http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorTue, 07 Oct 2008 6:52:45 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35657/us-men-back-on-top-with-basketball-gold.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe US Men's Basketball Olympic team pulled off a hard-fought victory to beat Spain 118-107 today to grab the gold medal. The US team has won gold every Olympics but three, including embarrassing defeats in 2004. "Much respect to Spain, but the US is back on top again," boasted player LeBron James. The US women's basketball team nailed gold yesterday. Spain brought on a surprisingly tough game after being trounced by the Yanks earlier in the competition.http://www.newser.com/story/35657/us-men-back-on-top-with-basketball-gold.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 24 Aug 2008 6:02:48 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34587/us-tops-china-in-hoops-opener.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe United States opened its campaign for Olympic basketball redemption today with a 101-70 rout of host China that had even the home crowd oohing and aahing. And fans including President Bush got what they came to see."I had five dunks in one game. That's because of the crowd. Last time I had five dunks in a game I was like 17," said Team USA's Kobe Bryant.http://www.newser.com/story/34587/us-tops-china-in-hoops-opener.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 10 Aug 2008 14:02:43 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30757/mc-shaq-rips-kobe-in-rap.html?refid=rss_all_defaultEven with the Lakers and Celtics matchup over, all is not quiet on the NBA rivalry front. Shaquille O'Neal took the mic at a New York club to perform a freestyle rap suggesting that Kobe Bryant couldn't win a championship without his former teammate: "You know how I be. Last week Kobe couldn't do without me." Shaq says his (mostly unprintable) two-minute verse "was all done in fun," reports the Los Angeles Times.http://www.newser.com/story/30757/mc-shaq-rips-kobe-in-rap.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 24 Jun 2008 6:20:20 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30278/celtics-win-title-in-blowout.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe Boston Celtics trounced the LA Lakers tonight to win their 17th NBA championship. Boston won 132-91 behind a stifling defense and strong shooting, the Boston Globe reports. The Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett proved too powerful in Game 6 for the overmatched Lakers, who were outscored 34-15 in the second quarter and trailed by 23 points at the half.http://www.newser.com/story/30278/celtics-win-title-in-blowout.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 17 Jun 2008 22:42:11 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30093/lakers-still-alive-beat-celtics-103-98-in-game-5.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPack up the championship trophy and book a flight back to Boston, the NBA finals aren't over yet. The Los Angeles Lakers are headed East to try a historic comeback of their own. Kobe Bryant scored 25 points, including a decisive dunk in the final minute,  and Lamar Odom added 20 as the Lakers, playing with pride on their star-studded stage, prevented the Celtics from winning a 17th title with a 103-98 win.http://www.newser.com/story/30093/lakers-still-alive-beat-celtics-103-98-in-game-5.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 15 Jun 2008 23:21:36 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/29918/celtics-stun-lakers-in-game-4.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIn their comeback season, the Celtics saved the biggest one of all for the NBA finals. Boston rallied from a 24-point deficit and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-91 tonight to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and move within one victory of a 17th championship. Paul Pierce scored 20 points, Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Ray Allen had 19 to lead the way for Boston.http://www.newser.com/story/29918/celtics-stun-lakers-in-game-4.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 12 Jun 2008 23:10:11 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/29711/lakers-take-game-3.html?refid=rss_all_defaultKobe Bryant scored 36 points to lead his LA Lakers to an 87-81 victory over Boston in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the LA Times reports. Los Angeles now trails the best-of-seven series 2-1. The Lakers also got a strong lift from Sasha Vujacic (20 points), who came up big during game's closing minutes. Game 4 is Thursday in Los Angeles.http://www.newser.com/story/29711/lakers-take-game-3.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 10 Jun 2008 22:58:55 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/29607/for-lakers-its-tonight-or-never.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe Boston team that dominated the court in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals isn't the same Celtics crew that eked out wins against Atlanta, Cleveland, and Detroit. But the Lakers may only have just noticed that, writes Mark Heisler in the Los Angeles Times . For Kobe & Co., tonight's game is time to step up or bow out.http://www.newser.com/story/29607/for-lakers-its-tonight-or-never.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 10 Jun 2008 6:18:06 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/29558/time-runs-out-for-lakers-in-game-2-loss-to-celtics.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPerhaps their amazing fourth-quarter comeback was enough to give the Lakers hope in a most difficult situation. Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 30 points in the last 7:40 as the Lakers erased all but two points of a 24-point deficit before losing in Boston to the Boston Celtics 108-102 in Game 2 of the NBA finals.http://www.newser.com/story/29558/time-runs-out-for-lakers-in-game-2-loss-to-celtics.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 09 Jun 2008 3:21:39 CDT