5月15日体育专电（记者 梁金雄）创造了“黑八奇迹”的孟菲斯灰熊队15日终止了冷门之旅。由于难以阻挡俄克拉荷马雷鸣队两位当家球星杜兰特和韦斯特布鲁克的轮番攻击，灰熊队在迄今季后赛唯一“抢七大战”中以90：105客场落败，从而以3：4无缘西部联盟决赛。

　　这是雷鸣队自1996年在NBA总决赛（当时名为“西雅图超音速队”）失意以来首次打入西部决赛。他们决赛的对手是淘汰了卫冕冠军湖人队的小牛队。双方首回合较量将于17日在小牛队主场上演。

　　灰熊队此次季后赛之旅可谓虽败犹荣。本赛季前从未在季后赛赢过一场比赛的他们尽管止步于西部半决赛，但他们首轮淘汰马刺队成为季后赛史上第四支完成“黑八奇迹”（八号种子淘汰一号种子）的队伍。此外，他们此次一共赢得七场季后赛胜利，写下了西部八号种子获胜场次最多纪录。

　　常规赛“得分王”杜兰特上一役发挥失常仅获11分，写下季后赛得分最低纪录；仅隔两天，他25投13中命中39分，创下季后赛得分新高。他因此成为NBA史上首次参加“抢七大战”球手中得分第四高的球员。此外，他还抢到9个篮板和盖帽3回。

　　本场争夺雷鸣队在前两节以21：17的相同比分获胜，第三、四节他们依然不给对手任何反扑的机会，最后以30：24和33：32结束后两节的争夺。

湖人出局，马刺出局，凯尔特人出局，灰熊黑，雷霆猛……
　　马刺、湖人、魔术、凯尔特人，昔日总决赛的常客纷纷倒在了一些“弱势群体”的脚下，这些现象同时发生在一个赛季，看似偶然，其实也是一种必然。与其说这是一个“黑马”丛生的赛季，倒不如说NBA真的已经到了改朝换代的时候，当这些豪强纷纷被拉下马时，球迷也看到了一个真正的“战国时期”的到来，而促成这个结果的理由只有一个——新陈代谢是亘古不变的真理，“青春至上”永远都会走在潮流的前端，前浪是终究要被拍在沙滩上的。
　　热火4比1
　　凯尔特人
　　冷门指数：
　　★★
　　从组建新三巨头开始，热火就始终是备受质疑的球队，但从季后赛开始，他们用同样的4比1连续淘汰76人队和凯尔特人，令人刮目相看。他们与凯尔特人的对决，更像是三巨头的交接，这是个冷门，但也或许不是冷门，这都有待热火在季后赛最终的走势来验证。
　　小牛4比0
　　湖人
　　冷门指数：
　　★★★
　　平心而论，小牛淘汰卫冕冠军湖人只能算是小冷门，大冷门则是他们居然以4比0的比分横扫湖人，这是赛前谁也无法想到的结果，而卫冕冠军的疲软似乎也佐证了小牛本赛季的野心。我们有理由相信，只要小牛能继续上佳表现，重新杀入总决赛绝对不是一个遥不可及的梦想。
　　老鹰4比2
　　魔术
　　冷门指数：
　　★★★★
　　赛季开始前，魔术引进了卡特，常规赛进行中，魔术又召回了特克格鲁，这代表着什么？理由很简单，那就是“魔兽”和魔术也希望在这样天下大乱的赛季里“浑水摸鱼”，但谁也没想到，季后赛首轮，他们就遭遇了当头一棒，球迷看到的场景经常是魔术球员被老鹰牵着鼻子走。
　　灰熊4比2
　　马刺
　　冷门指数：
　　★★★★★
　　如果说评选季后赛最“黑”的球队，那么非灰熊莫属，因为他们再一次上演了“黑8奇迹”，无可挑剔地淘汰了马刺，可以说，灰熊刮起的“青春风暴”在这个季后赛中是无比强烈的，要知道在此前，灰熊从没有闯入过季后赛第二轮，而这次他们不仅实现了突破，更是让球迷看到了这支“青年近卫军”美好的未来。
　　●颠覆主因1
　　年龄老化催生“黑马”温床
　　所有人都必须相信，是没有人能够与时间抗衡的，NBA当然也不能例外，纵然是当年天下无敌的飞人乔丹，在他第三次复出效力奇才时，也会显得力有不逮、老态龙钟。篮球上帝亦无法免俗，其麾下的徒子、徒孙又岂能例外？
　　本赛季NBA季后赛所有可以称作冷门的系列赛，共同点非常鲜明，占据年龄优势的球队大多数都笑到了最后。无论是马刺、湖人还是凯尔特人，这些球队都输给了时间。纵览他们的阵容，都可以发现一个共同点：年龄老化。科比即将33岁、邓肯35、绿衫三巨头平均年龄35……当昔日的风华绝代变成如今的日落黄花时，他们被淘汰出这个舞台就不可避免了。所以我们看到，现在的公牛、热火、灰熊、雷霆，无论是其中哪一路诸侯，都拥有共同的优势：青春。罗斯青春无限；维斯布鲁克与杜兰特青春无限；以康利、梅奥为首的灰熊球员同样青春无限，年轻意味着什么？激情四溢和活力无限，在那些老胳膊老腿面前，自然优势尽显。
　　●颠覆主因2
　　新巨星组合促成新陈代谢
　　当年凯尔特人勇猛地夺取总冠军，依靠的就是将加内特、雷·阿伦送到皮尔斯的身边，当看到了这个好处后，NBA的近两个赛季已经习惯将巨星“组团”，这个流行也让现在的NBA拥有了更多单个球队的N巨头，而当热火、尼克斯实现这个愿望后，凯尔特人甚至包括湖人被取代也就是理所应当了，因为他们的后辈更有激情、更具备冲击力。
　　2010年夏天，热火总经理莱利将勒布朗与波什吸收入队，并与韦德携手组建迈阿密三巨头。同时与2007年“绿衫军”的版本不同，“03一代”的聚首是一次青年才俊的云集，而非老将们在久求冠军未果后的聚首。有了这样一个好榜样，各路诸侯自然趋之若鹜。
　　尼克斯收获了小斯与安东尼，只差一个保罗便万事大吉；篮网抢下德隆，又对霍华德垂涎欲滴。可以确定的一点是，巨星扎堆将成为今后几年联盟里的一种潮流，而且会有愈演愈烈之势。当这些成为流行时，原有的像湖人、凯尔特人的“巨星阵”远离舞台也就是迟早的事了。
　　●颠覆主因3
　　内线比拼老将全面落后
　　想要在季后赛成功，这支球队必须拥有两件利器，一是强大的内线，另外就是强悍的防守。同时两者相辅相成，不可分割，因为只有在拥有强大内线为前提的基础上，才能奢谈防守。而如今当马刺，湖人与凯尔特人均失去了赖以自豪的强大内线后，其江湖地位被颠覆，也就是顺理成章的事儿了。
　　邓肯老了，面对兰多夫这等以往根本称不上对手的对手，如今的“石佛”竟显得如此茫然；凯尔特人则是自毁栋梁，送走帕金斯的结果就是把加内特暴露在对方的火力之下；至于加索尔，他没有年龄问题，却有个人问题，此前曾传出被女友抛弃后西班牙人很受伤，进而表现很令人绝望，湖人又岂有好下场？
　　另外，加索尔的疲软早已经是顽疾了，他“软蛋”的标签早已经跟随了他几个赛季。灰熊的成功范例揭示，即使没有巨星但拥有“巨塔”，同样是通往成功的捷径，灰熊能够比较轻松地击败马刺，他们还是依赖兰多夫与小加索尔的联袂表演。所以，当奥尼尔、加内特、加索尔这些曾经的内线巨星失去头上的光环后，结果也就只有一个：淘汰。

South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been indefinitely suspended from the football program. This from the University of South Carolina.

Athletic director Eric Hyman announced the suspension Wednesday afternoon. Hyman said in a statement that Garcia exhibited "unacceptable" behavior for a university student-athlete and would not take part in any football activities until further notice.

It was said that it was not alcohol or drug related, nor did it involve any arrest; at least this is what Garcia told The Associated Press. This is Garcia's fifth suspension and second this spring since coming to South Carolina in January 2007.

He was suspended earlier this spring for his missing curfew in the bowl game loss to Florida State.

Hyman said that Steve Spurrier would provide more details to the press following the scheduled practice on Wednesday.

Is this a fifth strike and you're out scenario? We may not know as Spurrier may play his cards close to vest and say the suspension is indefinite and leave it at that.

The loss of Garcia would certainly throw a monkey wrench into the offensive plans of the Gamecocks this season should it last the whole season.

This would mean that sophomore Connor Shaw may be the starter and would take the reigns with little experience. Behind him is junior Seth Stickland, sophomore Andrew Strickland and freshman Dillan Thompson.

Blocking shots has been a hallmark of the gritty style that has allowed the Rangers to have a successful season despite what John Tortorella has admitted on more than one occasion is not the most talented roster in the NHL. The Blueshirts also have been aware of the danger of their ways since the first scrimmage of training camp, when Chris Drury broke his finger getting in the way of a puck.

Tuesday, the Rangers again had to pay the price for their aggressive defensive methods, as they learned that talismanic winger Ryan Callahan suffered a broken ankle when he blocked a Zdeno Chara slap shot near the end of Monday night's 5-3 victory over the Bruins, and is out indefinitely.

One of Callahan's last acts in the regular season was a no-look pass to Brandon Dubinsky to set up the tying goal with 3:48 left after the Rangers had trailed 3-0 in the middle of the second period. After Michael Sauer's goal gave the Rangers the lead 51 seconds later, Callahan gave up his body to protect that lead.

The season ends for Callahan, a restricted free agent this summer, with career highs in goals (23) and assists (25), despite the fact that he was limited to just 60 games. On Dec. 15 in Pittsburgh, Callahan blocked a shot by Kris Letang and broke his hand.

"It's been going on all year long," Tortorella said. "Guys have stepped up when we've had other key injuries. We'll handle it. They're used to it and we'll be fine."

In addition to Callahan's previous injury, the Rangers have at various times been without key players ranging from All-Star defenseman Marc Staal, to leading scorer Dubinsky, to last season's leading scorer, Marian Gaborik. The only players who have appeared in all 80 games are Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust and rookie Derek Stepan.

"Guys sacrifice their body and we haven't missed a beat," said Stepan, the 20-year-old center whose 21 goals and 44 points rank fifth among NHL rookies. "These guys go out, guys get injured, they're buying into the system. It's just the way we've played. Guys that are hurt, I've got a lot of respect for them. They're doing it the right way. It's been hard, but we've found a way to continue to play."

The Rangers get back to action Thursday night at the Garden against the Atlanta Thrashers, with a chance to clinch a playoff spot if the ninth-place Hurricanes lose to the Red Wings Wednesday night in Raleigh.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby was cleared Wednesday by doctors to practice with his teammates, but will still not be involved in any contact drills as he continues to recover from a concussion.
The Penguins will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the Panthers on Saturday, but the former NHL MVP is not expected to play in those games, although he will be with the team.

"Everyone is jumping to conclusions, but it is good news," Crosby's agent Pat Brisson told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, downplaying the notion that Crosby's return is imminent.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero was even more cautious Wednesday, saying Crosby is still "two or three weeks" away from playing in a game, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"I don't want to take away any hope from (Crosby), but to return to game action for the Stanley Cup playoffs takes a certain level of fitness and game-(readiness), and he is certainly not close to that at this point," Shero said.

The Penguins have five games remaining before the regular season ends April 10.

Crosby has not played since Jan. 5 due to a concussion, but has been working out on his own, and has been skating since March 14. He has been increasing his workouts to the point where he was able to stay on the ice for 45 minutes Sunday.

The 23-year-old, who guided the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2009, was leading the league in scoring at the time of his concussion, with 32 goals and 66 points.

Despite losing Crosby, and enduring a season-ending knee injury to All-Star forward Evgeni Malkin, the Pens have managed to stay just four points behind the East-leading Flyers. The Pens dropped an opportunity to move into a tie with Philadelphia, losing at home to the Flyers 5-2 Tuesday night.

It probably won’t happen. But wouldn’t it be nice if former Washington Bullets championship coach Dick Motta invited Lionel Simmons, Antoine Carr, Bill Wennington, Rory Sparrow and Ralph Sampson this weekend over to hisBluebird Inn Bed and Breakfast in Fish Haven, Idaho?

There, you can imagine, that group would pop the cork on a bottle of champagne and have a toast to celebrate how the 1990-91 Sacramento Kings’ record for road futility lives on after the Wizards won their second road game of the season, 100-95, in overtime on Monday against the Utah Jazz.

“We didn’t want to go in the record books,” John Wall said after scoring a game-high 28 points to help the Wizards end their longest road win of the season at 1-4. “It was great. Everybody was happy, jumping around, clapping hands.”

The Wizards are 2-35 on the road this season, and no matter how they end up, their record away from Verizon Center will remain horrible. They may have avoided matching the 1990-91 Kings, who own the NBA record at 1-40 (with that lone victory coming against the Washington Bullets). But they will still finish with one of the worst records in NBA history: The 1997-98 Denver Nuggets went 2-39; the 1986-87 Los Angeles Clippers went 3-38 and the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks went 3-38. Those clunkers remain well within range.

With four road games left, the Wizards would have to win all of them to match the previous record for fewest road wins in an 82-game season in franchise history. The 2008-09 Wizards were 6-35 on the road. The 1966-67 Baltimore Bullets went 3-38 in an 81-game season, and the 1961-62 Chicago Packers went 3-39 in an 80-game season.

For the first 40 minutes against the Jazz, the Wizards (18-55) played like a team that didn’t want to have to go home with yet another loss. But after taking a nine-point lead on Jordan Crawford’s jumper with 7:35 minutes remaining, the Wizards didn’t get another field goal until Crawford tied the game at 85 and forced overtime by making a jumper with 4.4 seconds. In overtime, they outscored a Utah team that is going through a difficult transition following the resignation of Jerry Sloan and the trade of Deron Williams, 15-10.

The celebration for the win over Utah began the moment the horn sounded, as Wizards players hooted and hollered as they walked from the court to their locker room. After the game, Coach Flip Saunders called the Wizards “cardiac kids,” while veteran Maurice Evans could only shake his head in disbelief over how hard it was to pull out the win. “I felt like I was in Buffalo Wild Wings commercial, where they kept tripping you and making something happen to prolong the game,” Evans said with a laugh after scoring seven of his 12 points in overtime. “We always got to make it dramatic, but I’m glad that we got it.”

Saunders challenged his team before the game to see how it would respond at the end of a long trip and on the second end of back-to-back games. The Wizards were also playing without five of their top seven players, with Andray Blatche, Josh Howard and Rashard Lewis back home, and Nick Young and Trevor Booker watching in the locker room as they had to deal with injuries. With few players available, the remaining guys had to log major minutes and they undoubtedly were feeling it.

But they would’ve felt worse if they had to go home with another road loss. “We definitely fought through fatigue, we fought the whole game,” JaVale McGee said after getting 17 rebounds -- his fourth consecutive game with at least 13. “The altitude was hurting us a little bit, but we fought through it. We just go through and got rebounds, played defense and that’s what worked for us.”

he Chicago Bulls came into Monday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a two game lead over the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. That's not the only spot they have their eyes on, though.

Bulls guard Ronnie Brewer has his sights set on something bigger. He believes that his team can track down the San Antonio Spurs for the best overall record in the NBA before the regular season ends. The Bulls trail the Spurs by four games after losing to the Sixers 97-85 on Monday, but they still maintain a two-game lead over Boston as the Celtics fell at Indiana.
"We're trying to win as many games as we possibly can because we know it's a tough race in the East," Brewer said after Monday morning's shootaround. "We're not just striving to be the first in our conference. We're trying to go out there and get the Spurs and have the best overall record in the league."

The Bulls have a 32-5 record at home, second only to the Spurs' 33-3 home mark. The two teams split their season series with each winning at home.

While Brewer says the players don't talk about the specific record they have at the United Center, he does acknowledge that the team has a certain mindset when they take the floor.

"We basically talk about protecting home court," Brewer said. "We don't want anybody to come in and beat us at home. We've had some mess-ups, you can call it that. We've let some close games slip through our hands, but for the most part, you don't want any team coming in there and beating you on your home court. You tend to not play as well on the road, but you're not supposed to lose at home and that's the pride that we take game in and game out."

One of the reasons Brewer seems so confident that his team can knock off the Spurs is due to the fact that Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has been playing at such a high level this season.

"He's been playing phenomenal," Brewer said. "He's carried us when we have guys injured. Nobody would have thought [with] [Carlos Boozer] and Joakim [Noah] sitting out so many games, that we'd still win the games and be where we are right now, so it's a true testament to how far he's came in his career. He's only improving; he's a young guy, he's very humble and he's willing to work hard every day. And I think guys feed off of that and just try to match his intensity and try to match his work ethic."

For many months now, it has been something of a foregone conclusion that the player at the top of the St. Louis Rams' NFL Draft wish list is Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Most mocks have Jones heading to St. Louis when the Rams are on the clock with the No. 14 pick, and you get the feeling that some pundits have gone so far as to tailor their first round selections around the idea.

Shoot, I know I have.

However, there is some rumbling that the Rams might have other ideas for their No. 14 pick. For example, if you were to believe Wes Bunting at the National Football Post, the Rams have "a lot of interest" in Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget.

Liuget is obviously a very good player, and some would probably tell you that getting him at No. 14 would be a steal. But is he really a better option than Jones?

For the sake of argument, let's go ahead and try to imagine a scenario where Jones and Liuget are both there for the taking when the Rams are on the clock. If so, I personally have a hard time seeing the Rams passing up the chance to address a major weakness by drafting Jones just so they can add Liuget to a defensive line that is already very strong. They were just fine both stopping the run and rushing the passer last season, and I just don't see how adding Liuget is going to put them over the top.

A hunch tells me that the only way the Rams would draft Liuget is if they think they can get a suitable wide receiver later in the draft, perhaps with their No. 15 pick in the second round. And this just might be true. Gil Brandt of NFL.com reported last Sunday that the Rams sent wide receiver coach Nolan Cromwell to Maryland's Pro Day to check out Torrey Smith, who projects as a second rounder.

I kinda like the idea. Smith showed off his excellent speed with a 4.43 40-yard dash at the Combine, and he's definitely a player with the kind of big play ability the Rams should be looking for. Just go ahead and watch the highlights from his game against NC State this past season, in which he caught 14 balls for 224 yards and four touchdowns.

Do I still think the Rams will draft Jones if he's available? Absolutely. But in the event that he comes off the board before No. 14, Liuget and Smith are a pretty good Plan B.