(H/T: NBA.com)

The NBA Draft Lottery is one of the most looked forward to events for fans of really bad basketball teams. While other fan bases in larger markets rejoice in playoff basketball, others are left only wishing they could be a part of the fun. For 14 teams every season, the fun is had in building for the future and for most that starts with good positioning in the NBA Draft.

Whether you agree with how it works or not, the NBA Draft Lottery is the kick off to the NBA offseason and it fully sets draft talk into motion. In years past, there has usually been a clearcut No. 1 prospect that teams are literally trying to hit the jackpot with and win the chance to select him. But this year the field is more even keel and as many three or four players are seriously in the running to be the top pick. But the question entering the night was who would that team be.

That team ended up being Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Washington Wizards weren’t projected to pick inside the top 3 but because they drew the right combination, the order got skewed slightly. The Toronto Raptors needed to pick inside of the top-3 to hold onto their first-round pick but because they drew the 12th overall pick, it will now be transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the James Harden trade.

Cleveland winning the lottery for the second time in three years could be potentially huge for the future of the team. Due to there not being a clearcut No. 1 prospect this year, __ could go a number of different directions. The first of which is to trade the pick to a team like Orlando or Charlotte who are are looking for missing pieces and need one real standout to lead their young team to greatness.

Obviously the best option is to stay put and draft a massive piece for the future. Nerlens Noel is a popular choice, as the center out of Kentucky is coming off of a torn ACL but is still regarded as one of the best players in his class.

Ben McLemore from Kansas is another prospect garnering significant buzz as is Otto Porter out of Georgetown.

All of these names are possibilities at No. 1 overall and that’s a problem __ is happy to have. They’re picking first overall and they’ll set the tone for how the rest of the draft plays out underneath them.

Here’s a look at the final NBA Draft Lottery order:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9.  Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trailblazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Toronto Raptors (Belongs to Oklahoma City Thunder)
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz

The NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 27th.

May 19, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) watches from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies in game one of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT

Sports fans are fanatic beings, but that sometimes boarders on psychosis. Thus was the case during Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs Western Conference Finals matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, as star point guard Tony Parker reportedly received death threats during the game that had to be handled by local police.

According to Paul Berry, spokesman for the the San Antonio Sheriff’s Office, someone called 911 during the Spurs game against the Grizzlies making a threat against Tony Parker’s life.

“We received a call from San Antonio Police that there was a potential threat against Mister Parker,” stated Berry, via NBC affiliate WIOA. ““We immediately increased security both inside the AT&T Center and outside the AT&T Center.”

It’s unfortunately common for players to receive death threats before and after games but rarely is someone backwards stupid enough to call in a threat during a game. Given the world we live in, where terrorism runs rampant and in the shadow of the Boston Marathon Bombings, people are on even higher alert than they already were when it comes to people wanting to cause harm to others during live events.

Most likely, the call came from a drunken gambler who was upset at losing money over the way Parker was tearing up the Grizzlies defense and leading the Spurs to a Game 1 win. But even if the threat was baseless and wasn’t going to go anywhere, police must work on the assumption that all threats are serious.

Death threats are the turds that the mouth breathers among sports fans leave on the jewels of the game we all love. They go into the category of the drum guy who takes a foul ball from a little kid or that loud fan who tries to start a fight when his team is losing. There’s no place in sports for it and people who dabble into the darker side of fandom best hang it up and get their kicks elsewhere.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA draft lottery is an exciting time for the franchises that didn’t accomplish anything worthwhile during the NBA regular season. Although the teams that have the highest chances possible usually win it, there have been instances that have fans and NBA executives wondering if the lottery is actually rigged.

In no way are we implying the NBA actually rigs the lottery but if I were to bet on the ones that were, these would be the 10 NBA lotteries that were likely fixed….

10. 1993- The Orlando Magic win the lottery for the second year in a row.

One year after the Magic selected Shaquille O’Neal with the No. 1 overall pick, Orlando struck gold again and won the lottery for the second year in a row. Coming off a 41-41 season, Orlando had only a 1.52% chance to attain the No. 1 pick. Orlando selected Michigan forward Chris Webber, before trading him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway and three future first round picks. 

9. 1997- San Antonio wins the lottery, pairs David Robinson with Tim Duncan.

After a season that saw David Robinson go down with an injury that sidelined him for most of the year, the Spurs finished with an abysmal 20-62 record. Things turned around quickly when the Spurs selected Wake Forest star Tim Duncan with the first overall selection. They were deemed the “Twin Towers” and won their first championship together in Duncan’s second season with the franchise.

8. 1999- Chicago Bulls win the lottery after Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson depart.

One year after the Chicago Bulls dynasty officially ended, they were rewarded with the No. 1 pick to help ease the pain. The front office selected Duke forward Elton Brand. Brand had an amazing rookie year, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first year. His stint in Chicago would last only two seasons, before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

7. 2004- Orlando Magic wins the lottery for the third time, selects Dwight Howard.

Dwight Howard was the best center to come out of the draft in years. After losing Shaquille O’neal to the Lakers in 1996, it was fitting the Magic would receive the pick and rebuild around another young stud in the paint.

6. 2010-Washington Wizards select John Wall.

The Wizards won the rights to John Wall after winning the lottery with a 10.30% chance. Irene Pollin–the wife of Wizard’s owner Abe Pollin who passed away in November of 2009- - was representing the franchise and received the special news. She was quoted as saying per ESPN.com:

“This is very, very special. I have been in this my entire adult life and to be here, representing my husband, this is very special to me tonight. I think it’s the culmination of my husband’s dream because he wanted another ring and maybe this will get us another ring.” 

5. 2003- Cleveland Cavaliers win the lottery , selects phenom LeBron James.

LeBron James was the best player to come out of the draft in years. He was considered to be a “can’t miss” prospect and was called “The Chosen One”. The Cleveland Cavaliers did everything possible to make sure they were in the sweepstakes to land the No. 1 pick. James was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and was seen attending Cavs games prior to his NBA debut  The Cavaliers indeed won the lottery and selected LeBron James with the No. 1 pick in the  star-studded class. 

4.  2011- One year after LeBron James leaves Cleveland, the Cavaliers win the lottery with a 2.8% chance.

In the 2010-2011 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Baron Davis to the Los Angeles Clippers for their first round draft pick. It turned out to be a wise decision. With only a 2.8% chance, the Cavaliers won the lottery and began to move on from the LeBron James era and selected Duke guard Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick.

3. 2012- The then New Orleans “Hornets” win the lottery after the NBA gave up ownership of the team.

There were whispers that a few NBA executives believed the 2012 NBA lottery was fixed. Some speculated if the Hornets were bought, they would receive the No. 1 pick in return. The Hornets were technically owned by the NBA for the 2011-2012 campaign. New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson bought the franchise and selected Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the No.1 pick. Benson has since changed the name to the “Pelicans”. 

2. 2008- Chicago Bulls win the lottery with a 1.7% chance, selects home-town star Derrick Rose.

The Chicago Bulls pulled off one of the biggest upsets in draft lottery history. Many were expecting the Miami Heat (who had the NBA’s worst regular season record and the highest chance to land the No. 1 pick) to land Derrick Rose and pair him up with superstar Dwyane Wade. The tide turned when Chicago won the lottery with only a 1.7% chance. The Bulls selected Derrick Rose, who was born and raised in Chicago with the No.1 pick.

1. 1985-Patrick Ewing and the Frozen Envelope.

The  1985 was the first year the NBA installed the draft lottery. Many believe it was the biggest draft fix in history. Conspiracy theorists claim that the 1985 draft lottery was rigged and NBA commissioner David Stern wanted Patrick Ewing in the NBA’s biggest market: New York. Before the days of ping-pong balls, the picks were chosen via envelopes. Those who believe in the conspiracy say New York’s envelope was frozen so that Stern would know to select that one, which would give the Knicks the first overall pick. Whether it is true or not, David Stern did indeed grab the Knicks envelope and they selected Georgetown star Patrick Ewing with the No. 1 pick.

Apr 25, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro reacts during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers have finally done what many long suspected they’d do. After losing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs for two straight years, the team has announced that head coach Vinny Del Negro has been fired, per a report from Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo! Sports.

The Clippers have fired Vinny Del Negro, source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 21, 2013

Del Negro took over the Clippers back in 2011 after being fired by the Chicago Bulls for essentially the same reasons he was fired in Los Angeles. Despite talented rosters in both Chicago and Los Angeles, Del Negro has failed to pull it all together and put a winning product on the hardwood even though his teams routinely make it to the postseason.

Talks of letting Del Negro go have been floating around even before the Clippers lost their playoff series to the Memphis Grizzlies. Stan Van Gundy is a name that has been attached to the Clippers for some time now and it’s no secret that he’ll be the guy Los Angeles makes a hard move to get this offseason.

With the firing of Del Negro, the Clippers are now the third high profile team to be looking for a new head coach as both the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets are also in the hunt for a top coaching candidate to lead their team into the future. Los Angeles has the draw to pull in a big name coach and they’ll need one to try and erase the lost seasons they’ve had under Del Negro.

The Toronto Raptors thought they had a good thing going when NBA legend Phil Jackson was attached to their team, but it turns out they may have just been a pawn in Jackson’s game to secure a top job with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the former Lakers coach apparently had little interest in the Raptors job and was “in no rush” to move into a position of power there.

That’s likely because Jackson is making a power play to move into a position of power with the Los Angeles Lakers and the parts are already moving in that direction.

Per Marc Stein:

Some league observers, however, remain convinced that Jackson’s flirtations with teams are largely aimed at convincing Lakers lead basketball decision-maker Jim Buss to cede his organizational power to sister Jeanie Buss … which would theoretically enable Jeanie to bring Phil, her fiancé, back to Lakerland as L.A.’s next front-office chief.

Everything about the play reeks of something Phil Jackson would do. The man knows how to get what he wants and it’s apparent that a return to the Lakers would please like no other job in the NBA would. Jackson admitted that he would have taken a job with the Seattle SuperSonics had they moved from being the Sacramento Kings, but he told Jay Leno that he has no interest in a job with the Kings as they sit now.

A lot of things need to happen before Jackson moves into power with the Lakers but Jim Buss must realize that the team is falling apart and having a figure like Jackson running the team and luring players in is good for business. It’s all a matter of ego and if it will stand in the way from the baton being passed from brother to sister to Phil Jackson.

(H/T: NBA.com)

The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight, and fan bases across the NBA will be holding their breath to see if their beloved team hits the jackpot.

This year the top pick isn’t as distinct as it has been in years past. Usually the draft lottery is a drawing for a player already determined as last year it was known that Anthony Davis would be taken first overall and the lottery was essentially to see who would draft him. This year Nerlens Noel seems to be leading the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick but guys like Trey Burke are giving him a run for his money.

So when is the NBA Draft Lottery and where can you watch? We’ve got all the information you need right here:

When: Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Disney/ABC’s Times Square Studios, New York City, New York
TV: ESPN
Live Stream:  Watch ESPN (May be blacked out in some areas)

Here’s a look at the NBA Draft Lottery Odds:

1. Orlando Magic, 25 percent

2. Charlotte Bobcats, 19.9 percent

3. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15.6 percent

4. Phoenix Suns, 11.9 percent

5. New Orleans Pelicans, 8.8 percent

6. Sacramento Kings, 6.3 percent

7. Detroit Pistons, 4.3 percent

8. Washington Wizards, 2.8 percent

9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1.7 percent

10. Portland Trail Blazers, 1.1 percent (Belongs to CHA of outside of top-12)

11. Philadelphia 76ers, 0.8 percent

12. Toronto Raptors, 0.7 percent (Belongs to OKC if outside of top-3)

13. Dallas Mavericks, 0.6 percent

14. Utah Jazz, 0.5 percent

Stay tuned to FanSided all summer to get the latest up-to-date news and rumors about the 2013 NBA Draft.

Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight, and fan bases across the NBA will be holding their breath to see if their beloved team hits the jackpot.

This year the top pick isn’t as distinct as it has been in years past. Usually the draft lottery is a drawing for a player already determined as last year it was known that Anthony Davis would be taken first overall and the lottery was essentially to see who would draft him. This year Nerlens Noel seems to be leading the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick but guys like Trey Burke are giving him a run for his money.

Here’s a look at the NBA Draft Lottery Odds:

1. Orlando Magic, 25 percent

2. Charlotte Bobcats, 19.9 percent

3. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15.6 percent

4. Phoenix Suns, 11.9 percent

5. New Orleans Pelicans, 8.8 percent

6. Sacramento Kings, 6.3 percent

7. Detroit Pistons, 4.3 percent

8. Washington Wizards, 2.8 percent

9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1.7 percent

10. Portland Trail Blazers, 1.1 percent (Belongs to CHA of outside of top-12)

11. Philadelphia 76ers, 0.8 percent

12. Toronto Raptors, 0.7 percent (Belongs to OKC if outside of top-3)

13. Dallas Mavericks, 0.6 percent

14. Utah Jazz, 0.5 percent

Stay tuned to FanSided all summer to get the latest up-to-date news and rumors about the 2013 NBA Draft.

(H/T: NBA.com)

The NBA Draft is tomorrow at 8:30pm ET but the hype and speculation surrounding the ultimate winner is just getting started. Adding to the drama is the fact that unlike years past there isn’t a clear cut No. 1 overall pick waiting to be selected by the winner of the lottery on Tuesday. Some people view Kentucky center Nerlens Noel as the best player in the draft but guys like Trey Burke, Ben McLemore and Otto Potter are giving convincing cases for themselves to be the top pick.

But before we can speculate over who will be the top pick, we need to find out who will be picking there. Here’s a look at the odds for this year’s NBA Draft Lottery:

NBA Draft Lottery Odds 2013:

1. Orlando Magic, 25 percent

2. Charlotte Bobcats, 19.9 percent

3. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15.6 percent

4. Phoenix Suns, 11.9 percent

5. New Orleans Pelicans, 8.8 percent

6. Sacramento Kings, 6.3 percent

7. Detroit Pistons, 4.3 percent

8. Washington Wizards, 2.8 percent

9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1.7 percent

10. Portland Trail Blazers, 1.1 percent (Belongs to CHA of outside of top-12)

11. Philadelphia 76ers, 0.8 percent

12. Toronto Raptors, 0.7 percent (Belongs to OKC if outside of top-3)

13. Dallas Mavericks, 0.6 percent

14. Utah Jazz, 0.5 percent

Remainder of Draft Order

15. Milwaukee Bucks

16. Boston Celtics

17. Atlanta Hawks

18. Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets)

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers)

20. Chicago Bulls

21. Utah Jazz (via Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors)

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. Indiana Pacers

24. New York Knicks

25. Los Angeles Clippers

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies)

27. Denver Nuggets

28. San Antonio Spurs

29. Oklahoma City Thunder

30. Phoenix Suns (via Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat)

Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA Draft Lottery is Tuesday night at 8:00 pm ET, but the hype surrounding the event is already mounting. The odds are in and the machine has been loaded with balls, and all that’s left is to see who will be picking No. 1 overall in this year’s NBA Draft.

Before we get too excited about what this year’s winner will do with their pick, let’s take a look back at past winners to see who won the lottery in the years gone by and who they chose to spend that pick on.

Stay tuned to FanSided all summer to get the latest up-to-date news and rumors about the 2013 NBA Draft.

Unlike the NFL, the NBA does not reverse the league standings rather it draws a draft lottery to see which team hits the jackpot. In years past, some of the best players to come into the league have been drafted by teams who won the lottery as LeBron James, Derrick Rose and guys like Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson were all No. 1 picks drafted by teams who won the lottery.

This year the top pick isn’t as distinct as it has been in years past. Usually the draft lottery is a drawing for a player already determined as last year it was known that Anthony Davis would be taken first overall and the lottery was essentially to see who would draft him. This year Nerlens Noel seems to be leading the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick but guys like Trey Burke are giving him a run for his money.

So when is the NBA Draft Lottery and where can you watch? We’ve got all the information you need right here:

When: Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Disney/ABC’s Times Square Studios, New York City, New York
TV: ESPN
Live Stream:  Watch ESPN (May be blacked out in some areas)

Stay tuned to FanSided all summer to get the latest up-to-date news and rumors about the 2013 NBA Draft.

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

According to Ken Berger of CBS, Dwight Howard will not give in to the wishes of the Los Angeles Lakers. While the Lakers would like a swift decision on whether or not their superstar center plans on returning to the team or not next season, Howard would like to take the opportunity to explore other options via free agency.

A summer removed from “Dwightmare”, let the sequel now begin.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, Howard is worth all of the attention from around the NBA and media. When healthy, Howard is easily the most dominant center in the league, capable of taking over a game single-handedly.

In a year plagued with injuries and drama surrounding the relationship between Kobe and Dwight, he still managed to post impressive numbers of 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks on almost 58% shooting from the floor.

At just 27 years of age, Howard is unquestionably worth the maximum number salary wise for any NBA team. Luckily for the Lakers, if money is what the free-agent-to-be desires, they hold the upper hand. Thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, they can offer him a substantial amount more over the entirety of a contract.

Teams that were involved in trade talks involving Howard last year such as the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks are likely to try to sway the superstar away from Los Angeles.

With all that said, expect news involving Dwight Howard starting July 1, the day he becomes a free agent officially.

May 19, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies power forward Darrell Arthur (00) attempts a shot during the first quarter as San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili (20) and forward Matt Bonner (15) defend in game one of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT

The Memphis Grizzlies just completed their first ever Game 1 in a Conference Final but they’re likely glad it’s over. Like a hazing ritual, the San Antonio Spurs beatup, beat down and destroyed the Grizzlies to take a 1-0 series lead in a Conference Finals showdown that could be over quicker than we thought.

Memphis is a cute story, but they were not the better basketball team on the court Sunday against the Spurs. The Grizzlies didn’t shoot that bad from the field but they just didn’t shoot well enough. Shooting over 40 percent sometimes gets the job done except when your opponent shoots over 50 percent. That was the case on Sunday as the Spurs were unstoppable from the field and simply out shot the Grizzlies in Game 1.

Quincy Pondexter gave the Grizzlies a boost off the bench and both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley came to ball on Sunday but the lack of production out of Zach Randolph didn’t do Memphis any favors, especially with four Spurs players going well into double-digit scoring totals on the afternoon.

San Antonio got razzed a bit by the Golden State Warriors but they made a statement on Sunday afternoon that another young team would not come along and do the same thing to them. The irony in that is San Antonio beat up the Grizzlies with young stars like Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner who both finished with double digit scoring totals.

Memphis may have gotten bloodied and embarrassed in Game 1 but it’s premature to say the Spurs are dragging them behind the shed. While the Oklahoma City Thunder were weakened without Russell Westbrook, the Grizzlies still dominated a great team when they beat the Thunder and all it will take is figuring out how to slow the Spurs offensive production and shake their scoring streak.

The series is far from over but there is work to be done for the Grizzlies if they want to avoid the entire series being defined by this initial blowout to kick things off.

Apr 3, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers former center Greg Oden smiles while watching the Trail Blazers play against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

It is no secret that a comeback is in the cards for former number one draft pick, Greg Oden. For countless months now, we have heard about the progress of his ailing knees and the rumors of teams interested in the services of the big man.

According to former Ohio State teammate and potential 2013 draft pick DeShaun Thomas, ”Man, he looks unbelievable,” he said at the draft combine. “He’s running. He’s lifting weights. You might be seeing a comeback. He looks like he’s ready to go. He’s running, getting in shape. I’ll tell you one thing. For a big 7-footer that’s all he does, running and getting in shape. He’s looking right.”

Oden is now working out in his hometown of Indianapolis along with Thomas. Bob Finnan of the News-Herald said that Oden’s workouts have been something else.

Clearly, this is good news for a lot of NBA teams in need of a center, not just Oden. Although he has played just 82 career games after being drafted ahead of Kevin Durant in 2007 and has been out of the league for almost four years, he will still be just 25 years of age until midway through the season.

Oden hopes to make a return to the NBA in 2013-2014 for one final try at resurrecting a disappointing career as of now. As the days go on and the news continues, it seems like it is more and more promising that the former number one pick may be able to make a return to the association, this time to stay.

Mandatory credit: Michael Hickey-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a dream season for the Indiana Pacers so far, but things could turn into an ugly nightmare as the Miami Heat are next up on Indiana’s docket. But while it’s a tall order to knock off the Heat and advance to the NBA Finals, the Indiana Paces seem up to the task and they indeed have the tools to not only challenge Miami but pull off the upset and overthrow them in the East.

The series will come down to one thing: can the Pacers take LeBron James out of the series. If the Pacers contain James and neutralize him, then they match up incredibly well against the Heat. Miami has struggled inside all season and the Pacers present a beefy, physical gameplan when it comes to who’s bigs can out-rebound the other team’s.

Amazingly enough, with the Big 3 in town the Heat have gotten by with a small-ball mentality and so far it’s worked. But the Pacers aren’t built like the Chicago Bulls or Milwaukee Bucks and can beat up the Heat all over the court with guys like Roy Hibbert and David West.

But Paul George will be the biggest name to watch in the series as he’ll be drawing heavy minutes defending LeBron James and working on making him as little a factor as possible. This isn’t a situation where the Pacers can afford to allow LeBron to “get his” anf worry about stopping the rest of the Heat. In the postseason LeBron James is the Heat and stopping him is bigger than it’s ever been.

It’s easier said than done, but George is already a rising superstar in league and nothing will propel him to the elite level he’s headed towards faster than a dominant series against LeBron. Milwaukee didn’t have an answer for LeBron and the Bulls were without Luol Deng the entire series which means George is the first formidable opponent James has faced all postseason long.

Hopefully for the Pacers, this means the series will last longer than 5 games but the Pacers are the best team at the moment to knock the Miami Heat off or at the very least give them the biggest scare of their postseason run.

May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) reacts to losing to the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats New York 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are out of the NBA Playoffs and the team now has more than a few questions to answer about where the club will be when the season tips off in 2013. One of those question marks surrounds Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith and his plans for the future. He’d been teetering on the brink but after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers, there is likely nothing that will stop Smith from testing free agent waters this summer.

All the way back in late April, sources told Moke Hamilton that Smith is “very, very likely” to decline his player option with the Knicks and see what he’s worth to other teams in free agency.

Smith has a player option for next season, and a source close to Smith tells SheridanHoops.com that it is “very, very likely” that he will opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

With the Indiana Pacers beating the New York Knicks on Saturday night, we are officially advanced to the Conference Finals in both the Eastern and Western Conference. There are amazing games on both sides of the bracket and we are just 14 games away from finding out who will battle for NBA supremacy.

Over in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies have found themselves in the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history and they’re taking on another small market club in San Antonio. If there’s a team familiar with what the Grizzlies are going through, it’s the Spurs who rose to prominence in the early 2000s and have stayed in the upper echleon of the NBA since then.

In the East, the Miami Heat are continuing their defense of the NBA Title but the Indiana Pacers have visions of ending the defense and upsetting Miami. The Heat have virtually gone unchallenged in the postseason but they’re running into a real threat in the Indiana Pacers.

Both series’ should be thrilling to watch, and we’ve got you covered on when to watch so break out that calendar and pencil in these dates because the NBA Playoffs are down to the wire and the action is only just getting started.

BEST OF SEVEN (2-2-1-1-1)

Stay tuned to FanSided all postseason long to stay up to date on all the latest news, results and rumors surrounding the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks fan Spike Lee arrives for game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks were hoping that they hadn’t dug themselves too deep of a hole against the Indiana Pacers but that’s exactly what happened. Despite finishing as the second-best team in the Eastern COnference, the  New York Knicks failed to make it to the Conference Finals and are on the outside looking in for yet another season.

Indiana just brought it too hard on Saturday night and while many fans around the NBA are disappointed that the Knicks run is now done, Pacers fans are partying into the night as their team has finally gotten over a two year hump and have landed a spot against the Miami Heat in the Conference Finals.

The win is momentous in that Frank Vogel’s team has looked the part of a playoff contender the past few seasons but they’ve run into some sort of problem each time they tried to make a run. Like the Grizzlies have long been a sleeper’s favorite, the Pacers have ben building towards this win for years and they’ve finally matured before our eyes and are ready to take the next step.

Now the question is, are the Pacers ready to make the ultimate step and reach the NBA Finals. They have an enormous task ahead of them in stopping the Miami Heat, a team that has lost just once this postseason and haven’t at all looked vulnerable. Indiana has beat teams up in creative ways this season and the Heat will present a challenge almost bigger than one that would await them in the NBA Finals.

As in video games, where the “boss” comes at the end of the game, the Miami Heat represent that sort of a “boss” threat to the Pacers and only time will tell if they’re up to beating them.

As for the Knicks, yet another season has ended in bitter disappointment and unlike the Pacers’ exit from the postseason the last two seasons, it honestly doesn’t feel like things are going to get better for New York. It’s been brutally established that Carmelo Anthony isn’t capable of carrying the tea on his back and he needs help, but the Knicks aren’t in a position of wealth when it comes to who they can sign in free agency. To add to that, the team fought behind the scenes all series long and a rift may have formed between Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony — and a fractured team is even worse than what the Knicks threw out there against the Pacers.

But while the Knicks are largely to blame for their own exit to the postseason, the better team won in Indiana on Saturday night and the party seems only just beginning for Pacers fans who finally have a dashing basketball team.

Apr 28, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett (5) and shooting guard Jason Terry (4) celebrate against the New York Knicks during game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

There are question marks surrounding a possible return of Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics and fans have now gotten two boosts of good news in the span of a week. After general manager Danny Ainge announced that head coach Doc Rivers will indeed return in 2013 to coach the Celtics for one more season, the team has learned that Kevin Garnett will not need surgery on his ankle or foot as previously feared.

Kevin Garnett will not need surgery on his foot/ankle. Medical staff thinks rest will solve the problem.

— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) May 17, 2013

With another big question answered for Celtics fans, the biggest one of all still remains and that’s whether or not Garnett plans on being back with Boston in 2013. His decision likely hinges on whether or not Paul Pierce returns, which branches off into a whole different tangent of questions that could ultimately break up the Celtics core in 2013.

Rajon Rondo likely won’t be back for the start of the season and if both Garnett and Pierce are gone, the Celtics are going to be in a painfully slow rebuilding process. They have the pieces to make it happen, but they also might have the pieces to make another championship run should Garnett and Pierce decide to return.

Garnett not needing surgery significantly boosts his chances of retiring, but only in theory. Pierce’s decision is ultimately what Garnett seems to be waiting on and the rest of Boston is anxiously waiting with him.

Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are battling for their playoff lives Saturday night and they might not be able to escape Indiana with their championship dreams intact. Carmelo Anthony has been carrying the team on his injured shoulders, and the question everyone is pondering is how long can New York last the way they’ve been playing.

They fell hard out of the gate and even after tying the series, the Knicks have been devastated by injuries and illnesses that sunk them into a 3-1 hole. They were able to pull out a win at home in Madison Square Garden in Game 5 but the fact of the matter remains they’re winless on the road inside the Bankers Life Fieldhouse and there’s no reason Indiana is going to go light on the Knicks in Game 6.

The Pacers have been waiting for this type of postseason run for the last two seasons. Many thought they could make a run last year but this is the season they seem poised to challenge Eastern Conference titans and earn their stripes as one of the finer teams in the NBA today. They’re not a flashy market, as the series has yet again been dubbed Hicks vs. Knicks but the Pacers — and specifically Indiana– know basketball and they’re taking it to the Knicks so far.

All the nail biting playoff action will be aired on ESPN but if you’re not going to be around your television or if you don’t get ESPN as part of your cable package, you can stream the game live on the Watch ESPN app on your iPhone or iPad, or you can simply stream it live on your laptop by visiting Watch ESPN and plugging in all your cable provider’s information.

Apr 10, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) high fives fans after scoring 47 points against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most talked about stories in the world of basketball had nothing to do with who’s currently battling for an NBA championship. Legendary head coach Phil Jackson released a book and it’s making headlines in that the Zen-master gives his input on the whole Kobe vs. MJ debate that has been raging for over a decade now.

Jackson is in perhaps the best position to speak on the matter as he coached both players while they were in their prime. Jackson made a name for himself while coaching Jordan in the 90s in Chicago and then solidified his status as the greatest coach in NBA history by leading the way in Los Angeles with Kobe as his main weapon of choice.

Jackson implied that Jordan is the better player, but he did give Kobe is due justice when it came to handing out compliments. Kobe weighed in on what he thought of Jackson’s comparison and he raised an interesting hypothetical in doing so.

The comparisons are #apples2oranges Wonder what the perception would be if M played wit @shaq instead #differentroles #differentcareerpaths

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 17, 2013

Bryant brings up a brilliant point as Shaq has become an entity in of himself while Scottie Pippen was always the quite one taking a backseat to Jordan’s success with the Bulls. Pippen wasn’t a personality, he was a ballplayer and they rarely last in the minds of the general NBA populace. Pippen is routinely downgraded and disregarded by some fans talking up the greatness of Jordan while Kobe is almost always in the same sentence as Shaq.

But there’s a reason that happens, and it’s that Michael Jordan transcended the game and has taken on a Yoda-like status when mentioned in retrospect, while Kobe is more of the Obi-Wan type. Both are masterful Jedi Knight and the two baddest of the bad asses, but Jordan was more than a ballplayer and more than a personality — he changed the face of the game both on and off the court and there’s no box score stats for that.

Kobe may not ever be better than Jordan, but people are forgetting how damn hard it is to be second best to the His Airness.

The word and the sale is now final – the Seattle Supersonics will have to wait to return as the Maloofs finalized the sale of the Sacramento Kings to local investors and the team will remain where it is now and will not be moving to Seattle. This obviously has Sonics fans heartbroken yet again, and the legendary Phil Jackson rubbed it in while on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show where he said had the Sonics returned, he was engaged in “serious” talks to join the front office.

“I had communication with the guy that’s trying to make this move,” Jackson said on the show, referencing Chris Hansen, the leader of the Seattle bid. “It was serious talk. I thought he was a really good guy for the league.”

Jackson, who is making the rounds now thanks to his book that is coming out, has been making it known that he’s interested in a front office job in the NBA. After being passed over for the Lakers job this season and showing no interest in returning to head coaching anywhere else, Jackson is looking to take his talents to the front office and Seattle would have been the most likely landing spot.

The legendary coach said that while there was interest in the Kings when they were moving to Seattle, now that they’re staying place it’s kind of a deal breaker for him.

“I won’t be doing the [front-office] job in Sacramento. I like Sacramento,” Jackson said. “Well, not that much.”

The next question we are all wondering is where will Jackson go now? There have been rumors about Jackson joining the Toronto Raptors front office, but those talks have apparently stalled.

No matter where he lands, it’s looking like an NBA comeback is inevitable for Jackson, and he’s apparently going to take a run at Pat Reilly and dethrone him as the head coach turned general manager in the game today. 

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA Draft is right around the corner which means prospects are getting in some extra hard work now to show off to teams finalizing their draft boards. The Draft Lottery will give us a better idea of who’s going where, but Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. isn’t concerned with where teams are picking, he just cares about where he’s being picked. The son of the NBA star of the same, elder name put in some hard work at the Draft Combine and FOX Sports’ Sam Amick says that teams are taking notice.

Not only did Michigan G Tim Hardaway Jr kill it in drills, but source at NBA Draft Combine said he interviewed best with teams. Stock rising

— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) May 17, 2013

Right now Hardaway is trying to be among the top names in the draft but he’s not the top guard prospect available. Teammate Trey Burke is widely regarded as not only the best guard in the draft but perhaps the best prospect in the class and he’s being closely followed by Indiana’s Victor Oladipo. ESPN’s Chad Ford currently has Hardaway Jr. ranked as the 34^th best player in the draft and is mocking him in the late-first/early second round.

But all it takes is a good combine to leave a positive lasting impression in the minds of NBA front offices with notoriously short memories. It’s easier to count the number of players who were in some way drafted thanks to highlight reels on YouTube and other viral sites that showcase the good and not the bad.

Hardaway is doing his best to shine the honest way and so far it seems to be working. 

(H/T: @ACCHSAlumni)

Fans asking famous celebrities to take them to their prom has become a cliché in today’s Twitter obsessed society, but every time it happens it never fails to be totally awesome. Dwayne Wade notched the latest so-and-so took me to prom and he made the story even cooler than it already was. About a month ago, Miami senior Nicole Muxo posted a YouTube video asking Dwyane Wade to take her to prom, and when Wade never responded she lost all hope.

That is, she lost hope until the Miami Heat star showed up at her door and whisked here away to the greatest night of her life.

I had a blast at Prom w @nicole_muxo… Never be 2 scared to ask.. They might just say… instagram.com/p/Zb8M-jlCPd/

— Way of WADE (@DwyaneWade) May 18, 2013

“She actually DM’d me on Twitter and said, ‘This is the address, this is where I’m gonna be just in case,’” Wade said to WSVN-TV. “When I got that I said I won’t be doing nothing tomorrow night and I can go and make this a memorable moment for her.”

Love him or hate him as an opposing fan, Dwyane Wade displayed an amazing amount of badass on Friday night when he seemingly on a whim decided to make some girl’s night. After all, the Heat knocked off the Chicago Bulls and are waiting for the Knicks-Pacers series to end, so really what else did he have to do.

Apparently nothing, except head to a high school prom and instantly become the life of the party. All indications suggest that Wade showed up sans the massive Bear head he wore in the Miami Heat’s ‘Harlem Shake’ video that went viral, rather he was in standard prom attire.

May 15, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Nate Robinson (2) fouls Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole (30) during the second half in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat won 94-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls tried to make a run at a title without Derrick Rose and with a banged up roster of unwanted toys. But in the thrill of the postseason, one of those unwanted toys rose to the top and will likely get a nice paycheck in the offseason — only it’s not going to come from Chicago. Nate Robinson helped hold the Bulls together in the postseason, but according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Robinson likely won’t be back next season as he’s outgrown the value of his one-year contract with the Bulls and will probably get too rich for their shallow pockets.

Richard Hamilton: “I haven’t talked to them about (my future). Who knows what direction they’re going in?” One likely without Rip and Nate.

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 16, 2013

Chicago is really facing what is going to be seen as a lost season. No progress was made and the only guy that helped make the postseason enjoyable is likely not returning to the team next season. Derrick Rose is still out, there are injuries everywhere and the Bulls still need a shooting guard to compliment Rose in the scoring game.

Literally nothing has changed in the year between last offseason and the offseason ahead for the Bulls, and it’s not shock that fans are getting annoyed and frustrated with how things are going.

The Bulls front office sort of owes it to the fans of Chicago to spend big this offseason after shelling them with empty promises last season. Nate Robinson isn’t likely a good option to spend big on, but letting him go just reminds Bulls fans of the lost season they just sat through and how little the front office is interested in spending in order to make this team as good as it can be.

Chicago isn’t going to be mediocre forever, but it doesn’t help when the team is more interested in not paying a luxury tax than it is in winning a title. Playing fair only works for so long, and while Nate Robinson isn’t the missing piece of the championship puzzle, being let go by the Bulls after such a fan friendly postseason from him is another reminder that Chicago can’t pinch pennies and expect to hoist trophies.

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Nerlens Noel is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA Draft is fast approaching, and with it comes questions about a guy who was once — and still may be– the top prospect in the draft class. Kentucky forward Nerlens Noel suffered a brutal ACL injury which cut his season short, but it’s not expected to have a Derrick Rose effect on the start of his NBA career. According to Detroit Pistons beat writer Keith Langlois, Noel is expected to be ready to begin his NBA career by Christmas.

Nerlens Noel says hopes ready to go by Christmas. Says injury a blessing, working on other aspects. Will be a bettter player for it, he says

— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) May 16, 2013

This bit of news could both help and hurt Noel’s draft status, as at the moment he’s being projected as Chad Ford’s No. 1 prospect and first-overall pick in the draft, but things could change if his knee starts to scare people off as we near the draft. The Orlando Magic are projected to win the draft lottery at the moment, and taking Noel would mean they may have a replacement for Dwight Howard after a year without him.

But that knee problem and the fact that we know for certain he’s not going to be ready on opening night may make a team go in the direction of a Trey Burke or Victor Oladipo to give them that star point guard rather than a forward and center with a bum knee.

Noel is a talent, there’s no denying that but Sam Bowie keeps coming to mind when Noel is being discussed and we can only hope medical science is advanced enough that we don’t see Noel fall into the tragic path of another former Wildcat who’s promising career was upended by bad knees.