Kobe Wins MVP!!!!

LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James racked up a silky-smooth triple-double. Kevin Durant dropped 34 points in 30 minutes. Amare Stoudemire slammed and jammed his way through Staples Center for 29 points.

And the NBA's younger stars still were thrilled when Kobe Bryant took home one more MVP trophy from the All-Star Game Sunday night.

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Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant put on a show in front of his home crowd on Sunday night, earning him his fourth All-Star MVP, writes Andy Kamenetzky. Story
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"Everyone wanted him to get the MVP," said Miami's Dwyane Wade, last season's MVP. "He came out very aggressive, as aggressive as I've seen anybody in an All-Star Game."

Bryant won his record-tying fourth All-Star MVP award Sunday night with 37 points and 14 rebounds in the West's 148-143 win over the East. Bryant was well aware he had a chance to tie Bob Pettit's mark -- and so were his fellow All-Stars.

"He deserved it," Durant said. "Thirty-seven and 14? That's unbelievable numbers. I wanted him to get 40, but the old fella kind of tired out a little bit."

Both All-Star teams seemingly deferred to Bryant for much of the night, finding him on fast breaks and clearing a path for his dunks -- a rarity these days for Bryant, who prefers to conserve the bounce in his aching knees. Bryant even threw down a slam against James' defense in the third quarter, following it up with a 3-pointer.

So enjoy it, Kobe. Hidden in all the adulation and goodwill around hometown All-Star weekend was another common theme: That's the last prize that will come easily to the Los Angeles Lakers' five-time champion guard this year.

LeBron's Miami Heat, K.D.'s rising Thunder and the archrival Boston Celtics won't make it nearly as easy for Bryant to claim his sixth championship ring. The Lakers are still title contenders, but they went into the break with three straight losses and serious questions about whether this veteran team can get motivated for a three-peat run.

Bryant plans to deal with all that Monday at practice in El Segundo.

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesKobe Bryant hoists his NBA record-tying fourth All-Star Game MVP trophy.

"We're looking forward to it," Bryant said of the stretch run. "We're up for the challenge. Pau [Gasol] and I have been talking this whole time about looking forward to it, and getting back at it. We've been in communication with the rest of the fellas, and we all can't wait to get started."

Until taking over the starring role on Sunday, Bryant said he spent the weekend attempting to cede the spotlight to James and his Heat teammates, or the four Celtics All-Stars, or even Clippers rookie Blake Griffin.

"I've been there, you know what I mean?" Bryant said. "It's not about that for me at this point in my career. It's very important for the game to continue to have young stars emerge. ... It's important for me to step aside. It's about me coming out and performing and staying healthy, and doing the right things after 15 years."

Although Bryant is just 32, the Philadelphia prep-to-pro star is in his 15th NBA season, and several current All-Stars -- particularly young Los Angeles natives Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love -- grew up watching his partnership with Shaquille O'Neal during the Lakers' first three-peat. That reverence is reflected throughout the season, but was particularly obvious in this exhibition.

Bryant fell short of Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star record 42 points in 1962, but not for lack of trying by his teammates. He went scoreless in the final 6:48.

"I wish we could have," New Orleans guard Chris Paul said. "But Kobe is one of those guys who has been in the league for 13 years, but it seems like he's getting younger, so he'll have another opportunity."

NBA All Saturday Night

NBA All-Star Saturday: Blake Griffin wins slam dunk contest

11:18 PM, Feb. 19, 2011  |  

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Clippers forward Blake Griffin goes up to dunk over a car after getting an alley-oop from teammate Baron Davis tonight in Los Angeles. / AP

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BY GREG BEACHAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

• Filed Under
• Sports
• Detroit Pistons

LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin leaped over a car and threw down a two-handed dunk to the accompaniment of a gospel choir, winning the slam dunk contest in iconic style before his hometown fans on All-Star Saturday.

The Los Angeles Clippers rookie caught a pass out of the sunroof from teammate Baron Davis and easily cleared the 2011 Kia Optima’s hood while the Crenshaw Select Choir sang “I Believe I Can Fly” at midcourt.

The inventive slam drove home the obvious point of the All-Star weekend’s silly Saturday: Griffin has both the raw athleticism and the showtime flair to be the NBA’s next big star.

Finalist Javale McGee of Washington and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan didn’t stand a chance despite their own inventive dunks at Staples Center.

Miami's James Jones wins three-point shootout

Miami’s James Jones held off Boston teammates Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to win his first 3-point shootout at All-Star Saturday.

Jones scored 20 points in the final round, hitting four straight shots late. The star-laden Heat’s outside shooting specialist says he benefited from shooting first in the three-man final.

Although Pierce was the defending champion and Allen recently became the NBA’s career leader in three-pointers, neither could match Jones’ score in front of booing Lakers fans.

Stephen Curry wins skills competition

Golden State’s Stephen Curry beat Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in the final round to win the Skills Challenge early on All-Star Saturday at Staples Center.

A three-person team from Atlanta won the Shooting Stars competition in the first event at the NBA All-Star weekend’s silly Saturday.

The program was expected to be highlighted by Clippers rookie Blake Griffin’s much-anticipated appearance in the slam dunk contest.

Curry also played in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night. The Warriors’ slick guard twice navigated the basketball obstacle course with ease, beating a field also including Los Angeles-area native Westbrook, Derrick Rose and Rookie Challenge MVP John Wall and New Orleans’ Chris Paul, who missed a layup.

T- Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam

Sacramento's Tyreke Evans captured the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge MVP award in 2010.

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Last year's winning rookie stars become the hunted

Posted Feb 17 2011 1:56PM

What: T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam
When: Friday, Feb. 18, 9 p.m. ET
Where: Staples Center
TV: TNT
The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam showcases the NBA's best young talent in a showdown between first- and second-year players.
Some of the league's best young players -- including Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay and Russell Westbrook -- have participated in this game in recent years.
This year, Los Angeles Clippers dunking phenom Blake Griffin -- the No. 1 pick in the 2009 Draft -- will play, as well as Washington Wizards rookie John Wall, the No. 1 pick of the 2010 Draft.
Last season's Rookie of the Year and the Rookie Challenge MVP, Tyreke Evans of Sacramento will not play due to a foot injury. He is being replaced by the Thunder's James Harden.
Below are the rosters for the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam:

ROOKIE TEAM ROSTER

Eric Bledsoe, L.A. Clippers, G
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, C
Derrick Favors, New Jersey, F
Landry Fields, New York, G
Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers, F
Wesley Johnson, Minnesota, G
Greg Monroe, Detroit, C
Gary Neal, San Antonio, G
John Wall, Washington, G

Coaches:Mike Budenholzer -- San Antonio Spurs
Amar'e Stoudemire -- New York Knicks
Kevin McHale -- NBA TV/ TNT analyst

SOPHOMORE TEAM ROSTER

DeJuan Blair, San Antonio, C
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, G
Stephen Curry, Golden State, G
* Tyreke Evans, Sacramento, G
Taj Gibson, Chicago, F
James Harden, Oklahoma City, G
Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia, G
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, F-C
Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee, G
Wesley Matthews, Portland, G

Coaches:Lawrence Frank -- Boston Celtics
Carmelo Anthony -- Denver Nuggets
Steve Kerr -- TNT NBA basketball analyst

Phil Jackson's last game at the Garden!!!

In Jackson's last visit Kobe went for 33 points which could have been easily 50. Kobe had 19 in the 1st period. Kobe also had 10 rebounds with 2 assists, Gasol also added 20 points. In the last 5 games at the Garden Kobe averages 40ppg. The Lakers won easily 113-96.

Streak ends at 26!!!

After losing 26 straight, the Cavaliers beat the Clippers in OT. With a couple of key blocks by Hickson and 34 by Jamison, it was jut enough!!

Jerrsy SLoan Resigns!!!

Sloan leaves Jazz as epitome of consistency

Posted Feb 10 2011 7:36PM

Jerry Sloan grew up on a farm in McLeansboro, Ill. So he always knew there was a time to take the crops in.
That it came this week instead of last week, today rather than tomorrow, is irrelevant.
"You do it 'til they don't want you anymore," Sloan once said. "Or it stops being fun."
In this case, probably more than a little bit of both.
Maybe it was halftime of Wednesday night's home loss to the Bulls, following a locker room clash with star guard Deron Williams, when Sloan stopped hearing the calliope music inside his head and decided to resign as coach of the Jazz.
Or perhaps it was the week before when he agreed to a one-year contract extension through next season, but cautioned that it didn't necessarily mean he'd be around next season.
After 23 seasons standing, stomping and screaming in front of the Jazz bench, the 68-year-old Sloan was aware of the nearing expiration date stamped on his carton, but it never changed his demeanor or affected his style.
How much has the league, the game, the world changed in the time that he's been stalking those rabid sidelines in Salt Lake City?
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 40 current NBA players were not even born when Sloan succeeded Frank Layden as coach of the Jazz on Dec. 9, 1988 and began carving out a plain-spoken, no-excuses legacy that is not likely to be matched.
"My time is up. It's time to move on," Sloan said through tears at the official news conference. "I thought about it a few days ago. It just seemed like this was the time to do it.
"I only have so much energy left. My energy level dropped off a bit....Let's move forward. That's the only thing I can tell you.
"I've had confrontations with players since I've been in the league, a number of guys. But those things are minor as far as going forward."
What was major is the impact that Sloan had on stabilizing the Utah franchise, establishing the Jazz as a perennial playoff team, and forging a common identity with his bookend superstars Karl Malone and John Stockton. Both are among the greatest players in the history of the game. Both are with Sloan in the Hall of Fame.
More than any of that, both are reflections of his respect for an honest effort.
"It's showing up every day and putting the best into whatever you are doing that tells who you are," Sloan said.
That's the simultaneously majestic and simple description of the Jazz under Sloan: workers.
The durable Malone played in 80 or more games in 17 of the 18 seasons he was with the Jazz. Stockton played in all 82 games in 16 of his 19 NBA seasons.
What all three shared was the empty feeling of having never reached the pinnacle of winning a championship, though coming agonizingly close with back-to-back losses to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in 1997 and 1998.
"Were we disappointed that we didn't win those?" Sloan has said. "Sure, but I didn't feel bad. If you go and play and you put everything into it, there's never any reason to feel bad.
"To me, the toughest part is not the losing. It's coming back after you've lost and seeing who you are then. That's the most critical thing to me. A lot of guys say, 'Oh, well, I tried. It's not quite as important anymore.' I just want to know if you're just gonna work as hard today and tomorrow. That's all I care about. I want to know if you still can pick yourself up and do it again."

For more than two decades, his teams always did.
"People always ask me what's changed over the years," said Sloan's longtime assistant and friend Phil Johnson, who also resigned. "We all evolve. We mature. But the major things have not changed with Jerry. His consistency is probably the key to all of his success.
"The basic philosophy and premise of how we want to play and how we want players to act, both on and off the court, has not changed."
Sloan's was a style that ran up a 1,221-803 career coaching record, making him the third-winningest coach in the NBA as his 23 years on the job with the Jazz made the him the longest-tenured coach in American professional sports. Yet somehow he was never named Coach of the Year.
"Hell, that's the kiss of death," he always chuckled. "They give that to you and then usually fire you a year or two later."
His was a philosophy that was cultivated from seedlings out of that hardscrabble upbringing as one of 10 farm kids raised by a single mother in McLeansboro, who rose at 4:30 a.m. to do his chores, walked 1 ½ miles and then hitch-hiked the rest of the way to school so that he could arrive for 7 a.m. basketball practice.
His was an innate, relentless drive that, early in his rookie NBA season as a player with the Bulls, had him showing up at Chicago Stadium at 4:30 p.m. for a home game, getting his ankles taped and was fully dressed in uniform and sitting at his locker when head coach Dick Motta arrived at the arena. Motta told Sloan to get a hobby.
That drive took him through an 11-year playing career, a stint with the Bulls as head coach that got him fired and then a run of nearly a quarter century in charge of the Jazz, never taking anything for granted.
"I entered every day knowing this could be my last day," Sloan said. "I know that sounds corny. I'm a corny guy."
A plain-spoken farmer at heart, who just knew when it was time to rotate the crops.

Greenbay Packers Win Superbowl XLV

Aaron Rodgers Superbowl XLV MVP had thrown for over 300 yards for 3TD. Being shorthanded in the secondary was no problem in the second half. At halftime it was 21-10 GB winning. The Steelers made a late rally but, it wasnt enough. The final score was 28-25.