10 Copyright (c) 2013 Yahoo!, Inc. All rights reserved. en-us 126 15 http://sports.yahoo.com http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/b/ysp_logo_rss.gif Latest news and information about the Milwaukee Bucks. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mil http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13ca385nk/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/three-things-pacers-must-even-heat-game-2-225507528.html While the Miami Heat might not have played their best game yet in these 2013 playoffs, the Indiana Pacers know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they didn't play their best game in Wednesday's Eastern Conference finals opener, either — and they still came up just one remarkable play by LeBron James (and one arguably unwise decision by Pacers coach Frank Vogel) from scoring an upset overtime win that stripped home-court advantage away from the No. 1 overall seed. They were right there, and they think — they know — they can get there again. Still, they've got some stuff to clean up in Friday night's Game 2 if they want to close the deal and send the series back to Indiana tied up with a chance to take a commanding lead at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Here are three areas where the Pacers must improve to come away with a win: 1. Slow the march to the front of the rim. In our series preview , I noted that the Pacers had done an excellent job during the regular season of keeping the Heat from feasting on shots from their favorite, and the most valuable, spots on the floor — the restricted area (the semicircle directly in front of the basket) and the 3-point arc, especially the shorter corners. That's the centerpiece of the philosophy that made the Pacers the league's best defensive team this year — play tight D outside, don't give shooters space to rise and fire, stay true to your one-on-one assignments and close out like demons when you have to step away, offer help without over-helping and force drivers/pick-and-roll ball-handlers to have to pull up from midrange rather than meet 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert at the basket. It figured to be a critical element in the Pacers' attempt to overcome the Heat, and Indiana didn't do the best possible job of it in Game 1. Fri, 24 May 2013 15:55:07 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,f2ee7c0a-157b-3a7a-a95f-87476c24ecab-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13n9haj7n/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/kareem-abdul-jabbar-wore-shorts-backward-entire-game-161659222.html No, for real — that headline is true. Check out this game story (and accompanying photo) from the Milwaukee Bucks' win over the Seattle Supersonics on Jan. 25, 1972, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's third year in the league (click the image for a larger version): For those who don't feel quite like reading the fine newsprint, here's Milwaukee Journal scribe Bob Wolf's account: As far as the visiting Seattle Supersonics were concerned, the only amusing thing about the basketball game at the Arena Tuesday night was that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore his trunks backwards. Aside from that one little slipup, the Milwaukee Bucks were a fearsome lot as they dismembered one of the better teams in the National Basketball Association, 123-91. [...] Fri, 24 May 2013 09:10:59 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,cc9be35f-eed3-3b96-a7c9-229a6883d60c-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12rdfermt/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--nate-mcmillan-won-t-return-to-team-usa-210857190.html The Blazers' former coach has been with Coach K since the beginning of his run leading the U.S.'s national team. Thu, 23 May 2013 14:08:56 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,f66d2150-30c3-3c6d-847b-09fc4384c8d1-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12d32gnv5/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-mock-draft-version-3-091900086--nba.html Version 3 of our NBA Mock Draft is here. The Cavaliers snuck into the No. 1 spot, the Magic get No. 2 and the Wizards moved up to No. 3. Wed, 22 May 2013 02:19:00 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,68e2e3e5-45da-3c42-a119-6bf571e47f5c-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13a757ij6/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/ball-don-t-lie-2012-13-playoff-previews-203856379.html The minds behind Ball Don’t Lie are going to preview each of the parings in the third round, with Kelly Dwyer going against character for a more genial take, Dan Devine bringing his inimitable mixture of both order and bedlam, along with Eric Freeman’s legendary look inside the reputations of some of the series’ key fixtures. We continue with the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. Which team do you think will win the series, and in how many games? Vote here to let us know what you think. Tue, 21 May 2013 13:35:56 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,5e0688f9-6851-315b-b0f8-f92e87403b6e-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13htbhkeg/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/stan-van-gundy-tells-orlando-radio-station-won-134544481.html Tue, 21 May 2013 06:40:44 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,0f8774d5-2351-3288-aef9-16c0f6bec419-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12hgaqsjl/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-roundup-smith-wants-stay-225026876--nba.html New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith can be a free agent this summer, but said he does not want to leave the team. Sun, 19 May 2013 15:50:26 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,0e6588b6-4784-3509-a2e6-a710da9a3586-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12r64hpkq/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/skiles-emerges-nets-coaching-candidate-174027255--nba.html Scott Skiles is a candidate for the Brooklyn Nets coaching vacancy. Sun, 19 May 2013 10:40:27 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,e1c3b1f0-fdcb-3bb5-9637-2ba17c7e231f-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12id4qhqe/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-roundup-maloofs-sign-deal-234029999--nba.html Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson announced Friday that the deal for the Maloof family to sell the Kings to software billionaire Vivek Ranadive has been signed. Fri, 17 May 2013 16:40:29 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,526e5e31-3bfa-31a4-9d64-bc13b8fac8a0-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=1280bggo4/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/bucks-not-fit-sloan-154029898--nba.html Jerry Sloan is willing to return to coaching in the NBA at age 71, but he's not planning to take just any opportunity that might come up in an offseason where turnover might lead to one-third of teams hiring a new coach. Fri, 17 May 2013 08:40:29 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,c0939dab-97c9-3c08-81c3-2db9c5c2c693-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13mts5cur/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/jerry-sloan-says-no-thanks-milwaukee-bucks-coaching-150117212.html Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:17 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,747d6943-b221-352b-8fcd-2420b7e3c212-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=138hhiv2p/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--hawks-interview-nate-mcmillan-for-head-coaching-job-005730235.html Former Blazers coach Nate McMillan met with Hawks officials about their coaching position. Wed, 15 May 2013 17:57:29 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,52ae7571-074f-361a-820f-46812479e255-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13q3palk5/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/nba-board-governors-votes-keep-kings-sacramento-against-231003381.html After a messy, drawn-out saga involving several potential moves, the long-term future of the Sacramento Kings looks near a resolution. As first reported by Sam Amick of USA Today and announced shortly thereafter by NBA commissioner David Stern and his successor Adam Silver in a press conference, the NBA's Board of Governors has voted not to authorize Joe and Gavin Maloof's pending sale of the Kings to a Seattle-based ownership group headed by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Initial reports state that the final vote came in 22-8 in favor of keeping the Kings in Sacramento. While the Sacto-averse Maloofs have expressed little interest of selling the team to a local owner, it's expected that the Kings will stay in the city they've called home since 1985. In the press conference, Stern said that he believes the Maloofs will start talks with the local ownership group headed by tech entrepreneur and current Golden State Warriors minority owner Vivek Ranadive and organized by Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson. It's possible that the Maloofs were simply posturing in their earlier statements, as they've done several times throughout this process, or perhaps they were promised new perks to make the sale to Ranadvie and Co. more acceptable. This is obviously great news for Kings advocates in Sacramento, who have worked extremely hard over the past few months to put together a deal to keep the Kings in town. Mayor Johnson sought out local owners, settled on a comprehensive arena plan, and made a special point of working with the league office to ensure that the city did whatever it could to put forth the best possible case for why they deserve to keep the franchise. While there are open questions as to how much new arenas paid for with public funds actually local economies, there's no argument that the Kings are a source of civic pride for Sacramento. In this case, the city came together in pursuit of a common goal, and it looks like they'll end up successful. It's unclear where this vote puts Seattle. Since the first terms of this sale were reported in January, Hansen and Ballmer have added to the offer to make it almost irresponsibly good, with a valuation of $625 million for the franchise and the promise that the new Sonics would pay into the NBA's revenue sharing fund on a permanent basis (apparently regardless of their revenue). In addition, the Maloofs apparently have a backup offer with the Seattle group that would allow them to purchase 20 percent of the franchise in what's pretty clearly a backdoor move to eventually put the team in Seattle. Yet, while Stern made the stupid misstep of starting his press conference by saying he didn't have much time to talk because he has to get to Oklahoma City — where the Sonics moved under fairly devious circumstances in 2008 — he and Silver also stated that Hansen and Ballmer did everything right in this sale. In other words, the NBA would probably like this group to own a team in Seattle. It's just unclear how that might happen. Stern claimed that any talks of expansion would only begin after discussion of the next TV contract (which will probably begin this offseason) and only the Milwaukee Bucks would appear to be a currently for-sale franchise that could also feasibly be moved. (On the other hand, owner Herb Kohl, who represented Wisconsin in U.S. Senate for 24 years, might not want to sell to a group that would relocate.) It's also not clear if Hansen and Ballmer would be willing to go through this ordeal again, although they were certainly very motivated to bring the Kings to Seattle by any means necessary. All of which is to say that the after-effects of this vote will be felt both immediately and for years to come. While this verdict and the league's comments suggest that the Kings will stay in Sacramento for some time, we still don't know what the Maloofs will choose (or be forced) to do in a new sale, how the Seattle group will respond to the news, and whether the NBA will try to avoid similar attempts at relocation in the future. At this point, all we really know is that two cities have proven themselves to be viable homes for NBA franchises. That's a positive, in a way, but this particular vote is unfortunately a zero-sum game. It's great news for Sacramento and big disappointment for Seattle. Wed, 15 May 2013 16:10:03 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,e74053a3-41df-3e33-8951-b43e429c41e4-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13ltdsvc1/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dwyane-wade-actively-moving-kneecap-probably-won-t-180813318.html It sounds like a condition severe enough to shut down most players for the remainder of their season, and one too painful for most players to even considering working through. Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade, though, is not most players. The man has been working through a series of injuries throughout his pro career, a group of mostly knee-related maladies that had many wondering if he would have to limp off into the sunset far earlier (like in 2008, or during last year’s playoffs) than his talent and drive would deserve. Now we have news about how Wade handles his latest setback. Wade physically pushes his right kneecap into a less stressful and painful place before games so as to give his team productive minutes. Because the kneecap won’t stick, though, Wade has to move it back over with one of the myriad accessories he has to wear to minimize the stress and swelling that his body deals with over the course of a pro basketball game. With the Heat up decidedly in their Eastern Conference semifinals over the Chicago Bulls, wouldn’t it seem right for Wade to sit out a game? He’s done it before, suiting up but not playing in the deciding Game 4 of his team’s first-round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks because of the bone bruise in his knee, an injury that was made even worse in Game 4 after Dwyane bumped knees with Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler. Wade appears to be having none of it, though. He’s officially listed as a game-time decision heading into Wednesday night’s Game 5 . Which, in Wadesian terms, means the guy is playing. Is Wadesian thinking the correct approach, here? Wed, 15 May 2013 11:05:13 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,264ea150-367e-34fa-a8a0-a471a59fe80c-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12dir563v/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/wade-questionable-game-5-233040809--nba.html The Miami Heat could be without guard Dwyane Heat for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Tue, 14 May 2013 16:30:40 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,9fc61137-57f6-3fd9-9cd9-d9514823b1f6-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13sedglce/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/chris-copeland-could-help-kickstart-knicks-woeful-offense-184356030.html The fears facing New York Knicks fans heading into the Eastern Conference semifinals focused on the Indiana Pacers' defense. In general, the concern was whether a best-in-the-league unit even stingier than the Boston Celtics group that gave the Knicks' O fits in Round 1 would prove too daunting a task. More specifically, the worries centered on whether a younger, faster, quicker and longer-limbed squad than Boston — featuring wing defenders capable of shutting off perimeter penetration one-on-one, a 7-foot-2 eraser capable of protecting the rim without requiring double teams and a system geared toward running opponents off the 3-point line — would eliminate the kind of open long-range looks born of dribble penetration and ball movement that made New York so dangerous during the regular season. Through three games, those fears seem well-founded. New York's averaging just 90.3 points per game in the Eastern Conference semifinals, shooting 43.2 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from 3-point range in the series, and is coming off a Game 3 suffocation that saw them set season lows in 3-point makes and attempts. The Knicks are averaging 100.9 points per 100 possessions against the Pacers, which represents a massive drop-off from their season-long efficiency (108.6-per-100, third-best in the NBA) and is heavily inflated by the Knicks' late-Game-2 run . New York averaged less than one point per possession in their Game 1 loss and scored at a heinous 82.6-per-100 clip in Game 3, which is a level of ineptitude miles beyond what even the absolute worst NBA offenses typically muster. It's tempting to suggest that this is a matter of leading scorers Carmelo Anthony (29 for 70, 41.4 percent) and J.R. Smith (11 for 42 in the series, 26.2 percent) just being embroiled in a slump from which they need to shake loose. The reality, though, is that Indiana defends the scoring pair roughly this well — both Anthony and Smith shot less 38 percent against the Pacers this season — and that the poor 100.9-per-100 efficiency mark (which would have tied the Knicks with the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons for the league's ninth-worst offense this year) is actually a stark improvement over New York's regular-season numbers against Indiana (91.8-per-100, their lowest mark against any opponent this season). This is not a cold snap or a fluke; this is what happens when an excellent defense knows how you're going to attack them, and you continue to attack them that way. With that in mind, Game 4 might be a good time for Knicks coach Mike Woodson to consider attacking the Pacers a different way — by counteracting Indiana's grinding size by going smaller earlier and trying to kickstart a flagging offense by inserting little-used rookie Chris Copeland, whom Woodson has said could see more minutes in Indiana on Tuesday. That's a good idea. Tue, 14 May 2013 11:35:56 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,6dbc54ca-b73c-3633-82ae-515f6cb8501a-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13iv627ga/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/heat-hold-bulls-franchise-playoff-low-65-points-032326270.html The Chicago Bulls opened Game 4 with Carlos Boozer rebounding a missed Marco Belinelli 3-pointer and sticking home a point-blank putback to take a 2-0 lead. It was a pretty good start. It was also the last time they'd hold a lead over the Miami Heat on Monday night. The Heat ripped off an 11-0 run after that Boozer layup, led by 11 at halftime and opened up a 26-point second-half gulf before finishing off an 88-65 win over an injured, shorthanded and — on one night, at least — utterly hopeless Bulls side in what started (thanks to a post-work crowd arriving late to the comparatively early 6 p.m. local start) and finished (thanks to a painful-to-watch second-half drubbing) as an all-but-lifeless United Center. [More: Steph Curry plays through pain in Warriors win; can he do it again? ] LeBron James led the way with 27 points on 9 for 20 shooting, handed out eight assists, grabbed seven rebounds and added two steals to pace the Heat, who took a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Bulls. Miami will have a chance to close the Bulls out at home on Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Mon, 13 May 2013 20:15:26 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,3e4bd920-6d88-35d1-90ba-75a036e0e536-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12qqqbi4l/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/report-bucks-considering-hiring-sloan-005027209--nba.html The Milwaukee Bucks are seriously considering hiring former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan as their next coach, USA Today Sports reported. Mon, 13 May 2013 17:50:27 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,eb5a0cb0-36fd-358f-9950-788932348482-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12mmegej0/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-roundup-james-heads-defensive-230040104--nba.html Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and Miami Heat forward LeBron James highlight the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Mon, 13 May 2013 17:20:33 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,ca91e04b-2e17-327f-864a-9b7b995292c9-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12rue34hs/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-national-basketball-association-roundup-230215903.html May 13 (The Sports Xchange) - Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and Miami Heat forward LeBron James highlight the NBA All-Defensive First Team. The NBA announced Monday that Allen received 53 points in the voting while James tallied 52. Each player earned 25 First Team votes. Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (37 points, 15 First Team votes), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (46, 17), New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (24, nine) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (24, right) rounded out the first team. ... Mon, 13 May 2013 16:02:15 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,985c5d18-49e9-3738-af2c-b5873f531103-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13f9d7jtr/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--lakers-assistant-steve-clifford-interviewing-for-bucks-job-174314114.html Lakers assistant Steve Clifford is the latest candidate to interview for the Bucks' head-coaching position. Mon, 13 May 2013 10:43:13 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,4120ea53-68c4-3d4b-9155-0e16e4d650e5-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13u0ock06/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--hawks-target-stan-van-gundy-as-potential-coach-and-lure-for-dwight-howard-000351988.html The Hawks have spoken to Stan Van Gundy about replacing Larry Drew as coach. Fri, 10 May 2013 17:03:51 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,f070c4de-6cb5-338a-a522-6050d7d90f05-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=1403mvf8j/*http%3A//probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/10/bucks-interview-another-rocket-assistant-j-b-bickerstaff-for-coaching-job/ Apparently if you want a coaching job in Milwaukee, the best way to get it is be an assistant in Houston. The Bucks have interviewed their second Rockets head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The Bucks had already interviewed Rockets lead assistant Kelvin Sampson. Yes, Bickerstaff, as in son of the… Fri, 10 May 2013 14:27:07 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,1c438705-eb92-3110-82ca-4a6a35c32a5b-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=137kjoe4d/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--bucks-interviewing-j-b--bickerstaff-for-head-coach-183014909.html Houston Rockets assistant J.B. Bickerstaff is interviewing with the Bucks and also is under consideration for the Pistons and Suns coaching vacancies. Fri, 10 May 2013 11:30:13 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,8c8aaf88-feec-36b5-8a49-02d5e3afbd42-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13uosmhla/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/monta-ellis-larry-sanders-had-reportedly-separated-engaging-175044303.html The Milwaukee Bucks were a combustible mess all season. Worse, they were a boring combustible mess. They didn’t even have the timing or touch to release news about their infighting during the actual season. Instead, a report about a locker room confrontation between defensive maven Larry Sanders and scoring guard Monta Ellis was released nearly two weeks after their last game of the season, dumped on a Thursday afternoon in the midst of the playoffs. CBS Sports’ Ken Berger broke the news about a near-clash of Milwaukee’s near-titans , and we use the “near” qualifier because the two never came to blows, and 38-win teams don’t really have titans. Here’s Ken’s report: After the Bucks lost 104-91 to the Heat in Milwaukee on April 25, Sanders vented in the locker room and said in a fiery speech, “We need to start playing together as a team and stop worrying about next year,” according to one of the people briefed on the confrontation. “We need to stop being selfish and start worrying about right now.” Thu, 09 May 2013 10:50:44 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,84a8e804-434b-3318-9f9e-bb0878fd05a5-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13vb80fp9/*http%3A//probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/09/report-bucks-monta-ellis-larry-sanders-almost-came-to-blows-after-game-3/ If you wondered why everybody around the league thinks free agent Monta Ellis is bolting Milwaukee this summer (although he hasn’t made that official), we bring you this fun bit of news from the Bucks playoff run (if you can call getting swept by the Heat a run)… Ellis and Bucks forward Larry Sanders almost… Thu, 09 May 2013 10:06:20 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,3691fc60-3be4-340f-991d-c631ca04666e-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=14ak5g776/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--as-klay-thompson-follows-stephen-curry-s-climb-to-stardom--future-is-now-for-warriors-092853880.html The Warriors always thought Klay Thompson would be the perfect backcourt mate for Stephen Curry. They found out just how much so when he led them past the Spurs in Game 2 of the West semifinals. Thu, 09 May 2013 02:28:53 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,1211291b-d5d9-39ae-9c2b-59502c8187d2-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12indp3jh/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-notebook-karl-named-coach-230009467--nba.html George Karl was recognized Wednesday for leading the Denver Nuggets to their most successful regular season in franchise history with the NBA Coach of the Year award. Wed, 08 May 2013 16:00:09 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,82c4dcdb-eca4-3379-b3b7-10ede0ed53e7-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=13j1sih14/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/miami-heat-look-rebound-chicago-bulls-look-avoid-162057056.html It’s true that the first game of a conference semifinal series isn’t the typical “shock the world”-type setting, but the Chicago Bulls truly did shock the NBA with their Game 1 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday. The Heat had won 41 out of 43 games prior to that defeat, including the team’s first round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks, and yet a gritty, determined Bulls team managed to hand Miami its third loss in 44 tries. With that win in place and the Heat’s ears most assuredly perked up, shouldn’t we expect the defending champs to return to form in Game 2? To startle the still-filling-in home crowd with a quick pounce and eventual blowout win? To destroy a Bulls team working without four former starters in Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton, and Luol Deng? Sure. Then again, these are the Chicago Bulls we’re talking about. Wed, 08 May 2013 09:20:57 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,bdf8d29f-b8d2-33a7-ab3e-408a732c1054-l:1 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=1299cpsfa/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/karl-named-nba-coach-143108272--nba.html George Karl was recognized Wednesday for leading the Denver Nuggets to their most successful regular season in franchise history with the NBA Coach of the Year award. Wed, 08 May 2013 07:31:08 PDT nba urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,article,8e5fdb8c-bab8-394b-9238-f97fe5169a5d-l:1 Fri, 24 May 2013 15:55:07 PDT