Free Republic

Team USA will have to replace another player on the men’s basketball team after five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love withdrew from the U.S. Olympic team on Friday, citing his "performance" level, according to multiple reports. Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, confirmed the news to ESPN Friday morning after the Cleveland Cavaliers star forward had already spent days with the team preparing in Las Vegas. "I am incredibly disappointed to not be heading to Tokyo with Team USA," Love’s statement read. "but you need to be at absolute peak performance to compete at the Olympic level and I am just not there...

OAKLAND — What's one more week compared to a 40-year championship drought? What's one more week when it means a shot at the first title in franchise history? The Warriors eliminated the Rockets with a 104–90 victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday, advancing to an NBA Finals date with the Cavaliers. This is a matchup worth waiting for, and a little patience will be required. Because both Golden State and Cleveland made quick work of their conference finals foes, the NBA will hit the pause button for a full week before the championship series opens...