The Detroit Pistons have reached agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon(notes) and forward Charlie Villanueva (notes), a source with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday evening.

Gordon will receive a five-year contract worth around $55 million while Villanueva’s five-year deal is expected to be worth about $35 million.

Gordon and Villanueva, who played together for a year at UConn, traveled to Detroit on Wednesday morning to meet with Detroit president Joe Dumars and other Pistons front-office officials. They took a tour of the practice facility in Auburn Hills, had lunch with management and both ultimately came to terms on an agreement. Gordon agreed first and Villanueva followed soon after.

The loss of Gordon is a blow to the Bulls, who tried to re-sign the shooting guard. Gordon turned down contract extensions for $54 million and $50 million in the past two offseasons as a restricted free agent. It is believed the Bulls were willing to go to $10 million a season for him, but were outbid by the Pistons.

No free agents can sign until the league-mandated moratorium ends on July 8.

The Pistons also continue to negotiate with one of their own free agents, forward Antonio McDyess.

The signing of Gordon, 26, could make another former UConn player, Richard Hamilton, expendable in a trade. Hamilton, 31, could be used to bring back another low-post presence: perhaps Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Clippers’ center Chris Kaman or New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler. Gordon averaged 20.7 points a game last season for the Bulls and 18.5 in his five seasons in Chicago. He was the third pick in the 2004 NBA draft.

Dumars is remaking the Pistons, who are expected to lose Rasheed Wallace to free agency. Dumars fired coach Michael Curry on Wednesday, and ex-Pistons coach Doug Collins is considered the frontrunner for the job. Sources say Collins still has to sell his staying power and stability to Detroit management. Former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson will be considered, too.

(ESPN)-The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns have come to an agreement on a blockbuster trade that will send Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland to team with LeBron James, according to sources.

The deal has been agreed to in principle and is expected to be finalized Thursday, according to sources.

NBA Today: 6/25

Jason Smith breaks down the Shaq trade to the Cavs and Chad Ford discusses other potential deals. Plus, draft hopefuls Hansbrough, Jennings and Blair.

More Podcasts »

Cleveland will send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix for the presumptive future Hall of Famer.

Sources said the Suns will also receive the 46th pick in Thursday’s NBA draft and $500,000.

The trade gives the Cavs a player they’ve coveted since February. With center Zydrunas Ilgauskas starting to break down, adding Shaq to the roster gives them a dominant force in the middle.

The Cavs obviously were unhappy with their ability to defend Dwight Howard in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic and bringing Shaq into the fold should help.

O’Neal averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season and made his 15th All-Star Game.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE-MAKER

Shaquille O’Neal’s first full year with the Phoenix Suns, in which the team won nine fewer games than the previous season, was an abomination when looking at his history with new teams.

First season	Team	W-L	Win Diff.
2008-09	Suns	46-36	-9
2004-05	Heat	59-23	+17
1996-97	Lakers	56-26	+3
1992-93	Magic	41-41	+20

The Cavaliers also were in talks with New Orleans about obtaining Tyson Chandler. If they had not made the trade for O’Neal, they would have traded for Chandler, according to a source.

The Cavs believed O’Neal was the better option because he has just one year left on his contract, and will not eat up cap space that will enable them to pursue players such as Chris Bosh in next summer’s star-studded free-agent class.

Chandler, who had injury problems last postseason, has a player option for $12.7 million in 2010-2011 that he is likely to pick up.

The Cavaliers are not done making moves. They still want to re-sign power forward Anderson Varejao and they also would like to add a long, athletic wing player via free agency.

For the Suns, the O’Neal trade is a straight salary dump. Pavlovic’s $5 million contract next season is only partially guaranteed, for the amount of $1.5 million.

Factor in the disparities in the contracts among Wallace, Pavlovic and O’Neal, and the team will save $4.5 million next season.

However, factor in the savings the Suns will reap on the luxury tax, and it will be closer to $10 million in savings. That would be amplified if Wallace decides to retire and the Suns buy him out of his contract for less than the $14 million he’s owed next season.

Hollinger: Quick fix

You’ll rarely see a trade that’s partially an admission of error by both sides, but that’s what happened in Thursday morning’s trade that sends Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, the No. 46 pick in Thursday’s draft and $500,000 in cash. Story

The trade is essentially a strong admission by the Suns that the trade of Shawn Marion for O’Neal in February of 2008 was a mistake.

Marion was a free agent this summer and, had they let him walk, their savings would have been $21 million — not the $5.5 million they’re saving in this deal.

When the Suns made the trade, they had the best record in the Western Conference. This year, they finished in the lottery. With O’Neal gone, the question is: Are the Suns finally rebuilding?

Sources say that the team still would like to compete. They still have veterans Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson and Leandro Barbosa.

They also have the 14th pick in the draft this year, and second-year player Robin Lopez.

Chris Broussard is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. NBA reporter Chad Ford contributed to this report.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Rashard Lewis stood at the free-throw line with less than one second left as several workers hurriedly broomed off confetti that had fallen prematurely onto the Amway Arena floor.

This was the sweep Orlando had waited to see for 14 years.

On their seventh try, the Magic, swept in four straight games by Houston on their previous visit in 1995, got their first win in the NBA finals.

Shooting a finals record 63 percent from the field and clamping down on Kobe Bryant(notes), the Magic closes within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series with a 108-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Tuesday night.

After two straight cold performances in L.A., the Magic were more accurate than any team in NBA finals history.

“They pretty much made all their shots,” Lakers forward Trevor Ariza

Pretty much.

The Magic shot a blistering 75 percent (24 of 32) in the first half and cooled off in the second half when they were only 16 of 32.

The basket looked big, and Orlando hardly missed it. With a loss, the Magic would have fallen into an 0-3 crevasse—a hole no team has ever crawled from. Now, they have a chance to become the fourth team in finals history to come back from an 0-2 deficit and win it all.

“Why not?” Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu said. “We believe in each other and as long as we’re playing our game, our system and fighting for 48 minutes— why not?”

In the series opener, the Magic couldn’t throw it in the Pacific Ocean. They made only 29.9 percent and were blown out by 25 points. In Game 2, they were only slightly better, shooting 42 percent in an overtime loss. But back on their home court, they shot themselves back into this series.

As Shaquille O’Neal, still a presence long after leaving both franchises, posted on his Twitter page following the game: “By george I think we have a series.”

Game 4 is Thursday night, and Game 5—now necessary—will be at Amway Arena on Sunday.

(ESPN)-LeBron James can score with anybody. He can leap to the rafters, shift the basket stanchion with his strength, move with the grace of a dancer.

But what separates him from the other greats of this generation — Kobe, D-Wade, Melo — and any generation, is his court vision. His ability to facilitate like the finest point guards in the game and still put up 35, 40 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers forgot that early in their Eastern Conference final with the Orlando Magic. It’s hard to blame them now that LeBron’s jumper is as pure as Sunday School. Mesmerized by the one-on-one clinics he’s been putting on, they’ve too often stood around and watched him go to work. But even when LeBron’s hitting shot after shot after shot, the Cavaliers are better when the ball is moving, everybody’s getting involved, and he’s getting his points within the flow of the offense, rather than on dribble-dribble-dribble isolation plays. In win-or-, as LeBron put it afterwards, go-home-and- “chill-at-the-house” mode, the Cavaliers took pains to get back to the team concept Thursday in Game 5. The result was an impressive 112-102 victory, their first double-digit win over the exasperating Magic in more than three years (February 21, 2006). LeBron, who entered the game averaging 42.3 points and just 7.3 assists, turned in perhaps the most outstanding performance of his otherworldly postseason, recording his first triple-double of the series with 37 points, 12 assists and 14 rebounds. More importantly, especially through the first three quarters, he didn’t dominate the ball, and his teammates finally found their groove. “That was huge,” James said of the Cavs’ equal-opportunity offense. “Getting the ball moving against this team is key.”

Michael Jordan no longer has the most famous buzzer-beater in Cleveland sports history.

The Shot has been topped.

LeBron James made one better.

James dropped a 3-pointer from the top of the key over Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu as the final horn sounded Friday night to give the Cavaliers, their season a heartbeat from major trouble, a 96-95 victory over the Magic that evened the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece.

From 23 feet—matching his jersey number and Jordan’s—James hit a shot that will go down as one of the defining moments in a career that’s just hitting its stride.

“That guy is not in the league any more,” James said of Jordan. “The other 23 is on the good side now.”

Taking the inbounds pass from Mo Williams, James only had time to turn his shoulders toward the rim and fire. As the high-arcing shot dropped through, James sprinted into the arms of his delirious teammates as 20,562 stunned fans hugged in disbelief.

“You couldn’t hear anything but a roar,” James said. “Those fans deserved it. That was the biggest shot I’ve made in my career. A second is a long time for me, for others it’s very short. As a kid you practice those moments.”

In the past, this was the kind of shot that happened against the Cavs. Jordan’s jumper in 1989 over Craig Ehlo eliminated Cleveland from the playoffs— a punch-in-the-stomach moment burned into the psyche of every Cleveland fan.

The Los Angeles Clippers are the winners of this years NBA Draft Lottery defying the odds and claiming the top spot. It is expected that they will select Blake Griffin, the former OU standout, with the #1 pick. Here is a look at how this years 1st round selections will go.

2009 First Round Draft Order

	1. Los Angeles Clippers	Draft history
	2. Memphis Grizzlies	Draft history
	3. OKC Thunder	Draft history
	4. Sacramento Kings	Draft history
	5. Washington Wizards	Draft history
	6. Minnesota Timberwolves	Draft history
	7. Golden State Warriors	Draft history
	8. New York Knicks	Draft history
	9. Toronto Raptors	Draft history
	10. Milwaukee Bucks	Draft history
	11. New Jersey Nets	Draft history
	12. Charlotte Bobcats	Draft history
	13. Indiana Pacers	Draft history
	14. Phoenix Suns	Draft history
	15. Detroit Pistons	Draft history
	16. Chicago Bulls	Draft history
	17. Philadelphia Sixers	Draft history
	18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Miami)	Draft history
	19. Atlanta Hawks	Draft history
	20. Utah Jazz	Draft history
	21. New Orleans Hornets	Draft history
	22. Dallas Mavericks	Draft history
	23. Sacramento Kings (via Houston)	Draft history
	24. Portland Trail Blazers	Draft history
	25. OKC Thunder (via San Antonio)	Draft history
	26. Chicago Bulls (via Denver)	Draft history
	27. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando)	Draft history
	28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Boston)	Draft history
	29. Los Angeles Lakers	Draft history
	30. Cleveland Cavaliers	Draft history

Kobe Bryant soars to the rim for a dunk. Bryant scored 40 points in the Lakers' Game 1 win on Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant proved a steadying presence for his wildly inconsistent teammates, taking over in the fourth quarter and delivering a come-from-behind victory.

Bryant scored 40 points, including six free throws in the final 30 seconds, to lift Los Angeles to a 105-103 win over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals opener on Tuesday night after the Lakers trailed most of the game.

“Once I sensed we didn’t have the energy, I had to take it upon myself to lead by example,” he said. “It’s just part of my responsibilities to this team.”

LOS ANGELES (AP)—After dominating a Game 7 few people thought would need to be played, the Los Angeles Lakers poked a little fun at their maddening inconsistency against the Houston Rockets.

Asked what the Lakers learned from the Western Conference semifinals, which the Lakers clinched with an 89-70 win Sunday, Kobe Bryant(notes) cracked: “That we’re bipolar.”

Now that all is well again in La-La Land, Bryant and his teammate can begin focusing on what they need to do against the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals. Game 1 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

“Our effort could be much better, you know, in Game 4 and Game 6,” Bryant said. “But still, Houston played extremely well. In a series, it’s about making adjustments. That’s what we were able to. We made our adjustments. We came out and were ready to go. You can’t take anything away from this Houston team. But we definitely could have played a lot harder.”

BOSTON (AP)—Dwight Howard(notes) remembers the reaction when he first talked about bringing an NBA championship to Orlando.

“Everybody laughed,” the Magic center said after helping Orlando beat the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 101-82 on Sunday night and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

“I believe we can win a championship. We’re not going to stop going after one until we get it. We have the right team. We have the talent. We have the coaches. It’s just on us to go out there and play hard. I have a long way to go, but I’m still hungry.”

Howard scored 12 points with 16 rebounds and five blocked shots, and Hedo Turkoglu(notes) had 25 points with 12 assists for Orlando, which trailed for just 36 seconds after the opening basket and held on to earn the right to play LeBron James(notes) and the Cavaliers for a spot in the NBA finals.

Game 1 is Wednesday in Cleveland.

HOUSTON (AP)—The Houston Rockets came up with one more stunning victory to set up a final showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Aaron Brooks(notes) scored 26 points, Luis Scola(notes) added 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the scrappy, undermanned Rockets pushed the top-seeded Lakers to the brink in their Western Conference semifinal series with a 95-80 win in Game 6 on Thursday night.

Reserve Carl Landry(notes) scored 15 as the Rockets built another huge lead in the first half, then fought off a Lakers rally to force Game 7 on Sunday at the Staples Center.

ORLANDO-Dwight Howard(notes) demanded the ball, and delivered when the Orlando Magic gave it to him.

Now he needs to back it up, one more time.

Howard had 23 points and 22 rebounds after challenging Stan Van Gundy’s coaching strategy, and the Magic beat the Boston Celtics 83-75 on Thursday night to force a decisive Game 7.

“I just tried to be me,” Howard said. “I just have to go out there and play and not worry about nothing.”

And what did he learn from his comments?

“Biggest lesson?” Howard said. “Keep my mouth shut.”

2 of the NBA’s  biggest and brightest stars go at it one on one . MVP Lebron James taunts  Kobe about being MVP and the NBA Playoffs. Watch Below:

ATLANTA (AP)—Like Michael Jordan, he knows there are times that call for dominating. Like Magic Johnson, he knows there are times that call for sharing the ball.

LeBron James(notes) went with his Magic impression in the deciding game of another playoff sweep.

While failing to match his offensive explosion in Game 3, the league’s MVP scored 27 points and got his teammates involved as the Cleveland Cavaliers finished off the Atlanta Hawks 84-74 Monday night to win the second-round series in four straight.

Delonte West(notes) and Mo Williams(notes) showed Cleveland isn’t just a one-man squad, hitting huge shots down the stretch as the Cavaliers extended their NBA-record streak of double-digit playoff wins to eight in a row. Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) and Anderson Varejao(notes) pounded the boards, leading the Cavaliers to another big rebounding edge.

“I’ve got trust in every last one of our guys,” James said.

Cleveland, which also swept Detroit in the opening round, will face either Boston or Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals.

No matter the opponent, the Cavaliers will be a lot more rested. The Celtics-Magic series is tied 2-2 and will last at least through Thursday, while the top seed heads back to Ohio to relax for a few days before opening the next round at home.

“We’re glad to finish this series off,” said Wally Szcerbiak, who chipped in with six points off the bench. “Now it’s time to go get our rest and get ready for the next series. We have some bumps and bruises to heal from in this series.”

So do the Hawks, but they’ve got all summer. Joe Johnson(notes), Al Horford(notes) and Marvin Williams(notes) were all hobbled by injuries.

“It’s hard to judge this team because we really weren’t healthy in this series,” said Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, whose team made the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade, just four seasons removed from a 13-69 debacle. “We have to get better personnel-wise, but I couldn’t be more proud of the guys than I am. We made some major strides this season.”

James wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. For the Cavaliers, the only thing that will make this season complete is hoisting a trophy after the final game.

“Why should we celebrate?” James said. “We’re playing for a championship. An advance is an advance. It doesn’t matter if you win in four games or you win Game 7. We’re happy that we’re playing great basketball … but we’re not taking for granted what we’re doing right now.”

The Cavaliers became the second team to sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs since the NBA expanded the first round to best-of-seven in 2003. The Miami Heat started with sweeps of New Jersey and Washington in the 2005 playoffs before losing to Detroit in the Eastern finals.

After scoring 47 points in Game 3, James struggled with his jumper in this one. Still, he came through with the Cavaliers facing their first serious challenge of the playoffs.

Midway through the fourth, James hit a towering 3-pointer with 6 1/2 minutes to go, lingering at the arc to pose with his right hand extended toward the arena roof. He also converted a three-point play with 2:03 remaining, making the basket desppite getting hacked by Zaza Pachulia(notes).

When the Hawks came at him with double- and triple-teams, James passed it off to West for an open 3 from the corner and, finally, found Mo Williams for a trey that finished off the Hawks with 52 second left. The Hawks called timeout, their only way to extend the season, but James hovered near the middle of the court, just staring at a fan in a garish green shirt and orange pants who’d been riding him all game.

As usual, James had the last word. He made only 9 of 22 from the field, but had eight rebounds and eight assists. Plus, he had some help from his teammates.

West scored 21 points, while Williams made four 3-pointers to account for his 12 points. Ilgauskas had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Varejao seemed to get his hand on every miss, picking up seven of his 11 rebounds at the offensive end

The AP is reporting that Hall of fame bball coach Chuck Daly has passed away. Read the full report:

DETROIT — Chuck Daly, who coached the Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, has died. He was 78.

He died Saturday morning in Jupiter, Fla., with his family by his side, the Pistons said. The team announced in March the Hall of Fame coach was being treated for pancreatic cancer.

Daly was renowned for his ability to create harmony out of diverse personalities at all levels of the game, whether they were Ivy Leaguers at Pennsylvania, Dream Teamers Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, or Pistons as dissimilar as Dennis Rodman and Joe Dumars.

“It’s a players’ league. They allow you to coach them or they don’t,” Daly once said. “Once they stop allowing you to coach, you’re on your way out.”

Daly was voted one of the 10 greatest coaches of the NBA’s first half-century in 1996, two years after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the first coach to win both NBA and Olympic titles.

Daly had a career regular-season record of 638-437 in 13 NBA seasons. In 12 playoff appearances, his teams went 75-51. He left Detroit as the Pistons’ leader in regular-season and playoff victories.

NBA commissioner David Stern said the “void left by his death will never be filled.”

“Chuck did much more than coach basketball games,” he said in a statement. “He positively impacted everyone he met, both personally and professionally, and his love of people and the game of basketball helped develop the next generation of coaches.”

Lebron James was award the 2009 NBA MVP Monday. James was up against some of the NBA’s best in Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade  but was able to edge them out. Here’s ESPN’s take on James’ MVP:

AKRON, Ohio — On one of the biggest days of his life, LeBron James took the long way home.

Once inside his hometown’s city limits, James pulled his high-powered Ferrari off I-77 and drove the back roads to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.

Turning on Maple Street, he went past his first house on Hickory. Then, it was past the one on Silver Street, where his mother, Gloria, began raising him by herself. James visited The Boondocks, where he and his friends first dribbled on the playgrounds.

James retraced the steps on Monday. His path to NBA superstardom.

An unstoppable offensive force who became an elite defender this season, James claimed the league MVP, receiving the award in the gym where he first became a star.

“This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought they could become real,” James said. “There’s really not a better place.”

The Ohio kid anointed King James as a teenager has a new crown.

An MVP vote some expected to be close was another slam dunk by James. He received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily outdistance Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totaled 1,172 points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.

Bryant, last year’s winner, got two first-place votes and finished with 698 points. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was third with 680 points and was named first on seven ballots. Orlando center Dwight Howard (328) was fourth followed by New Orleans guard Chris Paul (192).

The race was never in doubt. It was James all along.

“I’m 24 years old and I’m receiving this award, I never thought it would happen this fast,” he said, standing under three state title banners he helped win for the Fighting Irish. “I never dreamed about being MVP, but if I said I didn’t enjoy this award I’d be lying. Hard work pays off and dreams do come true.”

James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a pro.

It’s Saturday Night Fever in the sports world and the match ups couldn’t get any better, well maybe a little.

Tonight (back to front) we have Ricky Hatton, the junior welterweight world champion, who stands in the way of Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, who stands on the precipice of history.

In the second bout we have Sid “the kid” Crosby,left, and the Penguins taking on NHL MVP Alexander Ovechkin, right, and the high flying Washington Capitals. @ of NHL’s biggest and brightest star take the ice to see who will go to the Eastern Conference Finals. This is a great one and it’s only game 1.

And in the main bout, the heavy weight match-up we have Paul “the truth” Pierce, left, and the reigning champion Celtics taking on big shot Ben Gordon, right, and the team that is demanding respect, the Chicago Bulls. If you haven’t the 8 million overtimes in this series yet… than you better not miss this one especially since it GAME 7! Last game Ray Allen went off looking like a crazed monster shooting 9-three pointers, including 3 of them in the clutch to tie the game in the winding seconds, tying a NBA Playoff record. This one is sure to be a thriller.

Here’s how ESPN’s Scoop Jackson sees it:

CHICAGO — What if someone had told Muhammad Ali after the Thrilla in Manila that he’d have to go another 15 with Joe Frazier … in two days?

What if someone said to Rafael Nadal after last year’s epic Wimbledon final that he and Roger Federer would have to go five more sets … in two days?

What if someone whispered in Kellen Winslow’s ear as he was on the verge of heat exhaustion in that 1982 AFC divisional playoff game in Miami that he had to play another 15 minutes of overtime … immediately?

This is where we are. Game 7 in the Bulls-Celtics series will be more like Game 8. With the total time played in the seven overtime periods, they’ve almost completed an extra game. The six games have featured 106 lead changes. Take out Game 3 and you have five games decided by more than three points. All games decided in the final possession.

And that’s more than likely what we’ll get in Game 7 on Saturday (7 p.m. CT, ESPN Radio 1000): The team that has the ball last will be the team that advances.

If we were honest with ourselves, we’d say we’ve seen nothing like this before. We always talk about how great Game 7s are in sports, but there has never been a lead-up to any Game 7 quite like this. And with that said, if you’re a Bulls fan, don’t be sad if it ends here.

It has to end there for someone.

Between now and tipoff, you will hear often from Bulls players and coaches (rightfully so) that “All the pressure is on Boston.” Don’t fall for it. Don’t be a sucker. Pressure, if taken for what it actually means, is a component of your comfort level. The Celtics have been in this position before. The Bulls haven’t.

And this is where last season will play a bigger role than most think … or are willing to believe. The fact that the Celtics (even though they had KG at the time) went through two Game 7s just last spring and ended the season with rings on their fingers is easily something Doc Rivers can tap into. Vinny Del Negro and his staff don’t have that.

The minute the Bulls begin to believe the pressure is on Boston, they’re defeated. Pressure isn’t always about the team that has the most to lose. The pressure might be on the team that is the most unfamiliar with being in this territory.

Think about it.

The Bulls, however, will definitely have their chances. Ray Allen will not have another game like Game 6. Just as Rivers said Allen “went off” for 51 because his legs were rested after fouling out early in Game 5, the same philosophy must apply on the other end. Allen should be tired. Legs done. Ray should be Ray again, not Jesus.

KG will not do a Willis Reed impersonation and walk onto the court in his sweats to ignite the crowd and inspire his teammates. This series seems like it’s something out of the Disney vault, but it ain’t. This is real reality TV. KG is hurt; he’s not playing or going to pretend like he will.

Now, the one problem — and it could be a big one — for Chicago will be trying to contain Ben Gordon if the game is close. See, BG fouling out and not being able to contribute in the overtimes of Game 6 will probably make him overanxious and feel like he has to make up for that in Game 7. That’s something the Bulls cannot afford to have happen.

But the question is, who’s going to stop it from happening?

Del Negro is a rookie coach. He’s not in a position to stop it because he hasn’t been with BG long enough. Derrick Rose can’t stop it because he hasn’t been in the league long enough to tell BG what’s necessary to win games like this. Ben’s not going to stop it because … well, that’s him. That’s what superstars do. That’s what they’re supposed to do.

It’s just going to be a matter of how it gets done. If the Bulls can find a way to run plays for Ben — re-read, plays for Ben — as opposed to just giving him the ball as he crosses half court with 20 seconds left on the shot clock and watching him try to figure out a way to get a shot off, then they have a chance of having Ben “shock the world,” as opposed to shaking up theirs. If they can find a way to get him the ball off screens with somewhere closer to eight seconds on the shot clock and somewhere around or just inside the 3-point line on several (not every!) occasions, then they have a legit shot (pun intended) at winning.

Basically, if Ben Gordon comes into the game with the same mentality and efficiency that Allen did for Boston in Game 6, then Orlando will be the Bulls’ next destination. But how do you tell a hero not to be a hero? Especially if he feels he might have let his team down in the previous game.

So basically it will come down to a mind game. Who will make the smarter decisions in the moment. A moment that is still fresh in the Celtics’ memories from just last postseason. A moment they lived to talk about … twice.

And after Game 7 — which, if the Bulls and the Celts stick to the script, will only deepen the validation that this is, game-to-game, the greatest playoff series in the history of any sport — we will see who let the supposed pressure get to them. As clichéd as it sounds, I think it applies to this series more than any other: It’s too bad one of these teams has to lose.

BOSTON- Oh what a night indeed. If this series was a NBA Finals match-up  this might be one of the highest rated series in history! The defending NBA champion Celtics versus the Chicago Bulls has been, quite frankly, all that and more.  Almost every game has needed overtime or double overtime even having us jokingly saying that they need to just cut out the 4 quarters and just have both teams start in OT.

Last night’s game continued the trend. After being down 11 midway through the 4th quarter, the Celtics rallied to tie the game at 93, sending it to overtime time yet again. But that’s when Paul Pierce happened. After back and forth scoring between Pierce and the Bulls leaving the game tied at 104, this time it would be Pierce and not Ray Allen, who was ejected in the 4th, chance for heroics and he did just that. Pierce scored a clutch basket with 3.4 seconds left in OT to give the Celtics the 3-2 lead going into to what can be a decisive game 6 for the Bulls

Watch Pierce’s shot below:

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a question Dwight Howard will never forget.

Early this season, the Orlando Magic center was talking to Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo. The once great big men were giving Howard some tips, and Mutombo asked him a simple question.

“He said, ‘What do you want to be remembered as, the great dunker who won the slam dunk contest with a Superman outfit on, or do you want to do something better than that?’” Howard recalled Tuesday. “I said, ‘I want to be one of the greatest players.’ And he said it starts with defense.”

Mission accomplished.

The 23-year-old Howard became the youngest player to win the NBA’s defensive player of the year award Tuesday. Howard was only the fifth player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season, a goal he set in training camp.

“A lot of guys don’t want to go up [for blocks] because they’re afraid of getting dunked on,” Howard said. “Dikembe and Patrick told me, ‘As many times as you’re going to get dunked on you’re going to have more blocks.’”

Howard led the Magic to a second straight Southeast Division title and 59 wins in the regular season, one shy of tying the best record in franchise history set in the 1995-96 season. Orlando trails Philadelphia 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Game 2 is Wednesday, and Howard said his scratched eyes won’t affect his play for the game.

Despite Isiah Thomas’ prominent role in a sexual harassment case and the still-mysterious drug-overdose episode at his Harrison home last fall, his new bosses at Florida International University didn’t call Knicks president Donnie Walsh to inquire about those problems.

Walsh revealed that Tuesday when Thomas, the NBA’s most reclusive and highest-paid scout, accepted the FIU coaching job.

Looking to revive a career that crashed in New York last spring, Thomas will be introduced by the school today in Miami in his first public appearance since he was ousted by Garden chairman Jim Dolan from the Knicks’ top executive post.

“He wanted to get back and get active again and move on with his career,” Walsh said Tuesday in Greenburgh. “I think it’s good for him and he’ll do good things.”"

Even after  all this Isiah faced the music with ESPN reporters, who were in my opinion a little bit harsh as if they were trying to prosecute the man.  See for yourself :

NORMAN, Okla. — Once Blake Griffin stopped and really thought about his future, it didn’t take long for him to reach a decision.

Griffin announced Tuesday that he will give up his final two years of eligibility and head to the NBA after a sophomore season in which he was honored as college basketball’s top player. It was a choice coach Jeff Capel called a “no-brainer,” with Griffin establishing himself as a likely candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft this June.

“I felt in my mind from the time that I actually thought about it that this would be the right decision,” said Griffin, wearing a black suit, a grey shirt and a tie. “I remember talking to Coach Capel last year after I made my decision of coming back and he said I had the chance to be in this position and I should take it.

“This has been a dream for me. It has been a dream for a lot of guys. I was really comfortable with the decision this time around.”

Griffin helped the Sooners win 30 games in a season for only the fifth time in school history, shattering the school record, it’s a big opportunity and I felt like I was ready for it this year,” Griffin said.

Newly acquired Boston Celtics' Stephon Marbury (8) celebrates with Paul Pierce (34) after their 104-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers in an NBA basketball game in Boston, Friday, Feb. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Could Stephon Marbury prove the Knicks wrong by not letting him play for them this season? Well if tonight was a glimpse then he might fit in just fine with his new team. Tonight Marbury debuted for the Boston Celtics scoring 8 points and 2 assists in limited action looking like the possible missing piece to their playoff push.

*2/24*: The New York Knicks and Stephon Marbury were nearing a buyout agreement Tuesday afternoon that would clear the way for Marbury to sign with the Boston Celtics, according to sources close to the situation.

” Stephon Marbury and the Knicks reached an agreement today on a buyout settlement during an arbitration hearing over the point guard’s $400,000 fine, according to an NBA source.

Marbury was waived hours after meeting with team president Donnie Walsh today at a Midtown law firm.

Marbury left the Times Square offices skipping across the street in glee, posing for a Post photographer before heading off.

Marbury did not comment to a handful of reporters.

“A comprehensive agreement was made this afternoon between the New York Knicks and Stephon Marbury,” the Knicks said in a statement. “Under its terms, the grievance has been resolved and the Knicks have requested waivers on Stephon. No additional terms will be disclosed.”

Marbury, 32 last Friday, is expected to sign with the Celtics. He told The Post last month he has a verbal commitment from Boston.

Marbury has been banished from the Knicks since Dec. 1, days after refusing Mike D’Antoni’s offer to be his starting shooting guard during a meeting in Detroit on Thanksgiving Eve.

Marbury is the last Knick from their last playoff team in 2003-04, but his hometown stint was an abject failure after the initial burst he gave the team after a Jan. 5, 2004 trade from Phoenix.

Marbury will be remembered more for his feuds with Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas and D’Antoni than what he did on the court. Fearful of Marbury’s past, D’Antoni came out of preseason and decided he did not want him as part of the program.”

Another source close to the process indicated that Marbury and the Celtics have already commenced discussions on a contract.

To get more info on the buy out please check the ESPN article by clicking here.

or the NY Post article here.

Authored by Chad Ford for ESPN Insider

The Movers And Shakers

From best to worst, in terms of moves made in the last week

1. MIAMI HEAT

Positive Spin: The team finally gets the help in the middle it desperately needs. Jermaine O’Neal is past his prime and fragile, but light-years ahead of Joel Anthony and Mark Blount. The Heat also found a way to dump Marcus Banks in the deal. And don’t forget that Miami retained all its cap flexibility in 2010.

Negative Spin: They have to pay O’Neal a lot of money next year. Will he be worth it? Can he fit in with Dwyane Wade? It was a reasonable gamble, but a gamble nonetheless.

2. NEW YORK KNICKS

Positive Spin: New York traded away three paperweights for two guys who should be terrific fits in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system — Chris Wilcox and Larry Hughes. And to top it off, the Knicks got both players without having to take back extra money. It looks as if they could be serious contenders for the playoffs a season after winning 23 games.

Negative Spin: Donnie Walsh didn’t tackle his bigger problem concerning cap room in 2010. He turned down multiple offers for Jared Jeffries and did nothing to hedge against the potential loss of David Lee and Nate Robinson to restricted free agency this summer. If the Knicks lose those guys for nothing, then don’t find a home for Eddy Curry or Jeffries next year, things won’t be looking so bright in New York.

3. CHICAGO BULLS

Positive Spin: Bulls finally addressed their gaping hole in the middle with Brad Miller, added a productive swingman in John Salmons, got rid of Andres Nocioni‘s huge contract and found someone willing to give them a first-round pick for Thabo Sefolosha. And they found a home for Larry Hughes’ bad attitude.

Negative Spin: Did John Paxson play it safe again? These moves make Chicago better, but how much better? With names such as Amare Stoudemire being floated around, this haul from the Bulls feels a bit underwhelming. Fans are going to have to be patient. This year, and even next year, the Bulls won’t be contenders. But if Paxson can find a home for Kirk Hinrich this summer, the Bulls could be well positioned to make a run at Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010.

4. TORONTO RAPTORS

Positive Spin: The Raptors dumped the final year of Jermaine O’Neal’s contract, saving them roughly $23 million next season. Shawn Marion is a better fit on the team anyway, and he fills a pretty big hole at the 3. His defense should help, too. Plus, Toronto has the inside track toward signing Marion (cheaply) this summer.

Negative Spin: The Raptors still aren’t a contender, even with Marion. Chris Bosh looks as if he’s already packing his bags for the summer of 2010. Toronto had to take back Marcus Banks’ ugly contract. What’s the plan for the future? It’s pretty cloudy at this point.

5. SACRAMENTO KINGS

Positive Spin: The Kings saved about $13 million in salaries next season. Nocioni is a warrior and should add some much-needed toughness to a team known for its softness. And Sacramento is the front-runner to win the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery.

Negative Spin: The Kings are awful. Adding Nocioni isn’t going to change that. The future is bright only if young players Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes and Donte Greene develop … if the team wins the draft lottery … if Kevin Martin stays healthy … and if Beno Udrih somehow finds his mojo again. That’s a lot of ifs for one team.

Minor Players

From best to worst, in terms of moves made this month

1. ORLANDO MAGIC

Positive Spin: The combination of Tyronn Lue and Anthony Johnson just wasn’t going to cut it. Rafer Alston gives Orlando a legit point guard to handle the team while Jameer Nelson sits out the rest of the season after shoulder surgery. Alston’s contract is guaranteed for only $2.5 million next year.

Negative Spin: The Magic had to give up a first-round pick, which hurts. It’s still highly doubtful that — even with Alston — this team can beat the Celtics and/or Cavs in a seven-game series. And I’m told they passed on a deal for a better point guard: Jamaal Tinsley.

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