NBA

Haslem blocks out on distractions and foes

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 7, 2006

MIAMI - The cell phone is off a lot these days. Friends, relatives, high school teammates, college buddies, they're all being pushed aside for a little while.

And Heat forward Udonis Haslem isn't apologetic about that.

It's what he needs to do to prepare for what he calls the biggest challenge of his basketball life.

"This is only my third year in the league, but there's no guarantee I'll be back in this situation again," said Haslem, a former Florida Gator who averaged 9.3 points and 7.8 rebounds this season. "I've got to be focused. I've got a big task ahead of me, probably the best player in the league right now."

He's speaking of Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas' 7-foot forward who seems just as comfortable around the basket as he does shooting from 25 feet. And when the Heat and Mavericks open the NBA Finals on Thursday in Dallas, Haslem gets the first crack at slowing Nowitzki.

But Haslem - maybe the Heat's most blue-collar player - is undeterred.

"When he gets the ball, he's not just settling for the jump shot, he's driving to the basket," Haslem said of Nowitzki. "And not just driving to the basket, he's finishing at the rim, dunking, getting 3-point plays. And obviously, he's a great free-throw shooter, so you don't want him getting there."

Haslem is a Miami native, helping Miami High win state championships in the late 1990s before going to Florida, where he was part of the Gators' 2000 run to the national title game.

Battling a sinus infection, Miami guard Dwyane Wade did not work out with the team Tuesday.

Wade attended practice, "but didn't do anything ultra-live," coach Pat Riley said. Wade went to team meetings and planned to fly with the Heat to Dallas later Tuesday.

Miami will practice today in Dallas before Thursday's series opener.

The Nets have exercised the option on coach Lawrence Frank's contract for the 2007-08 season, the team said. Frank signed a four-year, $10-million extension at the start of the 2004-05 season.

Alana Beard scored 22, Chasity Melvin had 14, and Washington made all 18 free throws in a 93-79 victory over Houston, which played without reigning MVP Sheryl Swoopes (back). ... Chamique Holdsclaw is back with the Los Angeles Sparks after an excused two-week absence, which she spent in North Carolina tending to her father and stepfather, both recently diagnosed with cancer. She will make her season debut tonight at home against Detroit.

[Last modified June 7, 2006, 02:00:17]