And the Crowd Goes Wild

President Obama attended the Washington Wizards - Chicago Bulls game last night.

NBA Names Finals MVP Award for Bill Russell

Good.

AP: NBA names finals MVP award after Bill Russell

Dennis Johnson Hall of Fame Finalist -- Finally

DJ in the Hall is a no brainer.

3-time NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, 5-time All-Star, 9-time All-Defensive Team, a great clutch player. That's Hall of Fame in my book.

Boston Globe: DJ in Hall OK with [Dominique] Wilkins

Arizona Republic: Dennis Johnson among Hall finalists
Former Suns star could be inducted posthumously

Hoop Dreams

The Chicago Tribune catches up with the stars of the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams, Arthur Agee and William Gates.

Number 17

The Boston Celtics get their 17th NBA Championship Trophy and the players get their rings. Paul Pierce was overcome -- then went on to lead the Celtics to victory over LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

First WNBA Player's Son Drafted by NBA

Cool. I saw Pam McGee win the gold medal with the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team in L.A. in 1984. (Did you know her twin sister Paula, who played with her at USC, is now a preacher?)

Nevada Appeal: McGee drafted to Washington

Former University of Nevada standout JaVale McGee was drafted No. 18 overall to the Washington Wizards Thursday night in the NBA Draft.

ESPN: Mother-son legacy a first for WNBA/NBA

Women's Hoops Blog: McGee #1

Pierce & Garnett on ESPN

I want Kevin Garnett's earrings.

Celtics Get Robbed

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers argues a call with referee Joe Forte during the first quarter in Game 6 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, May 16, 2008, in Cleveland.
(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

The Celtics lost to the Cavs in Game 6 in Cleveland last night. The officiating crew of Dick Bavetta, Joe DeRosa, and Joe Forte were horrid, with their execrable work culminating with a series in the last minute where they called Paul Pierce for an offensive foul when LeBron James was not set -- his feet were in the air -- and then a blatant non-call on offensive goaltending against Ray Allen. Not that the Celtics played all that well, but the poor officiating made it impossible for the Celtics to come back from a 5-point deficit in the final minutes.

Why is Dick Bavetta still officiating in the NBA? The man is 68 years old, for crying out loud. He can't even beat Charles Barkley in a footrace anymore. Does he have naked pictures of David Stern in his safe deposit box? He needs to retire.

Boston Globe: Visitors charged up over last-minute call

CLEVELAND - At times it felt like the Celtics had eight opponents on the floor last night instead of five.

Boston not only lost Game 6 to Cleveland, 74-69, but got the wrong end of the whistle, too. The Celtics were called for 25 personal fouls, while the Cavaliers got 16. Boston also shot just 13 free throws to 25 for the Cavaliers, including 15 by LeBron James.

Bleacher Report: Celtics-Cavs: Garnett, Boston Can't Overcome LeBron, Officiating

That was, by far, the worst, most embarrassing performance by an officiating crew in the history of the NBA.

The only thing that comes even close is when they decided to give Dwayne Wade a few games in the NBA finals a few years ago.

LeBron James had more free throw attempts than the entire Celtic team. Which would have been okay—if the Celtics weren’t taking the ball to the hoop. But they WERE.

Paul Pierce couldn’t buy a call. Taking the ball to the hoop and drawing contact did nothing to help him.

I understand that Glen Davis is a rookie, but he was fouled seven times and didn’t make it to the line once. He was MUGGED under the hoop. Yet no call.

Kendrick Perkins was thrown off the spot when attempting a defensive rebound, no call. Yet he was constantly called on the other end for minimal contact.

I’m not rational right now.

I was ready to blast the Celtics for losing on the road again, or praise them for finally getting over the road hump.

But what I witnessed was not a basketball game. It was a WWE event, where they had a scripted outcome designed to build up the next episode, which is Game Seven in Boston on Sunday.

LeBron James is hard enough to beat by himself. He doesn’t need help.

Then he has the nerve to complain CONSTANTLY in the second half? Are you kidding me? He’s the most unenjoyable superstar since Reggie Miller. And unenjoyable isn’t even a word.

The NBA is broken. Completely and utterly broken.

Hoopsvibe.com: Refs Give Cavs an Assist, Force Game Seven

Celtics Fans: This Year, Arrive Early

Boston Celtics forwards Kevin Garnett (L) and Paul Pierce smile during a time out in the third quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Boston, Massachusetts November 7, 2007. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES)
Last night the New and Improved Boston Celtics massacred the Denver Nuggets, a good old fashioned throttling, 119-92. The score of the game was 38-22 at the end of the first quarter, and and unbelievable 77-38 at halftime. Yes, the game was over not only by halftime, but midway through the second quarter. Celtics fans, you've been warned: For this year's team, you've got to arrive early, or the game will be in the bag.

As a fan from the good old days of the 1980s Celtics, I actually enjoyed watching the game. I haven't watched the Celtics since Antoine Walker left, because there's been no spark. Last night, there was passing -- passing! -- and lo and behold, something never seen in the modern NBA, commitment on defense! When Chad Finn wrote that Kevin Garnett was going to restore Celtic Pride and make Celtics fans happier than they could imagine, I scoffed. Now I'm a believer. The big man has the team united as a team, everyone heads up, cheering for their mates from the bench, and giving it all on the floor. Is this the NBA? Can I be dreaming? A team playing as a team and not as a talented group of individuals all seeking to pump up their personal statistics, team and result be damned?

The announcers got into it, with Bob Cousy doing one of his rare full game appearances. They were talking about the playoffs by the 3rd minute of the game, and Cousy made a Larry Bird reference in the second quarter! I'm going to have to make some time in my winter schedule for watching the Celtics. They could make me stop hating the NBA.

Boston Globe, Jackie MacMullan: Another big step forward

Boston Herald, Steve Buckley: Hopes for title ring true
Pierce keeps it real with Garnett, Allen