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Derrick Rose wins 2010-11 NBA MVP

Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2010-11 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, the NBA announced today. Rose, who does not turn 23 until Oct. 4, becomes the league’s youngest MVP, a distinction previously held by Wes Unseld, who earned the honor in 1968-69 as a 23-year-old.

Rose totaled 1,182 points including 113 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada as well as an NBA MVP fan vote. For the second consecutive season, the NBA gave fans the opportunity to submit their votes by ranking their top five choices through a dedicated Web page on NBA.com. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 120 media votes to determine the winner. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.

Rose, who became the first player since Steve Nash in 2005 to win the MVP award after not receiving any votes in the previous year’s balloting, led the Bulls to an NBA-best 62-20 mark. The third-year player averaged team highs of 25.0 points and 7.7 assists to go along with 4.1 rebounds. He became the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds, joining Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. The All-Star guard made or assisted on at least half of the Bulls’ field goals in 26 games, the highest such total for any NBA player this season.Rounding out the top five in voting are Orlando’s Dwight Howard (643 points, three first place), Miami’s LeBron James (522, four first-place votes), the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (428, one first-place vote) and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant (190).
Rose, who recorded 23 double-doubles and scored at least 30 points on 23 occasions after doing so eight times combined in his first two seasons, was the only player in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in scoring (seventh) and assists (10th). Only once in team history had a Bulls player finished in the top 10 in scoring and assists (Michael Jordan, 1988-89). Rose tallied 2,026 points, 623 assists and 330 rebounds, becoming only the fifth player in NBA history to post 2,000 points, 600 assists and 300 rebounds in a single season as he joined Robertson, John Havlicek, Jordan and James.
The NBA MVP trophy is named in honor of the late Maurice Podoloff, the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement in 1963.




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Kings staying in Sacramento for 2011-12 season

The following is a statement released Monday from Maloof Sports and Entertainment, who own the Sacramento Kings:

Additionally, we would like to take this opportunity to send a heartfelt thank you to the loyal and hardworking team members within our organization. From the game night staff to the front office, coaches, and players, we are grateful for their professionalism and devotion.“Out of respect to Kings fans and the regional business community, we have decided to remain in Sacramento for the 2011-12 season. The fans’ spirit and energy, specifically our season ticket holders, has been remarkable and we are truly thankful for their loyalty. We also are greatly appreciative of the support from our corporate sponsors as well as other local businesses that have come forward in recent weeks.
During this process, Mayor Johnson has strongly indicated to both the community and the NBA that he is capable of getting the support to build a state-of-the-art entertainment and sports facility that the Sacramento Region and the tremendous Kings fans so rightly deserve. We look forward to seeing Mayor Johnson bring his vision to reality. However, if an arena plan cannot be finalized in a timely fashion, the NBA¹s relocation committee has assured Maloof Sports and Entertainment that it will support an application to move the franchise to another market starting in 2012-13.”


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Derrick Rose's Fancy Spin Move Against Hawks

The Chicago Bulls were shocked by the Atlanta Hawks 103-95 on Monday night, in large part because of the terrible play of Derrick Rose.

After a first half where he scored five points on 2-of-10 shooting and got benched by head coach Tom Thibodeau for a six-minute stretch in the second quarter, Rose ended up finishing the game with 24 points and 10 assists—but he shot an atrocious 11-of-27 from the floor.

It's ironic that he would have his worst game of the postseason on the same day that word leaks out Rose will be awarded the 2010-2011 Most Valuable Player award.

Yet Rose did make a play that reminded us all that he deserves the MVP.

With the score tied at 56 early in the fourth quarter, Keith Bogans rips the ball out of the hands of Joe Johnson and dishes the ball to Rose to ignite the fast break. 

Rose jets up the floor at full speed and in complete control, and does a lightning-fast spin move past Jeff Teague for the easy two. The rest of the Hawks could only watch helplessly.

The tear-drop shot is one of Rose's specialties, and he drilled this one.

The Bulls now find themselves in a 1-0 hole and need a much better Rose in Game 2...and for basketball fans, another highlight like the one he had on Monday.

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Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau wins 2010-11 NBA Coach of Year

The National Basketball Association today announced that Chicago Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau has been named the 2010-11 NBA Coach of the Year.  Thibodeau is the fourth head coach in franchise history to win the award, joining Johnny Red Kerr (1967), Dick Motta (1971) and Phil Jackson (1996).

“This is a well deserved honor for Tom.  He is a terrific teacher, motivator, tactician and communicator.  His work ethic, passion for the game and for our players is appreciated,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.  “We are thrilled that he is part of the Bulls organization and want to congratulate him on being named the NBA’s Coach of the Year.”

In his first season with the Bulls, and his first year as a head coach in the NBA, Thibodeau guided Chicago to the best record in the NBA with a mark of 62-20 (.756).  Chicago posted the top home record in the league (36-5), and recorded its first winning road record since 1998, as it went 26-15 away from the United Center.  Thibodeau’s 62 wins ties the NBA record for most wins by a first-year head coach in NBA history (Paul Westphal in 1993, Phoenix), and surpasses Phil Jackson’s team record for most wins by a Bulls first-year head coach (55 victories in 1991).

Chicago’s 62 wins ranks fourth in team annals for wins in a season, and it marks a 21-game improvement from the team’s 41-41 campaign in 2009-10 (the third-best single-season turnaround in franchise history).  On the year, the Bulls went 16-4 (.800) following a loss, and were one of two teams in the NBA (Boston Celtics) that did not lose more than two games in a row.

The Bulls also recorded the best record in the NBA after the All-Star break with a mark of 24-4 (.857), highlighted by a record of 21-2 to close out the regular season.  On the season, the Bulls ranked first in opponent field goal percentage (.430), first in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.326), first in opponent rebounds per game (38.4), first in rebound margin (plus-5.7), second in point differential (plus-7.3), second in opponent points per game (91.3), second in opponent assists per game (19.0), second in the NBA in rebounds per game (44.2) and fifth in blocks per game (5.71).

Selected by the NBA media, Thibodeau’s honor marks the seventh time in NBA history that a first-year head coach has been named NBA Coach of the Year: Harry Gallatin (St. Louis, 1963), Johnny Red Kerr (Chicago, 1967), Mike Schuler (Portland, 1987), Larry Bird (Indiana, 1998), Doc Rivers (Orlando, 2000) and Rick Carlisle (Detroit, 2002).

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Grizzlies finish off top-seeded Spurs in 6 games

The AP reports:

Memphis had been the franchise best known for empty seats and the unenviable NBA mark for playoff futility at 0-12 after being swept in its first three appearances. This time, a third straight sellout crowd cheered every bucket with a couple signs begging the Grizzlies to “Finish Them” in a town in desperate need of a hero.Zach Randolph had 31 points and 11 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies advanced to their first Western Conference semifinals and made NBA history in knocking off the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs 99-91 on Friday night.
The Grizzlies needed 10 seasons, but they have become just that as only the second No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed since the NBA expanded the opening series to a best-of-seven.
They will play Oklahoma City in the semifinals.
Marc Gasol had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis. Tony Allen added 11 points, and rookie Greivis Vasquez had 11 off the bench playing 24 minutes with Mike Conley in foul trouble most of the game.
Tony Parker led San Antonio with 23 points, Manu Ginobili had 16, Tim Duncan 12 and Antonio McDyess 10.
The Spurs led only twice at 2-0 and again at 80-79 when McDyess hit a 15-footer with 4:41 left.

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Sources Indicating That Bulls Star Will Be the Named the Next MVP

Derrick Rose will be named the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA. Both KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune and Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago are reporting that they are being told the news by league sources. 

Rose will become the youngest NBA player to ever win the award. He is also only the third player to ever win the award without having ever received a vote before, but is the first to do that while having had the opportunity to win before.

Rose scored over 2000 points and had 600 assists this season, becoming only the third player since the merger to do that. The previous two, Michael Jordan and Lebron James, also won the award in the years in which they accomplished this achievement.

It's been quite a year for Rose. He won the gold medal at the Wold Championships during the summer. He had career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists during the season in leading the Bulls to the league's best record, despite injuries to two key teammates for significant portions of the season. So far in the postseason, he's won his first series in his career.

Rose also joins his coach, Tom Thibodeau, in receiving regular season hardware. Thibodeau just received the Coach of the Year award before tonight's game. The last time a Bulls' head coach and player won the award in the same season, they won the NBA Championship. 

Considering the timing of the announcement, Rose should officially receive the award prior to the game on Wednesday. 

Rose started the season saying "I don't see why I can't be MVP." Now, apparently neither can those who voted for the award. In all likelihood, though, Rose is only thinking about the Finals MVP.

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Mental war underway ahead of NBL decider on Friday

Hostilities in the psychological war between the Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers have well and truly broken out ahead of Friday night’s sold-out sudden death Game Three of the iiNet National Basketball League Grand Final series.Taipans’ shooting guard Phill Jones, one of two Kiwis on the Cairns roster who will look to deny New Zealand their first-ever NBL championship title, has boldly predicted that the Breakers will face a whole new level of pressure when they take the court for the series decider at the North Shore Events Centre in Auckland on Friday.

The Breakers were the minor premiers with the best record in the league, and will enter Game Three as the heavy favourites with Centre bet listing them at $1.18 to win the decider, compared to $4.80 for Cairns.  Jones says there are huge expectations on the Breakers to deliver New Zealand their first ever Australian professional league title.

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Kobe Bryant leaves arena on crutches

Kobe Bryant did one of the few interviews ever conducted in a trainer’s room, sitting on a padded table after sustaining what the team officially called a sprained left ankle, though Bryant indicated it was more of a foot injury.

He was injured while defending Willie Green with 1:32 to play. He was moving across the lane when his foot buckled under him without any contact.

Two crutches were propped against the wall in the trainer’s room. He then used them to leave the arena and board the team bus.
“It’s going to take a lot to stop me to play,” Bryant said. “We’ll make sure we stay on top of it.”


He said he would undergo treatment on the plane ride back to Los Angeles immediately after the game. The team was planning an MRI exam or X-rays as a precaution.
After getting hurt, Bryant walked stiffly around the court for a minute before giving Shannon Brown an “I’m good, I’m good” when the reserve guard approached him.

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Kings to leave Sacramento for Anaheim

The Sacramento Kings have been in California's capital city since 1985 after stints in Kansas City, Omaha, Cincinnati and, where it all began in 1945, Rochester.

Now it looks as if the team is aiming to move again.

Thursday, the National Basketball Association revealed that the Maloof family, which owns the Kings, has requested an extension of the league's Tuesday deadline for asking permission to move to a new city this year, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who played in the NBA from 1987 to 2000 for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns, is hugely disappointed and said, "This means one thing. They are trying to cut a deal to leave," the Bee reports.

The team's destination is believed to be Anaheim.

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