LeBron James is back in the starting lineup for the Miami Heat, but Dwyane Wade is missing his third straight game against the New Jersey Nets. The All-Stars both were sidelined for the Heat’s 116-109 triple-overtime victory in Atlanta on Thursday, but only James’ sprained left ankle was healed enough to return to the lineup Saturday. Jordan Shoes RetroWade worked out before the game before the Heat decided he would sit out his third straight with a bruised left foot. James Jones started at shooting guard. For the Nets, Jordan Shoes Retrocenter Mehmet Okur missed the game with back spasms and Damion James was out with a sore right foot. He had an MRI exam Saturday that showed no breaks. Anthony Morrow Jordan Shoes 10 Retrostarted for the Nets after having a partial root canal earlier Saturday.

LeBron James is back in the starting lineup for the Miami Heat, but Dwyane Wade is missing his third straight game against the New Jersey Nets. The All-Stars both were sidelined for the Heat’s 116-109 triple-overtime victory in Atlanta on Thursday, but only James’ sprained left ankle was healed enough to return to the lineup Saturday. Jordan Shoes RetroWade worked out before the game before the Heat decided he would sit out his third straight with a bruised left foot. James Jones started at shooting guard. For the Nets, Jordan Shoes Retrocenter Mehmet Okur missed the game with back spasms and Damion James was out with a sore right foot. He had an MRI exam Saturday that showed no breaks. Anthony Morrow Jordan Shoes 10 Retrostarted for the Nets after having a partial root canal earlier Saturday.

Everyone else on the Los Angeles Lakers had left and gone home Sunday night, and finally Kobe Bryant was on his way, too. He had slid into a side room to visit with a child from the Make a Wish Foundation, Jordan Shoes 7 Retroand now walked down the long corridor toward the Staples Center loading dock. A text message popped into his phone. It was coach Mike Brown, and he wanted to run something past his star player. Bryant stopped and asked a locker room attendant: “Hey, is Mike still here?” Told yes, Bryant turned around and marched back through the double steel doors and disappeared into Brown’s office for a 20-minute consult. For Bryant, it’s a different dynamic with a coach,Jordan Shoes Retro a partnership born on his own clock. Until this year, he had never had a coach awake at 2 a.m., 3 a.m., to trade thoughts. “He’s like me,” Bryant said later. “He doesn’t sleep. We talk all the time, and about everything: What we need to do, how we need to adjust. Constant communication.” Bryant loves that Brown’s pushing people within the organization, that he’s pushing Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, and, yes, that he’s pushing Bryant, too. The Lakers are still struggling to find themselves,Jordan Shoes 2 Retro but Brown is transforming them on the fly, fortifying them defensively and moving far away from the triangle offense. For everything that’s changed, Bryant still believes the core of a championship contender is here. “We have our own Big Three,” Bryant said. “Andrew. Pau. And myself. Those are three bona fide All-Stars. And you’d put that against anyone else’s three? “Yes, I would.” His right arm wrapped in a protective device reaching up his wrist, Bryant had left behind a 90-82 victory over Memphis at Staples, left flashes of the formula for the Lakers’ success. Bryant had 26 points and nine assists, shooting 50 percent, balancing the floor and feeding teammates for easy baskets. His most important play had been late in the fourth quarter, when he had been fouled and his momentum pushed him into the seats behind the basket. The rest of us would reach out, use our hands to absorb the fall, but Bryant consciously flexed back his wrist and let his forearm collide with the back of a chair. With those torn ligaments in his right wrist – an injury that should’ve required surgery and three months of rehabilitation – Bryant is forever one collision from serious seasonal consequences. Jordan Shoes RetroWhen he fails to keep the wrist moving during a game, it will swell significantly. That’s why he’s always making that shooting motion with his wrist on the sidelines in down moments. His personal trainer, Tim Grover, says simply: “I’ve never seen anyone do what Kobe’s doing right now.” It’s near impossible to play with torn ligaments in your shooting wrist, never mind play well. Bryant is the ultimate creature of routine, and it never changes. From Grover to the video technological whiz he calls his “Jack Bauer,” Mike Procopio in Chicago, Bryant’s circle is small, his preparation unchanged and perhaps unrivaled. He has shown he can make easy and tough shots, with the wrist. His baseline fades, his jumpers, still come with his classic form, the proper arc and angles, and they drop. There are good shots and bad shots, and history tells you Bryant’s self-examination distills the difference over the long run. “I shoot, I shoot,” Bryant said.Jordan Shoes 3 Retro “You’ve known that for 16 years. I’m not changing my game. If the defense is not doubling, I’m going to score. If I’ve got a good look, I’m going to score. My teammates know that. But I also give them the ball, too, and set them up. “But at the end of the day, I’m a scorer first.” There’s forever going to be defiance in his words, because without it there’s no greatness, there’s no ability to play through this wrist injury. The Lakers won three of four games in the last week,Jordan Shoes Retro and Bryant averaged 33 points. He’s playing lots of minutes – 38 per game for the week – and he still punctuated his Western Conference Player of the Week award with an up-and-under baseline dunk Sunday night.

President Barack Obama saluted Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday as NBA champions who staged a season-ending charge to beat LeBron James and the vaunted Miami Heat and claim their first title with a “heart that’s the size of Texas.” “This was a remarkable run, a great victory,” Obama declared, as owner Mark Cuban and Mavericks stars, including series MVP Nowitzki, looked on. “It’s too bad that next year, it’ll be the Chicago Bulls here.” The first basketball fan—a passionate supporter of his hometown Bulls— was nonetheless lavish in praising the Mavericks, who beat the Heat in six games last June. “They know how good teams win,” Jordan Shoes RetroObama said. “Not just by jumping higher or running faster, but by finding the open man, working together, staying mentally tough, being supportive of each other, playing smarter.” He said that’s how Dallas “took down some of the league’s best teams … including the Miami Heat, who got a little bit of attention last year.” The victory was sweet revenge for Dallas after it blew an NBA finals lead to the Heat five years earlier. It also upended the hope of Heat superstars James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for a championship in their first year playing together. Monday’s ceremony reflected both the league’s current, Jordan Shoes Retrolockout-shortened season and the determination of the colorful Cuban to make it happen. Typically, White House visits take place when a championship team plays in Washington. With such a short season, the Mavericks aren’t here this year. Cuban insisted on the ceremony anyhow. “It’s tough to say no to Mark Cuban,” Obama said, to knowing laughter from his players. Obama singled out the German-born Nowitzki, Jordan Shoes 4 Retronoting he played in the finals despite a painful finger injury and fever. “Clearly Dirk is a tough guy, although the most painful thing may have been his rendition of `We Are the Champions’ during the victory celebrations,” the president said. Mavericks guard Delonte West did not attend the event in the East Room, even though the Secret Service said he had been cleared along with his teammates. West pleaded guilty to weapons possession charges after a September 2009 traffic stop in suburban Maryland. He told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he was “banned” from the White House on Monday because of the weapons charges, but Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said in fact West could have taken part. A team spokeswoman, Sarah Melton, Jordan Shoes Retroalso said West was not banned from the White House ceremony but declined to comment on why he didn’t attend. West was not a member of the championship squad but joined the Mavericks prior to this season.

Calif. – Dwight Howard thinks he’ll represent the Orlando Magic at this year’s All-Star Game in Orlando – and he doubts he’ll be switching uniforms at all this season in spite of his desire to be traded. Howard has not rescinded his trade request, but he told Yahoo! Sports he thinks there’s a “100 percent” chance the Magic won’t trade him before the Feb. 26 All-Star Game at the team’s Amway Center. Team officials still hope to convince Howard to commit to staying with the franchise for the long term. “I don’t think they are going to do anything right now because we’re winning,” Howard said after a 104-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings improved the Magic’s record to 6-3.Jordan Shoes Retro “Even if this is the last season, let’s go out hard, regardless.” When asked if he expects Orlando to trade him by the NBA’s March 15 deadline, Howard said: “I don’t think so.” The Magic gave Howard’s representatives permission to explore a possible trade with the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, but tabled discussions shortly before the start of the season. The Golden State Warriors would be willing to trade for Howard without the assurance he’d sign a long-term extension with them, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yet while the Magic still hope to convince Howard to stay with them, sources close to the All-Star center said he’d have to be convinced the team is a legitimate championship contender. The six teams the Magic have beaten this season have a combined record of 12-37. Even after waiving of guard Gilbert Arenas’ big contract with the amnesty clause, the Magic don’t have the financial flexibility to make a big run at a major free agent this summer. Jordan Shoes RetroThe Magic also don’t have many tradeable assets that could help them improve their roster. If Howard were to try to depart via free agency, the Magic would have the advantage of being able to offer him a fifth year on a new contract worth about $28 million. Howard could even decideJordan Shoes 5 Retro to postpone his free agency by a year and utilize the final-season option of his contract (worth $19.3 million) and then leave the Magic in the summer of 2013 if they haven’t already traded him, sources close to him said. “Even if he does a Chris Paul and opts in and stays another year, they’ll still end up losing him,” one league source said. “The inevitable is coming.” While Magic general manager Otis Smith has looked at ways to improve the team, he doesn’t appear intent on rushing into a deal simply to appease Howard. “He’s a pro,” Smith said of Howard. “He comes in every day and works like he’s supposed to. We haven’t had any issues at all.” When asked if Howard could finish the season with Orlando, Smith said, “I don’t know.” Howard appears to be patient for now. Jordan Shoes RetroHe has relied on advice from his family and friends, including New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who leveraged the Denver Nuggets into trading him last season. Howard said the message he often receives is to do what’s best for him and not worry what everyone thinks.

Oklahoma City Thunder backup point guard Eric Maynor will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. General manager Sam Presti said tests Sunday morning revealed that Maynor had torn the ligament in the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City’s 98-95 victory at Houston on Saturday night and will need season-ending surgery. Maynor is the primary backup to All-Star Russell Westbrook and was averaging 4.2 points and 2.4 assists in 15 minutes per game this season. Maynor finished each of his first two NBA seasonsJordan Shoes 6 Retro in the top 10 in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio. He had averaged more than three assists for every turnover both seasons. “Eric’s a smart player. He understands that position and understands that role because he’s been with it for a while with us. He was great with that unit,” coach Scott Brooks said Sunday night. Jordan Shoes Retro“We have to figure out how we’re going to move forward with it but Eric is a really, really good player and it’s not easy losing him.” Maynor’s injury is the first disruption to Oklahoma City’s 10-man rotation, which had been intact from last season’s run to the Western Conference finals. That gave the Thunder an advantage with a shortened training camp and limited practice time in an NBA season condensed by the lockout. Now, Brooks must figure out the best way to move forward without Maynor. The Thunder have two other reserve point guards, rookie Reggie Jackson and veteran Royal Ivey, and Brooks said James Harden could also play the point instead of on the wing. “We have options,” Brooks said.Jordan Shoes 7 Retro “Reggie definitely will get an opportunity, we have Royal and we also can throw James there. James has obviously been a great playmaker and getting better as the games and experience that he acquires go by. But I think Reggie’s going to have a great opportunity for him.” Jackson was Oklahoma City’s first-round draft pick, selected 24th overall out of Boston College. He has already played in three games, mostly late in blowouts, but now could get more meaningful minutes. “That’s the thing about the NBA. You’ve got to be ready to play,” Brooks said. “This is his opportunity to be ready and he will make the best of it.” Maynor’s knee buckled as he drove the lane in the fourth quarter against the Rockets. No one made contact with him. Teammates carried him off the floor. Perhaps Maynor’s biggest moment in the spotlight since coming over in a trade from Utah during his rookie season was in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas last year,Jordan Shoes Retro when he played well enough that Brooks kept him on the floor throughout the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City’s only win in the series. “One of the things I know about Eric, Womens Jordan Shoes Retro 8he’s a tough kid. That backup point guard spot is a very challenging spot because you don’t get a lot of minutes,” said Brooks, who spent his NBA career as a backup point guard. “When things go well, you get a little credit. When things go bad, you get all the blame. I played it for a lot of years but Eric had the mental toughness to go through all that.” Presti said the Thunder are confident that Maynor “will do everything necessary to come back from this injury and be prepared for the 2012-13 season.” In the meantime,Jordan Shoes Retro Jackson will get an audition for a bigger role. “If you play hard and you play for your team, you’re usually in a good place,” Brooks said. “He doesn’t have to go in there and score 20 points. He doesn’t have to have 10 assists. He just has to be solid.”

There’s no telling how different the Washington Wizards would be if they had drafted Ricky Rubio when they had the chance. Surely they couldn’t be any worse than what they are now: a winless team running out of ways to express its humiliation. Rubio and Kevin Love controlled the game in the 93-72 win for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, while the Wizards were showered with boos during a 12-point fourth quarter as they dropped to 0-8. “There’s really not much to say,”Jordan Shoes Retro Washington coach Flip Saunders said. “Disappointment. Embarrassment. I don’t know if words can explain. My job over the next two days is to try to find five guys who can play the right way and can play with some heart. … It was bad to watch. It was bad to coach. It was bad to play.” Added forward Andray Blatche: “It’s frustrating. It’s sickening. Embarrassing. They booed us; we deserved it. I don’t know what to say.” The Timberwolves selected Rubio with the No. 5 overall pick in 2009, a selection they acquired from the Wizards for guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller. Foye and Miller are long gone from Washington, while Minnesota waited patiently for Rubio to play two more years in Spain before making his impact as a rookie this season. Rubio had 13 points, a career-high 14 assists—one fewer than the entire Wizards team—and six rebounds Sunday, controlling the game during much of his 30 minutes off the bench. He entered with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter and quickly hit a 22-foot jump shot to start a 17-2 run that gave Minnesota the lead for good. “We’re happy to have him now,”Jordan Shoes Retro said Love, who had 20 points and 16 rebounds. “Today’s just an example of how good he is—and how good he can be. Who’s to say? He’s still working on his jump shot. He’s still working on his game.” The Timberwolves opened their first set of three games in three days without forward Michael Beasley, who will miss all three after spraining his right foot during Friday night’s loss to Cleveland. Nick Young and Trevor Booker scored 14 points apiece to lead the Wizards, who extended their franchise-worst start to a season by scoring their fewest points since Feb. 21, 2009. Womens Jordan Shoes Retro 5Washington has already lost four games by 18 or more points. John Wall again struggled with his shot, going 3 for 10 from the field—and that included two dunks. Blatche was 5 for 16, and Jordan Crawford went 3 for 11 to contribute to Washington’s 34 percent shooting. Rubio said the scouting on the Wizards was that “they play a lot of 1-on-1.” He might be a rookie, but he knows what’s he talking about. “We tend to panic when we get down by seven to nine points,” Blatche said, “and everybody wants to be the guy to get those nine points back.” Owner Ted Leonsis took it all in from his front-row seat,Jordan Shoes Retro and there are now inevitable questions as to how long he or team president Ernie Grunfeld can wait before making some sort of change. Saunders wants the players to re-examine their approach, and he plans to do the same. “I’m going to go home tonight and I’m going to say as a coach, `What can I do to get us better?’ Because evidently right now I haven’t done a good enough job,” Saunders said. Jordan Shoes Retro 2010“Because we’re not totally getting through to some guys.” Saunders said the players aren’t doing their homework, even though the coaches are emailing extensive scouting reports the day before every game. “Flip, definitely, he’s doing his job,” Blatche said. “I don’t feel like everybody’s listening and following behind what he says and what he wants us to do.” Wall said it’s becoming a matter of self-esteem. “It’s a pride game now, Jordan Shoes Retroto start this bad,” Wall said. “It’s nothing but pride to see if you’ve got the heart to play.” Rubio, meanwhile, has to be overjoyed that he isn’t wearing Wizards red. “Minnesota was the team that drafted me. I don’t want to think anything else,” the rookie said before the game. “They were the ones who trusted me. I’m so glad that they did.”