More NBA Free Agency News (Other than LeBron to Cavs)

The first domino falls and a bunch of others fall with it.

Several prominent NBA players made their attentions clear after LeBron chose to go back home to Cleveland. First, LeBron's now ex-teammate Chris Bosh has decided to stay with the Miami Heat favoring a 5 year $118 million contract over going to Rockets. He will presumably now represent the Dynamic Duo of Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami providing that Wade chooses to stay.

Another player also decided to stay where he is for the time being. Reports have begun circulating that Carmelo Anthony's representatives are talking to the Knicks about a new contract after informing the Bulls that they are out of the Melo sweepstakes. Melo will stay in the Big Apple.

There is one player that is on the move and it's Pau Gasol. He's agreed to go to Chicago to become part of the Bulls. Not official yet as the Bulls still have make cap space in order to get Pau.

A lot to talk about with these moves and decisions. First, Bosh in Miami (presumably with Wade) keeps the Heat in the playoff picture but little else. LeBron was the driving force of that team and without him pulling them along in the playoffs and actually going against them, they won't get far.

As for Melo, most likely staying in New York for the money. Sure, he might want to win titles and maybe he believes that Phil Jackson will get the right people around him but for the time being, no one around the league will believe he wants championships over money. Now take significantly less money in order to get some decent players...

With Pau going to Chicago, he's better than Carlos Boozer and is certainly an upgrade but won't likely get them any closer to winning a championship. A healthy non-injury prone Derrick Rose is the only one that can do that for them.

More moves are certainly to come with one of them being the Lakers still searching for a head coach. Hopefully whoever the team wants to lead them can pass the most important test of all: Kobe's approval.

The Prodigal King Returns

In the summer of 2010, LeBron James broke everyone's heart in Cleveland on national television by choosing the Heat over the Cavaliers. He then went on to win a couple of titles and went to the Finals in all four years. Now the King is coming back to his castle (to kick out that usurper known as Johnny Football).

SI.com is reporting that LeBron James has made his decision 2.0 and it is the Cleveland Cavaliers. As part of the essay that LeBron has done for SI.com, King James says "My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn't realize that four years ago. I do now."

Definitely the biggest off season story for the NBA since, well, LeBron's Decision in 2010. Sure, Dwight Howard's fiasco a year ago was big but nothing compared to that. LeBron coming back home is a great redemption story that will instantly make him the most liked player in the Association. The Cavs will instantly become the team to watch this season because of LeBron as they look for their first major title for the city of Cleveland since 1964 (last NFL title for the Browns).

Now that LeBron has made his move, actual Free Agency can begin for everyone else. LeBron's lack of a quick decision has held up most major moves. Now other teams and players can start making deals. Carmelo Anthony will make his decision, Chris Bosh of the big three in Miami might go to Houston now, even Dwayne Wade might leave the Heat.

Also, we are not even sure that the Cavaliers are done making significant moves this off season. Rumors are already circulating that they'll make a push to get Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. It might be a bit tricky but having James, Love and Kyrie Irving on the same team would make them the best team in the East.

For now, let the homecoming dance begin in Cleveland. Just for heaven's sake change your puke colored uniforms.

P.S. Don't be bitter, Miami. You got two titles out of James while he was in South Beach. Just be grateful for the memories.

Knicks Survive and Win 1st Playoff Series Since 2000

Sorry, Jets. You're the only embarrassing sports franchise left in New York City. Well, at least AROUND New York City.

The New York Knicks decided not to dress in black this time as they went into Boston to face the Celtics in game 6 of their series. New York started strong by actually moving the ball around to score 24 points in the first quarter compared to the Celtics 10. The Knicks actually played a great game for the most part. They were up by as much as 26 points in the 4th quarter.

Then the Celtics caught fire. Boston went on a 20-0 run in the 4th quarter which would cut the lead down to 6. They would later cut the lead down to 4 with 3:31 to go.

The Knicks and Carmelo Anthony, however, would be able to refocus. Melo then made a couple of jumpers with one of them being a 3 pointer to get the lead back up to 9. The J.R. Smith then made a lay up and one at the free throw line to make it a 12 point game with 1:21 left. Finals score was 88-80 with the Knicks winning the series 4-2.

New York manages to stave off 0-3 series comeback attempt from the Celtics and win their first playoff series since the 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Pacers which, ironically, who they will play next. Indiana just put away Atlanta last night 81-73 to win their series 4-2.

As for the Celtics, they go home with questions surrounding them. It's the first time since Kevin Garnett arrived in Boston that the Celtics have been eliminated in the 1st round of the postseason.

It's not likely that things will get better in Boston for next season. Rajon Rondo will be back but KG and Paul Pierce will be another year older. Heck, Pierce and Garnett may not be back next year depending on how they feel and how the team feels.

Meanwhile, the Knicks move on trying to establish a notable era themselves. However, they've had trouble with Indiana this season splitting the season series with them 2-2. If they do get past them, then they will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

P.S. I would say 'likely face Miami' but seriously, Come On....

Bulls End Knicks 13 Game Winning Streak

The Bulls end another significant winning streak in the NBA.

Last night, the Bulls beat the Knicks 118-111 in overtime. Nate Robinson scored 35 points off the bench while Jimmy Butler put up 22 points and 14 rebounds. Caremlo Anthony of the Knicks does get 36 points and 19 rebounds in the loss.

Chicago ended Miami's 27 game winning streak and now stops New York at 13. It's pretty impressive considering they did both of these things without Joakim Noah or Derrick Rose. Rose, of course, has been out all season because of an ACL tear and he simply doesn't want to come back. I mean, he has shaken confidence.

Chicago may not have the best chance of knocking off Miami but they still have to taken seriously in the postseason.

Knicks and Lakers Having Different Seasons So Far

This year in the NBA has been surprising for two teams that met last night at Madison Square Garden. First were the visiting LA Lakers who have started the season very poorly with either Mike Brown or Mike D'Antoni as head coach. The other were the New York Knicks who are doing so well and even fooling people into thinking they are for real.

As for the game itself, it was the Knicks starting off fast and keeping the Lakers at bay. Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points on the evening and might've gotten more if he didn't get a sprained ankle in the 3rd quarter. New York shot 12/25 from 3 point land hitting 48% from beyond the arc. The Lakers also had 12 three's but they also took 12 more 3 point shots. Kobe Bryant did score 31 points and the Lakers did get over a 100 but they still lost to the Knicks 116-107.

The Knicks get another win and improve to 17-5 while still remaining undefeated at home (9-0). This win against their old coach is also their 8th win in 9 games. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 9-14 and while they didn't have Pau Gasol or Steve Nash playing they still shouldn't be this bad.

We should still reserve the ultimate judgement on D'Antoni until Nash returns but the team is struggling, they don't play defense well (like any D'Antoni team), and Kobe has seeming spoken way too much about what is happening around the Lakers. I kind of like them like this.

P.S. Maybe I'll just watch the LA Clippers instead. HEY, I REMEMBERED THEIR TEAM NAME!!!!

Jeremy Lin Not Going to the Knicks?

The most fascinating and perhaps most captivating player of the year has been Jeremy Lin. He lit up the court for a brief period of time around February and caught all of our eyes. He quickly became the most talked about player around the country. Then he came down to earth a little, got hurt, and the Knicks got booted from the playoffs yet again.

So far this off season for the Knicks has been moves centered around the PG position. Now heading into the off season, you would assume that the team was going to keep Jeremy Lin and see what they could with him next year. The Jason Kidd move seemed to support that as he might've been coming in as a mentor. Then the Knicks traded for PG Raymond Felton, a guy who was seemingly on the Knicks a couple of seasons ago. With that move completed, it seems that the team is going to move on from Jeremy Lin. Sources are saying that the Knicks will not match the offer from the Rockets and let Lin go to Houston for 3 years and $25 million.

So much for Linsanity in New York. Also, when did $15 million (3rd year of the deal in Houston) become worth more than a billion dollars? I need to retake math class. I think it's a shame that Lin, Melo, and the Knicks weren't given a real chance to see if they could work. They had rough games but they didn't have an off season to practice together and to see if they could become more. As for Lin in Houston, another move to try and get Dwight Howard or simply to try and get someone to build a team around (Lin or someone else).

Lin ironically goes back to the team that he had started with for the 2011-12 season. Lin never played a regular season game for the Rockets but it's presumed that he will play quite a few for them now.