows that in the playoffs it’s unlikely one player can deliver a title.
That’s just what James decided when he opted to forsake Cleveland and join Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, creating an instant title contender.
After some early season teething troubles, the Heat have earned the second seed in the East and open against Philadelphia today.
Fourth-seeded Orlando, who fell to the Lakers in the 2009 finals, face Atlanta in the first round beginning today.
However, despite the Celtics’ late-season struggles, it could prove tough to dislodge the conference champions.
Certainly the Celtics showed last year they could rally in the playoffs. After a disappointing finish to the regular season, they powered their way to the finals and another showdown with the Lakers that went the maximum seven games.
The Lakers, too, have shown they can step it up in the post-season. With coach Phil Jackson back on board for a run at his 12th title — a sixth with the Lakers after six with Chicago —the Lakers got off to an erratic start.
The team, led by superstar Kobe Bryant, picked up the pace after the All-Star break, until a five-game losing streak in April ended their chances of overtaking San Antonio for top seed in the West.
Perhaps tellingly, the Lakers snapped the skid with a victory over the Spurs — just a little something for Tim Duncan and San Antonio to remember if the two teams make it to the conference finals.
First up for the Spurs will be the Memphis Grizzlies. Elsewhere in the West Oklahoma City take on Denver and Dallas face Portland.
The Lakers will take on the talented, but less experienced, New Orleans Hornets in the first round, starting tomorrow.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two