USA Basketball Olympic team roster 2016>>>

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Featuring six Olympic and/or FIBA World Cup gold medalists, USA Basketball unveiled its official 12-man 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team.

Selected for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, which is seeking a third consecutive Olympic title, were: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks/Syracuse); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors/North Carolina); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings/Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors/USC); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); Paul George (Indiana Pacers/Fresno State); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors/Washington State).

The U.S. Olympic Men' Basketball Team was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors and is pending final approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

"I think I can speak for the entire coaching staff and say we're extremely excited about the team we will field for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro," said Jerry Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men's National Team since 2005.

 "I love our depth, which is another indication of the depth of talent our national team program is blessed with. We've got a great mix of talent, scorers, past gold medal winners and outstanding youth."

"I'm anxious to get on the court, and along with my great coaching staff, get to work," said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who by serving as head coach of his third Olympic squad is now tied with coaching legend Henry Iba for the most U.S. Olympic basketball head coaching assignments. "Since 2006 and including the last two Olympics, our players have represented themselves, the game and our country in an exemplary manner. I know this team will continue that standard.

"Looking at this team, our overall balance is what strikes me. We have lightning-quick guards who can score as well as distribute the basketball. We have great shooters and explosive scorers, we're big and athletic, and I think we'll really be able to defend."

The U.S. roster features the return of two members from the 2012 gold medalist U.S. Olympic Team (Anthony and Durant) and five players who have been members of USA World Cup gold medalist teams; Cousins (2014), DeRozan (2014), Durant (2010), Irving (2014) and Thompson (2014).

With his selection to the 2016 Olympic Team, three-time Olympic medalist Anthony becomes the first United States male basketball player selected to four Olympic teams.

Durant, who collected MVP honors in leading the USA to gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and finished as the U.S. team's leading scorer at the 2012 London Olympics by averaging a U.S. Olympic record 19.5 points a game, was named to his second Olympic team.

The average age of the 12 U.S. players will be 26.8 years at the conclusion of the Olympics (Aug. 21, 2016).

Included among the named 2016 U.S. Olympians were 2015-16 All-NBA first team selection Jordan; second team choices Cousins, Durant and Green; and third team picks George, Lowry and Thompson. Additionally, Jordan and Green collected 2015-16 NBA All-Defensive first team honors, while Butler and George were second team selections.

Nine players -- Anthony, Butler, Cousins, DeRozan, Durant, George, Green, Lowry and Thompson -- were named as 2016 NBA All-Stars, while Irving, who was named MVP of the 2014 World Cup after helping lead the Americans to gold, recently helped Cleveland capture the 2016 NBA championship.

The 2016 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University Hall of Fame mentor Krzyzewski, who since being named in 2005 head mentor of the USA National Team program has compiled a spectacular 75-1 record and led the USA to 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medals and 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup titles. He will be assisted by Syracuse University Hall of Fame mentor Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams.

The USA National Team will train July 18-21 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Americans' Las Vegas training concludes July 22 (6:00 p.m. PDT) with the USA Basketball Showcase presented By Verizon that features the USA facing Argentina at the T-Mobile Arena.

The U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 5 p.m. (PDT) on July 24 and the second at 7 p.m. (PDT) on July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 at 8 p.m. (CDT) at the United Center versus 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela and will conclude the USA Basketball Showcase facing 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria on Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. (CDT) in Houston at the Toyota Center.

Tickets for the USA Basketball Showcase exhibition games are on sale now. VIP ticket packages available in select markets. For ticket information visit usab.com/showcase.

The U.S. men have collected a medal in all 17 Olympics in which they have competed, including 14 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals. The American men own an impressive 130-5 (.963 winning percentage) all-time record in Olympic action, and since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, the USA is 45-3 in six Olympics, capturing five gold medals and one bronze medal.

Since the formation of USA Basketball's national team program in 2006, USA National Teams have compiled a spectacular 75-1 record and claimed top honors in five of six FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions. Currently, USA national teams enjoy a 63-game win streak (45 straight wins in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions and 18 consecutive wins in exhibition games). The streaks dates back to the bronze medal game (Sept. 2, 2006) of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The USA also currently enjoys a 17-game Olympic win streak that dates back to the bronze medal game of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Since first fielding a USA Basketball team of legendary NBA stars in 1992, USA Basketball National Teams comprised of NBA players have claimed gold medals in 14 of 16 major international basketball competitions, while compiling an impressive 126-7 overall record (.947 winning percentage) in those competitions and a record of 46-1 (.979 winning percentage) in exhibition games.

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Report: Kyrie Irving, Barnes round out Team USA>>>

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The U.S. basketball team has its roster for Rio.

Kyrie Irving and Harrison Barnes accepted spots on the team to fill out the Americans' 12-player Olympic squad, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday.

The decisions come two days before the Americans plan to announce the team in New York. They were confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because roster details were to remain private.

The Americans had received 10 confirmations by Thursday and were holding spots for Irving and LeBron James, who wanted more time to decide after winning the NBA championship. James opted not to play but Irving should be an important player after a number of top point guards, including Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul, withdrew from consideration.

Irving was the MVP of the 2014 Basketball World Cup.

Once James passed on what would have been a fourth Olympics, the Americans settled on Barnes, who becomes the third Golden State player on the team. The swingman shot poorly in the NBA Finals as the Warriors lost to Cleveland in seven games.

The rest of the roster: Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, New York's Carmelo Anthony, Toronto's Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, Indiana's Paul George, Golden State's Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, Chicago's Jimmy Butler and the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan.

It's not as experienced as recent U.S. teams, as only Durant and Anthony have played in the Olympics. The Americans lost a number of potential selections to injuries or other reasons in recent months, including James Harden, Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin.

Anthony will set a record by playing on his fourth U.S. team and could become the most decorated Olympic men's basketball player ever if he helps the Americans to a third straight gold medal.

ESPN first reported Irving would play. Barnes' decision was reported by Yahoo Sports.

                                                                                             By BRIAN MAHONEY

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Vibrant Hield bringing Swagger to New Orleans>>>

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BROOKLYN — The good times began to roll in the strangest of places on the strangest of draft nights, in a back room inside Barclays Center, away from the main part of the arena where the selections were being announced.

Buddy Hield was ready to party Thursday night, New Orleans style. Moving from one TV interview to another in what was ordinarily the Nets' practice court, he had a Dixieland band of a smile, bright and full of energy. He had bigger plans.

I'm a worker. I'm a high-energy guy. I'm a leader. I know that there's other leaders on the team, but I can go out there and help them lead too.

– New Orleans Pelicans rookie Buddy Hield

The Pelicans -- his Pelicans -- will be in the 2017 playoffs.

And Hield is going to be one of the reasons why.

He had been in the NBA about an hour, as the sixth pick in the 2016 draft, and already was flashing a veteran's swagger. Assertive with manners, bold as a shooting guard at the University of Oklahoma, emphasis on shooting, it was quickly clear nothing would change as he transitioned to the pros.

Hield sees himself as the perfect match for New Orleans' unique, rich vibe, as full of character as the city itself. He doesn't just see himself as a fit with the roster in that way. To the best shooter in the draft, it's like there was no other place to end up. Laissez les bons temps rouler and all that. Let the good times roll.

But, yes, the roster. Anthony Davis. Tyreke Evans. Jrue Holiday. Perhaps Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon, both unrestricted free agents on July 1. Hield is expected to be the replacement as the starting shooting guard if Gordon leaves, and maybe even, eventually, if Gordon stays.

The Pelicans were 30-52 last season, 12th in the Western Conference and 11 games out of eighth place and the playoffs amid a torrent of injuries.

It doesn't matter now, though. They will be in the playoffs this season.

"Yes, sir," Hield said. "No doubt."

With Hield as one of the differences between New Orleans making or missing the postseason.

"Yes, sir," he said. "No doubt. I've got the confidence. I've got the swagger to bring to the team and I love it. It's going to be fun down in New Orleans."

As Hield aims straight for Kia Rookie of the Year.

"That's my goal," he said. "Yes, sir."

The NBA added one of its boldest personalities Thursday night as well as one of its brightest prospects during the most unpredictable first round in many years. Ben Simmons (to the Philadelphia 76ers) and Brandon Ingram (Los Angeles Lakers) went 1-2 as expected and the next five -- Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Dragan Bender (Phoenix Suns), Kris Dunn (Minnesota Timberwolves), Hield, Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Marquese Chriss (Sacramento Kings as part of a trade with Phoenix) -- were all predictable with only the specific order to be decided. And Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors at No. 9 could be seen coming

But then surprises started flying. Thon Maker at 10. Georgios Papagiannis at 13. Juan Hernangomez and Guerschon Yabusele at 15 and 16, respectively, much higher than most front offices had expected. Skal Labisierre, in the conversation for the top two at the start of the college season and in recent days still appearing to have a good chance to make the lottery, according to conversations with scouts and executives, fell to 28. Another supposed lottery candidate, Deyonta Davis, tumbled all the way to the second round, 31st overall.

Hield was one of the pieces of stability, going in the expected range and to a team that made sense, with the Pelicans possibly needing a new shooting guard. That he followed it by insisting New Orleans was on a path to solid footing was another match, filled with all the benefits he expects to bring to town.

"Shooting the ball, impacting the game, spreading the floor, keeping defenses honest,"

 Hield said. "I'm a worker. I'm a high-energy guy. I'm a leader. I know that there's other leaders on the team, but I can go out there and help them lead too. I'll let them know I'm not shy because I'm a rookie coming in. I'm not shy to take over. I've always been in that role my whole life. But I'm willing to learn and listen and learn from coach (Alvin) Gentry. It's going to be a fun situation for me and I can't wait."

Scott Howard-Cooper has covered the NBA since 1988. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

                                                                                               By Scott Howard-Cooper

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NBA WIN>>>An emotional J.R. Smith breaks down after Cavs win NBA championship>>>

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Cleveland Cavaliers veteran guard J.R. Smith won the first championship of his 12-year NBA career on Sunday night, and — as was apparent from the moment the final buzzer sounded — it's a monumental accomplishment that he certainly isn't taking for granted.

Smith immediately broke down into tears after theCavs' Game 7 victory, as did every player sporting the wine and gold. But in the postgame press conference, the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year let loose with emotion, particularly when he began talking about his father, Earl Smith.

"Today is so special to me," Smith said. "It's on Father's Day. My dad put the ball in my crib."

After a long, emotional pause, Smith continued.

"I mean, my parents, my family, that's the biggest inspiration in my life. I've been in a lot of dark spots in my life, and if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be able to get out of it. But they are who they are. They fought with me. They yelled at me, they screamed at me, they loved me, they hugged me, they cried with me, and they always stuck by my side no matter right or wrong."

 

Smith is a part of a Cavaliers squad that will live on in the NBA's record books, as they became the first team in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a Finals series. But his career hasn't always been smooth sailing. Smith — who spent time with the New Orleans Pelicans (Hornets, at the time), Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks before joining Cleveland — has oftentimes found himself in the negative spotlight over the course of his career, particularly due to his lengthy history of suspensions and fines.

But as Smith stated after Sunday's win, he believes his past actions to be misconstrued.

"My dad is easily one of my biggest inspirations to play this game," Smith said. "To hear people talk bad about me, it hurts me because I know it hurts him, and that's not who I am. And I know he raised me better, and I know I want to do better. Just everything I do is for my parents and my family. I mean, I don't really — the cars are nice, the houses are nice, but none of this matters without them. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. I don't know where I would be, honestly. If it wasn't for them, if it wasn't for the structure and the backbone that I have, I wouldn't be able to mess up and keep coming back and being able to sit in front of you as a world champion."

 

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CLEVELAND —> You'll recall the last time Draymond Green vowed not to let a hullaballoo of his own making interfere with his ability to deliver in a game, things did not work out quite so well>>>

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That was during the Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City, after the NBA's suits of justice decided a kick Down Under to New Zealander Steven Adams didn't merit a suspension and allowed him to play in Game 4.

Green spent 38 minutes toiling under a crescendo of full-throated displeasure each time he touched the basketball and shot just 1-for-7 as the Warriors lost by 24 points.

So here is the lightning rod for raw emotion/bad behavior back on a bigger stage in The Finals (Thursday, 9 p.m., ABC) once again looking to redeem if not atone following his suspension — based on cumulative flagrant foul points — that resulted from striking LeBron James in the groin.

"I have a strong belief that if I play Game 5, we win," Green said Wednesday. "But I didn't because I put myself in a situation where I wasn't able to play. And I thought my teammates fought and didn't play well. But still with six minutes to go, down six points, but continued to battle. And it's on me to help that battle."

He will have to perform better and deliver much, much more than the game in OKC when Green spent most of night roaming the court as in a daze, there in body, but hardly in spirit. At least not the kind of spirit the Warriors usually rely on, which is to say the foamy, all-over-the-place explosion of champagne when the cork comes out of the bottle.

Green will be tested not only by the raucous crowd at The Q, but surely by the Cavaliers, who despite their innocents protestations to the contrary, will poke and prod and tease and taunt him, trying to get another emotional rise that blows right through the top of the thermometer and produces one more sit-down for a possible Game 7.

"You know, I won't go into Game 6 thinking, 'Will my patience be tested? Will it not?' " he said.

 "It's a hard enough challenge to try to win a game in the NBA Finals. Then you talk about the challenge of trying to win on the road, that challenge doubles and triples. So that's a hard enough challenge in itself. That's enough to focus on to come and do whatever I have to take, do whatever it takes to help my team win the game."

Thus, the conundrum and perhaps the problems that arose in OKC. Because for Green to do "whatever it takes" means that he spends more time walking a tightrope than a member of the Wallenda family, balancing rage and production that is a vital mix in the Golden State's explosive chemistry. For all the accolades and attention that the Splash Brothers of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson get, theirs is a fantastic basketball act that works best when Green is working, churning, snarling and doing all of the big and little things he does that create space for them to shoot, while also creating havoc on defense. It was no coincidence that James and Kyrie Irving lived at the rim in Green's absence.

If the Cavaliers win to force a Game 7 that was virtually unthinkable less than a week ago and then go on to win the series and become the first team in the history of the NBA to rally from a 3-1 hole in the Finals, then Green's loss of composure and will go down in the annals of American sports history with the ball going through Bill Buckner's legs and Scott Norwood's kick sailing wide right as all-time championship gaffes.

He spent Game 5 next door to Oracle Arena at a baseball game, helpless to contribute.

"My emotions were all over the place," Green said. "At times I'm excited. At times I'm frustrated. At times I'm down. An emotional roller coaster that day."

They're the fiery emotions that have fueled Green's rapid rise from second-round draft choice to All-Star to All-NBA second team member to indispensable part of the Warriors machine.

"I think he's going to play with that same aggression, same passion, leave it all on the the floor but be smart," said Curry. "I'm pretty sure he'll be talkative, but hopefully in a very constructive way."

"He was very apologetic," Thompson said. "We could tell it hurt him bad. He told us it was the toughest thing he had to sit through as an athlete and couldn't imagine. But he has a chance to redeem himself."

What Green has to do before he steps onto the court is fit that intensity that drives him with the calculated comprehension of what it means to be a true leader, not just a screamer. That 15-point, 15-rebound average in the series means nothing if it comes with 0 and 0 in a deciding game.

"I learned a lot," Green said. "As a basketball player, as a man, just things you have to do. You can't put yourself in certain positions. Not putting yourself in harm's way and really being a better teammate. The way I view it is me not being out there on the floor to battle with my guys is being a bad teammate and I take pride in being a good teammate."

No better chance to prove it than Game 6.

                                                                                                      By Fran Blinebury

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Lakers remove Magic Johnson from staff listings>>>

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers announced Saturday that Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson has asked the team to eliminate his honorary title of Vice President, and to remove his name from the team staff directory in publications and other sources.

The change is being made in hopes of clarifying any confusion over Johnson's involvement with or representation of the team.

"Earvin will always be a revered and beloved member of the Lakers family, but he does not have a position or role with the organization at this time," said team spokesman John Black. "He is not an advisor or a consultant, and his opinions, comments and social media posts are solely his, and do not represent or reflect those of Lakers ownership or management. Hopefully this will eliminate any confusion over this issue in the future."

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LOVE WIGGINS trade debate brought back to table>>>

 

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CLEVELAND — Four years ago at the LeBron James Skills Academy, an annual meat market for high school talent, a skinny teenager from Canada caught a pass on the break and elevated ... and elevated ... and elevated for a dunk.

As the player was suspended in mid-air, the host of the event jumped just as high, right out of his courtside chair in anticipation of the earthquake that was about to register. As it were, a hack on the arm ruined everything. A deflatedLeBron James rubbed his face and looked over at Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony seated nearby, as if to say, damn, this kid is legit.

That kid was Andrew Wiggins, one of the most acclaimed players ever produced by The North, an athletic freak who first made a name for himself in the Lower 48 in that camp. The sizzle surrounding Wiggins wasn't quite at the insane level LeBron saw coming out of high school, but perspective is needed. Wiggins was largely sight unseen in Canada — who knew they even played high school ball up there? — yet he still caused a storm.

In the years that followed, Wiggins was wanted by everyone, with the exception of the person who helped put him on the map. As the basketball nation is abuzz today about the touchy subject of Kevin Love and if he's now a poor fit in theNBA Finals against the Warriors, it's quite natural to reflect back two summers ago, when LeBron had to make the third biggest basketball decision of his life:

Love or Wiggins?

When LeBron chose to boomerang back to the Cavaliers in July of 2014, he announced so in a first-person Sports Illustrated story. In that piece, he listed the teammates he was anxious to join: Tristan Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters. No mention of the newcomer who beat him to Cleveland by a few weeks, the No. 1 pick in the draft, a player instantly hailed as the future of the franchise, that same skinny teenager who sent LeBron leaping out of a chair.

Later, LeBron explained his reasoning, and it was curious: "I didn't know the kid, really. I knew Dion. I knew Kyrie. I knew Tristan. It was no big deal to me."

Hey, memories are short.

Well, not long after he pulled on a Cavaliers cap at the draft, Wiggins was traded by the Cavaliers for Kevin Love. That deal would not be possible without LeBron's rubber stamp. His leverage ballooned within the organization the moment his plane landed after a one-way flight from Miami. LeBron figured the Cavs had enough young talent and needed someone established, and Love was a double-double dynamo for seven seasons in Minnesota.

Yet, Love's two years in Cleveland have been, by comparison, a letdown. And now he's being debated in basketball circles: Are the Cavs better off with Love playing a reduced role against the Warriors? This argument gained steam after the Cavs, with Love sitting out because of a concussion, flipped the Finals and blasted Golden State by 30 in Game 3, after losing by 33 in Game 2. Long derided for his inability to contain quicker players, Love does present a concern against the Warriors, who attack him whenever possible.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue remained coy about his plans to use Love, should Love clear concussion protocol and be eligible to play Friday. Lue did say: "We miss his rebounding. We miss his post presence. We miss his three-point shooting. So we definitely want him back."

Wiggins has rapidly gained a reputation for defense, usually the toughest adjustment for any young player. He rotates well, is quick to challenge three-point shooters and has the length and speed and size to guard swing players. He's also a 20-point scorer who can create off the dribble, a contrast to Love, who mainly shoots threes.

So: Would Wiggins have given the Cavs and LeBron a better chance to bring a championship to Cleveland?

These hypotheticals often get extreme conclusions, although in this particular case, maybe it's a bit complicated. If you could at least make a case for why Love was the right choice at the time, there's strong evidence Wiggins is the better choice now.

LeBron went with the known player over the unknown. Love averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds in one season. He could play either forward position and flourish offensively. He could stretch the floor and help on the glass, a rare combo. At least, he could do that based on the numbers, which don't always tell the full story.

The NBA graveyard is filled with stat-stuffers on losing teams, and the fact Love never led the Wolves to the playoffs deserved to be red flagged. Also, he never played with a better player (LeBron) or a point guard who took shots away (Irving) and it took him a full season to adjust to that in Cleveland.

Speaking of which, why is it automatically assumed Wiggins would easily make the transition? He came into the NBA as a teenager who would've been thrust in a high-stakes, win-now atmosphere. There would be no time for constant mistakes or a learning curve. Name the last championship team with a player that young holding down a meaty role. Kawhi Leonard was 23 for the Spurs in 2014. Rajon Rondo wasn't a premier player yet for the Celtics in 2008. Tony Parker, perhaps? Magic Johnson? Been a while.

With the Wolves, Wiggins has the benefit of tame expectations, lack of spotlight and a thick cushion beneath him whenever he falls. Remember, he didn't exactly conquer college basketball in his one season at Kansas, where he was chided for taking too many naps on the floor.

That said, had he stayed with the Cavs, could he be more inconsistent than Love in Cleveland?

The biggest advantage for Wiggins would be defensively. He brings young legs and bounce and XL arms and those would be priceless tools against Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Wiggins would also be a far better scorer in transition (Love rarely runs the floor) and slashing to the rim, drawing fouls.

The other unspoken factor is money. The Cavs are paying the max for Love. Wiggins would've served a rookie contract for at least three seasons, giving the Cavs financial flexibility. Maybe they'd have money to spend on a talent upgrade over JR Smith or Iman Shumpert. That's a domino effect that could've changed two, maybe three players in the rotation.

And Wiggins is barely into his 20s. At some point, when the grind of 13-plus seasons tugs at his tendons, LeBron needs a co-star, a baton-taker, someone who'll eventually relegate him to second-best player on the team. Wiggins, not Love, was that player.

Love joined his team in shooting drills Thursday and showed no apparent issues from getting bonked in the head. He was angry about having to sit Game 3, yet encouraged by the support from teammates. LeBron told him: "Don't worry about it. We got you tonight."

Which they did. Lue will probably maintain the status quo for Game 4, keep Love as the starter and then read the situation from there. That shows confidence in Love without fully committing to him. Coaches usually don't react until there's danger, and then they follow their gut and make a call. Lue has benched Love for entire quarters before; he did so just weeks ago in the Toronto series. Lue said he doesn't worry about a player's feelings when a situation calls for a change that benefits the team.

"I think you just tell the truth," said Lue. "They may not like it at the time, they may be mad for a second, but they can always understand and realize that it's the right thing. If you tell the truth, guys can respect that."

Yes, the truth. It sets your soul free. In that sense, if we could spike LeBron's water bottle with truth serum and ask him if he'd like a do-over, does Wiggins get a shout-out in that first-person story?

                                                                                                    BY Shaun Powell

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Golden State Warriors Take Game 2 Over Cleveland in NBA Finals>>>

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors won game two of the NBA finals, defeating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-77. The Cavaliers, who have lost seven straight to the Warriors, must win four of next five to take the title. Photo: Getty Images.

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OAKLAND, Calif.—The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors was Game 3 of last season’s NBA Finals. That game may have turned out to be a fulcrum of basketball history: It transformed the Warriors into a modern-day NBA wrecking machine.

The Warriors were down, 2-1, and desperate for a new strategy. That’s when they cracked the cheat code that would change the series and this season. It was then that they unleashed a small-ball lineup that ran the Cavaliers off the court and terrorized the rest of the NBA this year.

Their incredible versatility became such an essential part of their identity that it is almost impossible to imagine the Warriors playing any other way—or the Cavaliers solving the problem they started.

Golden State’s 110-77 win over Cleveland in Game 2 of the Finals on Sunday night wasn’t only demoralizing. It didn’t only stake the Warriors to a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals, and it didn’t only extend their winning streak over LeBron James’s team to seven games. This was a blowout that reminded the rest of the NBA that the Warriors may be the best team of all time.

There was no team that needed that reminder less than the Cavaliers. To bring Cleveland its first NBA title, they now have to win four of their next five games. Only three teams have ever survived 2-0 deficits in the Finals, and none of them had to beat the Warriors, a team that hasn’t lost to LeBron James in seven games—the longest streak for a single team in his NBA career.

In many ways, the record 73 wins of this Warriors season can be traced back to that one win in Game 4 of last year’s Finals. That was the game that Warriors coach Steve Kerr—at the recommendation of his personal assistant, whose other duties included rebounding for Stephen Curry in practice and compiling the team’s musical playlist—shook up his ordinary starting lineup in favor of a downsized one with five shooters. Golden State ticked off three straight wins for its first championship in 40 years.

They have never been the same, and neither have the Cavaliers. That one strategic tweak brought about a much bigger shift in both teams. Golden State executives believe that Game 4 of last year’s Finals was when the Warriors finally realized how good they really were. That carried over to this season. They played as if they knew they were simply better than every other team.

That was how they played Sunday, too. Some of the few Warriors fans who stuck around until the end of the fourth quarter confided in their Oracle Arena ushers that they hoped they wouldn’t see them again this season—that a four-game sweep would end the series in Cleveland. But most of the crowd was gone by then. Sunday night television was more interesting than the Finals game they had shelled out to attend.

Of all Golden State’s wins this season, few were as weird as Game 2. It wasn’t only the lopsided score that was unexpected. On a team with Curry and Klay Thompson, Golden State’s leading 3-point shooter was Draymond Green, the center in their undersized lineup, who poured in 28 points, while the leading rebounder was Curry, who was often the shortest player on the court.

Golden State was also careful about not celebrating too soon. All they did, the Warriors said, was maintain their home-court advantage. Now they have to play Game 3 in Cleveland on Wednesday. “They’re not very nice in Cleveland,” Thompson said.

But it would be as stunning as a 3-pointer from Curry isn’t if the Warriors fail to win the NBA championship. There are jellyfish that are tighter than Golden State at its best. Some of that comes from Kerr’s belief in the power of work-life balance—that basketball isn’t the most important thing in the world, which counts as a counterintuitive insight in the NBA. Kerr went to a Paul Simon concert on Friday, while Curry killed one of his Finals off days by playing golf. Most of it comes from what they began to understand in last year’s Finals: The Warriors have the talent to beat anybody and everybody.

Cleveland had no response for Golden State’s tactical adjustment last season, in part because Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were injured. Not even James could win a Finals surrounded by misfit parts.

Their shots at the Warriors this season have been even more dispiriting. The Cavaliers lost here on Christmas. They were crushed at home so badly that coach David Blatt lost his job not long afterward. And they dropped Game 1 of the Finals even though Warriors bench players scored as many points as Curry and Klay Thompson combined.

James’s last four Finals appearances before this year’s started with a Game 1 loss. What happened next was always the same. As the rest of the basketball universe panicked, James was the eye in a storm of second-guessing. And every single time, he went out and won Game 2—until Sunday.

“I won’t be reflecting,” said James, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, which wasn’t nearly enough. “I’ll figure out ways I can be better, starting as soon as I leave this podium.”

But this year’s Finals are different from every series that James has ever played in. The other team isn’t merely as good as it remembered the last time James beat them. The Warriors may be historically great.

                                                                                                                         By Ben Cohen

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Cavs*Smith shows more defensive commitment>>>

SPORT DADDY NEWS NBA

OAKLAND, Calif. — Anyone who thinks J.R. Smith is one of those NBA players whose idea of defense is taking the ball out of the net after his opponent scores hasn't been paying attention.

That might have been Smith's reputation earlier in his career. But that's not how he has approached his craft for at least several ... uh, months? Weeks?

"I used to be a guy who, my pride in my work was pretty much on how I shot the ball," the Cleveland Cavaliers' shooting guard said. "I try not to be that person anymore. Not let, whether I make a shot or miss a shot, define what I can do on a court. I try to start energy and then bring everything else on the defensive side and let my defense turn into transition offense."

Smith, 30, is wrapping up his 12th NBA season, so this most definitely falls into the old dog/new trick category. The obvious question, then, was: Why now?

"My daughter, actually," Smith said, referring to 7-year-old Demi Smith, around whose little finger pop apparently is wrapped.

"I was having a conversation with my daughter earlier this year about her sacrificing her toys, because she wants new toys," Smith said. "I was like, 'Baby, if you want more toys, you're going to have to sacrifice and give these other toys away to people who can't afford them or maybe are less fortunate.' She was like, 'Well, daddy, what are you going to sacrifice?'

"I sat there and honestly thought about it. And one thing that I can control is my defense. How I come in and impact the game. I talked to her about it, and even though she doesn't understand exactly from a basketball term, she understands..."

So yes, 12 years in, it was a conversation with his child about toys that persuaded a guy who already has been paid upwards of $40 million in his career to get serious about something that represents one half of how he logs his time.

OK, so. Smith's defense has been a welcome new facet to his game and has come in handy for the Cavaliers in this postseason, most notably against Atlanta's Kyle Korver in the Eastern Conference semifinals. He was more attentive at that end, too, in the first round against the likes of Detroit's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and in the East finals when matched with Toronto's DeMar DeRozan.

And some credit belongs to Smith as well for the 4-of-12 shooting performance, including just 1-of-5 from the 3-point line, that Golden State's Klay Thompsonsputtered through in Game 1 of The Finals Thursday at Oracle Arena. Holding that guy, nearly as dangerous as sidekick Steph Curry in the Warriors' backcourt, to just nine points is generally a building block of victory, though it didn't quite work that way with Golden State taking the championship series opener, 104-89.

Trouble was, Smith himself scored only three points. And, worse, took only three shots. In 36 minutes.

This wasn't a case, either, of Cleveland willingly sacrificing Smith's offense so he could devote all his energy to shadowing and pestering Thompson. The Cavs can't afford to give up Smith's deep shooting game because of the way it opens the floor for other parts of their attack. Nor can they go without his streaky, no-no-yes ability to launch and make bail-out shots that beat the 24-second clock or otherwise break the backs of the other team's solid defensive stands.

Cleveland needs Smith's offense. And frankly, he's not a good enough defender to be on the floor for 36 minutes if he's not squeezing off more than three field-goal attempts. Quadrupling that would be more in line with his history and his value.

So as the Cavaliers regrouped and licked wounds in the 72 hours between Games 1 and 2, figuring out how to get Smith more involved in the offense was one of their bullet points.

"He's a huge part of our success," LeBron James said, "and we've got to do a better job of trying to get him some looks early on and just to keep him engaged throughout the whole game. Three shot attempts is not enough for him. He had a big fall to start the game that really bothered him. But we've still got to keep him involved where he doesn't feel like he's just chasing around Steph and chasing around Klay all game."

Said Cavs coach Tyronn Lue: "The ball wasn't finding him, I don't think. But also if we don't play fast and get the ball up the floor and play with pace, J.R. suffers the most from that. This team was switching out on pin-downs and switching 1-through-5 when they go with that small lineup. It makes it tough for J.R. to get shots."

A theme for Cleveland since before the final horn of Game 1 has been the pace with which it has to play. A year ago, the Cavaliers tried to grind down Golden State in a halfcourt game; rim protector Timofey Mozgov started at center and going big and slow was James' best bet, having to shoulder so much with bothKyrie Irving and Kevin Love hurt and unavailable. It was a slog, but they did push the 2015 Finals to six games.

This postseason, by design, the Cavs have played fast, often relying on transition drives to the basket by James or Irving, followed by kick-outs to Smith, Love, Irving, Channing Frye or Matthew Dellavedova for barely contested threes.

Through the first three rounds, Smith had made 50 3-pointers, third most in these playoffs. He had shot 50-of-109 (.459) from behind the arc, compared to 7-of-17 (.412) inside it. He had averaged 12 points and about nine shots in a little more than 33 minutes.

"He's been on fire these whole playoffs, so we want to take away his 3-point shot as much as possible," Thompson said. "I think we did a great job [in Game 1] just playing with great length and not letting him get easy looks. He's going to make some -- he's a very hot, streaky player, so he's going to make some tough threes. But as long as he's not getting those step-in easy looks, we can live with some of his makes."

Some, as in more than the one he got Thursday.

Smith's undisciplined and playful side has gotten him sideways with some coaches and team executives in a career that has taken him from Denver (five seasons) to New York (two) to Cleveland (two). Teammates, though, generally seem to enjoy his wayward ways -- James considers him a "little brother" and Smith's hover board entrances and exits at Quicken Loans Arena last June time-stamped that Finals in terms of the culture -- and at least one is quite proud of Smith, who arrived in the NBA as the 18th overall pick in 2004, straight out of St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J.

"I've told him I'm proud of his path of growth so far," said Cavs reserve Dahntay Jones, 35, a fellow native of New Jersey. "He's come out of high school, he's basically learning this whole game on the fly. People don't understand, when you don't go to college, you don't get the chance to learn the game of basketball like others. People don't sit down and teach you. You just wander aimlessly through the league and you don't learn how to play, rather than just playing on your skill set. But he's been through some unique experiences where he's getting better and better.

"He's defending at a high level. He's spending a lot of time with the game and film in preparation, and taking care of his body. Lifting. ... He looks at the game in its completeness. It's like the wisdom of the man -- you don't understand until you spend some time in this world."

Now Smith needs to spend time shaking free of Thompson or Curry and gunning (at least a little) Cleveland back into this series.

"I'm going to stick to the game plan," Smith said Friday. "I'm not going to sit there and dribble around and take wild shots with two people on me just to get a shot off. If the shot's there, I'm going to take it. If it's not, I'm going to move the ball and try to help somebody else get a better shot."

If things work out for him and the Cavs, if Smith's sacrifices pay off with a ring, how else does he plan to reward himself, per his conversation with little Demi?

"The toy that I want is an F12 Ferrari," Smith said. "I can get it but I'm using it as my carrot."

Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail himhere and follow him on Twitter.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting. 

                                                                                                                        by Steve Aschburner

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