SB Nation St. Louis: All Posts by Kevin Zimmerman

Greg Byrne trolls an ASU fan on Twitter, perfume involved

2013-06-20T00:53:08Z

Chris Bosh says fans who left Game 6 early can 'watch the game at home'

2013-06-19T22:39:58Z

Chris Bosh had a message for Miami fans who left the Heat's historic comeback late in the fourth quarter: stay home next time.

To the assembled media Wednesday, the Heat forward shared his displeasure about the Miami fans who began filing out of American Airlines Arena when it appeared the San Antonio Spurs had won the title. Per ASAP Sports:

Bosh: You never give up. People gave up on us, and they can stay where they are and watch the game at home.

Media member: Did you like the punishment? They didn't let them back in.

Bosh: Yeah, you can't get let back in after you leave. I know that. Hell, I've been to games. You can't leave a game and then come back. It doesn't make any sense. You left. It's not punishment; that's protocol

Bosh probably has a right to sling those words at Miami fans.

Fans who stayed watched a classic ending that Bosh played a key part in. After Spurs forward Tim Duncan torched Miami for 30 points in the first three quarters, Bosh responded in the fourth quarter and overtime alongside LeBron James' scoring outburst. Bosh grabbed the key offensive rebound to find Ray Allen for a game-tying three-pointer that forced overtime. He then perfectly read the Spurs' final shot by Danny Green in overtime, blocking the attempt as the buzzer sounded.

Bosh finished with just 10 points, but it was his 11 rebounds, two blocks and three steals that represented the mark he made in the elimination game.

More from SB Nation:

• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

• Flannery: The inspiring, agonizing, amazing story of Game 6

• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Celtics, Clippers re-start talks on Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett trade

2013-06-19T22:13:00Z

Discussions for a trade that would send forward Kevin Garnett and coach Doc Rivers from the Boston Celtics to the Los Angeles Clippers are back on, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. For the second time since Saturday's trade talks began, the two franchises have resumed dialogue that had appeared to be dead.

On Tuesday, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge appeared willing to welcome Rivers back despite the failed discussions. But Wojnarowski reports that the Clippers reached out to the Celtics on Wednesday, a day after Rivers appeared apprehensive about returning when Los Angeles became unwilling to send center DeAndre Jordan and two first-round draft picks to Boston.

For more: Celtics Blog Clips Nation

The trade talks began on Saturday but quickly died as Boston refused to consider a trade without Los Angeles involving guard Eric Bledsoe. The Celtics began compromising with a deal that didn't include the young point guard, and on Monday it appeared that the two squads were discussing smaller contracts to include around the main pieces. Once again, talks stalled as the Clippers were unwilling to give up the two draft picks.

Furthermore, Wojnarowski reported that Los Angeles was backpedaling in regard to a negotiated five-year, $35 million contract with Rivers. The Celtics coach's future has remained in limbo this offseason as the team considered rebuilding.

Although Rivers won't technically be included in the trade, the Celtics are willing to allow him out of his contract to sign with the Clippers. Boston, however, wanted draft picks essentially to act as compensation for releasing Rivers.

More from SB Nation:

• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

• Flannery: The inspiring, agonizing, amazing story of Game 6

• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Kobe Bryant injury: Lakers star aiming to return in November or December

2013-06-19T20:36:01Z

Kobe Bryant professed that he'd return from an April 13 Achilles tendon surgery to make the Los Angeles Lakers' season-opener, but speaking with ESPN Radio 710 on Wednesday he began pushing back his return to November or December at the latest.

After tearing his Achilles in an April 12 game and undergoing surgery the next day, the prognosis gave Bryant a recovery period of six to nine months. Mid-October would mark the six-month point in the Laker guard's rehab, and the NBA season begins in the final days of October. The Lakers' preseason schedule begins Oct. 5 and is closed out Oct. 25.

Visit Silver Screen and Roll for Lakers news and views

That makes Bryant's latest promise for a return in December at the eight-month mark, which seems reasonable in both making a return as fast as possible, but without rushing back too quickly.

Bryant also told ESPN 710 that he's completely mobile right now, but isn't running yet. He added that the Achilles is feeling better than it did before the injury.

Listen to the entire interview with Bryant at ESPN 710.

More from SB Nation:

• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

• Flannery: The inspiring, agonizing, amazing story of Game 6

• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Dwane Casey will return to Raptors, team announces

2013-06-19T19:33:58Z

Dwane Casey will coach the Toronto Raptors for the final season of his contract, according to the Toronto Star. The team announced on Wednesday that it would not seek new leadership on the court under a remade front office featuring former Denver Nuggets general manager and reigning NBA Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri.

"I'm excited about moving forward and growing this team with Coach Casey," recently-hired general manager Masai Ujiri said in a statement.

The Raptors' head coach appeared to be safe under former Bryan Colangelo, but Toronto moved its former general manager to a more business-related position with the team, allowing for the possibility that Ujiri would make his own hire.

Visit Raptors HQ for more news

Ujiri initially said he would make a decision only after meeting with Casey and, although rumors suggested otherwise, the statement released Wednesday finalizes this deal. With Casey's job is now safe, it is expected that the Raptors will make changes to his staff of assistants according to The Toronto Star's Doug Smith.

Casey went 34-48 last season as the Raptors missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

More from SB Nation:

• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

• Flannery: The inspiring, agonizing, amazing story of Game 6

• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Arizona basketball in mix for Houston transfer Joseph Young

2013-06-19T14:41:35Z

Houston Cougars transfer Joseph Young, who averaged 18 points per game as a sophomore, could end up at Arizona. CBS Sports Network's Jon Rothstein reports that the 6-foot-3 shooting guard has the Wildcats on a shortlist that also includes Baylor, Florida and Oregon. The Texas Longhorns are also a possible landing spot.

Arizona, Baylor, Florida, + Oregon are all in the mix for Houston transfer Joseph Young, per multiple sources. 2 years of eligibility left.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 19, 2013

Young made a large leap in between his freshman and sophomore campaigns. His scoring jumped by seven points in relatively the same amount of minutes thanks to improved shooting percentages and a much better ability to get to the foul stripe -- he went from 1.6 free throws per game to 5.0.

The 87 percent free throw shooter hit 42 percent of his three-pointers and 45 percent overall. According to KenPom ratings, he was one of the most efficient scorers who did the most out of relatively little usage. Per ESPN:

He averaged 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and he was extremely efficient to boot, shooting 42 percent from 3 and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. He finished with a 124.0 offensive rating on 22.7 percent usage, one of the best 30 marks at that usage tier in the country. He was really good. And now, after a not-small ordeal to get Young to Houston in the first place, he is moving on.

Young's father was the director of basketball operations in Houston and decided to leave the program this year. The practice of recruiting through job-offering family members is common across the NCAA, though it's important to know that Young's dad was a former Houston hoopster himself.

The Houston Chronicle has the full story on that.

But back to the Wildcats. Once again, surprising roster turnover (Grant Jerrett's jump to the NBA) won't inhibit Sean Miller's program but rather give it options.

The playing time might inhibit Young choosing the Wildcats with Nick Johnson locked into the shooting guard spot, but there's definitely a hole to fill at UA in terms of having a go-to scorer. Arizona could use more shooters, after all, because any mix of Aaron Gordon, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski isn't going to cut it in terms of opening up the floor. Going small might help out.

Johnson has yet to prove himself as the type of player who might become an offensive threat to take over a game, and backup guards Jordin Mayes and Gabe York haven't had the chance to show they'll be relied-upon shooters.

Young is an intriguing grab. It's of course a to-be-determined situation but again, options are nice.

RichRod is Unforgiven: A 'Hard Edge' parody

2013-06-18T18:43:47Z

via cdn1.sbnation.com

Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart and Damyean Dotson dunk-off for USA Basketball

2013-06-18T17:47:26Z

How do we celebrate Arizona recruit Aaron Gordon making the U19 roster? Dunk-off.

SB Nation St. Louis: All Posts by Kevin Zimmerman

Greg Byrne trolls an ASU fan on Twitter, perfume involved

Chris Bosh says fans who left Game 6 early can 'watch the game at home'

Leaving history

More from SB Nation:

Celtics, Clippers re-start talks on Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett trade

More from SB Nation:

Kobe Bryant injury: Lakers star aiming to return in November or December

More from SB Nation:

Dwane Casey will return to Raptors, team announces

More from SB Nation:

Arizona basketball in mix for Houston transfer Joseph Young

RichRod is Unforgiven: A 'Hard Edge' parody

Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart and Damyean Dotson dunk-off for USA Basketball