BARCELONA, Spain — NBA commissioner David Stern said expectation surrounding the Heat is one reason why he expects fans might see “some of the greatest basketball ever played” this season.
Speaking Thursday before the reigning NBA champion Lakers fell to Euroleague champion Regal FC Barcelona 92-88, Stern was asked if Miami getting LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to play together on what’s expected to be a title contender would make the Heat “bad guys” in the league.
“We’re going to have, really, our most successful season,” Stern said. “I don’t think it’s good guys and bad guys. I think you’re going to be getting to see some of the greatest basketball ever played.”
• Kobe Bryant made three free throws with 7.9 seconds left to bring the Lakers within 90-88 but also missed three 3-pointers in the final minute.
Bryant said his knee didn’t betray him on the court. He had surgery in July to remove some loose bodies in it.
“My knee was feeling good. I was feeling fine, didn’t have any pain, any stiffness, so when that happens, you’ve really got to stretch it out as much as you can and try to get in rhythm as much as you can, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Bryant said.
From Russia with vodka
NEW YORK — Already with a Russian owner, the Nets will have a vodka partner when they arrive in Brooklyn.
Stolichnaya agreed to a five- year deal with the Barclays Center and the Nets. Mikhail Prokhorov’s team is scheduled to move into the arena after its expected opening in 2012, and Stoli will become the official vodka partner of the arena.
Denver Post wire services
