MIAMI - LeBron James was desperate for some time away from basketball, so he packed up his family for a vacation this summer. Keylor Navas Pink Jersey . Sun and sand. Rest and relaxation. Pen and paper, too. It didnt take long until the NBAs MVP took a break from taking a break. Considered the best player in the game, James remains obsessed with getting better. Thats why, on the verge of starting his 11th professional season and fourth with the Miami Heat, James fully expects the 2013-14 campaign to be his best one yet. He knows theres no shortage of challengers aiming to knock both him and his team off their respective mountaintops. "Im nitpicking now, obviously, at my own game," James said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I want that. I want to be uncomfortable. I want to continue to push the envelope and get to a point where I feel like Im trying to master everything. Now, I cant be the greatest at everything. Theres better rebounders than me. Theres better passers than me. Theres better scorers than me. But I want to be able to maximize my potential in everything I do." So thats why, when he finally got some down time this summer — after the season and before his wedding to Savannah Brinson — James didnt allow himself to totally step away from the game. Even while on vacation, and with a notepad at his side, James broke down every Heat playoff game, every moment of post-season matchup last season against Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana and San Antonio. When he saw something that wasnt just right, he wrote it down to further analyze later. "I push myself," James said. "There are ways I can get better. I would write down the exact time, the exact play, the exact quarter, the plays where I could have did something better." At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, a marriage of size and speed that many covet, the reality is that James probably is not going to get much better physically. His shooting has improved. Hes talked plenty in recent months about becoming a better free-throw shooter. His post game has been reinvented. His defence is exceptional. Where James is getting better, those around him say, is in the thinking department. "Some skills may get sharper, but where his growth is going to take off for the next 10 years is mentally," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "Hes talking about situations now that he wasnt talking about two years ago when I first got here and understanding how to best beat those situations. Everyone always lauds his basketball IQ, but his experience is now really coming through." Four MVP awards. Two championships. Two Finals MVPs. By the end of this season — after which he could choose to be a free agent again, though he swears that he doesnt know what will happen next summer — he could be among the top 25 scorers in NBA history. Based on jersey sales, theres no more popular basketball player on the planet, something few would have imagined after all the scorn directed his way when he chose to sign with Miami. And hes not even 30 yet. "Hes a special dude," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Hes always going to continue to stay in a state of uncomfortableness. This summer was a busy summer for him and yet he always finds time to get his work in, his conditioning. He wants to add different elements." One thing he added this summer was a diamond-crusted wedding band. James wedding finally happened in September, and out of respect to the couple, guests still are leery to talk about many specifics of that night at a San Diego resort. James thought San Diego would be the ideal spot after holding some youth camps there and seeing how the weather, almost without fail, is perfect. "The best part of the wedding was probably after the wedding," James said. "It turned into a party. Basically, thats all it was. It wasnt nothing but a big old party. We gave each other our rings and after that it turned into a big old party with all my friends and family. Thats all." On Tuesday night, he gets another ring, his second NBA title ring. And he insists that hell do whatever it takes for this season to end with another party. "The man above has given me God-given ability and talent, obviously," James said. "I want to take full advantage of it." Karim Benzema Pink Jersey . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. James Rodriguez Womens Jersey . 3 Kentucky to a 79-65 victory over Providence on Sunday night at Barclays Center. James Young scored 18 points and Aaron Harrison added 15 for the Wildcats (7-1), who shot 64.With the NHL Draft coming up on June 27 and free agency opening on July 1, discussions between NHL general managers are already heating up towards a busy off-season. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Kane A Fit For Oilers? TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted on Monday that the Winnipeg Jets WPG could be much more open to considering a trade for any player, including forward Evander Kane. That said, David Staples of The Edmonton Journal suggests that the Oilers could look into acquiring Kane for another winger who may benefit from a change in scenery. "Would a Nail Yakupov for Kane deal make sense?," he wrote. "A risk for a risk? Of course, having just lost Alexander Burmistrov to the KHL, the Jets might not be so keen on picking up another young Russian attacker. Of course, most Oilers fans would much rather see Sam Gagner and spare parts moved for Kane, but Winnipeg is OK at centre with Bryan Little and Mark Scheifele. A Winnipeg/Edmonton deal certainly doesnt seem out of the question here. A bit of logic to it." Alfies Answer? Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press writes that the Red Wings are waiting to hear whether Daniel Alfredsson wants to play another season and want him back if he does. St. James also writes that the team are trying to trade forward Jordin Tootoo, who has one year left on a three-year, $5.7-million contract. Tootooo spent most of this season with Grand Rapids of the AHL.Authentic Karim Benzema Jersey. Washingtons Playbook As Chuck Gormley of csnwashington.com writes, new Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan would like to go with Braden Holtby as his No. 1 goalie next season and add a veteran backup either through trade or free agency so that Philipp Grubauer can develop further in the AHL. MacLellan adds that the Capitals are still in talks with pending UFA Mikhail Grabovski and would also like to explore Evgeny Kuznetsov as the the teams No. 2 center. "Were going to have to develop one of our young guys to play second-line centre," he said. "I think its hard to add in free agency." Also of note, MacLellan says its a priority to get defenceman Mike Green "on track" and that there were circumstances that hindered his performance last season. "I guess Im open to trading anybody," he told Gormley, "but as of right now I think wed like to bring Mike Green back." MacLellan also said he would try to land a top defenceman through a trade or free agency. Centre Of Attention Adrian Dater of The Denver Post tweeted that the Colorado Avalanche say they will continue to try and re-sign pending restricted free agent Ryan OReilly. OReillys agent added there is "nothing to report." Dater also wrote that the Avs may be thinking that OReilly is a $5 million player. He made $6.5 million this past season. ' ' '
