Abdul-Jabbar, Walton honor former coach Wooden at NBA finals; Winter, Ramsay receive awards

Wooden honored with moment of silence at finals

LOS ANGELES — John Wooden was honored with a moment of silence before Game 2 of the NBA finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton, two of Wooden’s greatest players at UCLA, took turns speaking publicly for the first time since the 99-year-old Hall of Famer died Friday.

“It’s very difficult for me to put into words the greatness of John Wooden,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “He was so much more than a basketball coach. To have him in my life was a true blessing. I will always be grateful I was able to be one of his students.”

Abdul-Jabbar rushed back from Europe to visit Wooden at his hospital bedside before he died. Wooden’s teams won a record 10 NCAA championships at UCLA, including seven in a row.

Walton recalled what Wooden would tell his players before every game.

“I’ve done my best. The rest is up to you,” he said. “Now that he’s gone, it’s up to us to carry on his ideals of peace, love, excellence, education and service. We love you more than words can ever tell.”

RUNNIN’ RIVERS: The Celtics had 1 second left to get the ball across midcourt in the fourth quarter, so coach Doc Rivers left the sideline and came flying onto the court, frantically signaling a timeout.

“He claimed that he’s in shape, and when he ran out there we told him he looked like he wasn’t in shape,” guard Ray Allen said. “But he made it out there, so it definitely got us an extra possession.”

The rest of the team broke out laughing.

“It allowed them to breathe a little bit, and I thought that helped us,” Rivers said.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson saw Rivers in action.

“I don’t think that’s legal to get on the floor,” he said. “I think coaches have to stay on the sideline. It’s like he was shot out of a starter’s block.”

Celtics reserve Tony Allen didn’t see Rivers’ dash, but he knew how it could have ended.

“He’s got on those dress shoes so I know if he would’ve slipped he would’ve been on the bloopers,” he said.

ALLEN’S 3-POINT RECORD: Ray Allen moved into a class by himself with a finals-record eight 3-pointers.

Michael Jordan had six 3-pointers against Portland in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA finals.

“I do remember that,” Allen said. “Mike, I’m going to tell him that his were a lot easier. He wasn’t running off screens, he was shooting the ball and he had it going. As a child, those are some of my favorite memories, just being a fan of MJ.”

MOST OF HIS MINUTES: Boston’s Nate Robinson made the most of his 6 minutes of playing time, scoring seven points.

He hit a 3-pointer, another basket and made both of his free throws early in the fourth quarter, when he entered to give Rajon Rondo a breather.

“Nate played great. It’s the second time he’s done that this year,” Rondo said. “It’s going to be a team effort. No one guy is going to win the game for us.”

Robinson had plenty of time to watch the game from the bench, allowing him to study Rondo’s success against Kobe Bryant.

“I want to play as hard as I can for as long as I can,” he said. “I’m more familiar with guys’ tendencies, where they want the ball. I just watch Rondo, see what he does and try to do the same thing.”

IN CHUCK DALY’S MEMORY: Tex Winter and Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsay were honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday night.

The award honors the memory of the late Hall of Fame coach and is presented to someone who has demonstrated a high level of excellence, integrity and commitment to promoting the NBA throughout their careers.

Winter, a former Lakers consultant, helped refine the triangle offense and was instrumental in assisting Lakers coach Phil Jackson win six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and four with the Lakers.

“His coaching record was impeccable,” Jackson said. “For the first 20 years of basketball that he coached he was one of the top coaches ever in the game.”

Ramsay guided the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 championship and retired as the NBA’s second winningest coach all time.

2011 ALL-STAR GAME: The NBA All-Star game is returning to Los Angeles next year.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Hall of Famer James Worthy helped unveil the logo that will be used for All-Star weekend on Feb. 17-20.

The game will be held in Los Angeles for a record fifth time, with the Lakers and Clippers serving as co-hosts.

“We’re looking forward to being back here in Los Angeles for our All-Star weekend or what’s really become a week now,” NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said. “It becomes the center of the basketball world for a week.”