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Magic exceeding expectations at this point of season

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Teams with a losing record normally do not draw much positive attention, but in the case of the Orlando Magic, some silver linings surround the package. Orlando is 7-8 heading into Friday night’s game with the Milwaukee Bucks, but few outside of first-year Coach Scott Skiles and his team thought this team would be competitive early into his tenure. The first six games on their schedule were loaded with playoff teams. They lost their opener to Washington by one point,…

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver suggests regulations on daily fantasy operators

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Daily fantasy operators, despite several outside investigations, continue to face serious questions about legality of industry trade practices under federal and state gambling laws. Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada of ESPN are reporting that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has called for federal regulation of fantasy operators, even though he insists the league will continue its relationship with FanDuel – one of the organizations under scrutiny. Silver’s remarks, made on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, is the first from a major sports…

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Former NBA great Darryl Dawkins dead of heart attack at 58

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The planet Lovetron is without its star center. Darryl Dawkins, the colorful player who was the first player to go directly from high school to the NBA, was known as a forceful center and an amusing personality. He was dubbed ā€œChocolate Thunder,” he said, by singing artist Stevie Wonder. Dawkins spent 14 seasons in the NBA, playing for Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah and Detroit. He was originally from Orlando, where he played high school ball at Maynard Evans. Dawkins’ ferocity…

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Today on Context Florida: NBA social consciousness, symbolism of The 4th and Confederate flag must go

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Today onĀ Context Florida: Richard Lapchick, director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, offers his National Basketball Association all-star team of social conscience. The NBA has always led other leagues on best hiring practices both for people of color and women, and has been the most progressive with its policies and impact on communities. So it’s not surprising that basketball is Lapchick’s favorite sport. As we prepare to celebrate the holiday formally called Independence Day but more commonly…

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Present-day NBA draft has both the good and the bad

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On Thursday, the NBA held their annual player draft in Brooklyn, NY. There were no huge surprises or blockbuster trades. Far from the spectacle of the NFL draft where 7 rounds stretch over three days (thanks to ESPN), professional basketball lasts only two rounds and is completed in about 5 hours. The NBA draft is actually closer to calling players up from the minor leagues than elevating college players. While NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mostly announces the names of college…

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NBA could learn from baseball draft

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On Monday, the Major League Baseball draft begins. The lives of hundreds of youngĀ amateur players and, hopefully, the fortunes of the major league clubs will improve. Among the four major sports, baseball’s draft ranks third behind football and basketballĀ in order of media attention. Only hockey receives less. With the NBA Finals now underway, it is appropriate to point out how the league couldĀ learn a few things from baseball in the area of draft eligibility. The ā€œone-and-doneā€ legion ofĀ high school basketball…

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Mitch Perry Report for 5.28.15 — Are you ready for a George Pataki candidacy?

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

I couldn’t be happier this morning, after staying up until midnight last night to see my lifelong basketball team, the Golden State Warriors, defeat the Houston Rockets, Ā and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1975. Of course, there’s a guy by the name of LeBron James who stands in their way of actually capturing the Finals, which should make for irresistible entertainment. LeBron returned home to Cleveland last summer, and that city hasn’t won a championship…

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