World Peace’s elbow promotes NBA stereotypes

World Peace’s elbow promotes some NBA stereotypes (theGRIO) Ron Artest had us all believe. He completely and convincingly remade his entire image. He made us believe he’d grown up from the immature punk who was the focal point in one of the ugliest moments in NBA history, to a gregarious, quirky player that everyone liked. He was a vital piece to the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2010 Championship run. He won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2011, given out annually to a player, coach or trainer who shows outstanding service and citizenship to the community. Last year he even changed his name to Metta World Peace. He made us believe he changed. He made us forget about the short temper…

Artest Can Finally Achieve ‘Metta World Peace’

LOS ANGELES (AP|theGrio) – Ron Artest’s bid to become Mr. World Peace was delayed, but not denied. A court commissioner granted the Lakers forward’s request to officially change his name to Metta World Peace on Friday, three weeks after the bid was blocked because Artest had unpaid traffic tickets. Artest, 31, did not attend a brief hearing Friday. Superior court spokeswoman Patricia Kelly said that Artest’s new last name will be World Peace. His publicist, Courtney Barnes, said the player chose Metta because it is a traditional Buddhist word that means loving and kindness toward all. “Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world,” World Peace said in a…

STAR STRUCK: Teen Dies in Street, While Onlookers Gawk at Lamar Odom

Witnesses to deadly crash focused on basketball star Lamar Odom and not dying teen (NYDailyNews) The grave condition of a Queens teenager hit in a chain-reaction wreck was overshadowed by the presence of an NBA celebrity, witnesses said Tuesday. As 15-year-old Awsaf Islam lay dying on a Sunnyside street last Thursday, bystanders focused on Lakers star Lamar Odom, who emerged unscathed from one of the wrecked cars, they said. “Everybody was paying attention to him. Nobody cared about the kid,” said Adolfo Ramirez, 13, who witnessed the crash. “It was messed up,” witness Naldo Vasquez, 15, said. “They got excited and were asking to take photos with him.” Awsaf, who was riding a scooter when he was hit at the…

NBA Punishes Lakers Center For Flagrant Foul

Andrew Bynum Suspended, Fined For Flagrant Foul Against J.J. Barea (AP/HuffPost)The NBA punished Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum on Tuesday for his flagrant foul against Dallas’ J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. According to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press, Bynum has been suspended for the first five games of next season and fined $25,000 for taking his jersey off as he walked to the locker room. The foul will cost the 23-year-old $702,272 overall. In the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ final playoff game, Barea drove to the basket and was crushed after Bynum elbowed him in the ribs. He was immediately ejected and escorted off the court by team staff and teammate Ron…

PRESSURE SWITCH: Heat Rout Over Lakers Shows The Teams Have Traded Places

LOS ANGELES – On a day the NBA pegged to showcase one of its finest and fiercest rivalries, Miami’s beatdown of the Lakers offered important truths for the league, for the Lakers and for LeBron James and his teammates. The most important being this: The Heat and Lakers have traded places. Miami is now a force to be reckoned — not because the Heat amassed a silly selection of talent, but because that talent has embraced the hardships it faced all season and has done the things necessary to get its house in order. And the Lakers are not the team they were expected to be. They have an angry star, some internal differences over…

Five Reasons The Heat Will Beat The Lakers, And Vice Versa

(Fox Sports) It’s the matchup NBA fans have been eagerly awaiting all season. The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. Who’s going to win? We have five reasons to pick each team. Witz – Why the Lakers will win 1. Kobe Bryant will move the basketball. The Lakers take their cue from their best player. When Bryant moves the ball, it finds its way to Pau Gasol, who is their best passer and a post presence the Heat must honor. When Bryant seeks to take over a game out of the flow of the offense, it might result in some baskets, but it also results in four players standing around watching. 2….

Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson: ‘I’m leaning towards retiring’

(ESPN.com) EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson used it as a running joke this season when asked if he was leaning one way or another regarding his coaching future. “I’m leaning against the wall,” Jackson said in a tunnel in Oklahoma City, and later, “I’m leaning against the podium,” before a playoff game at Staples Center. He dropped the joke and got serious about his decision Wednesday. “I’m leaning towards retiring but I have not made up my mind,” Jackson said. The 64-year-old coach told Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss that he planned on completing a series of medical tests and evaluations by Thursday. He then plans to drive out to his…

In a Game 7 classic, Lakers win their 16th NBA Championship

(Associated Press) LOS ANGELES — Purple and gold confetti raining down upon him, Kobe Bryant hopped up on the scorer’s table, shook his fists and extended five fingers. When he hopped down, Boston’s legendary Hall of Fame center Bill Russell was waiting to shake his hand. A Game 7 classic — and this time, it finally went the Lakers’ way. Bryant, the Finals MVP, scored 23 points despite 6-of-24 shooting, and the Lakers won their 16th NBA championship Thursday night, dramatically rallying from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Bryant earned his fifth title with the Lakers, who repeated as NBA champions for the first time since…

Celtics take Game 5, one win away from NBA Title

(Associated Press) BOSTON — It’s looking a lot like 2008 again, with Paul Pierce carrying the Boston Celtics to victory in the NBA Finals and leading them to the brink of yet another title. Pierce scored 27 points — his best performance of this year’s Finals — and the Celtics withstood 38 points from Kobe Bryant to beat the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 92-86 on Sunday night and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles, and a victory then or in Game 7 in L.A. on Thursday would give the Celtics a record 18th NBA title. The Celtics have never blown a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. “It…

Big Baby, Celtics bench provide spark as Celtics tie Finals

(Associated Press) BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have tied up the NBA Finals, and they owe it more to “Big Baby” than the Big Three. Backup Glen “Big Baby” Davis scored half of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Celtics bench pulled away from the Los Angeles Lakers to win 96-89 on Thursday night and even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. Game 5 is Sunday night in Boston. The Celtics’ win guaranteed them a trip back to Los Angeles and averted a 3-1 deficit that has never been overcome in NBA finals history. “Just will, that’s all it is,” Davis said. “This is what legends are made of, this is where you…