Posted Date: June 19, 2013

Jazz hire former coach Jerry Sloan as senior basketball adviser

Ben Golliver, Jerry Sloan, Randy Rigby, Tyrone Corbin, Utah Jazz
(Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images)

The Jazz have hired legendary coach Jerry Sloan to serve as an adviser. (Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images)

The Jazz announced Wednesday that former coach Jerry Sloan has been hired to serve as a senior basketball adviser.

“The basketball knowledge and experience that Jerry brings is invaluable, and his insights will help in our pursuit of becoming a championship-caliber team,” Jazz president Randy Rigby said in a statement. “We are pleased to formally welcome Jerry back into the organization as an adviser.”

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Posted Date: June 19, 2013

Heat’s LeBron James plans to wear headband for Finals Game 7 against Spurs

2013 NBA Finals, Ben Golliver, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs

MIAMI — With a night to weigh the pros and cons, LeBron James announced Wednesday that he plans to dress his forehead like usual for Game 7 of the Finals against the Spurs.

The decision comes one day after the 2013 MVP enjoyed a strong fourth-quarter push that happened to coincide with his trademark headband getting knocked off during Miami’s 103-100 overtime victory over San Antonio in Game 6.

“I’ll probably start off with it, man,” James said, referring to his headband. “A little superstitious. If it gets knocked off, then me and him [the headband] will have a discussion if he will return.”

James’ ever-present headband — suddenly gone — was a major discussion point on Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Game 6 has already been dubbed the “No Headband Game” on Twitter.

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Posted Date: June 19, 2013

The Spurs’ depth, poise put them in great position to claim Game 7 of NBA Finals

2013 NBA Finals, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker finished with 19 points and eight assists but it wasn't enough to propel the Spurs past the Heat in Game 6.

Tony Parker finished with 19 points and eight assists but it wasn’t enough to propel the Spurs past the Heat in Game 6. (Greg Nelson/SI)

As we stand amazed by Miami’s steely resolve or rubberneck at San Antonio’s squandered opportunities, it’s easy to disregard all that the Spurs did on Tuesday night to put themselves within a Ray Allen wrist-flick of the NBA title. For the bulk of Game 6, the Spurs played the part of the better, more resilient team — a bit short in the final balance, but in command for most of the second half and the final minutes of regulation.

The chance to wrap up the series and the season slipped through their fingers as Miami went on to edge out a win in overtime, but the prevailing takeaway from Game 6 and the Finals in general remains San Antonio’s ability to execute team-wide beyond expectation. It’s not as gripping a development as LeBron James’ takeover, if only because there’s nothing remotely sexy about a sense of order. Yet the Spurs’ perpetual balance almost made them the victors Tuesday.

San Antonio’s late-game turnovers were so stark for this very reason. As painful as those giveaways were for the Spurs, they were all the more devastating given how consistently San Antonio has otherwise handled Miami’s defensive pressure. In Game 6 alone, the Spurs were able to build a double-digit lead based on their capacity to work through action after action, largely rising to the challenge of the Heat’s rebuffs. Take, for example, this blanketed play that nonetheless ends in a Tony Parker layup:

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Posted Date: June 19, 2013

Chris Bosh to Heat fans who left early: ‘Don’t come to Game 7′

2013 NBA Finals, American Airlines Arena, Ben Golliver, Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs

MIAMI — Sorry, Heat fans. Chris Bosh is unwilling to forgive your lack of faith.

In the closing minutes of regulation of Game 6 on Tuesday, a significant portion of the home crowd left American Airlines Arena early, missing the Heat’s dramatic 103-100 overtime comeback.

Bosh chastised the fans who headed for the exits during a media session on Wednesday.

“For all those guys [fans] who left, make sure they don’t come to Game 7,” he said. “We only want the guys who want to stay. … You never give up. People gave up on us. They can stay where they are and watch the game at home.”

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Posted Date: June 19, 2013

Heat fans leave early during Game 6, missing dramatic overtime victory

2013 NBA Finals, American Airlines Arena, Ben Golliver, Erik Spoelstra, LeBron James, Miami Heat, Ray Allen, San Antonio Spurs
(Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images)

Security was in place for a postgame trophy presentation when Ray Allen hit this game-tying three. (Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images)

MIAMI — For 53 minutes on Tuesday, the Heat and Spurs engaged in an all-time great basketball game, one that saw star performance after star performance and required an overtime period to settle. Despite ticket prices in the hundreds or thousands of dollars and the fact that it was Game 6 of the Finals, many fans in attendance at American Airlines Arena didn’t bother to stick around until the game’s dramatic conclusion.

A significant portion of the home crowd streamed for the exits as San Antonio held a five-point lead in the closing minutes of regulation. When LeBron James and Ray Allen hit back-to-back three-pointers to force overtime, where the Heat ultimately prevailed 103-100 to force a Game 7, a number of the fans unsuccessfully attempted to reenter the arena, according to reports.

The early exit from the fans wasn’t the only late-game off-court point of contention. Many Heat players saw that preparations were being made for a trophy presentation to the Spurs, as security staff surrounded the court to create a celebration zone.

“I noticed it,” James said, following what he called the “best game” he’s been a part of during his 10-year career. “We saw the championship board already out there, the yellow tape. That’s why you play the game to the final buzzer.”

Dwyane Wade added: “That’s why we love this game. It’s unpredictable. Only thing you can do when everything looks dim and dark, you just have to keep going. When they brought that yellow rope and you know you’re not the one that’s going to celebrate, we kept fighting and believing. We played to the last minute, the last second.”

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said that the crowd’s early exit and the post-game security preparations didn’t distract his team’s focus during a tense endgame.

“Come on, at that time I don’t think anybody noticed,” Spoelstra said. “That’s probably the best way to live in life is in the moment, and that will guarantee you’re in the moment.”

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