second half of a back-to-back Tuesday at home against Washington. | Forum
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Jan 3 '18
MIAMI -- LeBron James has this summer on his mind, and is already starting to plan for next season. Demar Dotson Jersey . The summer of 2014, that can wait. James said Tuesday that he is not thinking about the possibility of becoming a free agent in 12 months, though he did acknowledge that the prospects of competing with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley for several more championships with the Miami Heat is more than a tiny bit intriguing. "Thats the goal," James said. "Thats the ultimate finish. And we all hope that can happen, obviously." James final interview session of this season revealed plenty in 17 minutes, including that hes already feeling an itch to get back on the basketball court after just a few days off, that hell stop at nothing to give longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson anything she wants on their wedding day in a couple months, and that hes making no secret of his hope that the Heat bring back at least the majority of this years championship roster. The most interesting news, however, was when he spoke of his short- and long-term plans. First, hes vowing to come back better next season, which is no small promise from someone with four MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards and who carries the tag of "best player in the world." And then next summer, it certainly sounds as if hes going to give the prospects of staying in Miami a good, long look. "This is what we came here for, so that would be the ultimate," James said. "But you can never ... I dont know, life changes, things happen, and we have to be prepared for that. But this is what we all want to be here for, thats to be able to compete for a championship each and every year. And if we can do that, then itd be awesome." James scored 37 points in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, carrying the Heat to their second straight championship in a season where he picked up his fourth MVP award. Hes gotten to the championship series in all three of his seasons with Miami, falling to Dallas in 2011, then beating Oklahoma City last season and the Spurs this year. The team gathered for physicals and a quick meeting on Tuesday, and now begins the process of scattering for vacation and other business. James will make his annual trip with Nike to China next month, not long after Wade does some business there. And already, James sounds like hes missing the group that he spent the past nine months with. "Its like, Damn, I wish we could come back in the locker room, have another practice, take another flight, have another bus ride with those 15 guys," James said. "Thats what its all about. You miss the guys throughout the summer. I know my family probably doesnt want to hear that, but its the truth." It was not a Finals without speed bumps for James, who failed to score 20 points in any of the first three games against the Spurs. And after Miami lost Game 5 in San Antonio, James had to prepare without one of his most faithful sounding boards. Maverick Carter, James longtime friend and perhaps his most trusted confidant, wouldnt talk with him for days after Game 5, other than challenging him by saying that great players have to be great in the biggest moments. James responded with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 6, then the 37-point outburst in Game 7. "Thats why I like the guys around me, off the court," James said. "Its not just a bed of roses with us. Theyve been around me too long to allow me to be careless or not stepping up to the plate at the highest level, not in basketball but in everything." The Heat are expected to announce by Sunday that they will pick up an option on point guard Mario Chalmers, one of three potentially departing players -- Ray Allen and Chris Andersen being the others -- identified by James on Tuesday as being "huge parts of our team." James, who was completely exhausted after Game 7, said hes already feeling rejuvenated physically and is eager to get back to work, which may not be great news for opponents. "Im going to come back a better player," James said, "because I owe it to my teammates. ... Im obsessed with success." James said he hasnt taken much of a look at who might be available for Miami this summer in free agency yet, in part because the season just ended and in part because he thinks the current Heat roster, if brought back essentially intact, would be good enough to contend for the title in 2014. If Riley, Spoelstra, managing general partner Micky Arison and salary-cap guru Andy Elisburg find a way to improve the roster, then James -- who plays just about every position on offence and defends them all on defence -- certainly wouldnt complain. Still, it says something that hes not demanding upgrades, either. "My mindset is at a point where there is no relief," James said. "I love the burden. I love what I have to do for this team to win. If it happens and we get someone who relieves something from me as far as a big or a wing guy or something, then itd be good for our team. But Im not going up to those guys or approaching this summer saying I need help. Im coming back saying if we come back with this roster, were going to compete for a championship." The way he sees it, if he gets better and the Heat get healthier and other players find ways to improve, then he likes his chances next year. "This year coming, which will be here soon, thats our focus," James said. "Our focus is on how were going to get better this year coming up, and how were going to prepare to be better with all these other teams getting better, to be able to keep that trophy here." So he gets one ring when next season starts, and another a couple months beforehand, when he and Brinson finally tie the knot. Hes let his fiancee do most of the planning, though James has been involved in some decisions. His approach has been steadfast since proposing shortly after the clock struck midnight and the calendar flipped to Jan. 1, 2012 -- its her day. "Im involved enough to where everythings going to go right," James said. "The most important person is Savannah. Shes happy, then Im happy. Thats all that matters. I dont really care about nothing else. I dont really care about nobody else there on that day besides her." Then comes a new season -- and the same questions he heard going into his infamous Decision summer of 2010, when he left Cleveland for Miami. "Ive been in this position before," James said. "Ive heard it before. It cant get any worse than my season before I became a free agent in 2010." Mike Evans Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Bryan Anger Jersey . Neither made it that far in 2013. Not even close. Federer lost his second match at the All England Club. Nadal exited in the first round, a year after bowing out in the second.PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are still determined to finish as the NHLs best team -- despite a recent slump. The Penguins rebounded from a loss on Saturday and beat the leagues worst team on Monday night as goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 shots for his fourth shutout, a 3-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres. "When you play 82 every one isnt going to be perfect, but were trying to be the best, not just into late June, but every game," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said. Chris Kunitz scored his 26th goal and Deryk Engelland netted his fourth, equaling a career high. Tanner Glass scored his first goal in 26 games, a late empty-netter that sealed it for the Penguins, who won for the 15th time in 16 games at home. Sidney Crosby, who leads the NHL with 74 points, added two assists to extend his points streak in games against Buffalo to 16 games, matching his longest streak against any team. Fleury, who leads the NHL with 29 wins, registered his 27th career shutout, tied for second in the league. He helped preserve the win, denying Buffalos Brian Flynn two minutes into the third period before following it up with a right-pad stop on Matt Moulson on a partial breakaway a couple minutes later. "The first one was pretty close, and I was worried he might have cut across, so I tried to take his options away," said Fleury, who is one victory away from reaching the 30-win mark for the fifth-straight full NHL season. "Moulson, I was trying to be patient because I know he has good hands," he added. Fleury was better on the play, giving his team a sorely-needed lift after a slow start to the period. "We chipped some pucks out in the beginning of the third period, kind of sitting back, and they shoved it right back at us," Bylsma said. "Marc got stuck with those two glorious chances against. the two great saves he had to make." The Penguins are in command of the Eastern Conference, leading Boston and Tampa Bay by seven points in addition to a 15-point cushion on the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division entering Monday. But Pittsburgh has struggled recently with a lacklustre home effort last Monday against Florida -- 15th in the 16-team Eastern Conference -- and a 3-0 loss Saturday at Dallas. It wasnt perfect, but the Penguins were able to turn it around on Monday. "We still had timmes when we werent getting pucks deep, turning it over, and giving them chances to get back into the game," Kunitz said. Justin Evans Jersey. "Our goalie made a few great saves, a few that went through his body, couldve hit somebody and went in the other way." Goaltender Ryan Miller stopped 31 shots for last-place Buffalo, which has lost seven of nine. The Sabres, who scored at least three goals the previous six games, won for the first time five games on Saturday, scoring a 5-2 victory at Columbus and stopping the red-hot Blue Jackets franchise-record eight-game winning streak, but they couldnt sustain the momentum. "Were a team that we cant have glaring mistakes," Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. "Its very demoralizing. We woke up in the third period and made a push, but not good enough." The Penguins, after a scoreless opening period, scored at 14:16 of the second. Brian Gibbons, who missed five games with a lower-body injury, hit the post on a one-timer from Crosby. The red goal light behind the net momentarily turned on before Kunitz swept the rebound into a partially empty net. Engelland scored later in the period, forcing a turnover in the Sabres zone before lifting a pass from Glass over a sprawled Miller. That was good enough for the Penguins, who continue to try and perfect their stride despite leading the Eastern Conference. "We still need to get better as a team and grow," Kunitz said. "We have 30-some games before the playoffs to make sure were running on all cylinders, and make sure were the best team going into the playoffs." NOTES: Penguins F Evgeni Malkin played in his 500th NHL game, becoming the 15th player in team history to reach the milestone. ... The Penguins are 27-2-1, and a perfect 18-0 at home when scoring first. ... Pittsburgh has won 40 of its last 48 home games dating back to last season. ... Chuck Kobasew, who played on Pittsburghs top line the past four games, was a healthy scratch on Monday in addition to Andrew Ebbett and Robert Bortuzzo. Buffalo scratched Drew Stafford, John Scott, and Alexander Sulzer ... Buffalo plays the second half of a back-to-back Tuesday at home against Washington. ... Pittsburgh opens a two-game West Coast swing Thursday at Los Angeles ... The two teams meet for the third and final time this season next Wednesday at Buffalo. 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