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23 May ' 16:51
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23 May ' 05:30
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22 May ' 17:54
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Scott Howard-Cooper: Ramon Sessions said no decision on whether to pick up his 2012-13 option or become a free agent, but he "definitely" hopes to stay a Laker. Twitter
When the Lakers traded for Ramon Sessions, Mitch Kupchak said the plan was for Sessions to be here for more than the rest of the season. Sessions said he wants to stay with the team. “Definitely hope to be here,” Sessions said. “Hopefully, everything works out.” Orange County Register
Sessions said winning is a priority to him, but also to “become one of the top guards in the league.” He intends to work this offseason to learn how to play without the ball in his hands more considering how much Kobe Bryant has it with the Lakers. Orange County Register
Marco Belinelli: I expect New Orleans to make an offer to me but I am sure that other teams will try to sign me. I don't know which team because the playoffs are still on and also the draft will be important with good names I am confident that my future will be again in the NBA. My dream is to bring a title to Italy and my town San Giovanni in Persiceto. It would be ok for me to play less minutes but for a contender. Italian National Team? I don't know yet. I just returned from the States and I didn't talk with anyone from the Federation. Sportando
Jordan Hill, who emerged late in the season as the Lakers’ backup big man ahead of Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy, said it’ll be “business” as he embarks upon free agency this offseason. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’ve just got to keep working,” Hill said. About his tenure with the Lakers after his trade from Houston in March, Hill said: “I had a great time.” About what’s next for him, Hill said: “Find a home for me.” Hill said he got a lot of appreciation from Lakers management for his late-season contributions: “Good things. Just want me to continue to keep doing what i’m doing.” Orange County Register
Kevin Ding: Devin Ebanks will be a restricted free agent. About meeting today with Kupchak & Brown, Ebanks said: "They seemed pretty interested in me."Twitter
Mike Trudell: Devin Ebanks said he's unsure about whether or not he'll be in L.A. next season. He & his agent will be speaking to Kupchak & other teams. Twitter
Danny Granger laughed when recalling how teammates told him in afternoon about LeBron saying his antics "stupid.'' But Granger didn't fire back when I asked him about James' word choice. "No comment,'' said Granger, not wanting to stir up anything more prior to Game 5Sulia
Brandon Jennings: Lebron told Granger basically "just chilllllllllllllll for another 42 piece come ur way" #chillllllllll lmaooooooooooo Twitter
Miami's Udonis Haslem likes arena employees wearing bandages reading “UD40’’ over eye but said don't do it his way. “I appreciate it,’’ Haslem said before tonight’s game about the tribute to his getting nine stitches for taking a cut above the right eye in Game 4. “I wouldn’t try to do it the real way at home. But I appreciate the love.'' Haslem said he's fine with a regular bandage and won't wear one reading "UD40"Sulia
But then World Peace went to some trouble, apparently to make clear he was not blaming his coach for the Lakers' playoff departure. "Mike wasn't out there guarding Kevin [Durant]," he explains. "That was me. Kevin scored on me. Mike didn't miss that 3-point shot. I missed it. Mike didn't come into camp out of shape." Then he paused. "Wait ... he did come in out of shape. Mike is a fat ass."ESPN.com
Ethan J. Skolnick: Bosh made a brief appearance in locker room when I was in there. Didn't talk to media. Was in athletic attire. Walking fine. Twitter
On Tuesday last week, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s former teammate at St. Patrick’s High School in New Jersey was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. The presentation took place just down the street from where he was working out. Before making his way into the weight room with Coach Purtor, I asked MKG if Kyrie Irving had offered him any advice heading into this NBA Draft process. “That’s my best friend,” Kidd-Gilchrist said of last year’s No. 1 overall pick. “I talked with him earlier today actually, and he just told me that the NBA is a man’s League. He said to just take my time with everything, off the court and on the court stuff, and just take my time in general. But most importantly, he just said to continue to keep working hard.” SLAM
“Of course, I’d love to play with Kyrie,” Kidd-Gilchrist told SLAMonline. “But at the same time, I’m going into my own professional career and I’d be happy to play with any team that drafts me. I’m looking forward to being a part of an organization that believes in me, and I’m working hard to be able to bring an impact and positive light to that organization.” SLAM
While watching him move through the skill work with a motor that never slowed down, I spoke with his strength and conditioning coach, Jon Purtor. We talked about the training regimen Kidd-Gilchrist has been on since cutting down the nets in New Orleans. “We are working on a six-day per week plan with Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist),” Purtor told SLAMonline. “In the middle of the week, on Wednesdays and then again on Saturdays, we work soft tissue and recovery, mobility and flexibility. Then we do split routines on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Sunday is his off day, and he just shoots.” SLAM
“I love playing defense, that’s my thing,” MKG went on to tell me during a break in the session. “I feel like I’m a guy who can guard [positions] 1 through 4 in the NBA. Offensively, I believe I can play the 2 or 3 in the NBA too, and I’m just working hard in order to prepare myself for that. SLAM
David Baumann: Just had great conversation with #Magic Exec. Pat Williams who told me, "No," when I asked if Dwight will have say in new GM and/or coach. Twitter
David Baumann: "No," Pat Williams said after I asked if Dwight Howard will hand pick new #Magic GM/coach. "Alex (Martins) has made that abundantly clear."Twitter
Rick Bonnell: I have confirmation #Bobcats will likely discuss their coaching opening with Jerry Sloan. Sloan told SLC newspaper he's interested, Twitter
But Stan had a passion that goes beyond win-loss records. He cared about homelessness. And public schools. About democracy. And character. In fact, when I heard from Stan, it was rarely about sports. He was more likely to be torqued about bone-headed legislators — or by voters who weren't paying close enough attention to what's happening in their own backyard. Orlando Sentinel
After "60 Minutes" spotlighted the shameful number of homeless children in Seminole County, he and his wife, Kim, sprang into action, personally hosting an event that raised more than $75,000. He helped the Boys & Girls Club — and generally cared about character. The first time he wrote me was when I had penned a column about the sorry state of big-time sports — and how nonstop scandals made it tougher for me to preach the value of sports to my kids. Stan agreed. "Our society now is selfish," he wrote. "Whether it is pro sports negotiations, college recruiting, Wall Street banks or politics, it is all about how I can get the most for me. The ends justify the means in too many people's minds. The fact that sports are no better or no worse does not comfort me. It disappoints me."Orlando Sentinel
Nowitzki's had his classic battles with the Spurs, including the amazing Game 7 in the 2006 semifinals that propelled Dallas to its first NBA Finals. It was a Spurs team that still included the Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, yet, as Nowitzki pointed out, it is an entirely different style of ball those boys are playing these days and the reigning NBA Finals MVP says all credit goes to this season's Coach of the Year, Gregg Popovich. "To me, he's the best coach in the league, he's a genius on both ends of the floor," Nowitzki said. "The adjustment that he goes through, at the beginning they win all their championships with defense and he saw where the game's going; the game is going to free-flowing and more movement, you need basically four shooters on the floor at all times, and he's the man, he made it all happen. ESPN.com
"With (general manager) R.C. Buford helping him, finding people left and right. I mean, they draft people in the second round that nobody gives them a shot and they turn them into players. They have an amazing franchise and they really do a great job finding people that play well in their system and Pop makes them believe in their system. They're really fun to watch, they're rolling." ESPN.com
Evan Dunlap: Biggest news today, obviously, is that Ben Wallace drives this... thing. (Yes, this is really his car). http://twitpic.com/9notjw Twitter
NBA players union executive director Billy Hunter utilized union funds to support former NBA forward Charles Smith's attempt to overthrow the National Basketball Retired Players Association, sources say, one of several maneuvers that inspired union president Derek Fisher to call for a business review of the union's activity. The players' union is currently being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, sources have confirmed. ESPN.com
After a shooting in Bricktown marred a big victory for the Thunder Monday night, Oklahoma City's mayor Mick Cornett said the wildly popular "Thunder Alley" has to change. An estimated 10,000 fans gathered outside Chesapeake Energy Arena downtown to watch the game on a big screen to go with 19,000 inside the arena. "The city manager and I spent some time with the chief of police and many members of our security detail (Monday)," said Mayor Cornett to News 9 in OKC. "We came to the conclusion that the manner in which we have known as 'Thunder Alley' has taken place and continued to grow just can't continue." CBSSports.com
The team issued a statement saying that Thunder Alley will continue, but the watch part on Reno Ave. may not. "We are working with the City and the Police Dept to look at ways to control crowds and ensure safety," said Thunder spokesman Dan Mahoney. "We are strongly considering eliminating the watch party, but Thunder Alley, the pregame party on Reno, will continue as normal."CBSSports.com
Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting. Rodney Dewon Hill, 19, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on eight complaints of shooting with intent to kill, police said. An arrest warrant filed Tuesday at the Oklahoma County courthouse said Hill was identified by one of the victims of the shooting after the Oklahoma City Thunder's Monday night game. According to the affidavit, Hill, two other men and a woman were involved in an altercation with several of the shooting victims before one of the men pulled a gun and started shooting into the crowd. A pregnant woman was trampled and kicked during the melee. Oklahoman
» Update: 05:59 PM ET
Metta World Peace was the first player in for season-ending meetings with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and Lakers coach Mike Brown, and he had his own perspective on where the team is now: “Definitely underachieved,” World Peace said. “Best team in the NBA lost in five. Best team in the NBA should be up 3-2, playing tomorrow.” World Peace reiterated his belief the Lakers, who blew two late-game leads in the Western Conference semifinals, had Oklahoma City “fairly easy.” But he allowed that the Thunder “took advantage” of the situation. “This season was an error,” World Peace said. Orange County Register
World Peace said Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol should’ve been more assertive late in games. He said his teammates, particularly younger ones, deferred too much to Kobe Bryant. “At the end of the game, guys got to trust themselves more,” World Peace said. “Not myself, but sometimes guys look to Kobe too much. Guys have to understand Mitch brought you here, so Mitch also assembled teams that won championships, so he knows what he is doing. And he brought you here for a reason, because you’re good. So believe in yourself.” World Peace said it’s a feeling he had when he first joined the Lakers: “Sometimes I would be in awe. Watching Kobe to see if he would make the shot. … Playing with Kobe for a long time, I understand I need to chip in.” Orange County Register
The Detroit Pistons have released a promo video from their State of the Pistons event with season-ticket holders last week. An hour of the event will air on Fox Sports Detroit at 7 p.m. Thursday. In the teaser video, team owner Tom Gores says the Pistons are "lucky" to have Joe Dumars in the front office. "We might be able to figure out how to win and win big for one year, but that's not the point," Gores said. "The point is how do we deliver something that is genuine, that is real? "I think we're fortunate to have (Dumars) as a GM, because he wants to deliver that every single day."Detroit Free Press
NBA players union executive director Billy Hunter utilized union funds to support former NBA forward Charles Smith's attempt to overthrow the National Basketball Retired Players Association, sources say, one of several maneuvers that inspired union president Derek Fisher to call for a business review of the union's activity. ESPN.com
The players' union is currently being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, sources have confirmed. Recent reports by both Yahoo! Sports and Bloomberg News detailed a number of other expenditures and hirings made by Hunter without executive committee oversight. The financial support of Smith is another one, sources said. ESPN.com
Several months later, as Smith fought to win back his position, the NBPA's late lead counsel, Gary Hall, told a retired players' association representative that the NBPA was in full support of Smith, would pay his legal fees and play "the race card," if necessary, sources said. Smith is black and Danny Schayes, selected to replace him, is white. Hall's comments were made, sources added, with Hunter present. ESPN.com
» Update: 04:31 PM ET
Jerry Sloan once coached temperamental star Karl Malone for 15 years. Perhaps his next challenge could be another such guy in Dwight Howard. Sloan told FOX Sports Florida on Tuesday he has interest in the Orlando Magic job, which became open Monday when Stan Van Gundy was fired. FOXSports Florida
“Yes, I think so,’’ Sloan said from his farm in McLeansboro, Ill., about his interest. “It would be very intriguing. But they would have to be interested in me.’’ FOXSports Florida
Sloan, who has a 1,221-803 career NBA coaching mark over 26 overall seasons, said he has not heard anything yet from the Magic. He also said he has interest in the Charlotte job, but hasn’t heard from the Bobcats. “It’s not always about starting at the top,’’ Sloan, 70, said when asked if he really would interested in a rebuilding situation such as the one with Bobcats, whose 7-59 record resulted in the worst winning percentage in NBA history (.106). FOXSports Florida
“I’d let other people judge that,’’ Sloan said when asked if he could coach Howard, who had been flirting with leaving small-market Orlando but did decide just before the March 15 trade deadline he would not opt out of his contract and delay possible free agency until the summer of 2013. The Magic also Monday let go of general manager Otis Smith. That makes the Orlando situation a little tricky for Sloan to gauge. “You don’t know what direction that they’re going to go,’’ said Sloan, who coached Malone and star point guard John Stockton with Utah from 1988-2003, leading the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. “You have to see what happens with their staff. I’d have to weigh the pluses and minuses. But I’d be interested in listening.’’FOXSports Florida
Where will Howard end up? The first thing you need to realize is that his destination wish list has grown, because he wants a complete divorce from the Magic –more so than he did back at the trading deadline in March, when the threat of a trade (to the Lakers, Rockets, Warriors, depending on who you want to believe) forced Howard to opt-in for the final year of his contract. I know a source close to Howard, and I am told that he harbors a lot of resentment toward the Magic for forcing his hand the way they did on deadline day. And even if the Magic tell him he can have a say in choosing the new coach and general manager after Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith were let go Monday, it won’t matter. He wants out. SheridanHoops
Brooklyn would do that deal, then re-sign Deron Williams and have a nucleus of Howard, Williams, Brooks and Morrow, and once they went over the cap they’ have a $2.5 million exception to use in filling out the roster. But my source warned me that the Howard sweepstakes is definitely not going to be a one-team race, which brings us to the Knicks. They have the means to take back Turkoglu along with Howard is they are willing to part with two members of their front line — Tyson Chandler, plus Amare Stoudemire or Carmelo Anthony. SheridanHoops
If Orlando decides to ride out the Turkoglu contract and try to get one stud in return for Howard, there will be no shortage of suitors. Mark Heisler doesn’t think the Lakers are going to trade Andrew Bynum, and even though there was substance to the school of thought that Howard did not want to go to the Lakers because he doesn’t want to be seen as a second Shaq (not to mention being the second-biggest superstar on the team), my source says either the Lakers or Clippers would be a more desirable landing zone than returning to Orlando — that’s how much Howard wants out. Dallas is on Howard’s list, too, which bears mentioning. The Mavs have Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood under contract for next season, taking up $37 million of cap room. But Haywood could be amnestied and Marion could be dumped, which would at least give Dallas a chance to be creative in trying to clear enough space to absorb Turkoglu and Howard. SheridanHoops
Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams, who has stated his intentions to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, told reporters Tuesday that he's still undecided on his future. "I want to reiterate, I don't know what I'm doing next year," Williams said. "Still. Nobody does but me. Not even my mom, my brother, my uncle, my cousin. I haven't talked to anybody about where I'm going next year."ESPN.com
“I’ve heard comments that people make, like, ‘he’s going to Dallas.’ And people say I’m staying here for sure because I went to Russia. Yeah, I went to Russia. I’ve never been to Russia. AK’s (Andrei Kirilenko, former Jazz teammate) been telling me to come to Russia for the last six years, so, I went to Russia. It was close to Turkey. I went to Turkey because I love Turkey, I played there for three months. I wanted to see my teammates, I wanted to check out some games, so I went to Istanbul,” Williams said. New York Post
Williams said he intends to go to Dallas on Thursday, because his mother and brother and uncles and other family live there, and he will hold a birthday party for his son this weekend there. And, perhaps most importantly, Williams said he intends to make his decision -- and make it public -- as soon as possible. "July 1 hopefully,'' he said. "Hopefully I’ll know something.'' Since he can't have contact with any teams until July 1, Williams was asked how he'll be able to make a decision that quickly. "I think I’ll have a good idea,'' he said. "My agent (Jeff Schwartz), he’s done this before. So we’re going to talk, actually today about some scenarios.'' He said "probably'' he'll be taking phone calls from teams at 12:01 a.m. July 1, the soonest teams can contact him. "I’m, sure when it comes down to the time, it’ll only be between a couple teams,'' he said. Newark Star-Ledger
West also touched on a variety of subjects, including his thoughts on free agency. "It's in the Lord's hands,'' he said. "All I know is that it's always tough in free agency. I hope I showed this team and the NBA that I'm invested in the future. I kind of really found my groove this year and I'm still a young man, but I also have so much playoff experience. "I've been to the playoffs (almost) every year and I'm just going into my prime. Once I incorporate the floater into my game, I feel I'll be very valuable to anybody's team. In these playoffs, I see how deep all these teams are and a guard like myself could be very valuable. I've found a home here in Dallas. And I'd like to finish my career out here.'' Dallas Morning News
Marco Belinelli, at Gazzetta.it, talked about his future and his commitment to the Italian National Team. The Italian guard said that he wants to decide his future before trying to join Italian National Team next summer. Belinelli will be unrestricted free agent and he expects an offer from the Hornets. "We have just finished a complicated season but very important for me because I will be free agent from July. It was also a weird season. We decided to stay in New Orleans. Then the team signed a shooting guard as Eric Gordon. He got injured but I had again but I had to gain the confidence of the coaching staff. I don't know what will happen in the summer. I am without any answer. I expect New Orleans to make an offer to me but I am sure that other teams will try to sign me. I don't know which team because the playoffs are still on and also the draft will be important with good names I am confident that my future will be again in the NBA. Sportando
The Nuggets worked out draft prospects today and when Terrence Ross was asked what player he's like, Ross replied: "I'd say similar to a J.R. Smith." Of course, Ross meant Smith's athleticism and shooting — not Smith's combustible personality on and off the court — but it was amusing, especially inside Pepsi Center, to hear someone describe themselves in a positive way by using Smith as an example. Denver Post
With two lottery selections in the June 28 NBA Draft, New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps and Coach Monty Williams will try to be the good luck charms the team needs to secure the highest possible pick by winning next Wednesday's NBA Lottery in New York. The Hornets possess their own lottery pick, acquired thanks to a 21-45 regular season record, as well as the one belonging to the Minnesota Timberwolves, acquired in the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have grown tired of what they think are baiting tactics from the Indiana Pacers' Danny Granger. James went so far as to call Granger's ploy "stupid." Granger has gotten called for technical fouls in each of the past three games for getting into both James' and Wade's faces after fouls. Granger said he doesn't intend to back down but several times he has appeared to be the one to instigate the confrontation. ESPN.com
"Whatever he's trying, it is not working," James said Tuesday before Game 5. "He's said he's not scared of LeBron, I want to let (James) know. I guess he's doing it for his own psyche. It's stupid." Granger said his actions are part of a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality the Pacers have adopted for this series. The Heat were the heavy favorite coming in and Granger said the team feels it has to earn respect. "I think there is a line and I'm tip-toeing it," Granger said. "That's a product of the chip on my shoulder and we have on our shoulder as a team of not being respected. That goes not just for this series, but all year. We had the fourth or fifth best record in the NBA and I think we only had one televised game. Three or four teams that didn't make the playoffs had more televised games than us. It was just a matter of being disrespected nationally." ESPN.com
The Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving, the 2011-12 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio headline the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today. Irving was the lone unanimous selection. Joining Irving (58 points) and Rubio (49 points) on the NBA All-Rookie First Team are Denver's Kenneth Faried (46 points), Golden State's Klay Thompson (43 points), New York's Iman Shumpert (40 points), San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard (40 points) and Detroit's Brandon Knight (40 points). NBA.com
The NBA released the official list of 60 players invited to attend the 2012 NBA Draft combine on June 7-8 in Chicago. The event includes skill drills, scrimmages, athletic and psychological testing and interviews with players projected to be in the draft lottery. The order for the lottery is scheduled to be determined May 30. All six Kentucky players who entered the draft will attend. Among players not on the list is Wisconsin All-American point guard Jordan Taylor. Gonzaga’s Robert Sacre, Villanova’s Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek were also not on the initial NBA list of invites: Quincy Acy, Baylor. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina. HoopsWorld
Alex Kennedy: Chris Mullin is in the mix for the Portland Trail Blazers' general manager job, according to sources close to the situation. Twitter
CSNNW.com has learned the Portland Trail Blazers did request permission to speak with Atlanta Hawks general manager Rick Sund and ownership denied their request, according to a source close to the situation. Chris Broussard of ESPN was first to report the Trail Blazers had interest in Sund and that Hawks ownership preferred to wait until their season concluded before they would allow the two sides to talk. Now that the Hawks' season is over, a source tells CSNNW.com that “Sund to the Trail Blazers is not in his plans.” CSNNW.com
Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that the Golden State Warriors plan to build a new sports and entertainment arena on the waterfront in San Francisco in time for the 2017-18 NBA season. The privately financed arena will be located at Piers 30-32 on San Francisco Bay, south of the Bay Bridge, between the Ferry Building and AT&T Park. “We are working with the Warriors to get a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena built on the waterfront in San Francisco and completed in 2017,” said Lee. “The Warriors have been the Bay Area’s basketball team for 50 years, and today sets the stage for the Warriors to be the Bay Area’s team for another 50. This project will provide millions of dollars in new tax revenue for San Francisco over the long term for services local residents need, including public safety, parks, public transit, pothole repair, youth programs and senior services.” NBA.com
“Building a world-class, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility will create thousands of new jobs for local residents,” said Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob. “We are pleased to be privately financing the arena – with no money from the City’s general fund and no new taxes – and look forward to providing an incredible entertainment experience for Bay Area fans.” The new facility will host the Bay Area’s NBA basketball team, as well as provide a spectacular new venue for top-tier concerts, cultural events and conventions, prominent events the City currently cannot accommodate. The new arena will be located in an incredibly transit- and pedestrian-rich location, with a Muni Metro stop at its doorstep, and only a few blocks from Embarcadero Station and the new Transbay Transit Center. NBA.com
» Update: 01:38 PM ET
Deron Williams spoke to us in the hopes of ending speculation. Says he's no closer to a decision than he was when the season ended. Twitter
Andy Vasquez: D-Will: "I want to reiterate, I don't know what I'm doing next year. Still. Nobody does but me. Not even my mom..." Twitter
Andy Vasquez: Deron Williams also said that he'll make a trip to his hometown of Dallas later this week. And that we shouldn't read into that, either. Twitter
Andy Vasquez: D-Will said we shouldn't read into trip to Russia: "I've never been there before." D-Will said his brother won't attend prep school in NJ. Twitter
Arash Markazi: I'd be surprised if the Lakers don't amnesty Artest ($15 million over 2 years) and pursue trades for Gasol and Bynum. Twitter
(Motiejunas) has a contract with Benetton Treviso, but has plans to move to the NBA. However, he would only be able to sign a deal with the Houston Rockets from 1 July. FIBA.com
New Zealand Breakers jumping jack Tom Abercrombie has the NBA summer leagues lined up in August if the Tall Blacks do not make the London Olympics. TVNZ
(Abercrombie) will look to pursue his NBA dream this northern summer showcasing his skills in the American summer leagues where players can get picked up by clubs for a shot at the big time. TVNZ
Abercrombie has a get-out clause in his Breakers contract if the NBA comes calling. "I want to make it there and am not worried if it takes a few years. Time is on my side." TVNZ
Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have grown tired of what they think are bating tactics from the Indiana Pacers' Danny Granger. James went so far as to call it "stupid." ESPN.com
"Whatever he's trying, it is not working," James said Tuesday before Game 5. "He's said he's not scared of LeBron, I want to let (James) know. I guess he's doing it for his own psyche. It's stupid." ESPN.com
"I'm all for standing up for your guys, but certain things you just can't keep doing," Wade said. "My message to Granger was that you just can't keep running up into people's faces for altercations. We're not fighting on this basketball court, so let's not act like we're going to fight. We can be physical and do all that, but certain things got to stop. Are you out here to play basketball or are you out here to be a tough guy?" ESPN.com
Joseph Goodman: Granger said after shootaround that his aggressive play is a product of being disrespected nationally by TV networks. True story. Twitter
Alex Kennedy: Rondo had 13 assists in every game of this series. Only other player to have 13 assists in first 5 games of a series: Magic Johnson in 1985. Twitter
Ben Rohrbach: Stiemsma injured his foot again last night, Avery's 50-50 for tomorrow & Ray's ankle is still bothering him according to Rivers. Good times. Twitter
This past weekend, (Blazers) interim general manager Chad Buchanan, assistant general managers Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry and director of NBA scouting Mike Born joined front office staffs from around the league in New Jersey for a two-day workout featuring draft eligible playerTrailBlazers.com
"There were a couple guys who made a good impression on us, guys we liked during the year and were kind of reaffirmed that at the workout," said Buchanan. "How they performed kind of backed up what we felt from them during the season. So there were a few guys who distinguished themselves, at least in our eyes." TrailBlazers.com
Germany’s coach Svetislav Pesic has announced the preliminary squad for the European Championship qualifier in the summer. As expected, NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman weren't on the list. kicker.de
Stars like Al Horford, Jack Michael Martínez, Francisco García, Charlie Villanueva, Eulis Báez, Josh Asselin, Luis Flores and Edgar Sosa have been selected for the preliminary 23-player squad of the (Dominican Republic) national team. dominicanosenbasket.com
The players have been called to participate in the practices scheduled between June 1st and 15th, at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington, under the management of famous coach John Calipari. dominicanosenbasket.com
Despite some good news about Jasikevicius, some sorrow was gulped as well, as (Rockets draftee) Donatas Motiejunas, who looked set to make a debut in the national team after two years of not making the roster, will most likely miss this summer, with chance to see him in the national squad at a minimal. FIBA.com
“I spoke a lot with Donatas, he really wants to play, but hasn’t signed a contract yet. He would be risking his NBA contract in case of an injury. He told me that he could only come on 2 July, but that would literally be the day before the Olympic Qualifying Tournament starts,” (Lithuanian head coach) Kemzura told reporters. FIBA.com
Steve Kyler: For those asking... Stan Van Gundy is leaning towards NOT coaching next season... could change, but he's looking to decompress. Twitter
GS Warriors owner Joe Lacob on his plan to finance a $500 million arena with no taxpayer money at Piers 30-32 in San Francisco: "You don't achieve success by standing still. You really have to place a few bets."Sulia
Matt Steinmetz: Warriors serious about getting out of Oakland. They've made lapel pins with 2017 on them. The year they want to be in SF. Twitter
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22 May ' 07:01
Tuesday, May 22
» Update: 09:24 AM ET
Dwight Howard wants out of Orlando, the events of today notwithstanding, a source close to Howard tells SheridanHoops.com On the day coach Stan Van Gandy and general manager Otis Smith lost their jobs with the Magic, a source who has spoken with Howard recently said the All-Star center desperately wants to be traded prior to the start of next season. And although the Brooklyn Nets are still considered the frontrunner, “it is not going to be a one-horse race,” the source said, listing the Mavericks, Knicks and — to a lesser degree — the Clippers and Lakers as among the destinations that would appeal to Howard. SheridanHoops
But in fact, the source said, Howard wants out of Orlando more than he ever did before in order to start a new chapter of his career. And it is well-known throughout the league that the Magic do not want to endure another soap opera season like the one they just experienced. Orlando team executives are expected to meet soon with Howard as he recovers from the back surgery he underwent last month in California. If Howard tells them he wants out, they are expected to try to accomodate him and deal him to the highest bidder. One piece of the puzzle that could influence Howard’s landing spot is whether a team acquiring Howard would be willing to take on the contract of Hedo Turkoglu, who is due to make $23.6 million over the next two seasons. The combined salaries of Howard and Turkoglu will be $30.6 million next season, and few teams will have the cap room or the assets to do a trade in which the salaries match. SheridanHoops
What's it going to be, Dwight? "The decision is up to Dwight now," Magic CEO Alex Martins said Monday after announcing that both Van Gundy and Smith have been relieved of their duties. "Dwight needs to decide where his future lies. It's been well-documented what our desires are. Now Dwight needs to decide what his are."
After the most successful season of his seven-year career ended with yet another disappointing second-round playoff exit, Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum doesn't know what the future holds for him. "I'm not sure," Bynum said after a lackluster, foul-plagued performance in the Lakers' 106-90 loss in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. "It really doesn't matter to me. I'll play anywhere. I think for the most part I had a pretty decent season and an OK postseason, so we'll see."
Kevin Ding: Bynum about contract extension with Lakers: "It's going to depend on what the team wants to do. I would definitely want to be a Laker."
Sager then asked Bynum about his desire to remain a Laker: "Well, I mean, I definitely want to stay. You kind of asked an open-ended question. Obviously things are going to be different come next year, but I'm going to be ready."
Bynum has an option for the 2012-13 season worth $16.1 million that the Lakers must exercise by June 30 to retain him. Jim Buss, the Lakers' vice president of player personnel, told ESPNLosAngeles.com last month that the team intends to pick up the center's option. The question remains whether the Lakers will also pursue a long-term contract extension with Bynum in the offseason. "It's going to depend on what the team wants to do," Bynum said of the extension. "I would definitely want to be a Laker. It's going to be up to the team." Bynum's agent, David Lee, said the Lakers control when and if those contract extension conversations will occur. "Their call," Lee said in a text message to ESPNLosAngeles.com last month. "Ball's in their court."
Chris Palmer: A Harden/Bynum duo could be the Lakers future
Re: Pau Gasol. I've spoken to multiple nba executives and scouts - teams looking for someone like Pau is a not-over-the-hump almost playoff teams. Just having someone like Gasol, I've been told, can put a team that just can't break through to the next level. Naturally there are flaws in Gasol, you need a tough-guy rebounder next to him - he makes a ton of $ - but the Lakers will have queries. Not sure there is anywhere close to a CP3 return.
He wasn't referring specifically to the bickering couple of Bryant and Gasol, but it was clear this season that their commitment waned once their honeymoon phase from winning two titles and making three straight trips to the Finals was squarely in the rearview. Bryant publicly demoted Gasol to the third scoring option during the regular season and then called him out in the playoffs for not being the aggressive scorer he once was. "It's been tough for me," Gasol said after finishing with 14 points and 16 rebounds in Game 5 but still catching flack from Brown after the game for not grabbing enough offensive boards. "I've been in a facilitating role most of the year. I've been pretty much the third option most of the year."
Bryant is still that No. 1 option, of course, and is as unmovable an object as exists in all of professional sports. It's not just because of his tremendous value to the Lakers with his skill set even as a 33-year-old, 16-year veteran, but because of what his star power and gravitas mean to the image that Lakers owner Jerry Buss wants his franchise to be all about. Bryant stated several times this season that he intends to retire a Laker and won't jump ship to chase ring No. 6 elsewhere. Plus, he's owed $58.3 million over the next two seasons. He's not going anywhere. That makes Gasol the first to go. Call up Houston. Call up Chicago. Call up Minnesota. Call up Orlando. See whether interest is still out there. Better yet, call up all 29 other teams and maybe even go the draft pick route. This year's draft is widely considered to be the deepest in nearly a decade
Chris Palmer: Phone is buzzing. Nick Young a Lakers possibility, I'm told
If Sessions decides against picking up his player option for next season, has he showed enough to prove he's the right fit at point to lead the Lakers back to the championship when they'll have to get through a league filled with Russell Westbrook, Paul, Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo (and on and on) to get there? "I probably didn't play to the best of my ability but it's one of those things that you live and you learn and just move on," Sessions said. The Lakers might have learned to move on from the idea that he's their answer alongside Bryant in the backcourt
After the game Monday, Brown was asked about what’s next for the Lakers, where they can go to solve the clear problems in the design of this roster. “No place,” Brown said. “We’re going to hop on a plane, fly back and we got a long time to think about it. That’s something that (general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) will lead the charge on, we’ll go from there. In terms of where the team goes from here, I am still digesting this loss.” Sporting News
Griffin is eligible to sign either a four- or five-year extension with the club on July 1st and the organization has made no secret that it will offer it to him. Team president Andy Roeser told ESPNLosAngeles.com late Sunday night that "ultimately I believe those two players (Griffin and Paul) are going to play out their careers here."
Adam Morrison knows how hard it is going to be to shake the label: bust. But he longs for the chance. “I understand I’m never going to shake being a bust or being a failure in some people’s eyes,” said Morrison, the No. 3 draft pick by Charlotte out of Gonzaga in 2006. “I’ve experienced a lot of highs in basketball, so I guess you could call it a hardship, but it’s really not. I get to play basketball for money. That’s pretty good.”
Not quite what was envisioned for the College Player of the Year who averaged 28.1 points for Gonzaga before turning pro. He’s back from overseas trying to land with the Nets, who expressed interest two years ago but saw the plan snuffed when Morrison sprained an ankle. “It just didn’t work out. I ended up taking the year off and then played overseas last year. So one more shot and see what happens,” said Morrison, who played in Turkey for Besiktas, the team that retired Deron Williams’ number. Morrison, at 6-foot-8 and looking much thinner than he did in his pro days, gave it another try yesterday. “He knows how to play. Unfortunately he didn’t have a point guard who could find him because he came off screens open,” Nets general manager Billy King said. “But he knows how to set himself up, come off screens. He didn’t make some shots early, but he got them to go. One thing, we know he can do that
"I guess the toughest thing is, I guess, the athletic ability,’’ Morrison said when asked why he’s had so much trouble sticking with a team in the NBA. "And I understand I’m never going to shake being a ‘bust’ or being a failure in some people’s eyes. I’ve experienced a lot of highs in basketball so I guess you could call it a hardship but it’s really not. I get to play basketball for money. That’s pretty good.’’
He will be a member of the team for the next three season, something that also apply to Sasha Kaun. His deal is not announced yet, but Russian sources confirmed to Eurohoops.net that the former University of Kansas player and NCAA champion has also signed a new three years contract. As for the official announcement, is just a matter of days, or even hours. It’s obvious that contract negotiations for both players have been finilized, probably before the Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul. EuroHoops.net
The Thunder is moving on to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season after closing out the Los Angeles Lakers 106-90 in Game 5 on Monday night. And in the clincher, it was Westbrook and fellow All-Star teammate Kevin Durant who carried the Thunder. Westbrook scored a team-high 28 points, while Durant chipped in 25. None, however, were bigger than the three by Westbrook that caused that passionate celebration. The play started with Westbrook intercepting a Ramon Sessions pass to Kobe Bryant at the top of the key. As Westbrook raced the other way, Sessions intentionally fouled Westbrook, wrapping him up in an attempt to prevent a shot attempt. But Westbrook powered through the contact and banked in 15-foot runner, sparking pandemonium inside The Peake. “That was an amazing play,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “Obviously, there was a lot of luck to that. But he put himself in that position to get a little lucky there.”Oklahoman
Pau Gasol was much more aggressive after the passive Game 4 in which Bryant called him out after for poor play, finishing with 14 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Bynum had what he told TNT was "the worst game I've probably played in the playoffs," tallying 10 points, four rebounds and no blocks. And yet largely because of the putrid effort of the Lakers' bench (combined five points compared to the Thunder's 35), it wasn't nearly enough to counter the collective attack of the Thunder team that always seemed destined to get to this point. "Experience is always important in this league," Brooks said. "You have to have good talent. You have to have good players. You have to have a team that competes and is self motivated. I have a group of guys who do that -- every single day."
"It was kind of reversed, right?" Bryant said in his postgame news conference at the Chesapeake Energy Arena when asked to compare the two series. "We came in here a couple years ago, and we had played with each other in the same system for years. So we kind of knew the intricacies of our offense, and defensively what we wanted to do. So now it just flipped. "They've been together for a long time in the same system. They know exactly what they want to do. They've really grown tremendously. I think Westbrook has improved, Durant's obviously improved, (veteran shooting guard Thabo) Sefolosha -- he didn't really shoot the ball that well tonight -- but overall he's been an excellent shooter for them, which was different from when we faced them back in (2010). Ibaka can shoot. Perkins is obviously a great addition. They've all made tremendous strides."
At least the Thunder went over to shake the Lakers' hands (yes, even James Harden and Metta World Peace), and Bryant insisted there was one other way this wasn't like the most notorious NBA regime change of the past three decades. "This is not one of those things like where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever," Bryant said. "I'm not going for that s---."
We were among several to notice that Kobe Bryant, despite scoring a ton of points in Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, had zero assists. Brian Cardinal of the Dallas Mavericks noticed it too and fired off this beautiful tweet as the Lakers were on their way to losing the game and the series. SB Nation
Janis Carr: Asked about getting a handshake from World Peace, Harden said it was a "sigh of relief." Was he talking about the game or handshake?
Darnell Mayberry: World Peace to Harden: "Good job."
Kevin Ding: I asked Drew about not shaking hands. "I just came back. We lost. Give the other team credit. They obviously were the better team."
Durant on the Spurs, which the Thunder will face in the Western Conference Finals: “It looks like they never make mistakes. They're well coached and they have a lot of veteran guys, so it's going to be a tough, tough series.”Oklahoman
David Locke: #Lakers Andrew Bynum got 701 post ups this year at .89 pts per poss (49th) Gasol got 387 post ups at .95 pts per poss (24th in NBA)
The Celtics responded to a Game 4 wakeup call by routing the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half in taking a 101-85 Game 5 victory Monday night at TD Garden. Boston has a 3-2 series edge entering Game 6 in Philadelphia Wednesday night. Bass, averaging 10.1 points in the series before Monday night, scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter as the Celtics went on 10-0 and 12-4 runs to take control of the contest. But first-half signs did not point to a double-digit margin of victory, and the Celtics did not regain the lead for good until late in the third quarter. “We weren’t right in the first half,’’ coach Doc Rivers said. “You could just feel it. We just . . . it was funny, you could see all our guys, they were looking at each other every time someone made a shot. “I don’t want to get corny, but it was like the Celtic spirit, it wasn’t there. I talked about it a couple times in timeouts. And I just told our coaches we’ve just got to somehow get through this half and just see if we can just gather them back.’’ Boston Globe
Whether it was the ridiculous offensive foul call on Kevin Garnett against Spencer Hawes four minutes after halftime that elicited chants of “bull[stuff], bull[stuff]” or the barrage of Brandon Bass buckets, the Celtics awoke a Boston crowd that sleepwalked through the first half. Or was it the other way around? “This goddamned crowd here sparks you,” said Garnett (20 points, 8-17 FG). “It doesn’t take much here, man. … When speaking about this crowd, man, it’s like plugging in. They’re enthused from 48 minutes on, from the tip on, so I can’t see the difference between minute from minute. I feel like every minute I look up, I see my family, I see people yelling, I see the drunk fat guy. I can decipher one from the other. This crowd is ridiculous, man. I love it.”
Bass “was able to make statement plays that get the crowd involved with two dunks in a row, and we were just never able to recover after that,” said 76ers Sixth Man Lou Williams. “It’s like taking a cold shower, stepping into a freezer that’s below 60,” added Garnett of the Boston crowd. “I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you want the feeling, try it out, come back and let me know.” Alrighty, then. Well, now Garnett and the Celtics hope to close out the series in Game 6 on Wednesday night in Philadelphia, where the Philly faithful will surely give the 76ers a similar home court advantage, right KG? “Not even close,” he said. “Not even close. You got fans, and then you got fairweather fans. Take it how you want.”WEEI.com
For Brand, these playoffs have been rough. After not playing more than 17 minutes, 49 seconds in any of the first four games of the series, Brand looked spry enough in the first half for the Sixers to play him 18 minutes. Brand shrugged off the notion that his injuries are slowing him down. Instead, he chose to focus on what another nice game from him would mean for the Sixers. "It is what it is," Brand said of his injuries. "A lot of guys are playing with a lot of ailments right now so I can't complain. I know a lot of guys are playing with more aches and pains than me, I'm surePhiladelphia Inquirer
But (Ben) Gordon – who starred with Deng at the Chicago Bulls before switching to Detroit three years ago – insists he remains committed to the cause and that it was just a matter of time before he suited up for a competitive game as a Brit. Thrilled “It was frustrating,” said Gordon, 29. “I have been involved for a few years but I have had to wait to be able to make the trip over. This summer was all about working to make sure I could be there. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Olympics is the biggest stage and it is great to be involved. “We’ve got a very good team and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the guys. “Obviously, there will be a lot of good teams at the Olympics but with the players we’ve got I don’t see why we can’t go farManchester Evening News
Coach Svetislav Pesic named 21 players for the German National Team Training camp. Germany will play the Eurobasket 2013 Qualification Round in the summer. Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman are not in the list, as expected
Hayward (6-8, 210, Butler) was one of two Jazz players to appear in all 66 games (58 starts) in 2011-12, averaging 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 30.5 minutes during his second NBA season. "The USA Select Team was a vital part of the USA Men's National Team's training in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and again in 2012 we'll utilize this team of select NBA players to help get our National Team ready for the very competitive summer that is ahead of us," said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman. "Being chosen for the Select Team is quite an honor, and it's an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball's National Team program in the future. In the past, current national team finalists like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Iguodala, as well as many other outstanding players got their USA National Team start through the Select Team."Deseret News
It wasn’t the first dance between Cal’s Jorge Gutierrez and Oakland’s own Jared Cunningham out of Oregon State. But it was the first time the two matched up on such a stage – under the watchful eyes of an NBA front office. Both served as the guards at the Warriors’ six-man workout of draft prospects Monday, which was held at the team’s downtown Oakland facility. The two went at it the entire time, much like they did matching in the Pac-12. Contra Costa Times
Cunningham got the better of the match-up, according to sources inside the private workout. That’s no surprise considering the former San Leandro High School star was the only player in the workout likely to get drafted. The other four players were Old Dominion forward Chris Cooper, Nevada forward Olek Czyz, Lithuania center Mindaugas Kupsas and Missouri State forward Kyle Weems. Contra Costa Times
Sources tell me Shaw, the Pacers associate coach and a former Magic player, is the preference of the DeVos family. Would the former Lakers head coach and his longtime trusted assistant try to reunite with Bynum?
Another highly conceivable candidate, could he shake free from Milwaukee (one year left), is Scott Skiles, who also played in Orlando and remains a DeVos family and local fan favorite.
But who is best to replace Van Gundy and keep Howard firmly planted in Orlando? Sources said Warriors assistant coach Michael Malone and Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be strong candidates. Malone, who became known as a top-notch defensive coach during his years as an assistant in Cleveland and New Orleans, has already interviewed for the vacant coaching position in Charlotte and would be a candidate in Washington if the Wizards part ways with coach Randy Wittman. Shaw, a former Lakers assistant who was expected to replace Phil Jackson as Lakers head coach before the job went to Mike Brown, is on the Bobcats' list of candidates but is not known to have interviewed yet.
Van Gundy’s dismissal and Smith’s departure follow perhaps the most turbulent season in team history, a season that began with a trade request by Howard and was marked by an undercurrent of tension between Howard and Van Gundy and Howard and Smith. Many NBA observers believed the only chance the Magic had to keep Howard was to let Van Gundy and Smith go. Still, it remains unclear whether those moves will prompt Howard to sign a long-term extension to stay with the team beyond the 2012-13 season, the final year of his contract. Martins said the team intends to replace Smith before the NBA draft on June 28, and that the new general manager will recommend coaching candidates. Potential head-coaching candidates include Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw, Golden State Warriors lead assistant coach Michael Malone and former Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan. Phil Jackson and Jerry Sloan might surface as dream coaching candidates, but they are considered long shots.
Van Gundy, 51, exits as the winningest coach in franchise history. Van Gundy and his longest-tenured assistant coaches — Bob Beyer, Steve Clifford, Patrick Ewing and Brendan Malone — compiled a 259-135 regular-season record (for a franchise-best .657 winning percentage) and a 31-28 playoff record (for a franchise-best .525 winning percentage). "[I] don't really want to comment except to say that I am really proud of what we accomplished over the past five years and I look forward to whatever comes next," Van Gundy said in a text message to the Orlando Sentinel
The Knicks officially are expected to remove the interim label from Mike Woodson's title this week, according to multiple sources. The two sides are working on a long-term deal, the sources said, and something could be done within the next couple of days. Newsday
The Knicks are expected to announce Mike Woodson’s new contract as coach sometime “this week,” according to a source familiar with the situation. Lawyers began hammering out details on the pact last week and are committed to getting it done before Memorial Day weekend. Woodson could get a three-year contract — which is the length of time left on the pacts of Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler.
The Knicks were 18-6 under Woodson in the regular season after going 18-24 under Mike D'Antoni, who resigned March 14. They made the playoffs for the second straight season, losing to the Heat, four games to one. There was speculation throughout the season that the Knicks would pursue Phil Jackson or John Calipari as their next coach. Woodson, who had discussions about a contract extension with Knicks management during the playoffs, received strong endorsements from general manager and former Indiana University teammate Glen Grunwald toward the end of the season. Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler all backed Woodson's return. Newsday
SI.com: So, according to various sources, you're staying home next season, going after the Orlando Magic job, or staying local and saving the Brooklyn Nets. I even saw that written once. What's the truth? Mike D'Antoni: The truth is, you can't win when those stories come out. Nobody has called me about the Orlando job. When I saw those stories, I immediately texted Stan [Van Gundy, the then-Magic coach] and told him it was bull----. [Editor's note: Orlando fired Van Gundy and parted ways with general manager Otis Smith on Monday afternoon.] If I even answer the question, somebody will say, "Well, hell, nobody offered it to you, so why are you talking about it? They have a coach." And that would be correct. But if I give an unqualified "no," and something happens later, then I look like a liar.
SI.com: So you are still interested in coaching? Mike D'Antoni: Yes. I'm not making a secret about that. I want to get back. But nothing is going on now, and the smart money says that I will hang out here [at his suburban home]. Michael will be a senior and to let him finish and graduate would be one good reason to stay here for a year.
SI.com: It was pretty consistently reported that you quit and were not fired. But there is still some doubt because what you did was unusual. "Quitting" almost always means "fired." So which is it? M.D.: I absolutely resigned. I was in my car driving to shootaround and it just came to me. That's it. It's inevitable. I have to resign. We're not going anywhere. I made the decision then and there. I called Glen [Grunwald, the Knicks' general manager] and told him that I was coming in to do it. Then I called Laurel [his wife] to tell her. Glen called in Mr. Dolan [Knicks owner James Dolan] and I met them after shootaround and told them that I was resigning. SI.com
SI.com: All right, a theoretical question. You're a coach who likes an open floor, an active point guard, quick shots, pick-and-rolls, "dribble-ats," lots of movement. Carmelo is a post-up player who needs the ball and demands the ball. He's great but he kills the clock. Can that ever work? Was it doomed from the beginning? M.D.: Look, I've coached players who post up. Heck, Amar'e [Stoudemire, a Knicks forward] has been a post-up player. We used to post up Boris Diaw a lot in Phoenix. There are always things that can be done by mixing it up. Now, was it the best situation for my coaching philosophy? No. But there's never one answer for why things don't work outSI.com
With Mike Woodson on the verge of officially having his “interim’’ tag removed as coach of the Knicks, his predecessor, Mike D’Antoni broke his two-month silence. D’Antoni said he was not forced to resign, said “an obstacle had to be removed’’ and did not deny Carmelo Anthony was at the root of his decision. A source told The Post D’Antoni and Anthony have not spoken since the former coach resigned March 14
SI.com: Was the experience of coaching in New York more difficult than you thought? M.D.: I'm not going to do any woe-is-me. There's a lot of pressure but that's why they pay you. It's still a great job, and I think Woody [Woodson] will do a great job. It got to the point where we had problems, we could not solve them, and an obstacle had to be removed. SI.com: One more thing: What was your wife's reaction when you told her you were quitting? M.D.: She told me I should stop at the store on my way home because we were out of milkSI.com
Brown said he expects all of his assistant coaches to return for next season. He also said he expects one or more to receive interest from other teams. Ettore Messina spent his first season in the NBA on Brown's staff after coaching for many seasons in Europe, including with the Italian national team and the Spanish club team Real Madrid. Brown said he has a place on the Lakers' bench as long as he wants it.
"I have to talk to Mike and Mitch (Kupchak, the Lakers' general manager)," said Messina, who has an option on his contract for next season. "I would (like to be an NBA head coach), but it is something that's out of my control. "The good thing is I have the security to go back to Europe to coach. That's my security blanket." Brown said he wouldn't be surprised if Messina, John Kuester, Chuck Person and Quin Snyder receive offers elsewhere. Kuester coached the Detroit Pistons for two ill-fated seasons before being fired and joining Brown's staff. Los Angeles Daily News
Chris Haynes: Got word #Blazers have not asked for permission to speak with Celtics Danny Ainge regarding their GM opening. Doesn't mean they won't.
As for Orlando's general manager vacancy, former Knicks president and Pacers GM Donnie Walsh is expected to be a strong candidate for Smith's spot, and a source close to him said he would be interested. With Pacers president Larry Bird expected by most league executives to walk away after this season, Walsh has been considering a possible return to Indiana as well. Former New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower and Indiana executive David Morway also could be possibilities for Orlando. SI.com
The Golden State Warriors are jumping across the bay, with plans for a privately financed, $500 million waterfront arena that would allow the team to play its home games in San Francisco for the first time in more than four decades. The NBA franchise would leave Oakland for a 17,000- to 19,000-seat arena that would be built on Piers 30-32 near the foot of the Bay Bridge, a short walk from downtown, and open in time for the 2017-18 season. "It is going to happen - let there be no doubt," Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said Monday. San Francisco Chronicle
Tomorrow, probably before noon, GSW co-owners Joe Lacob & Peter Guber are expected to announce their intentions to move the Warriors to San Francisco at the very site of this announcement. The Warriors are laying claim to Pier 30/32, on the Embarcadero, aimed for the 2017-’18 NBA season–which is the first time the Warriors can exit their lease with Oakland.
Actually getting this completed won’t be easy, or else something like this would’ve been done long ago, as Mark Purdy points out, surveying some of the history of failed efforts on that site and in San Francisco as a whole. Several sources involved with SF development told me today that you cannot overstate the difficulties of trying to even plan to build on that site. And Lacob & Guber have been seriously analyzing the Pier 30/32 site for less than a year–maybe less than four or five monthsSan Jose Mercury-News
Hey, as one well-connected source theorized, with San Francisco losing the 49ers soon, there is some increased motivation for the politicians to make life easier than normal for incoming sports developments. However… That other SF option–the AT&T Park/Mission Bay Project controlled by the Giants–is still there, and still further along with the permits and development than anything else. San Jose Mercury-News
Warriors co-owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber said their driving motivation is to build an arena that would help them establish a winning basketball team. Yet they fully understand that the Bay Area, unlike other sports-mad regions, is unwilling to dip into public treasuries or raise special taxes to subsidize such a venue. They are counting on the appeal of the San Francisco site to make the project work. "This is a gamble," Lacob said. "This is a risk of large proportions." The city's contribution will be relatively modest. Lee said the team would receive a "very friendly" long-term lease for the piers on which the arena will be built. Those piers, just south of the Bay Bridge and owned by the Port of San Francisco, have become so unstable that they have been deemed unfit for uses more intensive than their current role as a parking lot. San Francisco Chronicle
The owners apparently have come to see the NBA's free-agency market as something of a real-estate game. Because the league's salary cap allows little variation in how much a premier player can earn on any team, a star might be more easily swayed by location, location, location. "We went through a year of negotiations in free agency and we whiffed," Lacob said at a Monday meeting with Chronicle reporters and editors, in advance of Tuesday's news conference announcing the Warriors' plans for a waterfront arena near the Giants' ballpark. "It does appear that it matters to major free agents where they play." Guber, via conference call, added: "The scarcest resource is the talent. If there is a not a world-class venue, that is a factor." San Francisco Chronicle
Could former Bad Boy John Salley be returning to Detroit as a resident? If the four-time NBA champion has his way, that is what will happen. Salley told a WWJ-AM (950) reporter last week a move back to the city is 99% certain. Salley, who was drafted by the Pistons in 1986 out of Georgia Tech, played six seasons with the Pistons. "You can report it: John Salley is moving back to Detroit, Michigan," Salley told the radio stationDetroit Free Press
Since retiring, Salley has made a name for himself in show business, appearing in "Bad Boys," "Bad Boys 2" and "Eddie." He also was one of the hosts of a sports talk show on the Fox Sports Network. Salley told WWJ-AM he still holds Detroit in high regard. "I miss everything about this wonderful city," he said. "This city is going through its situations, but it's definitely a wonderful place."Detroit Free Press
At least eight people were shot downtown shortly after the Thunder game let out Monday night, police said. About 11:35 p.m., shots were reportedly fired on Reno Avenue between Mickey Mantle Drive and Joe Carter Avenue, about three blocks east of Chesapeake Energy Arena. Oklahoman
“Preliminary reports indicate that eight people were shot and one person suffered blunt trauma, and that person was a pregnant woman,” Oklahoma City police Capt. Dexter Nelson said. “Everything is very, very preliminary. We still don’t know the actual number of victims. We believe that one person is critical, and the other injuries are not believed to be life-threatening,” Nelson said. One person was shot in the back, another in the upper arm and a third in the hand, according to police radio traffic. The pregnant woman is thought to have been kicked in the melee, Nelson said. Two suspected shooters were in custody at the Harkins Bricktown Cinemas before midnight, Oklahoma City police Capt. Lisa Camacho saidOklahoman
Did you miss Monday's NBA rumors? check them out in the Rumors Archive
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21 May ' 19:39
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21 May ' 07:54
Monday, May 21
» Update: 10:16 AM ET
Paul wasn't asked directly about his future intentions, but a source close to the situation said he has given the team indications he intends to stay long term. Still, it is believed that both players are curious to see what the organization will be able to do to bolster the roster this offseason. The team clearly needs help at the shooting guard position and consistent outside shooters who can space the floor.
Griffin is eligible to sign a five-year extension on July 1 and the Clippers will absolutely offer it to him. When asked directly about his intentions, Griffin said he hadn't thought about it just yet. "I haven't given it one ounce of thought," Griffin said. "That's been the furthest thing from my mind, honestly. I know that's kind of the popular thing to say, but I haven't thought about it. I'll get to that when it comes."
Griffin is eligible to sign an extension with the organization this summer or he could become a restricted free agent after next season, Paul's is under contract only for one more year. The Clippers say they are confident they'll be able to retain both players for a long time. "I feel those things are going to get done," Clippers president Andy Roeser told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "The important thing is that we have to do other things to improve the team. But I believe we'll do those things and ultimately I believe those two players (Griffin and Paul) are going to play out their careers here."
In case you are scoring at home, it's now Day 32 since the Dwight Howard Back Rehab Tour left town for Los Angeles. In that time, the Magic have started and ended the playoffs; Facebook is now a publicly traded stock; President Barack Obama has come out in favor of same-sex marriage; and, for the first time in history, a private spacecraft is ready to launch from Cape Canaveral for a flight to the International Space Station. But, still, Orlandoans have not heard anything from Dwight about his plans for the future. Not even a Tweet telling Orlando fans he's doing well and will soon be back home to sign his longterm extension with the MagicOrlando Sentinel
The date for Wallace opting in on the $9.5 million in the final year of his contract is June 13, which King applauds. “As a team, you want it sooner. You don’t want July 1 because you want to know by the draft,” King said. “I didn’t do it but I think it’s a good way to have it done if he’s opting in, then you know before the draft. If he’s not opting in you know before the draft.”New York Post
Free agency is 5 1/2 weeks away, but Jeremy Lin’s agent already is setting the groundwork for what could be a complicated negotiation. Roger Montgomery, in a rare interview, told The Post nothing is assured regarding Lin’s Knicks future, despite interim coach Mike Woodson’s declaration the global phenom — who becomes a restricted free agent on July 1 — would “absolutely’’ return. When asked if he expects the Knicks negotiation to be cut-and-dried, Montgomery forewarned: “I don’t expect that. We’re not anticipating that’s going to happen. We don’t have assurances of anything. I know history shows most restricted free agents go back to their team, but I’m not going to assume anything. We’re waiting to see what happens.’’ New York Post
Montgomery must create the impression the Knicks are not locks to retain Lin to spur teams to present an offer sheet. A source confirmed Toronto, which has a large Chinese population, will be one suitor. The Knicks ultimately control Lin’s destiny because they cannot be outbid. And if the Players Association wins its arbitration hearing and restores Lin’s early Bird rights, it is a virtual certainty the Knicks will match any offer because the Bird exception means teams can exceed the salary cap to re-sign players. New York Post
A source said the arbitration hearing date will be set this week. If the union loses and the Knicks need their $5M mid-level exception to re-sign Lin, it could get trickierNew York Post
Even so, Billups, who turns 36 in September, said he will play next season. He said returning to the Clippers is something he would like to do. "I'm definitely going to give this a huge amount of consideration this summer. I feel like we've got some unfinished business a little bit," Billups said. "You never know what direction the team is going, if they even want me back. I've learned not to really assume nothing. "I don't know if this is going to be my last time here. But if it is, I had a good time. But if not, I'm looking forward to continuing. I'm definitely going to be back playing next year. For sure and you can believe that. Believe it."
Marc Stein: Clips pumped up Eric Bledsoe's trade value even higher than it was. "Everybody wants an athletic PG like that," said one admiring GM. Don't know that Clips will even want to trade him as good as Bledsoe looked solo or next to CP3. But they know no shortage of offers coming.
J. Michael Falgoust: #CP3 demanded #Clippers keep Eric Bledsoe before he came via trade. "He was the third GM" is what team VP Neil Olshey told USAT Sports #nba
One player who won't be going anywhere, at least of his own volition, is guard Mo Williams, who told ESPNLosAngeles.com that he did not intent to opt-out of his $8.5 million player option for next season. "No," Williams said when asked if he would opt-out this summer. "I can tell you that right now."
Marco Belinelli was in Milano yesterday watching the Serie A Playoff Game between Olimpia Milano and Reyer Venezia. The Italian guard spent the season with the Hornets and will be free agent in the summer. 'Where am I going to sign? It is too early to say. That was an important season for me, but not so good for my team. I am confident for the new contract. Now I am resting even if I'd prefer playing the playoffs
Heat G Dwyane Wade credits time spent with former Marquette coach Tom Crean on Friday with bounce-back from Game 3: "The last 48 hours [have] just been mental. I spent some time up at IU with my coach. First time there, great place, really nice campus. Really spent time with a mentor of mine, a father figure. Long day of long hours of conversating and talking about a lot of things. It was great for me to get away and get that energy I needed from him."
Dwyane Wade preparing for the motivational speaker circuit: "When things are going great, everybody pats you on the back. When things aren't going great, some people turn their back.''
LeBron James on Wade fighting through tough start: "I didn't need to say anything to him... He took him hard on himself (after Game 3)... The best thing for a scorer is to try to get him an easy bucket.''
LeBron on his 44 minutes: "I planned on playing the whole game. I came in with that mindset. Spo tried to take me out the beginning of the 2nd [quarter]. I told him I wanted to play a couple more minutes. Then I was able to get a break, Shane came in for me. I didn't plan on coming out in the 2nd half but my reserve tank hadn't kicked in, about 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter, so I needed a little break. Thank God for the 6 minute time out. Was able to get a little more and close the game out" Sulia
Nearly 90 minutes before tipoff of Game 4 of an acrimonious Eastern Conference playoff series, Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson again appeared to be a source of irritation to the Miami Heat. Miami Heat forward Juwan Howard and Stephenson exchanged sharp words within inches of each other’s faces on the court. Stephenson, who flashed a choke sign at Heat star LeBron James in the Pacers' Game 3 victory, had been shooting with the Pacers on one end of the floor when Howard walked past on the way to Miami's locker room.
Durant, 23, knew how to react after watching enough highlights of game-winners and studying the mannerisms of other players who have established reputations for clutch performances — including his opponent in this series, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan before him. Closers are cold-blooded. Closers don’t reveal emotion. Closers understand being lethal is routine. “That’s the role I want,” Durant said. “Coming in, being one of the main guys, I want to take those shots. I got to live with what people say when I miss them and I can’t get too happy about what people say when I make them. I’ve got to know that if I make a shot in the closing seconds, I got to walk off as if I’ve done it before and if I miss it, I got to walk off like I made it.” Washington Post
Westbrook had carried the Thunder for most of the night, scoring 10 of his team-high 37 points in the fourth quarter, but even he knew when — and for whom — to step aside. “He’s the best scorer in the game. He’s proven it, all season long,” Westbrook said of Durant, the youngest ever NBA three-time scoring champion. “He has the confidence in the closing minutes in the fourth quarter and my job as the point guard is to let him finish the games off for us, like he’s been doing all year.”Washington Post
Game 4’s foul disparity — the 76ers attempted 36 free throws to the Celtics [team stats]’ 19 — has found the Celtics on their best behavior, sort of. “Let’s not go there,” Keyon Dooling said. Rivers initially offered a verbal bouquet yesterday when he said, “I’m not mad at the officials. I love the officials. We had a big lead and all of a sudden they started going to the line, which allowed them to get back into the game. We have to stop fouling, or we have to get fouled — one of the two. Clearly it didn’t favor us.” . . .
As much as the Celtics would love to free up Ray Allen for shots, the fact that the Celtics guard has averaged 7.2 shots and 9.2 points in this series may be more than a trend. “Even the shots he’s had aren’t going in, but they’re not leaving him — they’re not leaving him,” Rivers said of the 76ers coverage. “That makes it difficult, and I don’t know if health-wise he’s able to get away from them either. That combination has made it very tough. Like I said, we’re very thin. You have Ray playing because it’s the playoffs — that’s probably the only reason he’s playing. We’d love to get him shots but it’s tough, because he can’t get away from guys. It’s a tough call.” Boston Herald
Paul tried. He lifted the Clippers up and carried them on his back this season, all 34 years of futility in Southern California no match for his incredible basketball gifts and ruthless competitive fire. But there was only so much he could do. The Clippers' fifth playoff appearance since the team moved to San Diego in 1978 ended with a sweep, but not without the promise of a bright future. "I want to win, so this is not a great feeling sitting here," Paul said. "I think this is just going to make us hungrier. I tip my hat to the Clippers fans, to the Clippers faithful that came out and supported us. And I want them to know that this isn't it."
"I wanna beat 'em ," Paul said, his son sitting on his lap now in the interview room. "But unless they're gonna make it a nine-game series, I won't have a chance this year. So I've just got to keep working. Last time it was seven games; this time four games. So I've got to get better. I've got to get better personally so I don't have this feeling again."
Paul had one more chance -- one more possession to keep his season alive. He drove again on Green, lost his footing and lofted a wild, off-balance 10-footer than grazed the front of the rim. Tony Parker made one of two free throws at the other end, and the Spurs swept their second straight playoff series. "I messed up," Paul said. "Bad decisions. Bad decisions. All on me. ... To let my team down in that situation is probably the toughest part of the season and something I'll think about for a while."CBSSports.com
The Spurs persevered for their 18th straight victory Sunday night, finishing off a sweep of the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals. But when asked about his team’s recent historic streak, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was reticent to discuss much. “It doesn’t exist for us,” Popovich said. “We don’t talk about it. I’ve never heard anybody mention it except you all. And it’s not even a thought in our minds. Each game is just a separate entity.”
Wade has consistently downplayed how sore his left knee had been in recent weeks and continued after Sunday's game to say he wouldn't use any injuries as an excuse for his performance. But multiple sources close to Wade and the team told to ESPN.com Sunday night that he required the minor draining procedure on Wednesday before the Game 3 loss. Wade declined to comment on the procedure after Game 4 other than to say, "If I'm in uniform, I ready to play."
On the basketball side, Lin plays the position at which the Knicks are neediest. If they are comfortable his rehab from a torn meniscus finishes well, it will be tough for them not to match, even for their entire $5M mid-level exception. Montgomery said Lin is in the final stages of his rehab and will head to his native Northern California soon. “He’s doing well, trying still [to] get stronger and heal,’’ Montgomery saidNew York Post
Billups won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, and he was named the Finals most valuable player. So he knows he could have helped the Clippers, especially against a veteran team such as the San Antonio Spurs. "I'm never going to say if I was out there we would win," Billups said. "But I feel like our chances would be much greater because of the intelligence that I bring. It's not because I'm going to go out there and score 30. I'm not that kind of guy. "But I know how to control tempo, people, deal with personalities, egos. That's what I do. I think that's a big factor when you're talking about playoff basketball."
Bradley did not participate in Sunday's afternoon workout and is officially a game-time decision for Monday's Game 5 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series (though the expectation is that he will likely play). "It came out. It went right back in, which is crazy," Rivers said of the Game 4 dislocation. "It’s a tough thing, what he’s going through. A lot of players would not be playing."
Count Celtics captain Paul Pierce among those impressed by what Bradley is fighting through. "It’s who he is, the guy wants to be out there," Pierce said. "Guy wants to win, wants to do everything he can to help his ball club. What more can I say? A lot of young players might sit down, worry about their futures, their career, their contract situations. At the end of the day, Avery he has to do what's best for him and his family, and possibly for the long run. Hopefully he doesn’t have any long-term injuries due to the fact that he’s playing. I think it's a fine line." ESPN.com
Marco Belinelli: "I've always cared about the National Italian Team, but it's too early to give answers. I didn't spoke to anyone at FIP (Italian Basketball Federation) but the priority for this summer will be the NBA. I'll be free agent, and this is the first thing I want to deal with, and then we'll see what we can do." SoloBasket.it
Greek international power forward/center Kostas will be sidelined for several and will therefore be unable to participate in the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament. As confirmed by the player's agent himself, Koufos has an arthroscopic surgery after the NBA season was over for his team Denver Nuggets, and he will need at least six weeks to get in full shape again. TalkBasket
Del Negro had his team up for that challenge, and the Clippers defied odds to beat the Grizzlies on their floor and advance to the semifinals. That stands for something, and it should get Del Negro at least one more season to coach this team under normal circumstances and with a more stable roster. "I thought our coach did an outstanding job," Paul said
Among the familiar faces watching the workouts was former Nets forward Cliff Robinson, there to expand his contact list. Robinson is hoping to land a job within the NBA as a scout or assistant. Robinson retired in 2007 after a 19-season career that included time with the Blazers, Suns, Pistons, Warriors and Nets. New York Post
Following up a report from the Merc’s Warriors fan blogger, Adam Lauridsen… I asked Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob if the team has decided that the Piers 30-32 site in San Francisco will be their home starting in 2015. Lacob’s answer, via email: “We are not prepared to make any announcements at this time,” Lacob said. Not exactly a stirring denial of Lauridsen’s report, and you can bet Lacob knows it isn’t close to a denial. San Jose Mercury-News
The Golden State Warriors are close to making a deal to move to San Francisco, a source told ESPN the Magazine's Ric Bucher on Sunday. The team wants to make the move and is committed to making it happen, the source said. San Francisco mayor Ed Lee sent a letter Friday saying the city would work with Warriors executives to bring the team to San Francisco in time for the 2017-18 season. ESPN.com
MJ4 has learned the Milwaukee Bucks will make a big announcement Monday concerning the Bradley Center's future. Sources say several local businesses are stepping up to make a financial committment to the Bradley Center. The Bradley Center is considered the oldest and smallest NBA facililty in the league despite being nearly 25 years old. Just this month, Bucks owner Herb Kohl told TODAY'S TMJ4's Lance Allan it's time for a new stadium. "I think its worth the effort, it's been worth the effort that we put into keeping our team here over the years," Kohl says. "I believe it's worth the effort in trying to keep the team here in the years to come." Today's TMJ4
A source says "more than a dozen leading business" will step up with several milllions of dollars to help the Bradley Center stay fianancially viable for the next few years. Those extra years will help the Bucks and the community figure out how and if a new facility can be built to keep the Bucks here even longer. Today's TMJ4
Last month, NBA commissioner David Stern said preseason games will be staged in the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing this October. Despite Jeremy Lin’s friendship with Shanghai Sharks owner Yao Ming, the Knicks will not be selected as one of the teams playing in China, The Post has learned. Indications are the Knicks, if they re-sign Lin as expected, are being saved for a preseason bonanza in 2013, when the NBA could visit Taiwan. Lin’s parents are of Taiwanese descent. Lin is the first NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. The Knicks may return to Saratoga for training camp this fall. New York Post
As I've said before, Spurs coach/non-NHL fan Gregg Popovich has been media gold recently. When asked if he watched and was relieved by the quick outcome of the LA Kings hockey game that could have pushed this Spurs-Clips game back to Monday if it went too long, Popovich said: "Absolutely. I watched it (long pause). I didn't know what was going on, but I watched it." Sulia
Former NBA star and 1960 Olympic gold medalist Bob Boozer has died at age 75 this weekend. Ella Boozer says her husband died Saturday of a brain aneurysm after becoming ill Friday night. During college, Boozer was a two-time All-American at Kansas State University in 1958-59. He proceeded to be the number one NBA draft pick by the Cincinnati Royals. Dailymail.co.uk
Bob Boozer said got out of Kansas State in '59 and waited 1 year to play in NBA to be eligible for '60 Olympics. "I sat out a year from playing in the NBA because it had always been my dream to play in the Olympics,'' Boozer told me two years ago. "There was no guarantee I would even make the Olympic team, but I wanted the chance. So I worked a 9-to-5 job (doing planning work for assembly construction of Caterpillar construction equipment). But getting that gold medal made it all worthwhile.'' Sulia
(Argentinean basketball reporter) Miguel Romano died this morningLa Nacion
Did you miss Sunday's NBA rumors? check them out in the Rumors Archive
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21 May ' 02:17
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20 May ' 15:30
Sunday, May 20
» 02:25 PM ET Update» 08:55 AM ET Update » Update: 02:25 PM ET
What set Wade off Thursday night during the timeout, and caused him to tell Spoelstra — as was audible from my seat — to “get out” of his face? After seeing a review of the tape, and consulting with several people who saw it as well, it appears that Spoelstra told Wade that the latter was “playing soft.” If so, those are strong words in the world of elite athleticsPalm Beach Post
“Big part of that is my responsibility to make sure he get to place where he’s comfortable and confident and where he can be aggressive,” Spoelstra said. “That’s where we’ve been focusing our energies the last couple of days. I anticipate we’ll do a better job of it this game.”
"Whatever happened between D. Wade and Spoelstra was highly publicized," Pacers forward Danny Granger said. "Teams can (respond to) that in two ways. They can come together; they can call a meeting to get on the same page. Or it'll be more of a crack. I think they'll take the positive approach. We have to think they're going to come back and be on the same page more than ever." Indianapolis Star
"They're in desperation mode," Granger said. "For us, we see it as a chance to turn the tide." Indianapolis Star
Charles Barkley had some strong comments about the Miami Heat on TNT. "The Miami Heat have flaws,'' Barkley said. "They have a real small team. If Roy Hibbert (continues to) dominate this series, they are going to win this series. Miami’s bench (with the exception of Shane Battier) is not very good. The two problems they have is that they are very small so a big team is going to beat them and their lack of depth is coming back to haunt them.”
Brian Windhorst: LeBron is 5th MVP to play for a team that scored 75 points or less in a playoff game & only one to have it happen twice (Games 2 & 3)
Brian Windhorst: LeBron is 1st player to score 2,500+ points, get 800+ rebounds & 600+ assists in first 100 playoff games. Game 3 was his 100th
Martin Frank: Collins says #Sixers want to make Pierce, Garnett work both ends of the floor if they're going to log so many minutes
Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey told Pistons.com he plans to be around the team's practice facility quite a bit this summer. Aside from a July trip to Sweden with Jonas Jerebko as his tour guide and a Memorial Day visit home to Seattle, Stuckey plans to be in Auburn Hills working on his game.
"Later in the summer, I'm going to try to get the guys back out to work out here for at least a month," Stuckey told Pistons.com. "We'll have our draft picks here as well, hopefully. Just try to change the atmosphere around in here. The chemistry is there, but just getting in work together will be good for us."
Tom Moore: #Sixers Collins: 'I think (extra day off) probably benefits them more than us.' #Celtics
Paul Flanner: Avery Bradley is not practicing today because of the shoulder. Doc said a lot of guys wouldn't be playing with it.
Peter Stringer: Doc on Bradley's shoulder injury: "A lot people would not be playing...it affects him defensively and he doesn't want to drive as much."
Martin Frank: Elton Brand on shoulder: "hopefully I can wake up one morning and say , 'Eureka! It's healed.'" #Sixers
Because his perimeter game is so lacking, there are some who think the Cavaliers should shy away from Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the June 28 NBA draft. That opinion is not shared by Ryan Blake, senior director of NBA scouting operationsNews-Herald
"Teams realize and project that he (Kidd-Gilchrist) needs a consistent perimeter game," Blake saidNews-Herald
"Our guys need to understand this team can beat us and the other game felt like a blowout -- it was a blowout -- but in the playoffs, every game is different," Vogel said. "I made sure they left this building understanding this team can beat us. As (Orlando coach) Stan Van Gundy said, 'You don't get two wins for a blowout.' We're very guarded about how good this team is." Indianapolis Star
"He is a great athlete who has a great motor," (Ryan Blake) said. "He's a tough, physical defender. He attacks the rim and is a good finisher. He's a good rebounder. When you think about the ability he has, along with his (basketball) IQ and maturity, it's very important." News-Herald
Tom Benson's business portfolio is bursting at the seams these days. He has expanded into television, film, real estate and now NBA basketball in the past four years. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Benson could not expand on his plans for the Hornets management structure, because he has not officially taken ownership of the team. But it's clear that (Dennis) Lauscha and Mickey Loomis, the Saints' executive vice president and general manager, will have major roles with the Hornets. Loomis will likely oversee basketball operations, with the Hornets' -general manager reporting to him. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Popeye Jones is a lug of a man who is 6-8 and was listed at 265 pounds at the end of his 11-year run as an NBA power forward. The middle of his three sons is good-sized for a young hockey player, 6-4 and about 200 as he nears his 18th birthday this October. Portland Tribune
Seth Jones – whose Western Hockey League rights were acquired by Portland from Everett this season – is one of the top junior prospects in the country. The captain of the under-18 team with the National Hockey Development Program, he would have been one of the top 10 picks in this year’s NHL draft, though he was too young to be eligible. Portland Tribune
» Update: 08:55 AM ET
Billy King on Gerald Wallace, who has a player option, but has publicly said he wants to return to the Nets next season: "We've had conversations with his representatives because actually we can talk about the potential of [an] extension if he opts in. We'll leave that there." (The Nets likely won't make a move with their free agents until they know Williams' definite plans.)
The Clippers have no choice but to offer Griffin a max-level contract extension this summer. His potential, his Hollywood appeal, will demand it. But with that money comes responsibility. The Clippers need Griffin to carry them when Paul can't. On those nights when Paul has been anything than less than great, the Clippers have been lost.
Billy King on his trip to Turkey: "Turkey was good. I was able to watch the [Euroleague] Final Four, see some good games. I obviously saw Deron there, I saw Mikhail [Prokhorov] there. It was a good trip." (King didn't discuss details of his time spent with either of them.)
The Nets showed off their new look to the NBA on Saturday, and so did Deron Williams. Williams, a free agent-to-be, was decked out in black and white Brooklyn Nets gear for all the NBA to see at the draft combine the Nets are hosting this weekend. Representatives from all 30 NBA teams were in attendance. Williams worked out at the Nets training facility, which has been revamped to reflect the team’s new Brooklyn identity, Friday and Saturday, and stopped by the combine after an early-morning workout. Bergen Record
There was some talk about Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon getting a max offer this summer, possibly from Indiana. That might be far-fetched because he's had issues with his knees for two consecutive years. Don't rule out a possible sign-and-trade, however, with Gordon going to the Pacers and forward Danny Granger going to New Orleans. Both teams are under the cap this summer. In that scenario, the Pacers could move Paul George to small forward, which might be his natural position. News-Herald
At the end of the Russian PBL final won against Khimki, Andrei Kirilenko released an interview and talked about his future. 'I haven't decided my future yet. There are 50-50 chances for me to stay or to go. I just want to say that if I stay in Europe, it will be with CSKA Moscow. I won't play for any other team. I am going to weigh my options. It is going to be a very busy summer' said Kirilenko,Sportando
NBA teams have until June 30 to tender qualifying offers to potential restricted free agents. The Cavs have three such players in center Semih Erden and forwards Alonzo Gee and Luke Harangody. They'll definitely give Gee a qualifying offer. He said he wants to return to the Cavs. Erden didn't sparkle last season and at times, he sat on the bench for long periods. He's still a 7-footer with skills. News-Herald
When asked about Erden recently, Cavs general manager Chris Grant said no decision has been made. They'll likely give him a qualifying offer. It's worth $1.1 million. This is purely a guess, but the Cavs probably won't give Harangody a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. News-Herald
Billy King on meeting with Bojan Bogdanovic -- the Nets own his draft rights (from 2011), but he has one season remaining on his contract with Fenerbahce in the Turkish League: "We had a good meeting. He's anxious to come over and play. In due time, we'll talk about his contract so we can get him out. He had the NBA League Pass and watched all our games, so he's as anxious as the day we drafted him."
Pau Gasol said it was one play, one turnover in a sea of fourth-quarter mistakes. He contended his error wasn’t the sole reason the Lakers lost Game 4 to Oklahoma City. “Obviously if I could have gone back, maybe I could have shot it and I would have,” Gasol said. “But it’s one play…. I don’t feel like we lost the game because of one turnover.”
"It was a pick-and-roll, and Kobe took a couple guys with him," Gasol said. "I felt like the defense collapsed. I watched the replay three or four times. I thought I could kick it out to Metta and get a good look but, Durant got the steal. If I could go back (and shoot it) I would." Los Angeles Daily News
But the Gasol turnover is what happened and what will be remembered. "It was a bad read by Pau," Bryant said. "It happens."Los Angeles Daily News
After Bryant tied it at 98-98 with two free throws, Westbrook slipped on the court -- a fairly common occurrence on a day when the Clippers and Lakers both played playoff games on different courts laid over the ice surface at Staples Center -- giving the Lakers one more realistic chance to hold on. Bryant passed to Gasol along the baseline, about 10 feet from the basket, but Gasol threw an errant pass for Metta World Peace for a turnover leading to Durant's deciding 3-pointer. "He's just looking to swing the ball too much," Bryant said. "He's got to shoot it."CBSSports.com
World Peace placed the blame for the bad pass on his own shoulders, saying “I should have cut. He saw me open and I should have cut.”
The Lakers, on their way down in the second round for the second straight year, forgot about Bynum down the stretch as Bryant went 2-for-10 in the fourth. After scoring 14 in the first half, Bynum had only four after halftime and two in the fourth. "In the second half what they did was front Andrew," said Bryant, who had 38 points, but only seven in the fourth. "So when they front Andrew, and in the fourth quarter they crowd me, the other guys have got to be more aggressive. Simple as that."CBSSports.com
It was a classic moment. Oklahoma's great hero guarded by Oklahoma's mortal enemy, Metta World Chaos. “I knew (Chaos) was going to play off of me just a little bit,” Durant said. “Getting to the rim, I didn't want to chance that.” Not with Andrew Bynum standing there protecting the rim. “I saw some air space and I was able to knock it down,” Durant said. “I wanted to run the shot clock down and get the last shot. I was just trying to look at the floor and try to get the best shot possible. “I seen Artest back up just a hair. I shot it. I thought, ‘If this doesn't go in, it's going to be a terrible shot and they're going to criticize me a lot.'” Oklahoman
More from coach Brown on Westbrook: “We just didn’t do a good enough job when they kept running pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll after pick-and- roll of imposing our will and trying to play the right way defensively on whoever had the ball, especially Westbrook. Westbrook kept getting right in side that elbow and knocking that shot down and we didn’t do a good job with that. And/or he just sized the guy up in front of him and drove the ball.” Oklahoman
The unusual number of on-court slips and spills by both the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder during Saturday’s Game 4 was not because of the ice rink beneath the court, according to Staples Center officials. The ice has been there since September and there have not been any previous complaints about slipping. Several Oklahoma City players complained of slippery conditions after point guard Russell Westbrook slipped near the sideline at the end of the first half. He was not injured and returned to play the second half. Michael Roth, spokesman for Staples Center, said the referees deemed the court safe. “The referees didn’t have any complaints with the court,” Roth said. “And everything was done as usual in these circumstances.”
Darnell Mayberry: Laker Girl Jessica just introduced herself on the jumbotron & announced she graduated from Oklahoma City University. Promptly gets booed
By the end of Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series, the Spurs had discovered a different route to the same old destination, riding the crest of a history-making comeback to grab a 96-86 victory and a commanding 3-0 series lead. “We just stayed in there,” said point guard Tony Parker, who had 23 points and 10 assists for his first double-double of the playoffs. “We knew it was a long game. We didn't panic.”San Antonio Express-News
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich credits his veteran core of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili — who have combined for 455 playoff games — for keeping the ship from capsizing. “We didn't get rattled, but one would expect that this group wouldn't,” Popovich said. “They've seen a little bit of everything, and they know that anything can happen in an NBA game.”San Antonio Express-News
It's not his fault he's being paid $42 million over four years to be one of the Clippers' prominent players, but how about playing like someone worried they might take his money away? "I disagree I'm not developing; I'm physical," Jordan says. "Do you want me to flagrant-two somebody?"
How about just grabbing the ball when it's loose, or maybe making contact while going for a rebound rather than just trying to leap over someone? "So that means I'm not physical?" Jordan says. "I disagree with you."
How about some offensive moves around the basket? To date, Jordan has made two baskets in his NBA career outside the free-throw lane. "I don't get those shots in a game, so I can't prove to anyone I've developed that," he says
He should watch that aggressive play over and over this off-season. At age 23 he has plenty of time to develop, the Clippers' future in many ways tied to it. "I don't have to apologize to anybody about anything," Jordan saysLos Angeles Times
If you were writing a story about Blake Griffin, what type of questions would you ask him? Matt Bonner: I really like his Kia commercials. They make me laugh every time. I would probably try to explore his sense of humor and talk about what he finds funny. I would delve into his personality that way. UnionLeader.com
The Hawks owner said KG is one of the dirtiest players in the league. Is he? Matt Bonner: No, I think he plays hard but thanks for putting me on the spot. I get better questions from the kids at my basketball camp. UnionLeader.com
Pacers forward Danny Granger has picked up a technical foul in each of the past two games for taking exception to James throwing an elbow in his direction. James also received a technical for his actions in Game 2. "I'm not going to back down from anybody and he's not going to back down from anybody," Granger said. "And when you get that, you'll get some altercations. I think (Commissioner) David Stern has done a good job of making sure we know what the line is and what not to cross. "We won't cross that line. But we just want each other to know it's going to be an intense battle and it's going to be a fight." Indianapolis Star
Shaun Powell: Frank Vogel, on Lance Stephenson choke sign: "I want enthusiasm on the bench. I don't want gestures that go over the top."
Refreshed in body and spirit, the Miami Heat returned to practice reunited and refocused. There was no looking back. No heartfelt apologies given. No need for a detailed autopsy of Dwyane Wade's ugly sideline exchange with coach Eric Spoelstra in Game 3. What's done is done. All that's for another day. Right now, it's time to save the season. "We move on," Wade saidSI.com
Wade, who scored just five points on 2-of-13 shooting and had five turnovers in Thursday's blowout, insists that any apparent problems with Spoelstra were overblown. He downplayed their fiery spat. "Things happen," said Wade, who refused to acknowledge his quarrel with Spoelstra following the game. "In a perfect world a lot of things would go differently, but it's not a perfect world. A lot of stuff in our game is in the heat of the battle, emotional-type things. When something happens, it happens and we move on as a team. "Me and coach have been together for nine years in some capacity. We've had many different conversations, some like that and some not. It wasn't the first, it won't the last. We know how to move on from things and we know each other wants the best for each other." "There's no harm done. We're a family."SI.com
Thunder G Russell Westbrook on his scary slip on Staples Center court before halftime: "I was trying to go out for the outlet. I stopped and slipped, did the splits. Kind of messed up my hip a little bit. It's the playoffs. Can't sit back and whine about it."
Addressing reporters, GM Billy King confirmed that Lopez got a check-up on May 16 and said he's "making good progress" in his recovery. He still expects the team's starting center to be 100 percent healthy come training camp. "[The doctors] said everything's progressing nicely," King said. "He's on track. He's doing everything -- just no running and jumping at this point. It's good to see Brook shooting."
The Cavs expect guard Daniel Gibson to be ready for training camp, even though there are no guarantees. He had foot surgery in April to repair a torn tendon. Until the Cavs find someone better, he'll be back for 2012-13. They'd have to pay him $2.5 million to go away, which doesn't really make sense with Donald Sloan, Manny Harris and D.J. Kennedy currently in their backcourt. News-Herald
Will Dirk Nowitzki be in the roster? Svetislav Pesic (Germany's head coach): “Nowitzki needs rest from everything, after the end of the season for Dallas Mavericks. We will have a meeting, if I am in Germany in June, about the possibility of him playing with us, this summer. We talked and we said we will be in touch in June. I will call him and we will meet to discuss, what he needs to do, if he is going to play with the national team or not”. EuroHoops.net
Former Cleveland Cavaliers and CSKA Moscow guard Trajan Langdon, who retired last year after winning a sixth-consecutive Russian title, is considering coming back as a coach, he told RIA Novosti on Saturday. "I am missing basketball a bit," Langdon said. "But I don't want to return as a player, maybe as a coach or a manager. I still love basketball, but not as a player."RIA Novosti
The Portland Trail Blazers have not asked for permission to speak to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak about their opening for the same position, team spokesman John Black said before Game 4 on Saturday night. An Internet report last month suggested the Trail Blazers had a strong interest in speaking to Kupchak about their GM vacancy. They have not asked the Lakers to speak to him as of Saturday evening, however. Los Angeles Daily News
"I hope your family gets murdered," tweeted one muttonhead toward Blake's wife. Mrs. Blake responded brilliantly, of course. She didn't hide under the bed or shudder in fear. Instead, she exposed the half-wit sicko. She re-tweeted the threat, adding, "Wow." And sure enough, the offender was so buried by the public response that he backed down, said he was kidding, and offered a "Go Steve!" in response. To that, I say, "Go away." Oregonian
I once asked an NBA player why he didn't vote in elections and he said he didn't want his home address accessible via public records. Basically, the guy was well aware that if he exercised his basic democratic right and registered to vote (unless he successfully sought an exemption to keep his record private) he was potentially placing his family, his home and himself in danger. Minimally, he was inviting unwanted contact from angry fans if he ever missed a shot. I've spent the better part of a week listening to people say things such as, "Twitter is out of control." It's not Twitter, people. We live in a barnyard. Always have. The issue is us. Twitter has just given us an immediate and ugly look into the darkest, ugliest corners of the human psycheOregonian
But less than a month after his grandmother's death, Hardaway confirmed what he always suspected -- giving his time is more important than writing a check. First, he volunteered to coach a group of Lester Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders whose coach was battling cancer. The team not only won the state championship with a 27-3 record, but Hardaway's emphasis on academics and discipline resulted in the team grade point average improving from 2.5 to almost 3.0. Then, he became point man for Penny's Fastbreak Courts. It's his youth sports training program that's part of the Gameday Healthy Kids Foundation, which teaches athletics and life skills to underprivileged children. Hardaway is an investor and fundraiser for a proposed $20 million Fastbreak Courts facility in Cordova. A hoops Taj Mahal, the facility will have seven basketball courts, a 2,000-seat arena, a sports rehab clinic operated by Campbell Clinic, an auditorium and classrooms for tutoring children. Memphis Commercial Appeal
"Penny has his life in perspective now," said Randy Wade, deputy director for U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and one of Hardaway's closest friends and confidants for more than 20 years. "He knows what he wants to do and he's getting it done." Politicians and public officials such as Shelby County Commissioner Henri Brooks are taking notice. "I wish we could clone people like Mr. Hardaway, who came back to the community that gave him a start so that he could give socially and economically disadvantaged kids the same start he enjoyed," Brooks said. "I would encourage a public/private partnership of his Cordova venture. I think the city and the county should step up to the plate and work with Mr. Hardaway providing the resources to make this a reality." Memphis Commercial Appeal
Penny Hardaway On the enduring popularity of his Nike shoe, Air Penny, which was re-issued two years ago and is now Nike's most popular basketball shoe, outselling Air Jordan: "A good basketball shoe to me is something you can wear on and off the court. Guys like to wear jeans, T-shirts and sneakers, and you can't do that with a lot of basketball shoes. Some shoes are made just for the court. My shoes and Michael's (Jordan) shoes can be worn on and off the court. The Penny V is dropping next year."Memphis Commercial Appeal
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20 May ' 05:35
» 09:24 PM ET Update » Update: 09:24 PM ET
The Heat emerged from seclusion Saturday to both practice and talk. They are suddenly a beleaguered and doubted team, forced to answer with yes or no, until they can get back to the court to prove Indiana's 2-1 lead is a mirage. Or it isn't. No, they said Saturday, there is no fallout from the Wade-Erik Spoelstra Game 3 timeout tussle. Spoelstra: "The next timeout, everything was fine . . . The most important thing is, we both come from a place of purity. It's all about winning. "That's the least of our concerns over the last two days.''USA Today
Wade: "Me and coach have been together for nine years in some capacity. We've had many different conversations, some like that, some not. It wasn't the first and it won't be the last. "No harm done. We're a family, we're a team . . . We moved on from it. I don't know if everyone else did.'' USA Today
Even with the video of Stephenson crossing his hands over his neck having gone viral, James insisted at Saturday's practice he had not seen or even heard about the display on the Pacers bench. "What happened?" he said in response to the question about the action, which came in the wake of his missed free throw following a technical foul on Pacers forward Danny Granger. "Nah, I didn't see that."South Florida Sun-Sentinel
That made him about the only one, with ESPN offering several replays of the display during the game and then during additional programming. "Nah, 'cause I don't watch TV," James said of the break he tried to give himself following the Game 3 loss that dropped the Heat to a 2-1 deficit in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series that continues Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on the Pacers' home court. "I haven't been looking on social networks, so I didn't know." He declined to be drawn into the conversation. "I'm not . . . I've been there before," he said with a pause. "I'm not going to stoop down to Lance Stephenson. Lance Stephenson? You guys want me to quote about Lance Stephenson? "I'm not even going to give him the time. Knock it off." South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Stephenson knew he had gone to a bad place. "I was wrong and disrespectful to my teammates, the Miami Heat and their organization," he told NBA.com after the Pacers' Saturday practice. "I'm sorry that I did that. It was very disrespectful."South Florida Sun-Sentinel
No one has come flat out and said it, but there’s been a cloud hanging over the Clippers since they advanced to face the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. Terms like “limited” and “banged up” were tossed around, but finally, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the thing everyone who saw the Clippers’ lose 96-86 Saturday already knew. “I don’t know what Chris will say, but I don’t think he’s 100 percent Chris Paul,” Popovich said. “I’m looking at him, and I know that kid. I know how he can play, and he’s not 100 percent.”Orange County Register
Erik Spoelstra on Chris Bosh, "He's doing more in Miami. He's able to do some rehab. He's working with one of our physical therapists. He will not be here tomorrow."Sulia
Wearing shorts, a casual shirt and sandals, Van Gundy was a carefree man behind the backstop. He accepted warm welcomes from a handful of Braves players while Van Gundy’s son, Mike, and one of Mike’s friends shagged throws from the Braves’ players during batting practice. Magic assistant coach Brendan Malone also joined Van Gundy for the short road trip from Orlando. Doesn’t sound like a man with any job insecurities. “I’m not too worried about it,” Van Gundy said. “This is a slow time of year anyway.”Orlando Sentinel
Andelia Su: Los Angeles Clippers will play two pre-season games against Miami Heat in China this October, according to @NikkiCheung . @hoopshype Twitter
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19 May ' 17:58
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