The Starting Five

(Sports Illustrated).

Paul George faces the stiffest test of his young career as leader of the Indiana Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers come into the Eastern Confidence Finals against the Miami Heat full of confidence. Not only did the Pacers take the New York Knicks out in six games they won two out of three contests this season against the world champions.

The Miami Heat come out of their physical five game series with the Chicago Bulls healthy and rested once again. Faced against a more athletic Pacers team than in recent seasons, the Heat are up for the challenge.

Read more »

(San Antonio Blog).

Tim Duncan’s play has rendered Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol helplesss.

Tim Duncan scored 6 of his 17 points in overtime as the San Antonio Spurs took a 2-0 lead with a 93-89 victory in overtime against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Spurs maintained home court advantage as the series shifts to Memphis on Saturday.

Read more »

(Fox Sports)

Dez Bryant can relate with Tyrann Mathieu on the harshness of the media on what should be a drama-free occasion.

I’ll remember the 2013 NFL draft for the over the top analysis and criticism of E.J. Manuel, the booing of Geno Smith and the shaming of Tyrann Mathieu. Many African-American players spend what should be a day of celebration defending their relevance on the field or their second chance to make good.

Read more »

(Associated Press)

The San Antonio Spurs packed the paint against Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies.

The San Antonio Spurs grew weary of all the talk about the Memphis Grizzlies and their bruising brand of basketball. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Greg Popovich implemented a game plan which neutralized Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies interior attack. The Spurs shot  49 percent from beyond the arc, thanks to the hot hand of reserve Matt Bonner. The Spurs made a bold statement in their 105-83 victory over the Grizzlies.

Read more »

(Sports Illustrated)

We will soon find out if there is enough room in the paint for Zach Randolph and Tim Duncan.

The San Antonio Spurs are headed back to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in as many seasons. The Spurs took care of the upstart Golden State Warriors in six games.

Some are saying the Memphis Grizzlies dodged a bullet against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the injury to Russell Westbrook. There may be some truth to that statement, but the defense of the Memphis Grizzlies is undeniable. The Grizzlies have knocked off the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and the top-seeded Thunder to advance to their first conference finals in team history.

Read more »

(Barton Silverman/New York Times)

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks to a Game 5 victory and a return trip to Indiana.

The New York Knicks didn’t shoot the lights out last night, neither did the Indiana Pacers — which ultimately was a good thing. The Knicks held the Pacers to 36 percent shooting from the floor and capitalized on 19 Indiana turnovers as they pulled out Game 5 with a 85-75 victory. Game 6 will be Saturday in Indiana.

The Golden State Warriors postseason run came to an end last night in front of their energized home crowd at Oracle Arena.  The experienced San Antonio Spurs smelled blood in the water and knew better than to risk a possible seventh game against such a streaky team. The Warriors went cold again — shooting less than 40 percent from the field as the San Antonio Spurs move on to the Western Conference Finals with a 94-82 victory in Game 6.

Read more »

(Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies are embarking on new territory as participants in the Western Conference Finals.

The Miami Heat are headed back to the Eastern Conference Finals after a come from behind victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5. The Heat led the Bulls by as many as 18 points in the first half only to trail by five at the start of the fourth quarter. Miami eventually wore down the weary Bulls — who gave a gallant effort, pulling out at 94-91 victory in five games.

The Memphis Grizzles are headed to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in the history of the franchise with a 88-84 victory over the OKC Thunder. The Grizzlies threw a defensive blanket over Kevin Durant — holding him to 5 for 21 shooting from the floor (Durant missed his first six shots). Three other members of the Thunder scored in double-figures but it wasn’t enough.

Read more »

(NY Daily News)

The Knicks had a front row seat to the latest edition of the Paul George Show.

Even the heroic efforts of Carmelo Anthony were not enough as the New York Knicks season now hangs in the balance. Anthony scored 24 of the Knicks first 48 points. ‘Melo struggled after that point — going scoreless in the final 16 minutes before fouling out with 2:00 remaining. The Pacers finished off the Knicks 93-82. New York is in danger of bowing out if they cannot win Thursday at home as Indiana now holds a 3-2 lead.

The San Antonio Spurs shut down Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, taking a 3-2 lead with a 109-91 victory. Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan were key in San Antonio’s win.

Read more »

Windsor, Vermont sculptor Lawrence Nowlan has been commissioned to create an 8-foot bronze statue of the late boxing legend Joe Frazier. At left, is an 18-inch preliminary model. Nowlan grew up in the Philadelphia area during Frazier’s boxing career and the design seen here is inspired from Frazier’s left-hand hook that knocked down Muhammad Ali in “The Fight of the Century” in 1971. PHOTO PROVIDED

Republished with permission from the Rutland Herald

WINDSOR, VT — A Windsor sculptor is taking on a heavyweight challenge for the city of Brotherly Love.

Lawrence Nowlan was recently commissioned by the city of Philadelphia to create a life-size statue of the late boxing great Joe Frazier. Nowlan is a renowned sculptor from Merion, Pa., who created bronze statues of former Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas and the Wildland Firefighters National Monument in Boise, Idaho.

A Joe Frazier Statue Committee was launched last summer and Nowlan was among eight sculptors short-listed for the project. Nowlan found out he was selected in late April and said the feeling is “surreal” that he will be re-creating a legendary sports figure he grew up following.

“From a sculptor and fan’s standpoint, it’s a dream come true,” Nowlan said. “Growing up in the Philadelphia area, we were all big Joe Frazier fans. He’s a good representation of what Philadelphia stands for: tough, hard-working and determined.”

Read more »

(NBC.com)

Chuck Muncie was an underrated cog in the San Diego Chargers free-wheeling offense of the early 1980′s.

For the second time in as many years, the San Diego Chargers family has lost one of his most beloved players.

Chuck Muncie, the be-goggled running back who was a staple in Don “Air” Coryell’s offense in the early 1980′s has died from a heart attack at age 60.

Read more »

(Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)

LeBron James and the Miami Heat have sidestepped the aggressive Chicago Bulls thus far.

A poor shooting night was the last thing the Chicago Bulls needed heading into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Trailing 44-33 at the half, the Bulls scored a franchise playoff-low 9 points as they fell to the Miami Heat 88-65. Chicago now trails the series 3-1 and faces elimination Wednesday in Miami.

The Memphis rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to put the Oklahoma City Thunder into a 3-1 hole. The Grizzlies needed overtime for a 103-97 victory. Kevin Durant went o for 5 in the extra period as the Thunder collectively shot 1 for 9. The Thunder will try to extend the series Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

Read more »

(Getty Images)

Even with a hobbled Steph Curry, Tony Parker and Greg Popovich had no answer for the Warriors in Game 4.

With Steph Curry at less than 100 percent and Klay Thompson with an off day the Golden State Warriors needed to rely on someone, anyone to help them pull even with the San Antonio Spurs.

Enter Harrison Barnes, Jarrett Jack and Andrew Bogut stepped up and over the Spurs in a 97-87 overtime victory to even the series at two games each. The scene shifts back to San Antonio for a pivotal Game five.

Read more »

(USA Today)

Chicago’s Nazr Mohammed used all six of his fouls on this retaliatory shove to LeBron James.

The Chicago Bulls had a series split in Miami and were heading home with home court advantage and maybe even the support of the officials heading into Game 2. All of the above went out the window when Joakim Noah received a technical foul for an unprovoked shove and Nazr Mohommed was ejected for shoving LeBron James to the floor minutes later. As the Bulls became emotionally unglued the Miami Heat maintained their cool and defeated the Bulls 104-94.

I guess Tony Parker needed to remind us there was another guard in this series who actually has some championship hardware. T-Pain scored 32 points and handed out 5 assists in the Spurs 102-92 Game 3 victory. The Warriors tandem of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson shot a combined 12 for 37.

Read more »

(Before It’s News)

The resemblance between Malcolm Shabazz and his grandfather are strikingly similar.

Malcolm Shabazz, the first male descendant of Malcolm X was killed in what is being called a robbery attempt in Mexico. Details surrounding his death are still unconfirmed. Shabazz was 28.

Read more »

(Sports Illustrated)

You knew it wouldn’t be too long before the intensity picked up in this series.

Things were chippy between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls from the first possession and increased as the game wore on. By the end of the night, there were 51 personal fouls, 9 technical fouls, 1 flagrant foul and Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were sent to the showers early. As for the game itself, the Miami Heat punched the gas in the third quarter and never let up, blasting the Bulls 115-79.

Once again, the San Antonio Spurs trimmed a double-digit lead by the Golden State Warriors to single digits in the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson and Steph Curry weren’t going to let this one get away. Golden State’s sniper back court combined for 56 points as the Warriors held on to even the series at one game each in a 100-91 victory.

Read more »