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[TarHeel]

Brooklyn Nets...novi logo i boje..."crno-beli"iz Bruklina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLSd5...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-HyviSqcw8

[Monta Ellis #11]

Avery Bradley dislocates shoulder

BOSTON -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said starting shooting guard Avery Bradley dislocated his left shoulder during Friday's Game 3 win over the Atlanta Hawks in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series and his status is uncertain.

"Shoulder went out," Rivers said. "And he's had that problem all year. Usually they're able to -- like a Lego -- snap it back in. It wouldn't go back in. So we'll find out more (Saturday)."

Bradley suffered the injury late in the third quarter and departed for the locker room along with team doctor Brian McKeon with 2:06 to play in the frame. The team initially said Bradley would return, but soon ruled him out for the rest of the game.

Bradley was Boston's most durable player during the regular season, appearing in a team-high 64 games. By season's end, he had supplanted Ray Allen in the team's starting lineup. Before Friday's game, Bradley finished eighth in the NBA's Most Improved Player balloting.

Bradley finished Friday's game with five points, four rebounds and a block over 24:54 of action. Allen, who played his first game since April 10 (ankle injury), picked up the slack, logging a whopping 36:51.

The Celtics aren't scheduled to practice Saturday, but will re-evaluate Bradley in advance of Sunday's Game 4.

Allen could be in line to rejoin the starting lineup if Bradley can't go, assuming Allen's ankles hold up after Friday's game.

"I know Avery went down, (but) we have a day and a half to rest and prepare for Sunday," Allen said. "I'm pretty sure he'll recover, and if not we have, if you look at our bench, from (Mickael) Pietrus to Sasha (Pavlovic) to Marquis (Daniels), all three of those guys over the past couple months or so have played well. So whether Doc starts me or not, it doesn't make a difference."


http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/...-atlanta-hawks

[Monta Ellis #11]

Knicks must lure Phil Jackson with trail of cash

By Adrian Wojnarowski


NEW YORK – As New York Knicks owner James Dolan watched courtside, here’s how he had to always imagine LeBron James introducing himself to playoff basketball at Madison Square Garden: Game on the line, and the greatness rising in the final minutes, spectacular shots and fantastic finishes. Oh, how the Knicks had come to believe it would be for them. For all the arrogance that they could dazzle James into signing as a free agent two years ago, it turned out they never had a chance.

James had a willingness to take less than the maximum contract, in less than a marquee market, for the easiest path to multiple championships. James never considered the Knicks, and left them destined to construct a contender around Carmelo Anthony. For Dolan and James, the race is clear. Do the Knicks win a playoff game before James wins his championship?
The end of this inevitable Eastern Conference playoff sweep on Sunday promises the beginning of a most inevitable pursuit: Dolan chasing his next savior, Phil Jackson. Along the way, Dolan ought to forget selling Jackson on his New York Knicks nostalgia and sentiment, on the joys of coaching Anthony. Jackson knows his own history here, and knows he never would’ve won a solitary title with the Lakers and Bulls had ‘Melo been one of his cornerstones.

Dolan doesn’t need to come with the elaborate recruiting presentation that he did for James for a simple reason: Above everything else, this is a cash deal. No salary cap, no limits.

In so many ways, this simplifies everything for Dolan. Madison Square Garden management gets to play to the boss’ strength, perhaps his greatest gift as a sport owner: overspending. Jackson has 13 championship rings – 11 as a coach and two as a Knicks player – and Dolan could need to pay him $1 million a year for every one of those titles. The Knicks aren’t chasing a coach, but a max-salary star with no max-salary restrictions. Three years, $40 million-plus ought to do it.

Money is never an object at the Garden, where the profits come hand over fist regardless of the fact the Knicks set an NBA record on Thursday night with a 13th consecutive playoff loss. It doesn’t matter that they’ve gone 11 years without a postseason victory. The Knicks are an ATM machine, and, now, they have to maximize the assets that they do have moving into the future. They have to get Jeremy Lin and Tyson Chandler, ‘Melo and Amar’e Stoudemire, to play ball together.

Mike Woodson is a solid NBA coach, but he doesn’t have the clout to make this work the way that Jackson can. No one else could command the room the way Jackson can command it. Anthony has too much leverage in the franchise, too much power, and he’s done nothing to deserve it. The Knicks don’t need Jackson for the sake of his résumé, his stature, but for his ability to get talent – especially talent at odds like ‘Melo and Amar’e – to play together.

This roster isn’t changing, because the three years and $65 million left on Stoudemire’s contract all but assures that. Stoudemire made a horrific mistake smacking that fire-extinguisher glass in Miami, but it doesn’t change who he’s been at the core as a Knick – and that’s a player willing to sacrifice, willing to do what’s necessary. Lin will be the Knicks' point guard, and the Knicks need not only a system to make this all work, but a mindset.

Anthony had the run of the Garden, and that only exasperated itself when Stoudemire lost his mind in Miami. It doesn’t matter that 'Melo needed 23 shots for his 22 points in Game 3, because the Knicks were never winning with this lineup. Never. “They’re loading up on him,” Woodson said, “and forcing him to take tough shots.” Anthony could’ve played better, but no one-man team is beating the Heat. No chance.

Jackson isn’t enthralled with the Knicks' roster, a source who talks to him said, but that doesn’t mean he’d completely rule out the job. New York matters to him, and, so does money, the kind of money only the desperation of Dolan could dole out.

Yes, Kentucky’s John Calipari will listen should the Knicks come calling with $8 million or $9 million a year, but New York doesn’t need Cal’s insecurities and frailties taking over the Garden. He’s a great college coach, but commanding the respect of teenagers and decidedly different pros have little in common. There’s no correlation getting big-time talented college kids to play together and keeping ‘Melo from telling you to “Bleep off,” when you challenge him.

There’s one man for the job, one coach worth a max star’s contract when he walks into the room. For once, the Knicks aren’t restricted to the cap. For once, the Knicks can play to James Dolan’s only strength as an owner: a ridiculously rich father who lets his ridiculously fortunate son overspend how he sees fit. Whatever Dolan does, he shouldn’t insult Phil Jackson’s intelligence. This pursuit won’t be about an old Knicks’ nostalgia, nor this roster’s flawed stars. Just a big, cold and dark vault of Cablevision’s cash.

As LeBron James passes through the Garden to remind the Knicks of the failed free-agent pursuit two years ago, a most desperate Jimmy Dolan needs to tell the best coach in the world what he could never tell the best player: Name your price.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--kn...JoaauNIai8vLYF

[Monta Ellis #11]

Bulls missing Derrick Rose — and their shots

PHILADELPHIA — Forget about the regular season and all the success the Bulls had when Derrick Rose was injured. Doesn’t matter. These are the playoffs, and this is big-boy basketball.

The Bulls can play defense as well as anybody, but without Rose in the games that really matter, they can’t score. Since the first peach basket was nailed to a pole, that has been the goal in this sport. Unless defensive-minded coaches like Tom Thibodeau take over the world, that’s never going to change.

Philadelphia won Game 3 of this first-round series Friday despite shooting 34.2 percent from the field. That sounds almost impossible, but not when the Bulls’ Rip Hamilton goes 4-for-15, John Lucas III goes 4-for-12, Kyle Korver goes 0-for-5 and C.J. Watson goes missing. The final score was a thoroughly incriminating 79-74 — just not as incriminating as the fourth quarter, when the Bulls were outscored 28-14.

“Story of the game,’’ Thibodeau said.

In Thibs’ world, the story inside the story was the way the 76ers outhustled the Bulls in the fourth quarter. There was a lot of truth to that. Philadelphia got lots of second and third chances.

But the Bulls shot 6-for-25 from the field in the fourth. If they made only three more shots, they would’ve won the game. That had nothing to do with hustle plays. That had everything to do with not being able to find the bottom of the net.

There was never any doubt how important Rose is to this franchise, but the last two games are a painful reminder. The Bulls went into a catatonic funk in Game 2 without Rose and were reminded in Game 3 of the offensive hole they find themselves in without their best player.

Luol Deng was limited to seven shots. He scored five points. Any other questions?

The 76ers are beatable, but I’m not sure the Bulls are the team to do it, as constituted. Philadelphia shot 59 percent from the field to win Game 2 and shot terribly to win Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead.

“What an incredible win for our guys,’’ 76ers coach Doug Collins said. “We shot 34.2 percent, 1-for-14 [on three-point attempts]. It didn’t look like we were going to be able to score.’’

There was wonder in Collins’ voice, and why not? If there was a beauty to this game, you had to tilt your head and squint hard to see it. And even then, there was no guarantee. Bodies skidded across a hardwood court, basketballs banged against rims and rebounds came with bruises.

Joakim Noah limped off the court after his left ankle went in a direction it wasn’t meant to, and this being Philadelphia, it brought cheers from the crowd. Pure class. After the game, Noah was on crutches and wearing a walking boot.

His absence left another hole in the Bulls’ attack. Their inside advantage suddenly disappeared. Center Spencer Hawes of the 76ers scored 21 points, 10 in the fourth quarter.

“Next man up,’’ Thibodeau said of Noah’s injury. “We’ve got more than enough to win with.’’

That’s his stock answer, but it sure didn’t look like that. With Rose out for good, Watson has shrunk in the spotlight, and that’s not even counting the two air balls he threw up. Lucas took his place, and as poorly as he shot, he should get the lion’s share of the playing time in Game 4 Sunday.

Omer Asik missed two free throws down the stretch, as you might expect from a guy who rarely shoots. Carlos Boozer, who scored 18, missed open shots down the stretch, which you shouldn’t expect from a guy who should be better than that. He went 1-for-6 from the field in the fourth.

“I thought fatigue was a factor for them,’’ Collins said. “Thibs had a short bench tonight.’’

The Bulls are better inside, and the 76ers outside. The only question was who would have the bigger advantage. When Noah went down with an ankle injury with about seven minutes left in the third quarter, it seemed to answer that question.

There were a lot of questions about the Bulls’ heart after Game 2. Rose had gone down at the end of Game 1, and a teamwide depression seemed to take over in the next game. Their best player was down, and they appeared on their way out.

So give them some credit for coming back with an almost brutal determination in Game 3. The heart was there. That would be considered the “good news.’’ And that’s about it.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/12328...eir-shots.html

[Ernesto]

Mike Brown will be fired if Lakers lose tonight: Magic Johnson

By Chris Sheridan


Mike Brown will be coaching his final game for the Los Angeles Lakers tonight if they lose Game 7 to the Denver Nuggets.
Says who?
Magic Johnson, that’s who.
“His job will go,” Johnson said on ESPN, where he is a studio analyst. “The Lakers are about championships. That’s what the Lakers are about. If they lose this game, Mike Brown, I bet you, will not be sitting there.”
Johnson sold his 4.5% stake in the Lakers in 2010, but he remains on the payroll as a vice president.
“Mike Brown will not be coaching the Lakers if they lose this game,” Johnson said. “There would be so much pressure on Jim Buss and the Laker organization to get rid of him.”
“”They’re going to run Mike Brown first out of town,” Johnson said. “Then second will be Bynum. Then third will be Gasol.”
Brown, who makes $4.5 million per year, has two guaranteed years remaining on his contract.

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/05...magic-johnson/

[T-Snell]

Kobe Bryant embraces moment, saves Lakers' season with Game 3 win over Thunder


LOS ANGELES – Ball in his hands, season on the line, and failure promised Kobe Bryant a summer of scorn. For everything that comes with the responsibility of greatness, Bryant can live with the cutting criticism, the besmirching of his legacy, the volume rising on those determined to diminish him in the context of his contemporaries. In losing, he could live with it all – except allowing that barrage to barricade him behind a wall of hesitancy and reluctance.

“I don’t give a [expletive] what you say,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports late Friday. “If I go out there and miss game winners, and people say, 'Kobe choked, or Kobe is seven for whatever in pressure situations.' Well, [expletive] you.

“Because I don’t play for your [expletive] approval. I play for my own love and enjoyment of the game. And to win. That’s what I play for. Most of the time, when guys feel the pressure, they’re worried about what people might say about them. I don’t have that fear, and it enables me to forget bad plays and to take shots and play my game."

Deep down, Bryant does care, because the ingesting of the feeding frenzy that comes with his struggles doesn’t so much pollute his air, as it does become oxygen tanks of rage on his back. Eighteen trips to the free-throw line on Friday, and 18 times the ball dropped into the basket. Eight trips to the free throw line in the fourth quarter borne out of a brilliant footwork, an unending array of fakes and, yes, the generosity of a referee's whistle.

“In the pressure situations, you’ve always got to want to go to the line,” Bryant told Y! Sports. “You can try to avoid contact, because you don’t want to go to the free-throw line in those pressure situations. Me, I enjoy it.”

So much conspired to deliver 14 of Bryant’s 36 points in the fourth quarter, inspiring a 99-96 victory over Oklahoma City that makes Game 4 monumental on Saturday night. This time, the Lakers had to fight back in the fourth to overtake the Thunder, fight back to spare themselves an insurmountable series deficit and the declarations of doom that come with defeat here.

The Lakers were nasty, rugged and needed every whistle. Mostly, they needed Bryant’s ability to control the game in the low post, the kind of closing act that Kevin Durant still struggles to deliver because his skinny frame leaves him far from the basket. Durant wants this game played faster with Russell Westbrook and James Harden, but the Lakers have controlled the speed of these past two games.

For all Bryant’s missteps in the final moments of a devastating Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder – the bad pass to Durant, the missed shots, the ball fumbled out of bounds – he swears they were all cleansed from him before the Lakers' charter flight ever touched down in Southern California. Perhaps the five championships make it easier, perhaps the infallible confidence – even arrogance – that his DNA, his relentless preparation, predetermine that Bryant involves himself in the game’s most important stages.

“I found it pretty funny, entertaining, that I made a bunch of mistakes down the stretch, mistakes that I normally don’t make,” Bryant said. “So yeah, I ended up laughing at myself. I knew we’d have a chance to get it back.

“And maybe that’s what separates me from a lot of people: I can laugh at myself in those situations, whereas most people might feel really insecure or nervous about the next one, or pissed off and hold that anger for the next game. I can find the entertainment and humor in it.”

Bryant insists he doesn’t care about the criticism, but the man does read everything and isn’t above turning sports-talk radio on in his car. After games, he can always tells where the line of questioning is taking the columns and stories, and sometimes he'll work to puncture premises on stories about his teammates and himself. His greatest gift is one of anticipation, sensing where everything is going – the defender, the reporter’s story angles, all of it – and trying to never leave himself vulnerable.

All these brilliant, young talents are coming to take him out now – Durant, Westbrook and Harden – and Bryant pushed back on them all in the fourth quarter. Thirty-three years old, and the world wouldn’t get the satisfaction of watching Bryant go down without a vintage performance. He takes such spectacular pride in the armor that coats his body and mind, the armor that deflects the uncertainties and insecurities that come with the stakes on this stage. Belittle him over Game 2, and just know that Game 3 wasn’t so much about his redemption, but his resolve.

When Bryant plays in these playoffs, no one will imagine the thought bubble floating over his head in the biggest moments asking: 'What if I blow this? How will everyone react?' Yes, Bryant wants the cheers, the adulation, the spoils of victory, but he can live with the consequences of makes and misses in May and June. He’s passing the ball out of double teams, finding open teammates, but these Lakers still go to him late in shot clocks, late in games.

Bring it on, Bryant is forever saying. Bring me the ball, bring me the burden of catching hell. Ball in his hands, season on the line, and Kobe Bryant promises this is the most liberating, most free moment of his existence. Bryant messed up badly in Game 2, and says he laughed because he knew he would get his chance again, get to prolong this Western Conference playoff series, and that finally happened Friday night.

“The fallout is always something that makes some guys hesitant,” Bryant said. “They’re thinking about their legacies, their reputations.”

Anyway, bleep them. No hesitancy here. No fear of the miss. It is a liberating feeling, and it’s where he forever wants to live.


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--ko...2btQbyZ6O8vLYF

[Lord Aleksoni]

Voriorsi se vraćaju u San Francisko?
21-05-2012 10:19 Napisao: B92
Gradonačelnik San Franciska Ed Li je 11. maja saopštio da će pregovarati sa upravom Voriorsa oko preseljenja tima pred sezonu 2017/2018.
Predlog timu je potpisalo svih 11 gradskih supervizora i nekoliko biznismena, što povećava šansu o izgradnji arene i dolasku "ratnika". Ovo pismo je poslato nekoliko dana nakon što je Li razgovarao sa vlasnikom tima Piterom Gruberom u Los Anđelesu.

Gradonačelnica Ouklenda, gde su Voriorsi trenutno pozicionirani, Džin Kuan odgovorila je poslavši timu lično pismo. Kuan je posvećena zadržavanju tima u Istočnom zalivu.

Voriorsi se se često "seljakali" otkako su iz Filadelfije, gde su osnovani 1945. godine, stigli u Kaliforniju1962. Mečeve su kao domaćini igrali u Ouklendu, San Francisku, San Dijegu, San Hozeu i Deli Sitiju, tokom proteklih pet decenija.

Franšiza je promenila ima iz San Francisko Voriorsa u Golden Stejt Voriors 1971. godine kada se preselila u Ouklend. Da li će Voriorsi ponovo preći most "Bej" i opet biti tim iz San Franciska, znaće se možda već u utorak.

Voriorsi su osvojili titulu u sezoni 1946/47, u premijernoj u BAA (Basketball Association of America) ligi koja će kasnije postati NBA posle ujedinjenja sa NBL (Nacional Basketball League).

Kasnije su osvojili dve NBA titule, prvu kao Filaldelfija u sezoni 1955/56, a potom i kao Golden Stejt u sezoni 1974/75.

[Mr.M]

Stan Van Gundy Fired By Orlando Magic



Well, it finally happened. The Orlando Magic fired head coach Stan Van Gundy.

NBA.com reports that President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Otis Smith has also agreed to step away from the team.

Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said:

“We sincerely appreciate and thank Otis and Stan for all that they have done on and off the floor for the Orlando Magic. These are the days you dread in this business, but we feel it’s time for new leadership and new voices…. They both brought die-hard dedication and an unmatched work ethic on a daily basis. Their success is well documented, as the Orlando Magic has had the fourth best record in the NBA over the last five years, and entering the playoffs this year the third most playoff wins over that period of time. The disappointment of getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs these past two seasons played a primary role in our decision, as we feel our momentum towards winning a championship has paused. We wish Otis and Stan all the best and we look forward to taking the next step towards winning that championship.”

USA Today reports that Van Gundy went 259-135 during his career with the Orlando Magic. The Magic made the playoffs every year with Van Gundy at the helm but only made it to the finals once in 2009.

Van Gundy battled with star Dwight Howard throughout the 2011-12 season. At one point, it was rumored that Howard wouldn’t re-sign his contract unless the Magic got rid of Van Gundy.

After the Magic’s disappointing loss to the Pacers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Van Gundy said that he wanted to return to the team next season. He also said that he hoped management would look at the results, and not dwell on the personal relationship between himself and Howard.

Van Gundy said:

“When you’re talking a professional relationship, what matters — at least to me — is the results. I don’t care if it’s a business relationship where two people at work are driving a business to make money, or if it’s a sports relationship, where the object is to win games. Those kinds of professional relationships should be based on results, not on do we like each other or whatever. So to me, the relationship was great. There’s a lot of wins and everything else.”

[ЕлБиЏеј]

Heat stars call out Danny Granger

MIAMI -- 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 it "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.

"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 went to chest to chest with James in both Games 2 and 3, once after a play in the post and once after he fouled James in transition. In Game 4 on Sunday, Granger approached Wade after teammate Roy Hibbert and Wade got tied up after a hard foul under the basket.

"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?"

It has been quite clear that part of the Pacers' strategy for the series is to get under Wade's and James' skin as much as possible. Indiana prefers to play a physical style, especially defensively. Before Game 4 Granger said: "We just want each other to know it's going to be an intense battle, and it's going to be a fight."

James seems to disagree.

"Nobody is fighting on the basketball court. C'mon," he said. "I'm not going to fight because I mean too much to our team and I can't afford to be suspended for a game or do something stupid to get thrown out of a playoff game."

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012...-danny-granger

[Урош94]

Avery Bradley reportedly needs shoulder surgery and will miss rest of playoffs



The Boston Celtics were dealt a huge blow today. It was revealed that Avery Bradley will likely undergo shoulder surgery and could miss the rest of the NBA playoffs.

The news comes via ESPN:

Boston Celtics second-year shooting guard Avery Bradley is expected to soon undergo season-ending surgery to repair small tears that have compromised the structure of his ailing left shoulder, according to a league source.

Ouch.

Bradley, the 19th-pick in the 2010 draft, had been injecting youth and energy into Boston's lineup during these playoffs, and this could be killer for the Celtics' chances at a title.

Let's take a look at what exactly this means.

Game 7

The Celtics have been without Bradley for two games during this series. The C's won Game 5 at home and lost Game 6 on the road.

Fortunately for Boston fans, the Celtics will be back home and will still have the slight advantage against Philly—with or without Bradley.

The young guard is a menace on the defensive end, but Philly doesn't exactly have the powerful offense to take advantage of his absence. Jrue Holliday and Lou Williams will certainly see better looks, but I still like the Celtics in Game 7.

Next Series

As it stands now, it appears the Miami Heat, who lead 3-2 in their series against the Pacers, will be waiting in the Eastern Conference Finals.

If the Celtics make it there, this is where the Bradley injury is going to hurt them the most.



During the regular season, he did an amazing job guarding Dwyane Wade. Bradley played big minutes during all three of the Boston-Miami matchups in March, and he was a big factor in the Celtics winning all three of those games. Although, Wade and LeBron James didn't play in one of those games.

During one game, Bradley held Wade to 9-of-21 shooting, and in the other, he held him to 6-of-17 shooting.

Without Bradley, Wade is going to see a lot more open looks, and as we've seen against Indiana, Wade is key to Miami's success.

Next year

As ESPN points out, Bradley is going to miss his third consecutive summer league.

This isn't a huge deal, but don't forget that Bradley is still very raw on offense. If he wants to continue to develop into an all-around player, he will need more time in the offseason.

This pretty much halts any idea of that.

Извор: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...st-of-playoffs

[Mladen]

Derrick Rose doing well in rehab

Derrick Rose doing well in rehab

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday that Derrick Rose is "doing great" in his rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"He comes in every day. He's diligent. He's moving along well."

Rose, 23, tore the ACL during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 28. The surgery was performed May 12, and Rose is expected to miss eight to 12 months.
Meanwhile, Thibodeau said he talks to Rose almost every day.

"I think he understands what he has to go through, and he's approaching it like he does everything else," Thibodeau said. "His rehabs are his games and practices right now.

"His concentration in rehab is fantastic. He just has to be patient and keep doing what he's doing."

Rose suffered six different injuries during the season, limiting him to 39 games in the lockout-shortened 66-game season. Thibodeau, who faced constant questions about his playing time for Rose throughout the season, said he has no regrets with how he used him.

"I look at it overall and when you look at the season, Derrick played about 1,300 minutes this year," Thibodeau said. "When you look at where it ranks in the league for a player of his caliber it's really low. I think in overall minutes he was like 154th in the league (165th with 1,375). I think in minutes per game it was 28th or 30th, somewhere in that area (actually he was tied for 23rd at 37.0). I think it was unfortunate. It was one of those years where he had a lot of different injuries.

"I don't look back and regret that. I think it's unfortunate, it happened and you just have to move on."

Rose isn't the only Bulls player dealing with an injury. Forward Luol Deng played most of the season with torn ligaments in his left wrist which might require surgery. If he does have surgery, it likely will come after the Olympics because Deng intends to play for Team Great Britain this summer.

Thibodeau said Deng met with general manager Gar Forman and executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson recently to discuss his Olympics plan.

"We certainly care a lot about Luol and how he feels," Thibodeau said. "We just want to make sure from a health standpoint that he's good with everything. I think they had a very good meeting, and I think everything will be fine."

Faced with the prospect of being without Rose for much of the season and Deng at the start of the year if he has surgery, Thibodeau said he will approach the season the way he always does.

"You never know how things play out. I never look at it (like it's a lost season)," Thibodeau said. "I always feel like we have enough. We'll figure out what the strengths of the team are. We'll play to our strengths, we'll cover up our weaknesses, we'll try to get better each and every day and then we'll take our shot at the end."

The Bulls recently picked up the option for the third year on Thibodeau's contract and plan to work out an extension. Thibodeau, who finished second to San Antonio's Gregg Popovich in his bid to win a second straight NBA Coach of the Year award, said he is not concerned that he doesn't have a new deal yet.

"I think anyone wants to be recognized as one of the best in their profession, but there's a lot of different ways you can measure that," Thibodeau said. "They've been fair, and I'm hopeful that it all works out."

Preuzeto sa ->

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/7971084/chicago-bulls-derrick-rose-doing-great-rehab

[Mladen]

Jerry Sloan to talk with Bobcats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats will interview Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan on Friday for their vacant head-coaching position, Sloan told SI.com on Thursday.

The 70-year-old Sloan spent 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz before resigning in February 2011. He hasn't coached since.

"I'm supposed to talk to Charlotte tomorrow, and beyond that I haven't talked to anybody else," he told SI.com. "... I wouldn't talk to them if I wasn't interested. I wouldn't waste their time. That's not something I'm interested in doing. But I have no idea, and they probably have no idea about me, so I don't know. I guess that's why we're meeting."

Sloan becomes the ninth known candidate, joining Patrick Ewing, Nate McMillan, Dave Joerger, Mike Malone, Nate Tibbetts, Mike Dunlap and Stephen Silas. The Bobcats also plan to interview Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw.

The Bobcats finished the season an NBA-worst 7-59.

Preuzeto sa ->

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7970033/charlotte-bobcats-interview-jerry-sloan-friday

[Monta Ellis #11]

Dwight Howard
I'm NOT to Blame for Van Gundy's Firing


Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard says he had NOTHING to do with the team's decision to fire head coach Stan Van Gundy ... telling TMZ, "I hate to see anyone lose their job."

Howard -- who's still rehabbing from back surgery in L.A. -- was out in Beverly Hills this morning when we asked how he felt about his coach's recent termination.

"Me and Stan ... we had our ups and downs ... but for the most part we had one goal ... to win a championship in Orlando, but we fell short."

When asked about speculation that he had a role in the decision to can Stan, Howard told us, "I'm glad [Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins] confirmed I had nothing to do with it."

Howard is also concerned about an interview scheduled to air on ESPN tomorrow night -- telling us it was shot back in April ... and insists the content is "old and inaccurate."

Though Howard didn't say which part of the interview he was referring to specifically ... he did warn, "A lot of stuff has changed since then."

Bonus -- Wanna know which team Dwight picks to win the NBA Championship? Watch the clip.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/05/24/dwight...do-magic-espn/

[Monta Ellis #11]

The more I know about Howard, the more I appreciate Rose
Rose is the anti-Howard

The Orlando Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith this week. And now, Magic center Dwight Howard will trade himself.

Which ought to make you appreciate how complete a player Derrick Rose is. That’s physically and mentally.
It might not be news, but it at least underscores what makes Rose so special.

Rose always has been about trying to do what’s best for his team, not trying to do other people’s jobs, as well. Howard seems to be more interested in having people do what’s best for him.

Sometimes those things are the same. But in Howard’s case, it seems to so ham-handed --- Van Gundy announced that his All-Star center wanted him fired last season --- that it becomes a dividing line between good and great and between great and championship-caliber.

When a star player buys into a coach’s philosophy, the team becomes better because the player becomes the coach’s best weapon. Everybody follows the best player. Nobody colors outside the lines.

Michael Jordan bought into Phil Jackson’s demand to share the ball, maybe the greatest sales job in sports history.

Rose buys into Tom Thibodeau’s program. Heck, Rose did that with Vinny Del Negro when they both had the same amount of coaching experience. That’s the kind of player and teammate Rose is. He believes what the coach believes. Period.

Howard believes he knows better. He doesn’t, and Orlando management knows less.

Management’s capitulation to its weak-hearted center is stupid and spineless. And perhaps ultimately useless because Howard, who wanted out and then agreed to stay for one more season, can still walk away in a year. He can recover from back surgery this season, then opt out a year from now. “See ya, and thanks, Orlando management, for placing your backbones and brains in a blind trust.’’

For a long time, I lobbied for the Bulls to acquire Howard. I didn’t care about the price. Anyone except Rose. Everyone except Rose. You have a chance to get the best center in the game, you do it.

But I’m done with that. The dithering diva is rehabbing from back surgery, so I’m not sure he’ll return to being the best center in the game. Of course, the NBA is so weak at that position that Howard could have a wooden leg and still be in the top five.

My big issue is wondering what Howard is committed to. I know what Rose is committed to. He’s committed to winning. Howard? Who knows? I couldn’t deal with a guy whose head and heart appear so fluid and flighty.

It has been said the NBA is a player’s league and college basketball is a coach’s fiefdom. But the NBA is good coaches league. And a smart players league if they know what’s good for them.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...6530740.column

[Monta Ellis #11]

Wizards still quiet about plans for Coach Randy Wittman

Nearly a month after the Wizards concluded the regular season, the team has still been extremely quiet about its plans for Coach Randy Wittman.
A source with knowledge of the Wizards’ thinking recently described the situation as “an ongoing process,” adding that the team has no timetable to make a decision. Wittman and his assistants are still under contract for next season, lessening the urgency. But the silence – and lack of aggressiveness in pursuing other potential candidates – has raised speculation amongst agents and rival league executives that they all will be brought back.

A person who has spoken in recent weeks to President Ernie Grunfeld said “reading between the lines” from their conversations left the impression that Wittman would be retained. The person added, however, “Hey, I could be wrong.”

According to multiple league sources, Wittman was in Washington last week and recently had a face-to-face meeting with owner Ted Leonsis. A source that confirmed the meeting was unsure if it was a perfunctory get-to-know-you session or a formal interview. Leonsis often sat near the Wizards’ bench during games, but never had the chance to sit down with Wittman after he replaced Flip Saunders on Jan. 24.

Wittman went 18-31 after taking over the team and several players – including John Wall – expressed their support for having him return for a full season. The Wizards made considerable progress, especially on the defensive end, after acquiring Nene in a trade deadline deal and finished the season on a six-game winning streak. They were 11-14 after the trade and 7-4 with Nene in uniform.

When asked about Wittman’s future last month, Grunfeld said, “I think Randy’s done a very nice job with this team. The players have responded to him.”

Grunfeld has already met with Leonsis to discuss his strategy with regards to a coach, according to a league source, but his recommendation so far has been kept under wraps. Wittman and his assistants continue to operate business as usual. Assistant coach Sam Cassell recently watched playoff games and scouted point guards Chris Paul and Mike Conley with Wall in Los Angeles.

When the Wizards’ season ended, Leonsis turned his attention to the NHL’s Capitals, who were eliminated in the second round and watched Dale Hunter step down the next day. Leonsis now has to make a decision on coaches for two of his franchises.

Several big name coaches are on the market, including Mike D’Antoni, Nate McMillan, Jerry Sloan and Stan Van Gundy. McMillan, who was fired last season in Portland, has already interviewed with Charlotte and Sloan, a former Baltimore Bullet who hasn’t coached since stepping down from Utah two seasons ago, has expressed an interest in interviewing for the Bobcats vacancy.

Van Gundy was fired this week after a successful run with the Orlando Magic that included a trip the NBA Finals. D’Antoni resigned after failing to mesh with Carmelo Anthony in New York but he has had success with point guards, from Steve Nash to Jeremy Lin. Both coaches have hinted that they would be willing to sit out at least a year before returning.

Golden State Warriors assistant Michael Malone and Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, whose team is still in the playoffs, are also expected to attract interest from teams looking for a head coach. Shaw, a hot commodity after working previously under Phil Jackson in Los Angeles, recently stated that he wouldn’t speak to teams until the Pacers are eliminated.

As reported earlier, the Wizards have no financial commitment to Saunders beyond this season. Saunders signed a four-year, $18-million deal in 2009, but the final year had a team option. Saunders is currently working with Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics as a consultant during the playoffs.

Wittman is the fourth coach the Wizards have had since Grunfeld became the general manager in 2003. Saunders is the only coach Grunfeld hired, with Eddie Jordan in place when he arrived and Ed Tapscott and Wittman both filling in as mid-season replacements.

The NBA draft lottery is next Wednesday in New York and the Wizards have a 19.9 percent chance of claiming the No. 1 overall pick.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...2NnU_blog.html