MIAMI -- For the first time since the shortened 1998-99 season, the NBA finalists from one season will open the following season against one another. Heat forwards Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem appreciate the irony. The NBA has made it official -- again -- saying Friday that Miami will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day, only this time in the season-opener for both clubs. The Mavericks are expected to raise their championship banner before the game. The matchup is no surprise. It was also part of the NBAs initially released schedule, the one that had to be changed considerably because of all the time lost during the lockout. "I think everybody did it on purpose. But, you know, whatever for the ratings, right?" Bosh said Thursday, working under the assumption the long-awaited matchup would still happen as planned. "I use it as motivation. I know theyre going to be pumped up. Its the worst time to be at home for me. But everything happens for a reason, so were going to have to watch it, take it all in and just use that as fuel for the rest of the season." Dallas beat the Heat in six games in last seasons finals, winning the title on Miamis home floor. Chicago beat Utah in the 1998 NBA finals, then opened the next season on Feb. 5, 1999 against the Jazz -- although that was a much-different Bulls team, of course, following the retirement of Michael Jordan at the end of what was the franchises sixth championship run. Before then, the last time finalists from one year played Game 1 of the next season against one another was 1957, the Boston Celtics and St. Louis Hawks, according to STATS LLC. Clearly, emotions will not be in short supply in Dallas on Dec. 25. "You can only imagine how were going to feel, like we have something to prove again," Mavericks guard Jason Terry told reporters in Dallas on Thursday. "Can these guys do it again? Are they too old? All those questions will have to be answered." Haslem said that the Heat have been dealing with the pain of losing the finals throughout the entire off-season. But when asked what the chance to see Dallas in Game 1 of this season -- assuming the new collective bargaining agreement actually gets done next week like the league and its players plan -- the Miami native didnt add much in the way of hyperbole. "I dont remember what happened last year," Haslem deadpanned. "To me, its just the first game on the schedule, an opportunity to get out there and do what we love to do. ... Its going to be a great matchup. Its going to be fun."
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http://www.officialmlbshoponline.net/Custom-Shop-Cyber-Monday-Kansas-City-Royals-Black-Friday/ Michael Conforto Mets Jersey . Speaking to TSN 1200 on Friday evening, Bryan Murray said he has not made any final decisions on his team for next season – and that includes giving a formal vote of confidence to head coach Paul MacLean.
Salvador Perez Royals Jersey . The second game of the Tigers scheduled four-game series at the Chicago White Sox was postponed Tuesday night.SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Vivek Ranadive has made a fortune in the software industry by betting on the right people. The new owner of the Sacramento Kings is now betting big on DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings signed Cousins to a four-year maximum contract extension worth a reported $62 million Monday, saying the 23-year-old centre is the foundation the franchise will build on to lead a struggling team into a new era. Sacramento hasnt had a winning season since 2006, but the new Kings management is comfortable investing in a player considered one of the NBAs best young big men but who also has drawn multiple suspensions from both the team and the league for his behaviour. "From my perspective, it isnt really that much of a leap of faith," said Ranadive, whose purchase of the team from the Maloof family was approved by the NBA in May. "Im just doing what I do in my business every day, just betting on the best. And he represents the best." The fifth overall selection of the 2010 NBA draft, Cousins led the Kings last season with averages of 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals and also averaged 2.7 assists. He ranked ninth among the leagues leading rebounders. But the Kings once again finished among the worst teams in the Western Conference at 28-54, Sacramentos fifth consecutive season with fewer than 30 victories, and Cousins was reprimanded several times for his conduct. The 6-foot-11 veteran said those problems are behind him and he accepts the accountability that comes with his lucrative new deal. "Ive got big shoulders, so I can handle that," Cousins said. "I consider myself a leader on this team, so I take all the responsibility that comes with it. Ive had pressure from the beginning, so I dont have a problem with it. I was doing it in the beginning, so I definitely dont have a problem doing it now." Cousins tumultuous 2012-13 season was marked by several incidents during which his behaviour and discipline came into question. Cousins was suspended one game by the Kings on Dec. 22 for "unprofessional behaviour and conduct detrimental to the team" after an incident involving then-coach Keith Smart in the locker room during a loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. He was suspended by the NBA for one game without pay for striking O.J. Mayo in the groin during a loss at Dallas on Dec. 10. Following a loss at San Antoonio on Nov.dddddddddddd 9, the league suspended Cousins two games without pay for confronting Spurs announcer Sean Elliott in a "hostile manner." But Ranadive began his push to make Cousins a centerpiece of Sacramentos future as soon as he became owner. The Kings had until Oct. 31 to come to terms on an extension to prevent Cousins from becoming a restricted free agent next summer. "I consulted people way smarter than myself and there was never a doubt in my mind that he was going to be the foundation of this franchise moving forward," Ranadive said. "People have said a lot of things about DeMarcus, but hes a fine young man. I think of DeMarcus as really the prototypical, 21st century player. Hes one of the most talented big men in the business and has an understanding of the game that is truly unique." Cousins already is working on improving his image. He will donate $1 million from his new deal to "the families and community of Sacramento," he said. Cousins also will donate money to several organizations launched by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. "Thats something I have to get better at," Cousins said. "I mean, Im the type of guy, if I know you dont like me, Im not going to just be able to smile in your face and say everything is cool. But Im blessed to be in this situation, I believe in this organization and Im glad they gave me this chance to prove it to them and this team." The Kings will begin their first training camp under a new regime that includes coach Michael Malone and general manager Pete DAlessandro with their first practice Tuesday morning on the UC Santa Barbara campus. The team will train there for a week before it begins the preseason Oct. 7 against the Golden State Warriors. The signing of Cousins came hours before the Kings annual media day at the teams practice facility in Sacramento. With a new downtown arena set to open in 2016, and NBA great Shaquille ONeal now on board as a minority owner and new mentor for Cousins, Ranadive said Cousins new deal is the latest example of the teams recent progress. "Its a good day for the new-era Sacramento Kings," he said. "We always knew this is where we were heading, so we are exactly where we want to be. Now we head off to training camp, and weve tied a bow on this (deal) and were excited to move forward."
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Topic: With a new downtown arena set to open in 2016 (Read 2663 times)
