The NBA Is Taking All the Time in the World

Let’s give timeouts, well, a timeout.

Such is the wish of Josh Levin, a writer at Slate.com who wasn’t enthralled by the ending to Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal series involving the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.

He wrote: “In the game’s final moments, there were nearly as many timeouts (six) as field goals (seven). If this is as good as basketball gets, please run 2,000 volts through my recliner.”

As for basketball players being able to call time whenever they are in distress, Levin wrote:

“A football player can’t call timeout when he’s getting tackled. Neither can a tennis player who’s chasing a tough backhand. Yet NBA players plead for time when they can’t throw the ball inbounds, when the shot clock is running out and when they’re surrounded by defenders. This is both unjust and unsporting -- a tactic that would be ridiculed on the playground.”

*

Trivia time: Including this season’s playoffs, which NBA franchise has made the most postseason appearances?

*

Horsing around: From Elliott Harris of the Chicago Sun-Times: “You can only wonder whether any of us will live to see the day when all Americans (dare we even dream all human beings?) receive health care comparable to what Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has had.”

*

Sweet GM o’ mine: On the NBA draft lottery happening without the Clippers’ general manager, a.k.a. NBA executive of the year, Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com wrote: “Not seeing Elgin Baylor on the dais is like seeing Guns N’ Roses without Slash. Sure, the show goes on. But, deep down, we know it will never be the same.”

*

Sting like a bee: John Ramsey told the Sporting News a story about Muhammad Ali, his longtime Louisville, Ky., friend:

“Muhammad is at dinner when this firefighter says, ‘Mr. Ali, could I get an autograph? You’ve been my hero forever.’ Muhammad says, ‘No, you’re the hero. Go into burnin’ buildings, pull people out. I was just a boxer. Nothin’ like you.’

“The firefighter says, ‘C’mon, Mr. Ali. You fought Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Smokin’ Joe Frazier.’

“So Muhammad whispers into the firefighter’s ear. ‘Between you ‘n’ me,’ he says, ‘Joe wasn’t really smokin’.’ ”

*

An omen: On the Angels’ game June 6 at Tampa Bay, Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel wrote: “Think about it: Devil Rays vs. Angels on 6-6-06. Game starts at 4:15 p.m. -- followed by world ending at 4:16.”

*

Looking back: On this date in 1983, the Lakers set NBA records for fewest free throws made and fewest attempted in a playoff game, making three of five in Philadelphia. They went on to set a playoff record for highest free-throw shooting percentage -- .785 -- in a four-game series but were swept in the Finals by the 76ers.

*

Trivia answer: The Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers have been in the playoffs 53 times. The runner-up Boston Celtics have made it 45 times.

*

And finally: Dan Daly in the Washington Times: “How long do you figure it will be before ESPN adds hazing to the X Games?”