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The Best GIFs From NBA Finals Game 6

Ken Dorset — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:22:17 -0400

Here are the best from Miami's 103-100 OT win in Game 6.

Kawhi Leonard puts Mike Miller on a poster.

Tony Parker with the and-1 bucket.

Shoeless Mike Miller knocks down a three.

LeBron James blocks Tim Duncan with no headband.

Ray Allen sends it to OT with a three with 5.2 seconds left.

The final play.

See you Thursday.

Mike Miller Uses 3-Pointer on 1 Shoe to Headline Huge Heat Run in Game 6

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:13:44 -0400

With the Miami Heat fighting for the right to play another game of basketball, they were looking for help from any and every person possible, even if that person was Mike Miller without a shoe.

Miami found themselves digging out of a hole early on in the fourth quarter as Miller had the shoe knocked off his left foot, but the play was still going on.

The ball went in the other direction, Miami transitioning on offense, which is pretty much the only reason Miller was on the court.

So, instead of taking himself completely out of the game to put his shoe back on, he picked it up, tossed it to the bench and kept on playing.

For whatever reason, Gary Neal decided that Miller with one shoe was not a threat, and he left him to run out to the three-point line by himself.

Miller was so open that he nearly had a quarter of the court to himself, so Miami got the ball over to him.

Lopsided, one-shoed and wide open, Miller reared back and knocked down the three with no problem as Neal sprinted over to him in an attempt to make up for his huge mistake.

Mike miller took his shoe off. LeBron took his headband off and looks nekid. Next??? Pat riley should take his shirt and read Shakespeare.
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) June 19, 2013

I once hit 18 consecutive threes in a pair of alligator boots. One-shoe dressin' is less than impressin'!
— (Not) Walt Frazier (@NotWaltFrazier) June 19, 2013

Maybe Neal needs a quick refresher on basketball rules. You see, it's not a guy's feet that can make him dangerous, it's pretty much mostly the upper half of their body.

Mike Miller throws his shoe to the sideline, Gary Neal immediately leaves him on the wing. Apparently, Neal doesn't know how hands work.
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) June 19, 2013

A guy can play without one shoe, it's not like he just had a hand chopped off.

Ray Allen Sends Game 6 To OT With A Clutch Three

Ken Dorset — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:57:38 -0400

Chris Bosh gets the offensive rebound and dishes it out for Ray Allen for the clutch three to tie the game.

Jesus, Shuttlesworth does it again.

United States vs. Honduras: 5 Things We Learned

John D. Halloran — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:49:19 -0400

The United States men’s national team defeated Honduras 1-0 on Tuesday night to keep itself atop of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying hexagonal.

The win gives the U.S. 13 points from its first six games and puts the team in pole position to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Here are five things we learned from the match.

Begin Slideshow

UFC 162: Cub Swanson Looking to Keep Momentum Rolling Against Dennis Siver

Duane Finley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:39:25 -0400

Cub Swanson is a man on a mission.

After running the table in 2012 and picking up three consecutive victories, the resurgent featherweight entered 2013 looking to shift his drive to a title shot into high gear. Swanson was successful on the first step of his quest to become a contender in the new year when he defeated Dustin Poirier in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV 7 in London, England.

The 29-year-old Palm Springs native was originally slated to face Dennis Siver in the bout, but the German-born striker was forced to withdraw due to injury. With Siver on the sidelines, the talented young American Top Team product stepped up to the plate, and after a three-round back-and-forth, Swanson emerged victorious on the judge's score cards.

The victory in England pushed Swanson further into the crowded pack of contenders in the 145-pound division, and he will be looking to take another step toward title contention when he steps back into action at UFC 162.

In a fitting turn of fate, the Jackson's MMA-trained fighter will get the fight he was preparing for back in February as "Killer Cub" will square off with Siver on July 3.

With the divisional race heating up, Swanson understands how much is on the line at UFC 162, and he intends to bring the fight directly to Siver.

"I always love this point," Swanson told Bleacher Report. "I'm in shape and all my coaches agree on the game plan and my motivation for the fight. I'm very comfortable. I know he's tough as hell but I'm going to try to knock his teeth in."

"I know he's going to be strong. He's a muscular guy and I know he's going to try to take me down. He's going to try to mix it up and he has some fancy stuff, but I've been working everywhere. I'm trying to fall back in love with my jiu-jitsu. I've been getting the gi back on and really getting back into that aspect of my game. My takedown defense is rock-solid right now. My striking is always evolving and I'm trying to always be better. I'm never satisfied with where I'm at and I work hard to keep my skills moving forward."

The bout between Swanson and Siver comes at a crucial and chaotic time for the featherweight division. While champion Jose Aldo was originally slated to face surging lightweight contender-turned-145-pound-title challenger Anthony Pettis, an injury to "Showtime" forced the Duke Roufus-trained fighter out of the bout.

With Pettis out, the UFC tapped Chan Sung Jung to step in against the Brazilian phenom. The "Korean Zombie" was slated to face Ricardo Lamas at UFC 162, but the shake-up ultimately forced him off the card entirely and further clouded the title picture in the 145-pound division.

"With Pettis' last win and beating Cowboy—that's impressive," Swanson answered when asked about the divisional shake-up. "Cowboy is my teammate, and I believe he had an off night, but that win was still impressive. He's fought top guys and I really can't say anything about him. Yeah, it sucks that he drops down and gets a title shot right away, but I can see how it happened. But the Korean Zombie I just don't see it. I don't think the level of competition he's faced has been on the level of what [Ricardo] Lamas or I have faced. It's kind of baffling. I just don't think he deserves it."

"The division is definitely crazy right now and I'm ready to take whatever fight is going to get me to the top. I'm confident and whatever fight they are going to give me I'm ready for. Right now, that fight is against Siver. He's a tough dude and we are both right there in the rankings at No. 5 and No. 6. That's the fight I'm concentrating on right now and I'm ready to go."

While his days competing in the WEC brought mixed results, Swanson has been a wrecking ball under the UFC banner. The proud Southern Californian has racked up four consecutive victories with three coming via devastating finish. His performances inside the Octagon have lead to an elevated profile in the sport, and because of his rise to contention, his inspiring backstory has come to light.

Before Swanson was handling business inside the cage, he battled through a rough period in his life. A series of bad decisions landed the heavy-handed featherweight in the juvenile detention program, and it was a negative experience he's turned into a positive by mentoring local youths at the same facility he was incarcerated in.

From Bleacher Report's own The Fighting Life to Fuel TV's The Ultimate Insider, Swanson's story has now been shared with a large audience. And while the sudden attention has created some friction in his life, Swanson can see the inspiration his story has brought to those who need it the most.

"I've always thought everything about me was kind of normal," Swanson said. "I know everybody goes through hard things in their lives, and I can't say I've had things super-hard because I know there are a lot of people who have gone through much worse. But I've definitely had an interesting life. The only reason I'm really enjoying my story getting out there is because I've seen how inspiring it has been for kids in my area that are getting into trouble and don't really feel like they can become something.

"It's been hard for my family as well because these stories have shed light on some things that have never really been talked about. It's been a little hard for me sometimes but I think it's worth it. For kids who come from where I come from or are in similar situations like I had growing up, it is proof that you can overcome things. You play the cards you are dealt. You can't choose who your family is going to be or the situation you are born into, but you can choose who you are going to be and what you turn out to be."

"It's just like a loss in a fight. You hit a rough patch and it doesn't define who you are. You make a mistake in life and that doesn't mean you are a bad person. You just learn from it and try to do better. If you don't, that shows who you are. If you are not prepared to always be better, that not something to be proud of. If you learn and always try to be better, then you can't be mad about that."

With past struggles behind him, Swanson now focuses on the next obstacle on his path to a title shot. He knows the dangers Siver brings to the cage, but the crafty veteran has a versatile arsenal of his own. Both fighters have the ability to end things in brutal fashion, and Swanson is looking forward to the scrap.

"I have to watch out for him getting comfortable and letting him play his game," Swanson added. "But I'm not going to do that because that is what I do. I play my game. I focus on me. I know what to look out for from him, but I'm going to fight my fight because he's stepping into my cage. That is the bottom line. I'm going to try to knock his teeth in."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

LeBron James Loses His Headband, Becomes Unstoppable

Ken Dorset — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:38:56 -0400

LeBron James should never put his headband on again.

He may be starting a trend in the NBA.

I'm never wearing my headband again either #riptotheheadband
— Ty Lawson (@TyLawson3) June 19, 2013

LeBron says " pop my headband I'm sweating, woo"
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) June 19, 2013

Jozy Altidore Scores 4th Goal in 4 Games to Lead U.S. Past Honduras

Michael Cummings — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:37:28 -0400

Jozy Altidore scored his fourth international goal in as many matches to lead the United States men's national team to a 1-0 victory over Honduras on Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

Altidore scored the winner in the 73rd minute, giving the U.S. its third straight win in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Captain Clint Dempsey started the move with a chip to Graham Zusi, whose slight touch freed left-back Fabian Johnson in an advanced position.

Johnson passed back for Altidore, who had pulled away from his marker. Altidore's left-footed, first-time shot beat the keeper at the far post.

(h/t SB Nation)

It was Altidore's fourth goal in as many games with the U.S., a run that has ended his recent scoring drought emphatically. The four-game streak is tied for best in American history, according to ESPN's Paul Carr:

Jozy Altidore ties a #USMNT record by scoring in four straight games.
— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) June 19, 2013

Altidore also put the ball in the net in the 59th minute but was correctly ruled offside after a fast U.S. move. The 23-year-old now has 17 goals in 59 appearances with the U.S.

Dempsey came close with a header that was saved in the 70th minute, and Honduras escaped a penalty after the ball hit a defender's hand in the box in the 63rd.

With the win, the U.S. maintained first place in the Hexagonal and moved onto 13 points. Up next is a trip to second-placed Costa Rica in September, followed by a home match against rival Mexico.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Justin Rose's Confidence From 1st Major Victory Will Fuel Tremendous 2013 Season

Justin Onslow — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:56 -0400

Justin Rose is already well on his way to one of the best 2013 campaigns of any golfer on the PGA Tour this year. With a U.S. Open victory at Merion Golf Club last weekend, there’s no reason to expect anything less than a stellar year from the 32-year-old.

Rose notched his first major victory with that performance, breaking through the barrier that has held back some of the best golfers on the planet. It may just seem like another win to the casual observer, but winning a major after years of coming up short goes a long way toward building confidence—confidence he could very well harness in pursuit of a second major title.

The PGA Tour official Twitter account may have captured the perfect image to illustrate that fact:

Confidence may have been the missing piece in Rose’s pursuit of a major title. The world No. 3 has already posted four top-10 finishes in 2013 apart from his triumph at Merion, and as world No. 9 Graeme McDowell voiced on Twitter, Rose has been one of the best players on tour in recent years:

But as well as Rose has played recently, not every facet of his game has been up to par.

Confidence is absolutely crucial to playing winning golf, especially with the putter in hand. For as much buoyancy as he probably gained from winning his first major, there’s nothing like the assurance gained from besting a course that featured some of the most devastating greens of any track on the circuit this season.

Rose knocked down putt after putt on Merion’s demanding greens, tallying just 90 total putts for the tournament. Of the top seven finishers, only Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Luke Donald attempted fewer putts though four rounds.

With the missing piece of his game seemingly solved, Rose couldn’t be in better position to churn out a few more wins this season. If he can win at Merion, he can win anywhere.

There’s still a lot of golf to be played this year, but there are also few players in better position to make a spectacular run this season. If the U.S. Open proved anything, the tour is still wide open.

With a major victory now in his pocket, Rose proved to himself and the rest of the golf world that there isn’t anything he can’t do at this point in his career. Don’t expect that to change in 2013.

Mike Miller Drains a 3-Pointer with One Shoe

Ken Dorset — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:15:27 -0400

Mike Miller only needs one shoe to knock down a three.

United States Inches Closer to World Cup Qualification with Win over Honduras

Michael Cummings — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:13:51 -0400

As the final seconds ticked off the clock Tuesday night in Utah, the home supporters celebrated their home team's imminent win with a boast in song form.

"We are going to Brazil," they sang. "We are going to Brazil."

The United States men's national team was in the process of wrapping up a 1-0 victory over Honduras at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, and even though those three points won't actually send the U.S. to next year's World Cup, it's hard to argue with the sentiment.

In victory, the U.S. maintained its lead atop the Hexagonal, the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, and moved onto 13 points. That's five ahead of rival Mexico, but more importantly, it's only three away from the magic number of 16.

In two of the last four Hexes, 16 points have been enough to secure automatic World Cup qualification (the other two totals were 13 and 17), and with a win in any of its four remaining qualifiers, the U.S. would almost certainly qualify.

That business will have to wait, though. After picking up three wins in three qualifiers this month, the U.S. is off until September, when it will travel to Costa Rica and host Mexico. The latter will be the latest installment in North America's best rivalry, and after Tuesday's result, it could be the match the sends the U.S. to Brazil.

Jozy Altidore did the honors, scoring the winning goal in the 73rd minute and relieving some pressure after what had been a frustrating performance to that point. It was Altidore's fourth goal in as many games, tying an American record, and it further relegated the big striker's recently ended scoring drought to the annals of history.

It also served as the latest entry in the team's turnaround after a poor start in World Cup qualifying. The U.S. dropped its Hex opener at Honduras, but gained revenge Tuesday, keeping Honduras winless and points-less on the road.

Finally, the goal eased a building sense of frustration for the U.S., which had drawn blanks in the first half and missed a series of chances early in the second. Brad Evans rose highest to meet Zusi's cross in the 56th minute, but his header was too close to the keeper. Altidore had a goal correctly ruled out for offside three minutes later, and Dempsey's diving header—from yet another Zusi cross—was saved in the 70th minute.

But in the 73rd minute, the U.S. was not to be denied.

Dempsey chipped a pass to Zusi, whose slight touch freed Fabian Johnson on the left. The left-back's perfect pass found Altidore, who finished expertly at the far post with his left foot.

Feed the Jozy and he will score
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 19, 2013

It wasn't always smooth for the U.S. With left-back DaMarcus Beasley suspended, manager Jurgen Klinsmann opted to move Fabian Johnson back from left midfield. Eddie Johnson slotted into the left side of midfield, with Graham Zusi reclaiming his spot on the right.

Honduras had much more serious selection headaches. Forward Jerry Bengtson, who scored the winner in Honduras' 2-1 qualifying victory over the U.S. in February, left the team after a dispute with manager Luis Fernando Suarez. Oscar Boniek Garcia and Maynor Figueroa were injured, while center-back Victor Bernardez and midfielder Luis Garrido were suspended.

But even with all those absences, Honduras presented an organized, effective resistance for more than 70 minutes. The U.S. dominated possession throughout the first half, but failed to move the ball effectively through the middle. Fabian Johnson posed a threat down the flank early in the match, but fell silent offensively midway through the half.

In his touchline interview before the start of the second half, Klinsmann called for a faster tempo and more passes to Altidore's feet. The U.S. produced both, and after a period of pressure, the breakthrough finally came.

In the end, the goal and the result were precisely what Klinsmann wanted, even if the performance wasn't. Even with the win, Klinsmann's team remains flawed. A full-strength Honduras might have punished the Americans' sloppiness, and despite the shutout, the defense had a few nervous moments.

But with World Cup qualification inching closer, Klinsmann appears to have the team heading in the right direction.

Follow @MikeCummings37

USA vs. Honduras: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:59:09 -0400

After a lackluster first half on Tuesday, USA ultimately found net against Honduras in 2014 World Cup qualifying action, going on to a 1-0 victory.

And guess who the hero was?

That's right; Jozy Altidore.

Honduras showed some life early, making Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler work on defense, but the ball was cleared without incident. Roger Espinoza showed some touch seven minutes in, nutmegging Jermaine Jones and drawing a foul from Eddie Johnson, but the free kick was well wide.

After a quick break from USA, the Americans earned a corner kick in the eighth minute. Graham Zusi delivered a nice ball, but Brad Evans headed it just wide. Michael Bradley expertly drove through the Honduran defense at the 10-minute mark, but Zusi's cross wasn't accurate.

Moments later, Espinoza threatened again, forcing Jones into a foul and a yellow card right outside the box. But the ensuing kick went into USA's wall, and a crisis was averted.

Andrew Das of the New York Times quipped:

In the 17th minute, Fabian Johnson sent in a beautiful cross that Altidore one-timed, but Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares made a great diving save.

Play continued with USA looking for chances on the Honduran side of the pitch, but not threatening too much. That included a pass that sailed from Jones, who wasn't making the most of his start early in the match.

It dragged on for a while, as USA controlled possession until the side needed it in meaningful spots.

Thirty-four minutes in, Jones showed some life, drawing a foul and a yellow card on Honduras defender Arnold Peralta on a strong run down the pitch. But Clint Dempsey's free kick swung into Honduras' wall.

Derek Rae of ESPNFC.com tweeted:

Two minutes later, Bradley just missed Eddie Johnson, who would have surely had a goal if the pair had connected.

It became apparent in the first half that Honduras was choosing to allow more possession to USA in the midfield while sitting back and cutting off through balls.

The Americans responded by playing rather sloppy soccer, failing to create many opportunities and giving away possession with ill-advised fouls. Espinoza was certainly a part of that, proving to be a pest for USA.

In the 45th minute, USA survived a scare that would have surely put pressure on the side.

After Besler gave away the ball, Honduras midfielder Andy Najar took advantage driving down the right side of the pitch before shooting a dangerous ball goalkeeper Tim Howard's way. But the talented American made a brilliant save, keeping the match scoreless.

Through one half of play, Honduras had held USA to only three shots (one on goal), even though the Americans held possession for 66 percent of the time.

SoccerByIves.net tweeted:

At the 49-minute mark of the second half, Graham Zusi swung a nice cross Gonzalez's way off a free kick, but Gonzalez mistimed his jump and his header was sent wide.

The Americans received a free kick in the 55th minute. Zusi sent another strong cross Brad Evans' way, but yet again, USA failed to score, as Evans headed the ball right to the keeper. The US had yet another chance to score in the box at 64 minutes, but Zusi's shot hit the post. It may have been a handball on the defense off the rebound, but there was no call from the ref.

Dempsey had a clear shot at goal in the 68th minute, but he swung it wide. Two minutes later, his diving header was saved. Off the rebound, Bradley had a chance, but shot it over the post.

But USA's persistence paid off shortly after, as Altidore erased a so-so outing to once again score for the American side in qualifying. Off a through ball from Dempsey, Fabian Johnson found Altidore in the middle, who swung it home.

Paul Carr of ESPN Stats & Info tweeted:

Honduras' Wilson Palacios and Jose Velasquez were both given yellow cards down the stretch.

Besler cut off a well-placed cross by Honduras in the 85th minute, continuing to be sound after the first-half turnover.

Honduras showed some life down the stretch with one last-ditch attempt, but the Americans held on for a 1-0 victory.

Grades

USA

Position	Player	Grade
G	Tim Howard	A
M	Jermaine Jones	C-
D	Fabian Johnson	B
M	Graham Zusi	A
D	Matt Besler	B
D	Omar Gonzalez	B
M	Brad Evans	B
S	Clint Dempsey	C
S	Eddie Johnson	B
M	Michael Bradley	B
S	Jozy Altidore	B+

Honduras

Position	Player	Grade
G	Noel Valladares	C
D	Juan Montes	C
D	Jose Velasquez	C
D	Emilio Izaguirre	B+
M	Wilson Palacios	C
M	Mario Martinez	C
D	Arnold Peralta	C
M	Jorge Claros	C
M	Roger Espinoza	A
M	Andy Najar	B
S	Carlos Costly	C

What's Next?

The United States will face Costa Rica at Ricardo Saprissa on Sept. 6 to begin the fall slate. Honduras will play Mexico on the same day at Azteca Stadium.

The Americans lead the group with 13 points in six matches. Honduras has seven points.

Wimbledon 2013: Predictions and Tournament Preview

Lindsay Gibbs — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:59:02 -0400

It's hard to believe, but it's almost time for Wimbledon.

Last time we left the All England Club, it was splashed with color and advertisements for the Olympic Games. This time things will be back in their prim and proper place as all the best players in the world convene for what most consider the most prestigious tournament in tennis.

The defending champions are two of the best grass-court players ever: Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka all come into The Championships in fantastic form.

This year is setting up to be an absolute blockbuster.

Ahead we look at the players, storylines and surprises to look out for this year at the prestigious All England Club.

Begin Slideshow

Joey Crawford Tells Dwyane Wade Not to Yell at Him

Ken Dorset — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:52:22 -0400

Referee Joey Crawford tells Dwyane Wade not to yell at him during the second quarter of Game 6.

H/t to CBS Sports for the video.

Syracuse Basketball: Orange'S Best-Ever Player at Each Position

Josh Schoch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:48:29 -0400

Syracuse's basketball program is one of the most prestigious in the nation, and it has remained a powerhouse in college basketball for years.

Over the decades of success, Syracuse has had one great player after another, and if the best of the best were all on one team, the Orange would undoubtedly go undefeated.

Let's take a look at the best players by position from the team's lengthy history.

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Report Card Grades for Zack Wheeler and Wil Myers' Much-Anticipated MLB Debuts

Josh Schoch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:43:36 -0400

Two more elite prospects made their MLB debuts on Tuesday, adding to the wave of extremely talented rookies.

The New York Mets sent Zack Wheeler to the mound for the first time, while the Tampa Bay Rays unveiled Wil Myers, one of the best hitting prospects in the country.

There have been quite a few spectacular MLB debuts so far this year, but did Wheeler and Myers keep that trend going? Let's take a look at how each mega-prospect fared in their big league debuts.

Begin Slideshow

NHL Free Agency 2013: Which Top Players Will Remain with Current Teams?

Tyler Donohue — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:42:31 -0400

NHL free agency is fast approaching, and league-wide focus is shifting to the pursuit of a title in 2014. General managers throughout North America aren't just concentrating on acquiring talent from elsewhere; there's also the pivotal task of retaining their own free agents.

While some teams are content to allow particular players to take a hike, other playmakers take precedence during the offseason. Unrestricted and restricted free agents will field significant offers from rival squads, setting the stage for contractual showdowns and extensive negotiations.

The allure of more cash and a change of scenery will draw many coveted free agents away from their current teams, but some are bound to re-sign for a variety of reasons. Let's take a peek at players you can expect to stay put when the offseason whirlwind begins.

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San Antonio Spurs Set Record for Most 3-Pointers in NBA Finals During Game 6

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:33:52 -0400

Game 6 may have started out as the Tim Duncan show, but three-pointers continued to be a part of the plan as the San Antonio Spurs set the record for most three-pointers in an NBA Finals series during the first half.

Danny Green made a three with San Antonio's first shot in the second quarter, giving them 52 for the series and all but assuring that they would break the record at some point in the game.

As luck would have it, San Antonio wouldn't have to wait very long.

Gary Neal reached back with the shot clock winding down and buried the record-breaking three-pointer from a solid three steps behind the three-point line.

Spurs set new record for most 3-pointers in an NBA Finals series with 53.
— Beyond The Buzzer (@BeyondTheBuzzer) June 19, 2013

In one NBA Finals, the Spurs now have the most three-pointers in a series, a single game (they had 16 back in Game 3) and by a single player, as Green has 26 and counting.

Needless to say, it's been an impressive series from beyond the arc for San Antonio so far.

Should the Spurs go on to win the title, they're going to be remembered as having one of the most fluid offenses in NBA history.

It's not that they have a ton of players who are great three-point shooters, but rather that they have an offense capable of getting specific players open.

Green has been knocking down jumpers all series long, so it seems simple to say Miami needs to make more of an effort to guard him.

However, with the constant ball movement, off-ball screens for Green and the consistent threat of guys cutting to the lane, Green is going to end up with at least a few open looks, regardless of how tight the defense is.

WWE SmackDown Spoilers: Complete Results and Analysis for June 21

Tim Keeney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:25:10 -0400

The WWE has produced some absolutely scintillating programming over the past few days, and fans will be hoping that success continues on Friday night for SmackDown.

On Sunday, Payback surprisingly turned out to be one of the best of the year, and the company followed that up with a memorable Raw on Monday.

Storylines and feuds are heating up, stars are making their returns to the roster, and intrigue is at an all-time high.

With that kind of positive momentum, let's take a look at the results from SmackDown's taping on Tuesday night.

Quick Results

Sheamus defeats Cody Rhodes via Cloverleaf submission. Afterward, Damien Sandow attacks Sheamus.
Promo for the Wyatt Family.
Intercontinental Championship: Curtis Axel (c) defeats Wade Barrett.
AJ Lee defeated Natalya.
Backstage, Aksana teases Kaitlyn about AJ's win. Kaitlyn attacks Aksana.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho ends in disqualification. Dolph Ziggler attacks Del Rio, but Jericho hits Ziggler with a Codebreaker.
Christian defeats Drew McIntyre. Afterward, The Shield attacks and triple powerbombs him.
Daniel Bryan defeats Randy Orton via countout.

Bryan vs. Orton Continues

When Bryan injured himself on a suicide dive on Monday night (which ended his match with Orton), fans worried about whether or not the injury was legitimate, albeit that concern wore off slightly as the show moved on.

His appearance on SmackDown further puts those concerns to rest.

And with that out of the way, it's time to see where the company is going to take Bryan, the most electrifying star in the business right now.

His immediate future, at least, is with Orton, as Friday's match, which ended with a countout, keeps the storyline open.

A feud with these two talented stars is intriguing, but we can only hope that if they are indeed locked in for a matchup at Money in the Bank, they won't continue to fight every week for the next month.

Although, it's worth noting that anything involving Bryan is immune to becoming stale.

Many were hoping Bryan would take on John Cena for the WWE title at Money in the Bank, but that job now belongs to Mark Henry. However, this opens up the possibility for Bryan competing for the title at SummerSlam.

Jericho Joining the Del Rio vs. Ziggler Feud?

Y2J is set to depart from the WWE in August, allowing enough time for one good, solid feud.

It's still not positive that he'll be involved with Del Rio and Ziggler, but these results suggest that something is at least in the works.

Jericho's match with Del Rio ended when Ziggler interfered to attack the new world heavyweight champion. The Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla could have left it at that, but he chose to attack Ziggler instead.

If you consider Del Rio as the heel and Ziggler as the face, this is a surprising turn of events. Is Jericho turning heel for his final feud, or is Ziggler's face turn not as complete as we thought?

Or was this just something that happened?

Certainly plenty of new questions and lots of new future intrigue being created by this development.

It would appear the WWE's hot streak will continue with this show.

Nebraska Football Recruiting: Big Red Weekend Puts Cornhuskers Back On Track

Patrick Runge — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:20:14 -0400

Many Nebraska football fans were worried about the Cornhuskers falling behind in recruiting this year.

They saw B1G rival schools like Michigan and Ohio State rocket up the 2014 recruiting rankings. More disturbingly, they saw Nebraska at one point languishing at no. 70 in the 247Sports.com team rankings, wedged between college football luminaries Kansas and Syracuse.

But as many (including one smart and particularly handsome analyst) observed, it’s only June. Recruiting season, while it may seem like it has been going on forever, is still incredibly early in the process. And Nebraska still had its Big Red Weekend upcoming, where prospects could get a chance be blown away by the school, the athletic facilities and the fanbase.

Well, it looks like Big Red Weekend delivered. Nebraska landed six commits during the Weekend and the week leading up to it (all-star rankings and measurables courtesy of 247Sports.com):

Tanner Farmer, a 6’4”, 280-pound 3-star offensive guard. The offensive line is a position of real need in this year’s recruiting class.
Zack Darlington, a 6’2”, 207-pound 3-star dual-threat quarterback. The crown jewel of most recruiting classes, Darlington will add terrific depth to a position that will also feature Tommy Armstrong and Johnny Stanton next season.
Trai Mosely, a 5’10”, 171-pound 2-star cornerback. Even after the departure of Nebraska from the Big 12, the Cornhuskers continue to mine the state of Texas for talent.
Mick Stoltenberg, a 6’6”, 250-pound in-state commit from Gretna. Stoltenberg is unranked by 247Sports.com, likely due to a lack of offers from other big-name schools. While listed as a defensive end, Steven Sipple from the Lincoln Journal-Star believes Stoltenberg was recruited to play offensive tackle.
D.J. Foster, a 6’1”, 300-pound 3-star offensive guard. As with Farmer, Foster adds to Nebraska’s talent level at a position of need. Landing an in-state, 3-star prospect (Foster is from Lincoln Southeast) also helps Nebraska secure its recruiting borders.
Demornay Pierson-El, a 5’9”, 171-pound 3-star athlete prospect. Pierson-El will add to Nebraska’s arsenal of receivers, having excelled in high school both catching passes and returning kicks. Hailing from Virginia, Pierson-El’s arrival may be evidence of the advantages a school like Nebraska gains from the B1G’s expansion to the east coast.

In five days, Nebraska’s haul at Big Red Weekend has vaulted the NU from no. 70 to no. 36 in the 247Sports.com overall 2014 rankings.

Sure, that’s not where Nebraska wants to end up; the Cornhuskers are still behind Western Michigan overall and are sixth overall in the B1G. But it does suggest that getting recruits to Lincoln—letting them see the program, tour the facilities and meet the coaches—is critical for Nebraska’s recruiting success.

Again, it’s June. Big Red Weekend has demonstrated in a splashy way that Bo Pelini and Co. have their recruiting hats on and are able to land prospects. That should help Nebraska fans who look at teams like Michigan, Ohio State and (remarkably, given their sanctions) Penn State and worry that NU will not be able to compete in its new conference.

Following college football recruiting is a bumpy ride, to be sure. We still have an entire season of official and unofficial visits for prospects to see Memorial Stadium on gameday—although the plethora of 11:00 a.m. kickoffs doesn’t help Nebraska from a recruiting standpoint.

Some of Nebraska’s current commits will likely jump ship to another school before signing day in February 2014. Nebraska will probably benefit from a few last-minute flips, like it did with Dimarya Mixon last year.

So the best advice for Nebraska fans following recruiting, particularly in the summer months, came from a very wise man who is no longer with us.

Don’t panic.

If you’d like to contact Patrick, send an email to patrickrunge@gmail.com.

Or, you could always...Follow @patrickrunge.

Braves vs. Mets Video: Watch Ugly Collision Between Upton Brothers

Josh Schoch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:19:27 -0400

The Upton brothers got a little too close for comfort on Tuesday night.

B.J. Upton and Justin Upton collided in left-centerfield on Tuesday night as the Atlanta Braves took on the New York Mets.

You can clearly see B.J. waving off his younger brother, but Justin didn't hear him and the two collided right as B.J. makes the catch and hangs on.

The two were obviously just fine, as B.J. shoves his younger bro as the two walk off the field together, but I'm not sure Mrs. Upton will be so happy.

It's one thing to see two players collide and joke about it, but how often do we see brothers do it?

Twitter had a bit of fun with the collision too:

Upton brothers fall down, go boom. http://t.co/vsI6LSttVw
— Erik Malinowski (@erikmal) June 19, 2013

VIDEO: Upton brothers collide in outfield, but no one's hurt, so it's funny. http://t.co/gtP8l4ZzEP
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) June 19, 2013

Too many syllables for a "Prince" parody song, alas RT @sbnation: This is what happens when Uptons collide: http://t.co/9sIloJGjua
— dianagram (@dianagram) June 19, 2013

Let's just hope that the two can learn how to share better in the future.

Follow @JoshSchoch

Frankie Edgar: 7 Title Fights In a Row and He's Hungry For More

Damon Martin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:17:08 -0400

For the first time in more than three years and seven fights, Frankie Edgar will enter the UFC Octagon without a title belt on the line.

He will look to get back into the title race at UFC 162 when he faces Charles Oliveira in the co-main event that night. While Edgar has been fighting for UFC gold for years, Oliveira has never quite reached that same peak.

As dangerous of a fighter as he may be, Oliveira doesn't carry the same kind of top 10 name value that Edgar could have potentially faced. The reality is Edgar has never been a fighter who handpicks his opponents.

"I never picked fights," Edgar said in a recent interview with The Ultimate Show. "I'm never going to start to pick fights. If they ask me to fight someone, I'll say yes."

Edgar hopes that defeating Oliveira at UFC 162 in such a high-profile bout will insert his name into the title race again for a future shot at the featherweight strap. The New Jersey native knows that more goes into getting a crack at the belt than just winning, and he's prepared to do whatever it takes to get the gold around his waist again.

"I think one or two (fights away from a title shot)," Edgar stated. "Let's be real, it's not always the No. 1 contenders who get the title shots. It's who they invest money in, and whose kind of a known name. In the lighter weights just being that I fought seven title fights in a row, I think I'm that guy."

In the interview, Edgar also addressed the reality of fighting for a win after three straight losses, as well as preparing for a three-round bout for the first time in more than three years.

New York Yankees Acquire Former Top Prospect Fernando Martinez

Kenny DeJohn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:14:13 -0400

Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Houston Astros have agreed to send outfielder Fernando Martinez to the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Charles Basford.

Martinez, a former top prospect in the New York Mets organization who was ranked as high as No. 22 on Baseball America's Top-100 prospects list, has failed to make an impact in parts of five big league seasons with the Mets and Astros.

He owns a career WAR of -1.4, mostly because of his terrible triple-slash line of .206/.269/.362. He has just nine home runs, 29 RBI and two stolen bases to his name in 282 career at-bats.

It's unknown as to how Martinez will be used in New York. Manager Joe Girardi already has five outfielders—Vernon Wells, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki,Thomas Neal and Zoilo Almonte—on the roster. Neal could be sent down in favor of Martinez (as could Almonte), though neither move necessarily represents an immediate upgrade.

Neal has one hit in five at-bats for the Yankees this season after just being called up a few games ago. He has power from the right side of the plate, but has only 11 games of major league experience. Martinez, albeit unimpressively, has logged 99 career games. Almonte, on the other hand, was just called up on Tuesday and has yet to play a game in the bigs.

This is likely the last chance for Martinez, who doesn't become a free agent until 2018, to capitalize on his once-praised potential. The Yankees can't offer him much playing time to start, but he could eventually work his way into more frequent at-bats if he proves himself.

The chances of Martinez turning into the player he was expected to are slim, but the Yankees do have the opportunity to get lucky with this acquisition. We'll have to wait and see how much playing time he gets to find out.

Pavel Datsyuk Contract: Red Wings Getting Priceless Star Back at a Bargain

Isaac Smith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:13:26 -0400

The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to extend Pavel Datsyuk through 2016-17, retaining a key piece of their organization at a bargain price for at least four more years.

While the cap hit might not be the most attractive thing in the world at $7.5 million per season, per Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News, Datsyuk is worth every penny of his three-year extension.

As there have been some contracts that have been doled out for much more money than that Datsyuk's deal recently, it should be stated that not only has Datsyuk earned this extension with his play in Detroit, but the Red Wings are actually ensuring that they will continue to dominate the NHL for the next few years.

Despite having the 12th-highest cap hit in 2014-15 according to CapGeek, Datsyuk will provide even more benefit to the Red Wings than his monetary value contract could indicate.

Here are some reasons why.

Offense

Datsyuk immediately burst onto the scene in 2001-02 with some highlight-reel goals while playing with Brett Hull and Boyd Devereaux.

He has led the Red Wings in points in every season since 2003-04 with the exception of 2010-11, when he missed 26 games with injuries, and 2011-12, when he finished two points behind Henrik Zetterberg.

With exceptional creativity and skill to match, Datsyuk dominates teams with dazzling offensive displays.

The great thing about Datsyuk, however, is that he is not a one-dimensional offensive player. That is what makes him so dangerous. Datsyuk is an exceptional passer, with on-ice vision that matches his creativity.

To try and describe the 34-year-old Russian with any other word than unpredictable would be an insult to the many goaltenders he has embarrassed in his NHL career.

Defense

The quality that really makes Pavel Datsyuk a great Detroit Red Wing is his two-way game. Datsyuk had three straight Selke Trophies for best defensive forward and quite a few more nominations for the Selke Trophy as well.

This is because of Datsyuk's faceoff abilities, but also his takeaway abilities. John Kreiser of NHL.com wrote in 2012 that "players and coaches will tell you that Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk is still the NHL's top puck thief."

Indeed, Datsyuk had 144 takeaways in 2007-08, which Kreiser also observed was "the most since takeaways became an official stat in 2005." The dynamic two-way center never quits on the backcheck and loves taking the puck away from players to start a Detroit rush the other way.

Datsyuk is always thinking in the defensive zone, meaning he always makes the right play when he is given the opportunity.

This has resulted in Datsyuk having a career plus-minus of plus-229.

Special Teams

Watching Datsyuk come in and win a faceoff to get a clear on a penalty kill or watching him weave his way through traffic to set up a chance on the power play is a one-of-a-kind play in that Datsyuk just makes it look so easy.

To put it in perspective, of Detroit's 34 power-play goals this season, Datsyuk had points on 16 of them and was on the ice for quite a few more.

His ability to dominate in all three areas of the game (offense, defense and special teams) would be enough to sell most teams on his importance going forward.

But that isn't all that Datsyuk brings to the table.

Calming Influence

When Datsyuk is in the lineup, the Red Wings are a different team. This is because Datsyuk is a calming influence in all three areas of play.

On offense, Datsyuk has an uncanny ability to penetrate the other team's blue line while holding on to the puck. Once in the zone, no player wants to approach Datsyuk too closely. Datsyuk has moves that will put any player to shame.

On defense, Datsyuk had 31 hits and 30 blocked shots this season, but it was his ability to get the puck out of the zone that helped the Red Wings.

Although Datsyuk was credited with 38 giveaways this season, it was because he was trying to do too much in the offensive zone, not in the defensive zone. When needed, Datsyuk wins a faceoff, gets the puck out of the zone and goes back to the bench on a line change.

Mentoring Capabilities

When Datsyuk came into the NHL, his ability to speak English was nothing short of nonexistent. Now, with a more comprehensive grasp of the language and the respect of his Red Wings' teammates, Datsyuk has become a mentor to some of the younger players on the team.

He doesn't get mad at his own players, simply discussing things on the bench instead of getting angry. He has truly become a mentor of sorts on this younger Red Wings' team, quietly playing "the right way," always making the easy play in his own end instead of trying to do something fancy.

With a bundle of new Red Wings in Tomas Tatar, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and others being just around the corner from stardom in the NHL, Datsyuk's extension assures that he will have a hand in their development.

The Red Wings have long depended on veteran leadership to push their team into the playoffs, and the fact that Datsyuk is now a Red Wing for the next four years will only help the team mentor and break in its younger players.

With the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, having just won the Calder Cup, it is important that Datsyuk continue to be a leader in the locker room.

The Money in Russia

When Detroit and Datsyuk agreed to this contract, Datsyuk turned down all of the money and playing time that came with the KHL stigma.

Per an article by Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated, in the end, Datsyuk (and Malkin) likely wanted to "prove themselves against the best."

Datsyuk had expressed a desire to end his career in the KHL, but Muir goes on to say that the KHL "can throw around money at the country club with the best of ‘em, but it doesn’t buy it any respect...the KHL will always be regarded as Plan B. At best."

As a player who is still on top of his game, Datsyuk does not want to cash in his chips (pardon the pun) too early. He still has a lot to prove and play for in the NHL.

Turning down the money that the KHL would have offered him is a standing, resounding commitment to not only Datsyuk's desire to play for Detroit, but the Red Wings getting a steal and a bargain player back in their lineup for at least the next four years.

Conclusion

While it may be easy to say that Datsyuk will be washed up at 39 years of age at the end of this contract, one need look no further than other superstars and All-Stars who have played or are still playing in the NHL at a high level.

Detroit's Nick Lidstrom comes immediately to mind, followed closely by Jaromir Jagr (41 years old), and Teemu Selanne (42 years old).

Both players could easily retire during this offseason and walk away from the game knowing they had nothing left to prove, but the fact is that both of these players are still playing at an elite level into their 40s.

Pavel Datsyuk may be drawing closer to the end of his career, but that is still more than four years away in the NHL and maybe six or seven years away in the hockey world altogether.

All statistics via CapGeek.com and NHL.com

For more article updates, Follow @Isaac_Smith91

Donald Sterling's Cheapest Moments as Los Angeles Clippers Owner

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:01:24 -0400

With the Los Angeles Clippers making headlines recently as they try to pick up Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers, a stark contrast is created between the current Clippers willing to spend money and Donald Sterling's cheap past.

Ever since they drafted Blake Griffin, it seems that Sterling decided spending money was something that could actually help his team, so he's gone in that direction for a few years.

Of course, that only comes after nearly three decades of Sterling being as cheap as possible.

It's been said that you don't get rich by spending money, and that certainly seems to be the case as far as he is concerned.

However, you can't build a successful basketball team without spending money either.

Throughout over 30 years owning the Clippers, Sterling has been criticized time and time again for pinching pennies so tight that he's got a permanent imprint of Abraham Lincoln embedded into his palm.

It's crazy that such a lavish man, who is genuinely dedicated to his community, would cheap out on his professional basketball team for decades.

Some of the things he's done in his days as the team's owner seem surprising, but when you remind yourself that it's just Sterling being Sterling, each is a dramatic step up in cheapness from the last.

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Offseason Moves LA Lakers Must Consider to Revamp Bench

Alec Nathan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:01:19 -0400

There were a number of reasons the Los Angeles Lakers disappointed during the 2012-13 campaign, but primary among them was the team's lack of depth.

L.A.'s bench mustered the league's third-worst point output last season, scoring 25.4 points per game. Only Indiana and Portland ranked worse, according to HoopsStats.

After a season of relying far too heavily on the team's aging starting unit, the Lakers now have an opportunity to overhaul their bench with several low-key signings. It's important to note that the Lakers won't be able to make a big splash, because the team already has more than $78 million committed in salary for next season, according to HoopsHype.

As such, the team will only be able to take advantage of the mini mid-level exception and veteran minimum contracts in order to revamp their second unit.

Note: All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference unless noted otherwise.

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Power Ranking the Top 20 Men's Players Heading into 2013 Wimbledon

Jeff Cohn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:00:43 -0400

The 2013 tennis season has been thrilling up to this point.

The men's field has seen a slight power-shift in the last couple months, with Andy Murray withdrawing from the French Open, Rafael Nadal dominating the sport and Roger Federer winning just one title (an ATP250 at that) all year.

Some other lesser-ranked players have also shown signs of brilliance or have faded completely.

As the Wimbledon Championships approach, it is imperative that we form a power ranking list of the top players at the moment.

This list is largely based on recent performance but also occasionally considers how players competed in events this year compared to last year.

Since the competition is so tough and close in some areas, there are three ties on the list.

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CWS 2013: Scouting Top Prospects for 2014 MLB Draft

Richard Langford — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:59:38 -0400

North Carolina State is off to an impressive 1-0 start in the College World Series, and it is no surprise. The Wolfpack are loaded with talent. They could very well field two of the top-five selections in next year's Major League Baseball draft.

The first two players on this list hail from North Carolina State, with a third being a young slugger who helped propel the Indiana Hoosiers to their first College World Series.

Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State

Carlos Rodon might have gone No. 1 in this year's draft had he been eligible. The sophomore left-hander has been phenomenal in his two years at North Carolina State.

Heading into the CWS, he combined to go 18-2 with a 296-81 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first two years.

As you could probably guess from those impressive strikeout numbers, Rodon can bring the heat. He can touch the upper 90s on the gun and do so with control. This is going to get any left-hander instant attention.

He also has a thick frame that suggests he will be able to handle the rigors of starting, and a polished enough repertoire that points to him being a legitimate top-of-the-rotation pitcher.

Along with his heater, he has a nice cutter and a developing slider that is already a borderline plus pitch. That's not all, he's making strides with a splitter as well.

That is all a foundation for tremendous and prolonged success.

Trea Turner, SS, NC State

The Wolfpack are in a position to dominate the top of next year's draft. Shortstop Trea Turner is also an elite prospect and could easily be a top-five selection.

Turner doesn't have the raw power that teams look for, but he does have the athleticism, quickness and arm to play short on the major league level.

And while he doesn't have that raw power, he is a good hitter who utilizes all fields.

Heading into CWS play, he was hitting .376 with seven home runs and 41 RBI. He also has excellent speed and the reactions needed to be a terror on the basepaths.

Finding a solid defensive shortstop with the ability to be a plus in the lineup has tremendous value in the draft, and that is exactly what Turner projects to be.

Kyle Schwarber, C/1B, Indiana

Like numerous college catching prospects, there is a good chance Kyle Schwarber will not stick behind the plate.

While he has the size at 6'0", 230 pounds and the arm, he is a little slow of foot. An organization could work to develop his footwork, or it may just forget about it and stick him at first because this kid can flat-out mash.

For the year, he's batting .372 with 18 home runs, 54 RBI and an on-base percentage of .462. He is loaded with raw power, has nice swing mechanics and takes a nice approach at the plate.

He will be one of the most coveted sluggers in next year's draft.

MLB Prospects Update: Hottest, Coldest Pitchers at Every Minor League Level

Mike Rosenbaum — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:54:51 -0400

Selected by the Red Sox with the 39th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Anthony Ranaudo was expected to make a quick ascent to the major leagues. However, the 6’7” right-hander hit a roadblock during his sophomore campaign in 2011, as he battled a groin injury over the first few months of the season prior to being shut down for the season in July with shoulder fatigue.

Making up for lost time, the 23-year-old decided to pitch in the Puerto Rico Winter League during the offseason and began to look more like the pitcher the Red Sox envisioned when they drafted him a few years earlier. More importantly, he’s built upon that success this season at Double-A Portland while emerging as one of the top pitchers in the minor leagues.

Things have truly come full circle for Ranaudo, who turned in his best outing as a professional on Friday against Erie: 7.2 IP, 2 H, 13/2 K/BB.

Here’s a look at the rest of the hottest and coldest pitchers from every minor league level.

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Celtics Trade Rumors: Clippers Negotiations Will Lead to End of 'Big 3' Era

Tyler Conway — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:54:40 -0400

The Boston Celtics' "Big Three" era is dead.

No matter how the team's oft-discussed trade talks with the Los Angeles Clippers turn out, the 2013 offseason will be forever known as the final nail in the era that reinvigorated basketball in Boston, introduced Ubuntu to the NBA lexicon and hoisted a record 17th banner to the TD Garden.

Yes, I know what the reports say. ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne and multiple others broke the story early Tuesday, stating the Clippers pulled out of negotiations that would have sent Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles in exchange for center DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks.

The negotiations, which have been taking place over the past week, reportedly started falling apart on Monday before Los Angeles walked away from the table altogether. The Clippers had cold feet not only over giving up two first-rounders to allow Rivers out of his five-year, $35 million contract, but also had reservations about taking on the coach's exorbitant salary.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed the talks were "dead," to Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe:

All indications are that neither side is posturing. The Clippers have pulled out and are planning to hire their next head coach soon—likely Brian Shaw or Lionel Hollins. The Celtics, while confused as to why Los Angeles pulled out of negotiations, per USA Today's Sam Amick, are also moving on.

But here's the thing: NBA teams are fickle. Until Shaw, Hollins or whoever takes the Clippers job, this deal is not completely dead. This deal was and still is one relenting phone call away from getting done for either side. Los Angeles could realize it's a bit insane (which it is) to give Boston a hard-line stance on a deal that doesn't involve Eric Bledsoe, while the Celtics could merely give up and just move on from the whole thing.

It doesn't really matter—at least from the Celtics' future perspective.

Whether Los Angeles and Boston reinvigorate these talks and get a deal done is irrelevant. The cliche "point of no return" exists for a reason—especially in a city as prideful as Boston—and Rivers puppeteering in this deal places him firmly within that overwrought statement.

It's been Rivers spearheading the move to Los Angeles throughout the process, mainly because he was unwilling to buy into the Celtics' desire to rebuild the franchise. That's despite Rivers knowing when he signed an extension that would keep him with the franchise through 2016 that a rebuild was almost guaranteed.

While Rivers is plenty within his rights to change his mind about buying in—an understandable stance considering the special relationship he has with Garnett and Paul Pierce—the Celtics have just as much right to feel scorned by their beloved coach.

For people within both Rivers' camp and the Celtics organization, the writing is on the wall. As a source said to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, "You don't just move on from this and act like nothing happened."

Rivers is expected to meet with Ainge on Wednesday to discuss his future. It's unclear whether anything will be decided in that meeting, but it seems almost unfathomable that Rivers would be on Boston's sideline next year. Per Grantland's Bill Simmons, who has quite the connection to the city of Boston, we might be seeing a return of Doc Rivers, TV analyst:

In a separate tweet—before talks broke down—Simmons said that Rivers would probably need a flux capacitor to come back to the Celtics in 2013-14:

The biggest domino effect of Rivers leaving—whether to Los Angeles or to a TV booth—would obviously come from Garnett. The Big Ticket was willing to waive his no-trade clause for a move to the Clippers, so long as Rivers came along for the ride. That's a marked (albeit unsurprising) change in stance from a man who said he "bleed[s] green" in February, per A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (via ProBasketballTalk).

Garnett shouldn't and won't get the same flak Rivers is receiving. His loyalties lie partially to the city of Boston, but his heart is with playing under Doc and playing with Pierce. Multiple reports have suggested that Rivers is the only coach Garnett wants to play for at this point in his career.

Should Rivers leave, what comes next? Does Garnett retire and walk away from the $18-plus million (2013-14 salary plus $6 million in partial guarantees for 2014-15)? And if Garnett doesn't walk away, the Celtics sure seem keen on moving forward with their rebuilding project. Does the Clippers trade wind up happening, only with Rivers not being a part of the package?

That's all without mentioning Pierce, whose status has gotten almost completely lost in the shuffle here. Per Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, the Celtics captain's name has been tangentially linked to the Ubuntu West dream, but only as a secondary figure. It's a bit amazing, though, considering how great Pierce was down the stretch that he's essentially become known as the albatross in the room.

Boston has until June 30 to make a decision on whether to decline Pierce's option and take a $5 million hit or take on his $15.3 million salary for 2013-14. That decision has probably been made at a front-office level. It's been reported by Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe that Pierce's family is already expecting to move on from Boston, where the All-Star forward has spent his entire career.

This whole situation is a mess. It's gotten far uglier, far more public than anyone expected. When Garnett and Rivers shared a private moment as the Celtics were eliminated by the New York Knicks from this year's playoffs, it felt like a perfect end. Each man said their "I love yous" and the era seemed to be ending copacetically.

And then everything went to hell. Whether it's only Rivers who leaves, or Rivers and Garnett, or all three, the "Big Three" era's final nail in the coffin will be one gigantic black mark.

Granted, if you want to get technical, it's fair to say Ray Allen's departure for the Miami Heat last summer would mark the "end" in a traditional sense. But it's become clear that the greatest three-point shooter who ever lived was the third or even the fourth wheel by the time he left Boston. Allen feuded with Rajon Rondo throughout his time with the franchise, and left feeling like he was overlooked by Rivers for the remaining trio of stars.

Ray Allen was an integral linking piece at the peak of the "Big Three" era. By the time he left, though, it had become clear that Garnett, Pierce and Rivers were the "real" Big Three in both the organization's and city's eyes. They embodied Ubuntu, they embraced and bled green and white, they fought down to the very last wire despite all odds and embodied everything the city of Boston saw in itself.

And now it's about to be over. Things end in sports and in life. You deal with it and move on. It's a shame that such a relationship is about to end with such an ugly divorce.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter:

Sakio Bika vs. Marco Antonio Periban: Preview and Prediction for Title Fight

Briggs Seekins — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:53:17 -0400

On the undercard of Saturday's Paulie Malignaggi-Adrien Broner showdown in Brooklyn, undefeated Mexican super middleweight Marco Antonio Periban will face veteran contender Sakio Bika. The fight is for the vacant WBC belt.

That belt was last held by Andre Ward, who relinquished it rather than face a mandatory challenger who didn't measure up to his expectations for an opponent. We are looking at a situation at 168 where Ward is bigger than any of the individual belts, like Mayweather at welterweight and junior middleweight.

But for the prospect, Periban, and the gatekeeper, Bika, the situation is different. An alphabet soup belt would greatly benefit the careers of both men. There's a lot at stake in this fight.

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