NBA SEASON STARTS NOW!!!

[Subhuman Yeti]

NBA extends relocation deadline for Sacramento Kings


Posted Mar 1 2011 7:29PM

(AP) -- The date is set.

The location is still to be determined.

The decision on a future home for the Sacramento Kings will be delayed at least another month after the NBA granted the team an extension Tuesday to file an application for relocation next season, setting up a fight between California cities for the franchise.



The Kings, already engaged in talks about moving south to Anaheim, will have the opportunity to discuss their options at the NBA Board of Governors meetings April 14-15.

The team has until April 18 to decide if it plans to relocate for next season, getting an extension on the March 1 deadline.

"The likelihood of them leaving is probably greater than them staying, but it's not a done deal," said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player.

Sacramento has struggled for years to build a new facility, which Kings owners Joe, Gavin and George Maloof argue is crucial for the franchise's long-term financial viability. NBA Commissioner David Stern acknowledged during All-Star weekend that the Kings have had talks with officials in Anaheim about relocating to its arena.

The Maloofs have since remained steadfastly silent on any possible relocation. Johnson pledged that Sacramento will do all it can to keep the Kings, even though he admitted the city doesn't appear to control its fate.

"I think it's clear they are looking to try to strike or create a deal in Anaheim," Johnson said at a City Hall news conference shortly after the extension was granted. "It leads me to believe that if they don't get a deal, they'll stay in Sacramento. It's not the ideal situation that they're choosing Sacramento.

"It seems like we've kind of lost out on where we'd ideally like to be. It'd be great if we were competing with Anaheim. And if we did this and they did that, we have some say in it. I don't think Sacramento has a whole lot of say right now."

Sacramento fans have been making last-ditch efforts to keep the Kings.

Billboards have sprouted up and a social-networking initiative led to a sell-out home crowd in an emotional 105-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Fans made signs, wore body paint and chanted, "Here we stay," while the Maloof brothers sat courtside.


Sacramento's Arco Arena officially became Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday in a sponsor swap that had already been planned.


The primary exterior signs are on hold pending the outcome of the Kings' potential move.

Johnson said he plans to meet with the Maloofs and speak with Stern again this week. He said he already has spoken with Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and it was clear that the Southern California city is making a hard push for the Kings.

"I'm wishing them ill will, let me be clear," Johnson said. "We're wishing them ill will. I told that to the Anaheim mayor in a delicate way last week. I am rooting against him."
(ANAHEIM GIVES SACRAMENTO THE FINGER)

California's cash-strapped capital city will have to move quickly if it plans to remain an NBA destination.

Anaheim has been searching for an NBA team to share the Honda Center with the NHL's Ducks practically since the former Arrowhead Pond opened in 1993, flirting with the Clippers before owner Donald Sterling chose to move into Staples Center in 1999. Honda Center has been meticulously maintained and improved over the years, with excellent sight lines for basketball and 83 luxury suites, compared to just 30 suites in Sacramento's arena.

A message left at Tait's office seeking comment was not immediately returned. Johnson said Sacramento will work to build a new sports arena with or without the Kings.

"If they're not here," Johnson said, "we're going to build a new sports and entertainment complex and put somebody else in that facility."

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/03/01/king ... index.html

If they move I hope they change their stupid name.

WTF, this isn't Sacramento, isn't Cincinnati and isn't fucking Kansas City.
Those fucking L-O-S-E-R locations are in that organizations past, move to Anaheim and fucking start anew Maloofs.

Just don't choose something still fucking ridiculous like the Mighty Sucks.

[aceshigh]

http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/video ... amm,19331/

[grishnak boss]

Who wants to live in that fucking hellhole!?!?

[LAglamrocker]

how great

LAA Kings

[Subhuman Yeti]

Yeah this immediate area really doesn't need another pro sports franchise called the KINGS.


Move to ANAHEIM and lose the stupid name.

onion

[LAglamrocker]

Anaheim Devils

and

Anaheim Angles

i could see alot jumping off the Lakers and Clippers bandwagon for the black and red Devils

[Subhuman Yeti]

Several clowns at the sports bar between the Big A and the Ponda were saying on the KCAL news they can't wait to stop cheering for the LAKE SHOW or the Cripples and stop driving to LA for games if the nearby arena picks up the Kings.


See ya!!


I've been a laker fan for decades, distance doesn't mean shit when you've got the best organization in pro sports history only a few dozen miles up the shitway.

[LAglamrocker]

3 teams Blake leaving or taking his talents to another city. Clippers games will be free

[johnk5150]

30 second half point for the Bulls last night in the ATL. 30 goddamn points?

[Subhuman Yeti]

Clippers games will be free

Will be? LA Cripples game tickets are almost free now.


Except vs THE LAKE SHOW, and a few piles from the shit-eating east,
I'm sure. Because more than a few dozen people actually want to see those teams.




Half page ad...

LA WEEKLY:
Clippers game ticket
Regal Cinemas LA Live movie ticket
$10 ESPN Zone Game Card

All for only $19.99*


*Upgrades available!
200 level packages start as low as $36
300 level packages start as low as $40

So a $10 game card and at least a $10+ movie ticket means LA CRIPPLES games are free, or somehow even less.


By next season the Crips will be outright paying people to go to games.

You show up for FREE CLIPPERS tickets and they hand you a I Was Graped in the Cellar<tm> signature bag of sample wines, a $24 gift card for NordstromKids Jewelers<tm>, $11 in loose bills, a random handful of change (usually about .51 cents) <or> a small bag of ranch-flavored Corn Nuts<tm>, a 1/4 lb of over salted popcorn in a souvenir (LAKERS BACK to BACK NBA CHAMPIONS) tub, whatever the latest Kim barfy Kardoucheian album is in a digipak, 2 pairs of Date Night in Downtown LA<tm> movie tickets, Blake Griffin assists in parking your car....



Oh shit.


Q: Why can't some (most?) NBA teams actually make a profit?
A:

[Subhuman Yeti]

Kings to Anaheim becoming more and more of a reality


Posted Mar 3 2011 9:56PM

Sacramento moved perilously closer Thursday to losing the Kings as Mayor Kevin Johnson, the most prominent figure working to keep the civic institution in town, conceded that it is "more likely they're going to be in Anaheim."

Johnson, the former All-Star point guard, used the word "extremely" when asked about the likelihood of the Kings becoming the third NBA team in Southern California, before stopping in mid-sentence in an apparent attempt to interject any measure of hope. But he also noted of his hometown: "I don't think Sacramento can influence the outcome of their decision."

He meant owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, and he's right. That the Kings zeroed in on Anaheim and considered Sacramento a Plan B has been apparent for some time, as the inability to secure a deal to replace the aging Sacramento arena dragged on. For all the reasons that is the wrong time for relocation, the message remains as it has been for weeks: the Maloofs only stay if they can't get an arrangement they like to share the Honda Center with the NHL Ducks, and even that might be a temporary reprieve. Without any movement toward a new building, the Kings would almost certainly leave in a year, after the lockout and when they would have had another season to improve on the court and become more attractive to a new fan base.

That it took the mayor of Sacramento three weeks to get a meeting with the Maloof brothers is the latest in loud statements that the Kings are simply waiting for the right deal in Orange County before making a decision. In their typical go-along, get-along, non-confrontational style, they didn't want to give Johnson bad news and they didn't want to hammer out plans for a new arena when Anaheim had moved into the lead.

KJ's impact, or lack thereof, was additionally underlined when the team did not tell him it had applied for an extension to the original March 1 deadline to file relocation papers with the NBA. Johnson and the Maloofs finally sat down Wednesday night, when the Kings played the Trail Blazers and the building formerly known as Arco Arena became Power Balance Pavilion in a naming rights deal and another sign of a franchise in major transition.

A day later, Johnson sounded resigned to defeat, or at least to having to wait on the sideline to find out whether the only major-league team in town would stay or go. But he did say the city would push forward with plans to build a new entertainment and sports facility -- though without any minor details like where the money was coming from.

Thursday, in Johnson's crushing blow to Sacramento, it officially became Anaheim's deal to close. That had been the unofficial standing already, even if few acknowledged it, and Sacramento's brightest hope remained not what it could offer but what Anaheim might not.

Major opportunities exist there -- a cable television deal from a network anxious for a replacement with the Lakers a season away from leaving for a new deal reportedly worth $3 billion, a region of considerable wealth for miles, an arena operation that would love to pair a tenant with the Ducks. But so do the very concerns that have the Maloofs hesitating. Moving during a lockout would be a major problem, along with entering a market where they would be the third-best NBA team and fighting countless other sports and activities for the entertainment dollar.

The wait, once scheduled to have ended March 1, could now reach all the way until after the regular season. The Board of Governors meeting, where an update will be given, is April 14-15. The April 13 date with the Lakers, in some bit of irony, is the final game for Sacramento, either for 2010-11 or for much, much longer.

Anaheim, a region of considerable wealth for miles,

Oh fuck that's fucking hilarious!!

Anaheim Hills and thru parts of South OC, yes considerable wealth.
But most of Anaheim and north, east and almost all of central Orange County?





The NBA hires some DUMB writers.

[johnk5150]

Hopefully Rausual Butler signing w the Bulls ends the failed Kyle Korver experiment.

[johnk5150]

Over/under on Riley coming out of his executive office is March 15?

[LAglamrocker]

South Beach Cavs blow another game! 24 at home

these losers are gone in the 1st round

[aceshigh]

[Subhuman Yeti]

Still funny.

Over/under on Riley coming out of his executive office is March 15?

I'm taking "over".


I think we will be seeing Ricky Retardo biting his nails down to his knuckles and sweating a greasy puddle on the sidelines as the Heat choke choke choke choke in the first round 4-2.

[johnk5150]

Over/under on Riley coming out of his executive office is March 15?

I'm taking "over".


I think we will be seeing Ricky Retardo biting his nails down to his knuckles and sweating a greasy puddle on the sidelines as the Heat choke choke choke choke in the first round 4-2.

They're a fucking mess. I'm so happy the Bulls fell into Boozer and Bosh chose Miami. Neither of them are interested in playing a lick of defense, but Boozer at least knows he belongs under the basket making easy layups and grabbing boards. Bosh is a fraud of a basketball player. Terrified of banging with the big boys.

[grishnak boss]

[johnk5150]

Open Letter: Dear LeBron, we are at war

The father of a U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan rails about athletes comparing sports and war
March 03, 2011|By Joseph Schwerdt, SunSentinel.com

Dear LeBron,

Just wanted to let you know: You are not at war. You are not a soldier.

What was said on your KingJames Twitter post?

"20+ games left in phase 2. I'm ReFOCUSED! No prisoners, I have no friends when at WAR besides my Soldiers."

You can tweet it all you want. But what you do and who you are is not even close to what they do and who they are.

You are probably a nice guy. And you are not the first athlete to compare sports to war; athletes to warriors; games to battle. I don't mean to single you out. But it is time to stop those comparisons

War. Games. Not even close.

We are at war. Remember?

People die in wars. They rarely die playing the games you play. If they do, it is not because they are attacked or shot at or booby trapped by an enemy.

People lose limbs in war. Their bodies are torn apart by IEDs. Their legs and arms are ripped through by bullets and rockets.

You play in arenas in front of adoring fans. You don't walk streets in villages not knowing who the enemy is or what might be lurking on a roadside, around a corner or behind a door.

Athletes get concussions, serious business for sure. But soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen get post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. They lose their sight and their hearing in bomb blasts.

You travel to your games in the comfort of a chartered plane. You go home to an opulent mansion. You have little danger of coming home in a flag-draped box.

You carry a basketball, not a 50-pound backpack and a rifle. You wear sneakers, not boots. You wear a jersey, not a Kevlar vest.

In Afghanistan right now, soldiers and Marines are sleeping in bedrolls outside in the cold. They cook over an open flame. Think of that the next time you load up at the clubhouse buffet.

You chose to take your talents to South Beach. They chose to defend this country. We all make choices. Please choose not to compare yourself to a soldier or a Marine. Please choose not to say what you do is war or battle. It simply isn't.

I know you meant no disrespect to our fighting forces. But it is disrespectful. It underscores how little we know about what our service personnel go through and how much they and their families sacrifice.

Can't we remember that we are at war? That our men and women are dying? I often can think about nothing else.

I have two sons in the United States Marine Corps. One is in Afghanistan as I write this. He is in harm's way every day. Please pray that he comes home in one piece.

He is at war. You are not.

My other son is in the Marine reserves. Please pray he does not get deployed and put in danger. Then he'll be at war. You won't.

My brother served in Vietnam. Eighteen months. He came home, but many others didn't. He came home intact. Unfortunately, so are his memories.

He was at war. You never were.

My uncle died in World War II. His body was torn open during an attack on PT 154 near the Solomon Islands on the night of Nov. 13, 1943.

He died in battle. A basketball game is not a battle. It's a game.

His twin brother was captured around the same time after his plane was shot down over Germany. Years lost as a prisoner of war. Think of that the next time you consider taking no prisoners on the basketball court.

I just wanted to let you know. Not the same. Not even close.

Joseph Schwerdt is the pro sports editor for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Orlando Sentinel. He also is the father of two United States Marines.

[Subhuman Yeti]

Holy fuck Mr. Over-sensitive...


Stop the GLOBALLY SUFFOCATING DECADES OLD 10000s of DEATHS SUSTAINED TRILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG US DRUG WAR, then I'll give two shits about you... and your kids doing their fucking duty.

I thank and praise and appreciate your sons for their service, but their father is a politically correct jackass that should really shut the fucking hell up.




publish that and eat my fuck

[Tenacious_Dio]

Holy fuck Mr. Over-sensitive...

Yeah, it was a little much. Especially considering that Lebron is hardly the first athlete to use that analogy.

[Subhuman Yeti]

Truthfully, how many "WARS" is the United States of America spending billions of dollars on and losing dozens of lives in annually?


How many things have the FEDS just carelessly, flippantly and permanently attached "WAR" to besides IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN?




This guy should shut the fuck up and support his active duty sons who are serving us as best as possible.



Another shit leaking out of his fucking brains sports writer!!

Holy fuck are ANY of them not totally failed sports career dumb asshole attention whores?

[grishnak boss]

FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM MY ASS, FIGHTING FOR $$$ THAT IS.

ANYWAY:

Bulls 87, Heat 86

Observations from Sunday’s 87-86 loss to the Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena:

* It is one thing when the collapses are massive and everything goes wrong. But securing a late rebound? This one was lost on the simplest of things.
* And what does it say when Mario Chalmers steps up in the clutch, and no one else does? On a roster of LeBron and Wade and Bosh, how?
* The question entering the season was who was going to take the final shot for the Heat. The question now is who is going to make one.
* Yes, Derrick Rose was a load to handle, but he was not the reason the Heat lost.

LeBron James grimaces after a hard foul during the second quarter. He wasn't smiling at the end, either. (Joe Cavaretta, Sun Sentinel)
* And neither was the Heat blaming the officiating on the way out.
* Mario Chalmers acquitted himself in this one. And it is clear Erik Spoelstra has serious questions about Mike Bibby’s defense.
* The game featured dueling “M-V-P!” chants, with Heat fans trying to drown out with boos those directed at Rose.
* James’ free-throw attempts with 3:52 left in second quarter were the first for either LeBron or Wade. Lots and lots of early jump shots. Wade made his first trip to the line with 1:42 left in the second quarter.
* There was concerning body language between Wade and LeBron in the second quarter, with Wade upset about LeBron not making an expected cut on offense, leading to a Wade turnover.
* The Bulls again went big against Chris Bosh defensively. Bosh opened 1 of 4, after 1 of 18 against Joakim Noah and Co. last time. This time, though, he settled down and quickly got to 5 of 8 by the end of the first half.
* Bosh was efficient and effective in this one.
* Zydrunas Ilgauskas entered in place of Erick Dampier late in the first quarter. The de-Joel-ing of the rotation continues. Anthony did not play.
* Spoelstra, on why he did not change his starting lineup, staying with Mario Chalmers as his starting point guard over Bibby, “I don’t want to overreact right now.” Yet it was Bibby who started Friday’s second half in San Antonio. “There is no need right now for sweeping changes and sweeping panic.”
* Chalmers then came out and produced four first-quarter assists.
* And when Chalmers picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, Spoelstra instead went with a three-wings approach, instead of with Bibby.
* Spoelstra decided to shift the focus in his pregame comments. “I think we effectively have everybody off our bandwagon,” he said. “I’m sure while everybody else is overreacting and in a major panic . . .”
* LeBron, on reflecting back on San Antonio, “There wasn’t that much good that came from that game. So we didn’t overreact to it.”
* It was like a homecoming game, with Rasual Butler and Kurt Thomas arriving with the Bulls and Jamal Mashburn part of Channel 10’s pregame coverage.
* It might be time to start hiring seat-fillers for these early-afternoon starts. It was not a pretty picture for ABC at the opening tip, unless you’re a fan of red and orange fabric. The arena was full by the start of the second quarter.
* Yes, those were the Heat’s road jerseys, sort of, with the Noche Latina theme. Or Dia Latino, if you prefer.

[grishnak boss]

Folks awoke here Sunday morning to shocking news.

The front-page headline in the San Antonio Express-News read, "Alamo Falls at Dawn!''

Forget the fact news travels slowly here in backwater country, as the day would only get worse for the locals. Their favorite sons, the San Antonio Spurs, would get wiped out by the Lakers playing at their season best.

In a town noted for having no quit, Andrew Bynum added yet more embarrassing commentary on San Antonio's collapse.

He said the Spurs' "starters definitely quit.''

They were certainly no match for the Lakers' size. Bynum and those in attendance (Jerry Buss, Jim Buss, Magic Johnson and George Lopez) were probably too much for these quitters.

The Spurs' starters combined to score 29 points, and although Bynum scored only four — a dunk to start the first half and another to start the second half — he took only two shots.

It was his energy, his 17 rebounds for a second consecutive game and three blocked shots that seemed to take the zip right out of the Spurs, who had won 22 straight at home.

The Spurs could counter only with Tim Duncan — who appears ready to make the transition to church league basketball — and a short, fat guy in DeJuan Blair, whose head stands as tall as Bynum's belly button.

As Duncan put it later, "I think [Bynum] was a key to the game, his offensive rebounds, a bunch of second shots, and defensively he bothered a lot of people in the lane. Just his size was definitely the difference."

And some people suggested trading Bynum.

"Why would anyone want to trade Bynum?" said Lamar Odom. I can only surmise anyone who would make such an argument must not be a Lakers fan.

Those who love the Lakers know Bynum sets the team apart from every other wannabe champion.

Bynum, coupled with Pau Gasol, who has the ability to step outside and shoot almost like a guard, gives the Lakers an inside presence most teams can only covet.

All Bynum has to do now is remain healthy. He said he's still not 100%, but if so, then the Spurs have to be freaking out at the thought he might be when they meet again.

He said his knee continues to hurt, including during Sunday's game. He said it was hit, the pain jarring, but it went away. Hard to tell because he ran the court like someone who continually cared about getting from here to there.

"There is no swelling, so that's a good thing," said Bynum, who blocked six shots Friday in the win over Charlotte. "I realize where I can be a huge help to the team, so I'm just putting all my energy into the defensive side of things. I'm trying to get every rebound and block every shot.

"Teammates are probably mad at me because I'm not posting up as aggressively as I probably could be. But I think we're a much better offensive team moving the ball like we are."

With Bynum dominating the middle and altering countless shots, our heroes played like world champs. The first quarter was a masterpiece. If they play better, they will have another Larry O'Brien Trophy to add to their vast collection.

Go right down the list. Each starter played as if they were playing for the team with the best record in the league.

The Spurs looked so vulnerable. Now they have to be hoping the Lakers meet the Mavericks in the playoffs and Dallas prevails.

San Antonio had a 2-0 edge in games played previously against the Lakers, but that was at a time when our guys were pacing themselves. We all know how frustrating that can be.

But something happened after the All-Star break, or was it the loss to Cleveland? The Lakers haven't lost since going belly up, and now Coach Phil Jackson seems to be taking this week of big games as some kind of playoff prep.

The Lakers had the Spurs buried, but it wasn't enough to satisfy Jackson when the bench didn't play to his satisfaction. So he brought back the starters.

Once the game was over, it still didn't appear as if Jackson was all that thrilled with the overwhelming win.

Asked if he was excited, he said with a straight face, "I'm really excited."

"So this is what you look like when you're really excited?" I said.

"I'm bubbling over," said Jackson, and apparently Kobe Bryant was bubbling over just like Jackson.

When Bryant met the media, he looked as if someone had just swiped his favorite pair of shoes.

"Wasn't that the best the Lakers played as a team this season?" he was asked, and he said, "Sure."

"You don't seem that excited," came the reply.

"Why should I be?" said Bryant after winning the first game on a contentious four-game trip. It seemed like a monumental win with Orlando waiting for the Lakers when they return home and both Dallas and San Antonio maintaining the home-court advantage.

"We did good," said Bryant, and so much for thinking this was a laugher.

3 PEAT!!!

[grishnak boss]

THE FUCKING CRYBABIES AT MIAMI:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/videobeta/? ... 8750e10310

[grishnak boss]

THE LA LAKERS PREPARE FOR PLAYOFF TIME WITH 7 - 0 RUN.

THEY GONNA DISMANTLE ALL THE PRETENDERS!!!

Reporting from San Antonio
Chuck Person was known as instant offense as a player, "The Rifleman" taking aim at three-point shots aplenty and connecting on 1,220 in his career.

Now he's known for his defensive scheme.

The assistant coach has pushed and prodded the Lakers in the right direction defensively, no bigger testimonial than a 99-83 victory Sunday over San Antonio.

The Spurs made 31 of 86 shots (36%) and were stymied at every turn, not one of their starters making more than half his shots.

The numbers were numbing for Spurs followers: Tim Duncan was one for seven, Manu Ginobili was three for 10, DeJuan Blair two for seven, Richard Jefferson missed all three of his shots and Tony Parker was six for 14.

The Lakers have been on a roll since their collapse going into the All-Star break. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson credited Person, whom he promoted to full-time assistant this season.

"We kind of gave Chuck Person dedicated moments in practice to really work on our defense," Jackson said. "He's been good with the guys and handled it really well. We've taken extra time defensively in practice rather than doing as much execution offensively as we have in the past."

The Lakers were a mess a couple of weeks ago, getting clobbered in Charlotte and, inexplicably, in Cleveland.

Since then, though, they've given up an average of 87 points a game. Four of their games have been against playoff-caliber teams (Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Portland and San Antonio).

"After the All-Star break, we brought it to their attention that we have to commit to it on a nightly basis or we could go back to allowing teams to just penetrate our defense with pick-and-rolls," Person said. "I think they've now bought into it. They understand it and they know what we're doing now. They're very aware."

Person complimented Andrew Bynum's recent run on defense. Bynum had 17 rebounds in each of the last two games, not to mention nine blocked shots over the same span.

"The main guy in our defensive scheme is Andrew Bynum," Person said. "If he can contest shots, get the rebound, hit good outlets, I think we'll be tough to beat."

[grishnak boss]

the Heat are now 1-for-18 this season in the final 10 seconds of regulation when trailing by three points or fewer. But that’s not the only troublesome number to come out of this game.

The Bulls completely took away Miami’s isolation offense, holding the Heat to 1-for-7 shooting on plays where a potential shooter is isolated against his defender. The Heat typically score 13 points per game on such plays, according to video review, but the Bulls held them to just three points on Sunday.

And although Chris Bosh was 9-for-14 from the field, he struggled again against Joakim Noah. Bosh was 3-for-8 from the field when Noah was the primary defender against him. In the last two games against the Bulls, Bosh is 4-for-14 when Noah is guarding him.

One other nugget related to the Heat's 1-for-18 in "crunch time." James' former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, may not be having the best season, but they are 5-for-11 in similar situations in 2010-11.

[aceshigh]

The Heat lose again to the Blazers.

You have to give it up for Portland. Massive injuries & they just keep on fighting.

[Subhuman Yeti]

Bosh Vents Frustrations
March 9, 2011 · 8:39AM

HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Five straight losses has a way of shining a light on a team’s warts that no man-made device can.

Losing repeatedly also has a way of encouraging angry or frustrated players to speak their minds, for better or worse, in ways that they never would when things are going well.

So we weren’t surprised at all to read the comments from Heat forward Chris Bosh after his team dropped its fifth straight Tuesday night to the Portland Trail Blazers.

If you haven’t heard, Bosh is a little upset with his role in Miami … we know, the nerve of this guy, complaining about being the third option after LeBron James and Dwyane Wade after signing up last summer to be exactly that. In short, Bosh wants to play like he did in Toronto, when he was the No. 1 option on largely mediocre teams and piled up impressive statistics working his way inside and out as he saw fit.

The only problem is, two other guys get their food first every night — and that’s not going to change anytime soon. And it’s showing, particularly on those nights when Bosh’s counterpart on the opposing team is the No. 1 option (LaMarcus Aldridge roasted him last night, outscoring him 26-7.)

“I’ve got to get back in my comfort zone, I haven’t been in my comfort zone,” Bosh told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. “A lot of things are new for me. I just have to be more aggressive in demanding my [the ball] comfort zone, you know I’ll take the fault for that… I’m effective down in the low post area, so that is where I need to start getting the ball. I need to be assertive in demanding it.”

That Bosh decided to pipe up after what was arguably his worst game of the season (he did have that 1-for-18 stinker a couple weeks ago) only serves to enhance the belief that the Heat still have not solved the chemistry issues that were credited for their uneven start to this season.

But if Bosh has any delusions about being something other than the third option on this team, the Heat have something much bigger than chemistry issues to worry about.

You’ve heard the jokes about the Heat’s Big 3 being the “Big 2.5″ or “Two and Half Men,” or whatever the tasteless moniker they are being plagued with that day. But tasteless or not, the reality is the Heat have two superstars that get theirs no matter what. And then there’s Bosh, a star in his own right, but one that has yet to find a comfortable niche as their third.

Bosh is supposed to take all of this up with his teammates and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Too bad he didn’t try that first. Because by whining (crying would be too strong a term in this matter) about this publicly before addressing the matter within the confines of the Heat locker room, Bosh is feeding the daily beast that is the Heat hate machine.

And as you may have witnessed — Lakers coach Phil Jackson is the latest to tweak the Heat’s cry-gate episode by telling the Los Angeles Times, “This is the NBA: No Boys Allowed. Big boys don’t cry. But if you’re going to do it, do it in the toilet where no one sees you.” — there is no extra fuel needed.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/03/0 ... ef:nbahpt1

Hit him in the face with the ball again, LeBronze

[LAglamrocker]

Heat should hire Pat Knight