Linsanity strikes even the Knicks' practice facility

J.R. Smith was apparently in with the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony was expected to continue to sit out.

One constant remained Friday morning at the Knicks' practice facility: Linsanity.

The media crush was so great that as reporters stood in front of a door that point guard Jeremy Lin was expected to enter, one reporter quipped: “Guys, you can block the door. He’s going to descend down from heaven.”

Lin eventually entered through the door like other worldly creatures and addressed a variety of topics, including his relationship with Yao Ming and his addition to the Rising Stars Challenge involving rookies and second-year players as part of the All-Star Game festivities later this month in Orlando, Fla.

PHOTOS: Jeremy Lin

"I thought the rosters came out a while ago, but people started telling me I made it yesterday," Lin said. "They must have done something to get an extra guy in there."

Lin said he didn't think participating in the game would be overly taxing, noting that he would "probably stand around half-court and throw a couple of alley-oop passes."

Blake Griffin says he'll skip the dunk contest (probably)

Blake Griffin dunked over a car (or, really, the hood of a car) to win the NBA slam dunk contest last year. So how will the reigning champion top it during this year's All-Star Weekend in Orlando?

He (probably) won't.

After his team's 112-91 loss to Denver on Thursday, Griffin said he didn't plan on being in the dunk contest and that the event wasn't "my thing." He added that he'd like to just sit back and enjoy watching it.

Of course, word that the reigning champion will miss the dunk contest is somewhat deflating news, especially considering his recent highlight dunk over Kendrick Perkins.

But remember: Griffin, who was voted as a starter for the Western Conference all-star team on Thursday, didn't for sure say he wouldn't enter the contest. What did he say? "I'm not sure."

MORE:

Clippers, Kenyon Martin agree on a deal

Kobe Bryant looking to gain playoff momentum

Veteran Chauncey Billups is keeping up with young guys

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Blake Griffin. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.

NBA: Miami Heat makes a music video

Last season the Miami Heat was the most hated team in the NBA, its players flooded with boos and jeers at every arena besides their own.

Even with a year's wisdom, it doesn't seem they're doing much to endear themselves to the public.

In an over-the-top display of bravado, members of the team have made a music video to introduce themselves in which they dance, pose and dust themselves to Kanye West's hit single "All of the Lights."

The Heat established itself as a villain last season when LeBron James announced on national TV that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play in Miami, a move infamously dubbed "The Decision."

The team had assembled three of the top players in the league -- James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh -- and they spouted unsubtle promises of a championship.

So, unsurprisingly, when the Heat was eliminated by the hardworking, humble Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals last season, the basketball world celebrated. Many loved watching the Heat lose and took special pleasure seeing James choke down the stretch.

You would think this season the Heat would have a different tactic.

They still have all the talent. But instead of focusing on being more likable, it seems they still want all of the spotlight.

--Melissa Rohlin

DeMar DeRozan thinks props cheapened NBA dunk contest

Cars, multiple baskets and bears. Oh, my!

Like Dorothy who was taken aback in The Wizard of Oz when she saw wild animals, Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan said he was not thrilled when his competitors used a myriad of props, including a fake animal, in Saturday's All-Star dunk contest.

"I'm a dunker. Dunk contests, you go out there and dunk. I'm not into all the props and everything," he said Tuesday. "I try to come out with a creative dunk and do it and go from there."

Blake Griffin of the Clippers won by dunking over the hood of a KIA Optima, Javale McGee of the Washington Wizards simultaneously dunked two balls into two separate baskets and Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder grabbed a stuffed bear with his teeth while dunking.

DeRozan, a Los Angeles native who played at USC, feels that the props cheapened the contest.

"If there's a dunk contest next year I'll do it," DeRozan said. "But not no prop dunk contest."

 He thinks props should be forbidden and surmised what could be next if the rules don't change.

"Somebody might use a trampoline," DeRozan said.

-- Melissa Rohlin

NBA All-Star game receives high television ratings

 

The 60th NBA All-Star game Sunday earned its highest television rating since Michael Jordan's last appearance in 2003.

The Western Conference's 148-143 win drew a 5.2 rating, up 37% from last year. The ratings measure the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant led the fast-paced star-studded show with 37 points and claimed his fourth All-Star most-valuable-player award.

-- Melissa Rohlin

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 Photo: The West's Kobe Bryant tries to keep the ball away from the East's Derrick Rose, left, and Dwyane Wade.

NBA All-Star Game: Kobe Bryant wins fourth MVP honor in leading West to 148-143 win

The West team survived the East's furious fourth-quarter comeback led by LeBron James to win the 60th NBA All-Star game.

Kobe Bryant was the game's leading scorer with 37 points. Kevin Durant had 34 points for the West.

Bryant won his fourth All-Star MVP award.

James had a triple-double, with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and was the best player on the court in the final quarter with 14 points. James twice brought the East to within two points in the final minutes, but baskets by Pau Gasol and Durant helped salvage the game for the West, which led by 17 points entering the final quarter.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant celebrates a play with West teammate Blake Griffin of the Clippers during the NBA All-Star game at Staples Center on Sunday. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

 

NBA All-Star Game: West 134, East 122 (midway through fourth quarter)

The chant picked up in a hurry: "We want Blake, we want Blake" early in the fourth quarter and the Staples Center crowd erupted when Blake Griffin got off the bench and re-entered the game.

Griffin missed a reverse layup a minute on his first possession, and the crowd growned. But he scored on a fastbreak dunk after two minutes.

Kobe Bryant and Griffin were on the court together for the first time with about eight minutes to go in the game.

Minnesota's Kevin Love hit a jumper from the top of the key and was the last All-Star to score in the game.

Fans are texting their votes for the MVP, and Bryant, with 37 points, is the obvious favorite.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Clippers forward Blake Griffin soars for a put-back dunk in the NBA All-Star game on Sunday at Staples Center. Credit: Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

NBA All-Star Game: West 117, East 100 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Thunder's Kevin Durant have combined for 54 points to put the West All-Stars up by 17 points going into the final quarter Sunday at Staples Center.

But the East's deficit wasn't LeBron James' fault. The Heat star put on a show in the third quarter with nine points, three assists and five rebounds.

The Staples Center crowd became animated late in the quarter, hooting the quartet of Celtics All-Stars when they touched the ball. One fan mocked Rajon Rondo: "Shoot a jump shot Rondo!"

Miami's Dwyane Wade came up limping after a turnover seven minutes into the quarter and went to the bench.

Kevin Love of the Timberwolves is the only player who hasn't scored in the game.

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher, who has never been an All-Star, got a round of cheers when he was shown on the scoreboard screen during a timeout.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Lakers and West guard Kobe Bryant applies the defensive pressure on Heat and East forward LeBron James on Sunday in the NBA All-Star game at Staples Center. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

NBA All-Star Game: West 95, East 85 (midway through third quarter)

Kobe Bryant kept smiling, shooting and driving to keep the West on top of the East with about six minutes to go in the third quarter. Bryant is the game's leading scorer with 32 points on 12-for-21 shooting.

LeBron James began pushing the ball up the court and the East's up-tempo offense cut the West's lead to 84-79 in the first four minutes of the quarter.

James has 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists so far for the East squad.

The West had led, 76-64, at halftime.

--Barry Stavro

NBA All-Star game: West 76, East 64 (halftime)

Kobe Bryant didn't look his 32 years, energizing the All-Star crowd with his second dunk in the game with about a minute to go in the half. On the next play, Thunder star Kevin Durant scored on a vicious slam to pad the West's lead.

Bryant leads all scorers with 21 points.

The other Lakers All-Star, Pau Gasol, had his shooting stroke working and hit his first six shots and has 12 points off the bench for the West.

Time heals all wounds, at least at an All-Star Game.

Bill Russell,the Celtics Hall of Famer who almost single-handedly prevented the Lakers from winning a title in the '190s, was introduced at center court during a timeout and got a warm round of applause from the fans at Staples Center. 

There were occasional outbursts from the crowd, but the noise level was restrained for much of the quarter. One exception was when LeBron James drove the length of the court, past Bryant, and scored a fastbreak layup.

Chris Bosh leads the East scoring with 12 points.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Celtics guard Ray Allen of the East tries to defend Lakers guard Kobe Bryant of the West in the first quarter Sunday at Staples Center. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

NBA All-Star Game: West 45, East 37 (8 minutes left in second quarter)

Clippers rookie and fan favorite Blake Griffin had six points in his first six minutes on the court. He was also fighting for rebounding position under the hoop with a bit more energy than the other stars on the floor.

Two former UCLA players, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook, checked in at the same time for the West early in the second quarter and got some polite applause.

Westbrook scored six points in his first three minutes, two on assists from Griffin, including a fastbreak dunk that energized the fans.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Clippers and West forward Blake Griffin finishes off a dunk against the East on Sunday at Staples Center. Credit: Lucy Nicholson / Reuters