The Miami Heat will face the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals on Tuesday May 31st.

LeBron James wants to prove that his King James nickname is fitting.

From NBA.com

The Mavs have been trying to get back to The Finals ever since they let the Larry O’Brien Trophy slip from their grasp with a 2-0 series advantage and a 13-point lead with five minutes to play in Game 3 over the Heat back in 2006. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry have had the bitter pill stuck in their craw since then.

The Heat are making their first appearance in The Finals in five years with a completely revamped lineup with Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem the only holdovers from 2006. Now, of course, they are all about the Big Three of Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, about celebrity, about taking talents to South Beach, about living up to the outlandish expectations they set for themselves with that wild pre-championship celebration last summer.

Original Photos yahoo, buy, kidshalloweencostumes4u

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks are headed to the 2011 NBA Finals.

Dallas top gun Dirk Nowitzki is a happy Maverick after defeating Oklahoma City to reach the 2011 NBA Finals.

From Sports Day DFW

If sports fairy tales came true, then that would mean that we would be assured a happy ending in the Dirk Nowitzki trip around the basketball world in a few weeks’ time. In the same category in the fairy tale section as the John Elway Super Bowl victory, everybody had assumed the window had shut on his chance.

Original Photos bloatedpenguin, momentbulletin

The Oklahoma City Thunder blew a 4th quarter 15 point lead against the Mavericks.

Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was sick to his stomach after his team lost to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

From The Dallas Morning News

Thunder star Kevin Durant: “I feel upset because I let them down. I let the city down. … This is basketball, man. Our youth has nothing to do with what we were doing on the floor. We’ve showed we can play on this level.”

Durant, on shooting a 30-footer with several seconds still on the clock: “I didn’t have anything else to do. I caught the ball near the half-court line, three Mavericks in front of me. [Few] seconds left. I didn’t know what else to do, so … You know, late in the game, it’s my time. And a few of those times, it was just too clogged up.”

Original Photo Yahoo

Chris Bosh was a giant for the Miami Heat on Sunday.

Chris Bosh has been coming up big for the Miami Heat.

From The Washington Post

Chicago’s bigs were supposed to be the difference in this series’ matchup and they have been, just not in the best way. They have not found a way to defend Bosh and he has been red hot in all three games.

There were many questions about Bosh when he came in as the other high profile free agent to Lebron James. I mean, who wouldn’t be the other guy to James?

The Heat as a whole has faced intense scrutiny and no player more than Bosh. All season long, people questioned his relevance–not to mention his heart and toughness. Many felt the Heat were a super team because of Wade and James. Very few chose to include Bosh’s name, unless it was the punchline to a joke. Well if one series has enough weight to change minds, it’s this one . And the joke is now on the jokester.

Original Photos yahoo, yahoo

LeBron James was scary in the last 4 minutes of Game 2 against the Bulls.

LeBron James was a monster late in Game 2 for the Miami Heat.

From South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“It’s just the beginning,” James said, as the Heat and Chicago Bulls headed into this three-day break tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. “It’s going to be long and it’s going to be fun.”

Had the Heat not recovered to win Wednesday’s Game 2 at the United Center, time might already have been growing short. James made sure that was not the case, personally outscoring the Bulls 9-2 over the final 4:28 of Tuesday’s 85-75 victory.

“I’m glad we have a few days off,” he said, with the Heat given Thursday off before a Friday return to the practice court.

Original Photos Yahoo, fancydressoutfitters

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls displays his power by destroying a LeBron James bobblehead.

From NJ.com/ Star Ledger

Whether they are equipped to play this kind of game remains to be seen, but they had better learn quickly that this series will be decided by the coach who can get his team to lock in longer defensively. In this particular instance, that team was Chicago, and for 48 minutes it was a masterpiece of the art.

That was the lesson from Game 1, a 103-82 Chicago blowout, and it was a sight to behold. The Bulls were more precise, more intense, more dedicated to making certain that every last stop was brought to its conclusion, with their four main bigs snatching more rebounds than the entire Miami team.

Original Photos Yahoo, amazon

The Boston Celtics have been eliminated from the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Boston Celtics looked kind of old in their playoff series against the Miami Heat.

From hardwoodparoxysm

If you took one look at the Celtics sideline late on Wednesday night, you would have seen Rajon Rondo and Jermaine O’Neal lying on their aching backs, straining their necks to see the action on the floor. You would have seen Kevin Garnett expending the same amount of energy to do half the things he used to do. Shaquille O’Neal, the future Hall of Famer the Celtics signed to combat the Lakers in The Finals, spent what may be his final NBA game as the largest Big & Tall model in history. And as good as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are younger and have more talent.

The Celtics wanted to play, but their bodies betrayed them. Their time has ended. The Lakers too. Three days prior to LeBron and the Heat ending the Celtics’ successful four-year run in the East, the “new old” Mavs — an oxymoron — swept Phil Jackson and the two-time defending champion Lakers, playing like schoolyard chumps, into next season.

Original Photos wikia, go2africa, imshopping

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies in the 3rd OT.

Kevin Durnat led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a win in a marathon 3 OT Game 4 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

From SI.com

Kevin Durant shuffled his sneakered feet slowly down a dimly lit hallway, head bowed, every ounce of energy drained from his 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame.

It was Durant’s shot, a feathery 19-footer, his 20th attempt of the night, his team’s 95th of the game, that sealed Oklahoma City’s 133-123 triple overtime victory Monday, ending a 3-hour, 52-minute marathon and squaring the Thunder’s suddenly gripping second-round series with Memphis at two games apiece.

Original Photos Yahoo, wbur

The Dallas Mavericks have ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ season.

The Los Angles Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks, ending their bid for a 2nd three-peat.

From ProBasketballTalk

The defending champs were swept out of the playoffs in the second round in thoroughly embarrassing fashion, culminated in a 122-86 demolition job by the Mavs. It was painful and embarrassing for the Lakers, but appropriate credit to the aggressors; while the Lakers disgraced themselves with their abysmal effort and lack of composure in Game 4, it was the Mavs’ execution in every game of this series that exposed the Lakers. L.A. was forced to respond constantly to Dallas’ ball movement and timely defensive rotations, and clearly wasn’t up to the challenge — a point made clear with each ridiculously open three that the Mavs took in Game 4, and the offensive possessions that grinded to a halt against Dallas’ defensive pressure.

Original Photos davidkrut, lakers.topbuzz

The Los Angeles Lakers are reeling, allegedly due to Pau Gasol’s women troubles.

Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers was dumped by his fiance. No word if it's because he's looked fat and out of shape against the Mavericks.

From Larry Brown Sports

Pau Gasol, who has seemed somewhat melancholy lately on and off the court, reportedly was dumped by his girlfriend, Sylvia Lopez Castro two weeks ago and the Spaniard blames Kobe Bryant’s wife. MediaTakeOut.com claims an unnamed Lakers wife might have talked Lopez Castro out of the relationship, resulting in the two players engaging in a heated argument over their women.

Original Photo Yahoo

The Indiana Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls and avoided being swept.

Tyler Hansbrough of the Indiana Pacers has been concentrating on defense.

From ESPN

Danny Granger scored 20 points for the Pacers while Roy Hibbert added 16 points as Indiana was finally able to close out a game for the first time in this series. The Pacers’ defense was on point most of the day, limiting Derrick Rose and company throughout. Rose was just 5-for-20 from the field for 15 points. As a team, the Bulls looked tired and that showed in the form of their shooting percentage — just 37 percent. Rose simply couldn’t save the Bulls this time around and there will surely be fans who wonder if the sprained ankle he suffered at the end of the first quarter had something to do with his performance.

Original Photos Yahoo,  techpin

The Chicago Bulls are having a tough time with the Indiana Pacers.

Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls celebrates a basket by attacking a cheerleader.

From Bleacher Report

The Chicago Bulls lead the Indiana Pacers 2-0 in their first-round series. Although the Bulls are the No. 1 seed in the East, they have been played extremely tough by the Pacers. Indiana led for the entire Game 1 until Kyle Korver hit a go ahead three-pointer with under a minute to play. The Pacers then were very competitive in Game 2.

There have been a couple factors for why the Bulls have struggled in the first two games. Part of it has to do with them and part has to do with the Pacers.

Original Photos Yahoo, weddingbycolor

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers has been fined for directing an offensive term at a referee, but some folks wanted him suspended.

David Stern is not happy with Kobe Bryant's big mouth.

From The NY Times

The fallout was swift. And entirely predictable. The N.B.A. issued a fine and a harsh statement.

“Kobe Bryant’s comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable,” Stern said. “While I’m fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Kobe and everyone associated with the N.B.A. know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society.”

But the penalty wasn’t harsh enough. For a star player earning $27 million this season, a $100,000 fine — about 0.4 percent of his salary — is far less imposing than cutting into his playing time.

Original Photo urbannightlife

Brook Lopez of the NJ Nets still needs some work.

Brook Lopez of the NJ Nets can look like an animal on the court, but he still need some grooming.

From ESPN

Despite being 23 years old, Brook Lopez is very much a kid. A 7-foot, 265-pound kid. A gentle giant, if you will.

Off the court, that’s all well and good. It just doesn’t translate well on the hardwood.

Only two centers average more points than Lopez’s 20.4 per game. But 17 are averaging more than his six rebounds per game. And heading into the offseason, that’s where he needs to improve.

Johnson has called him out on it several times during the season.

In early January, when asked if he dreamed about the prospect of acquiring superstar Carmelo Anthony, Johnson responded, “No, I dream about our center grabbing 10 rebounds.”

Original Photos Yahoo, photobucket

Sounds like former New York Knick and Chicago Bull Eddy Curry may play for the Miami Heat this year.

Eddy Curry might be taking his calories to South Beach, and could be wearing a Miami Heat uniform very soon.

From The NY Daily News

According to the report, the likelihood of the Heat signing Curry is “better than 50-50.” But to add Curry, the Heat would have to waive a player, since the team is already at the league limit with 15. Dexter Pittman, a rookie who once played in the NBA Development League and saw his first action with the Heat Friday night against Minnesota, is rumored to be the player who could be cut to make room for Curry, who, according to the report is still hovering around 350 pounds.

During an optional team practice Saturday at The Sports Academy in Millburn, N.J., Pittman didn’t sound like a man who was worried by the rumors.

“It’s a business and by being in a business, you’ve got to make business decisions,” he said. “There’s always rumors. Some are true.”

Original Photos slamonline, jerseyrelease

Lebron James of the Miami Heat was denied access to the player’s parking lot while in Cleveland to play the Cavs.

LeBron James no longer has a place to park at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

From ESPN

James was delayed in getting into the arena for the Miami Heat’s shootaround Tuesday morning when he arrived with a driver and a second car at the entrance of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ underground parking garage.

Cavs officials said James eventually was cleared to enter the building, but several people with him were not. The two cars then left, and James alone returned a short time later and was allowed in, officials said.

While LeBron James later made himself feel at home with his fourth triple-double of the year, the Cavaliers got the last laugh, knocking off the Heat 102-90.

Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert took to Twitter following the game saying, “Not in our garage!!”

Original Photo myparkingsign.com

Stephon Marbury has become a mega star in China, where he recently won the MVP award in the CBA All Star game.

Stephon Marbury was named the MVP of the recent Chinese Basketball Association All Star game, though the rule permitting foreigners to use nunchucks while on the court likely aided him.

From The Washington Post

NBA bad-boy Stephon Marbury is happy to be in a country where people clamor for his autograph. His new Chinese team, the Foshan Dragon Lions, doesn’t win much – it’s now fourth from the bottom of the league – yet local fans and media still applaud the biggest American name in Chinese basketball.

“China is a positive place, what can I say,” said Marbury, who during his time with the Knicks, from 2004 to 2009, became so unpopular that the New York Daily News called him “the most reviled athlete in New York.” The Chinese, unlike Americans – and particularly New Yorkers – “don’t fill their souls with negativity,” said the 34-year-old point guard, who is known here in China as Ma-bu-li.

Original Photo Yahoo

Did New York Knicks’ fans have inflated expectations of Carmelo Anthony?

Knicks fans are starting to think that Carmelo Anthony might not be the savior that Knicks' ownership made him out to be.

From SB Nation

As it turns out, trading for ‘Melo, a scorer known to concede with some regularity on defense, didn’t fix the defense. Who could ever have guessed that? As it also turns out, ‘Melo isn’t quite as valuable a scorer as he has widely been considered to be. Anthony isn’t terribly efficient; when Kevin Durant, LeBron James or even Kevin Martin drop 25, they typically do so on fewer shots than someone like ‘Melo would need. That matters! Some discount Anthony’s shot creation value too much, and those who claim he’s not even a legit All-Star level player are being disingenuous; the Knicks’ offense, after all, has performed statistically better since the trade, hellfire and all.

But ‘Melo isn’t one of the top five or 10 players in the league. It appears the hype of his months-long courtship by the Nets and Knicks (and a few other teams) blinded enough people to that fact, given the shock and dismay his sub-MVP performance in New York has drawn. If fans expected Alexander the Great and instead got Mithridates, well of course they’ll be disappointed, even if he turns out to be pretty good.

Original Photo Yahoo

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers has been banged up all year.

Kobe Bryant does not feel pain, except for that time when his jersey spontaneously combusted and caught on fire.

From Ball Don’t Lie

It’s the same resolve that fueled him to go on to win Finals MVP for the second consecutive postseason last year despite playing on a right knee that was worse than anyone could really understand. He didn’t just have the knee drained once in the first round against Oklahoma City as was widely reported, but twice more — between the second round against Utah and the conference finals against Phoenix and again between Games 4 and 5 of the Finals — according to a team source.

Original Photo Yahoo

Seems like the Sacramento Kings will be moving to Anaheim next season.

The Sacramento Kings are going to need a new logo if they become the Anaheim Royals next season.

From Yahoo Sports

The Sacramento Kings have taken yet another step toward a potential move to Southern California.

With the Kings exploring relocation to Anaheim, a Sacramento attorney representing the team’s owners filed for at least four federal trademark registrations this month.

Among the names filed for according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website were: Anaheim Royals, Anaheim Royals of Southern California, Orange County Royals and Los Angeles Royals. The filing was made March 3 by attorney Scott Hervey on behalf of the Crickets Corp., a Nevada-based company.

Hervey has worked for Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof in previous sports business dealings, including the Maloof Money Cup skateboarding competition in Orange County. A message left at Hervey’s office seeking comment was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Joe Maloof declined to comment about the trademark filing, and a message left with an NBA spokesman also was not immediately returned.

Original Photo sportslogos.net