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I can't wait, I'm rooting for the Grizzlies.Originally Posted by bhzmafia14
With everyone clinching, i feel great about tomorrow.
If they advance, Grizzlies vs. Thunder will low-key be the best series of the 2nd round.
OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by bigmike23,
- Start date
If they advance, Grizzlies vs. Thunder will low-key be the best series of the 2nd round.
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since it came up with kenny and chuck, maybe you can answer this JA..
have you guys ever thrown out dirk, tyson AND haywood together?
and wouldn't this be a good move against the lakers?
have you guys ever thrown out dirk, tyson AND haywood together?
and wouldn't this be a good move against the lakers?
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The Lakers better work on their zone offense these next three days.
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No, I've never seen it.
And no, it wouldn't be a great move.
What other two players are we going to put out there?
Kidd? and who else? JET? Marion? Barea?
We'd get abused in the back-court if we surrendered to having three 7 footers on the floor.
If Caron were healthy, it'd be an amazing match-up.
We could throw out Kidd, Caron, Marion, Dirk, and Tyson. I think that length could handle the big three that LA can throw out there. Marion would focus on trying to contain Odom. Caron on Kobe would be good if he were healthy. Pau with Dirk would be interesting. And as long as those others guys are boxed out, Bynum shouldn't walk over Tyson THAT much. He'd still have the heavy advantage, but not as much as he did in the last series.
Haywood and Tyson collectively aren't good enough offensively to have them both out there at the same time. On defense it's great, but on offense it's a huge liability. Tyson can hit some 12-15 foot jumpshots, but we need them in the paint, and if they're both in the paint? Disaster.
If Dirk can average close to 30 per in this series, it'll be very fun to watch.
EDIT:
Yeah, I had to check and make sure. No the Tyson/Wood/Dirk trio has never been on the court together.
http://www.82games.com/1011/10DAL14.HTM
If we completely fail the first two games, I wouldn't be surprised to see it, but my gut tells me it's be terrible unless all we're doing is going to Dirk and LA isn't smart enough to double him. MAYBE with JET and Peja it MIGHT work.
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Good thing there are series threads. Lol.
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I'm expecting some of this tomorrow night
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Has the rat bastard been flopping a lot this series?
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I think in just about every game this series he's played in. He definitely did it a couple of times Wednesday night.
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manu flops on his way to breakfast or course he has been this series
it's corny not "crafty". they said they would give out techs for flopping and of course it never happens. instead we get "respect the game" techs
it's corny not "crafty". they said they would give out techs for flopping and of course it never happens. instead we get "respect the game" techs
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Surprisingly no, he tried the first 2 games he played and never got the call.
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hope the spurs get smashed tonight but i see them coming out on fire tonight. i refuse to believe the great greg popivich will let his team get eliminated in thefirst round...
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i just want to spurs to take it to 7.. after that i hope they pull it out.. but i just want whatever team that faces us to be worn down mentally and physically
and JA, hopefully your team can do something against LA
and JA, hopefully your team can do something against LA
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2nd round is gonna be
.
I hope Memphis ends it tonight so we can officially be down to 8
I hope Memphis ends it tonight so we can officially be down to 8
Postseason MVP a/o today:
Spoiler [+]
It's easy to fall in love with scorers, but history and advanced statistics teach us that titles come from great defense. In a postseason series, players who contribute largely on defense and the glass but have merely solid offensive numbers can be far more valuable than players with gaudier point totals.
A reminder for Week 2 of our Postseason MVP rankings: Playoff performances are weighed against the strength of the opponent and within the overall context of the accomplishment. And right now, the team that has accomplished the most, given recent history and the opponent (the 61-win Spurs), is Memphis. The No. 8 Grizzlies are up 3 games to 2 over the Spurs, have done enough already to win the series (save for two fantastic San Antonio shots to stay alive) and can eliminate San Antonio on their home court Friday night. Because the biggest reason for the Grizzlies' success is their defense, their defensive anchor is our current Postseason MVP
[h4]1. MARC GASOL, GRIZZLIES[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]40.2[/td][td]14.6[/td][td]12.2[/td][td]2.4[/td][td]1.4[/td][td]0.6[/td][td]17.68[/td][td]0.7[/td][/tr][/table]
Other than Dwight Howard, I don't think any NBA center could do for Memphis' defense what Gasol is doing. The frequent "I can't believe what I'm seeing" look on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's face says it all.
When Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in Zaire, he constantly asked Foreman, while letting the champ whale away, "Is that all you got?" Years later, Foreman acknowledged that he was thinking then, "Yep, that's it." When Tim Duncan attempts to operate on Gasol inside, it's a similar scenario. Duncan is trying everything possible, but Gasol is just swallowing it all up and giving him nothing. No angles, no seams and, most importantly, no inches.
Advanced stats help present a fuller picture, because they are calculated on a per-minute basis. From these metrics, we can see that Gasol's presence means that Duncan just isn't the same player he was during the regular season.
Duncan posted a player efficiency rating of 21.9 during the regular season, but in the postseason he's far below that, at 16.2. Likewise, his numbers are down in usage rate (from 21.2 to 17.5), offensive rebound rate (9.3 to 6.9), overall rebound rate (18.3 to 17.1) and true shooting percentage (.537 to .515). In other words, he's not able to get the same number of opportunities, grab the usual number of boards (especially on the offensive end) or shoot as well -- and he's turning the ball over more, too, on a percentage basis.
By comparison, Gasol has a higher playoff PER (higher than Duncan's and higher than Gasol's from the regular season), rebound rate and true shooting percentage. He's been a force on both ends and outperformed Duncan overall, and that wasn't supposed to happen.
As these numbers and film study show, Gasol is preventing Duncan from employing his usual bag of tricks. Instead, he is stuck trying to make a play from farther out on the floor than he's used to. This not only makes it tougher for him to score but also means that the Grizzlies' active wings have less space to cover when they double-down. Consequently, they can easily rip the ball out and then start their break or force him to make a weak pass.
In Memphis' Game 4 blowout win, Gasol simply outplayed one of the greatest players in NBA history. Duncan wisely made a quick adjustment in Game 5, looking to take quick face-up shots and get clean looks before Gasol crowded him. It worked, as Duncan scored 11 points in the first quarter. Gasol moved into his space better after that, and Duncan scored exactly two points in the rest of the way. The Spurs won, but Gasol is in Duncan's head, to be sure. How many players have been there before?
[h4]2. ZACH RANDOLPH, GRIZZLIES[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]36.8[/td][td]19.6[/td][td]8.8[/td][td]3.6[/td][td]0.6[/td][td]1.4[/td][td]21.52[/td][td]0.9[/td][/tr][/table]
In terms of ranking the most important shots in Memphis Grizzlies history, Randolph's 3-pointer in Game 3 with 41.9 seconds left in the game and the shot clock down to zero is probably No. 1.
The Grizzlies were up two points, but anyone watching the game knew the Spurs were going to score or get to the line on their next possession, tying or taking the lead in the process. They're the Spurs; that's what they do.
So Randolph's shot didn't just clinch the win; it also changed the way Memphis' fans and players feel about themselves. That carried over into a Game 4 blowout and a Game 5 that almost had the Grizzlies wrapping up the stunning series upset. Randolph was marvelous again but was foiled by some incredible shooting from Manu Ginobili and Gary Neal at the end of regulation.
Still, Memphis heads into Game 6 knowing it has the best offensive (Randolph) and defensive (Gasol) forces in this series.
[h4]3. KEVIN DURANT, THUNDER[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]41.8[/td][td]32.4[/td][td]5.6[/td][td]3.6[/td][td]1.0[/td][td]1.0[/td][td]29.69[/td][td]2.0[/td][/tr][/table]
We tend to overvalue late-game heroics while ignoring early-game success. But Durant's finishing efforts in Game 5 cannot be praised enough. No one else on his team was going to be able to manufacture enough points to save the Thunder from heading back to Denver for Game 6 with a real fight on their hands.
As Durant lined up his 3 in transition with just 3:23 left in the game and a nine-point deficit, I quickly thought, If this misses, Denver wins. It seemed Denver had found its late regular-season magic and was going to head home full of swagger.
Durant didn't miss, however, and his 14 points in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the game are even more impressive when we consider that OKC players not named Durant had made only three field goals in the previous 15-plus minutes of the game. It was Durant or bust for the Thunder. The Nuggets knew it but couldn't stop him. (Previous rank: No. 5
)
Photo credit: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
[h4]4. DERRICK ROSE, BULLS[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]38.8[/td][td]27.6[/td][td]4.6[/td][td]6.2[/td][td]1.2[/td][td]2.6[/td][td]25.71[/td][td]1.4[/td][/tr][/table]
Rose was astounding for much of the first round, but one thing he did not do well was shoot 3-pointers. In Games 1 through 4, he took 29 of them and made just five. Indiana deserves some credit for that, as the Pacers invited him to take those shots by going under screens and not rushing out to guard him.
So with the Pacers hanging around late in the third quarter in Game 5, and with Chicago players and fans feeling uncomfortable at the thought of another down-to-the-wire game that easily could see Indy steal a win and head back home, Rose did what he had been doing all series. He took two 3s off screens on two different possessions. This time, he drilled them both. The score grew from 63-57 to 69-57 with 4:31 left in the third quarter, and the game was basically over.
By the time Indiana finally got to 69 points, with more than 10 minutes to play in the fourth, the Bulls already had 86 points. Rose carried the Bulls through all their wins and made the heroic shots in their clinching victory. (Previous rank: No. 2
)
[h4]5. CHRIS PAUL, HORNETS[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]6[/td][td]41.7[/td][td]22.0[/td][td]6.7[/td][td]11.5[/td][td]0.0[/td][td]1.8[/td][td]29.62[/td][td]2.3[/td][/tr][/table]
Heart and soul. Points and passes. Rebounds and defense. Everything Paul had to do to give his severely undermanned team a chance to win, he did. That included clutch shooting and playmaking in endgame situations, too.
There was an ongoing debate this season as to who is the best player in crunch time, and Paul is very likely the smartest choice. All of his talent as a playmaker, for himself and others, is on display in those situations. He also has no fear of failure, and that's a key ingredient for late-game success.
During this series, Paul made terrific reads on the ball-screen action the Hornets constantly threw at the Lakers, always looking for the penetrating dribble or pass but aware of his safe pass, too. It's a big reason Trevor Ariza had a good series -- he was the guy L.A. left to help on Paul, who would then find Ariza in perfect rhythm. (Previous rank: No. 1
)
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/US Presswire
[h4]6. SERGE IBAKA, THUNDER[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]31.8[/td][td]10.2[/td][td]11.0[/td][td]0.4[/td][td]4.8[/td][td]0.4[/td][td]18.18[/td][td]0.5[/td][/tr][/table]
Kevin Durant grabbed the headlines, and deservedly so, but Ibaka was every bit as important to the Thunder's series-clinching win in Game 5. Perhaps even more so.
Trailing by nine points late and faced with the prospect of trying to close out a series on the road, OKC could never have caught Denver just by scoring buckets. Ibaka's rim protection and willingness to challenge everything inside were among the biggest factors in the game and the series. In that final, scintillating run by the Thunder, Ibaka's defense worked hand in hand with Durant's shooting. He had three blocks on shots in the paint that Denver normally would make more than 90 percent of the time.
The Nuggets came into the series with a high-powered offense, and OKC stuffed them in five games, with Ibaka recording 24 blocks. Had Ibaka shot better in the series, he might have been No. 1 on this list this week. Regardless, his defensive energy and production are one of the best stories of Round 1. (Previous rank: NR
)
[h4]7. DIRK NOWITZKI[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]6[/td][td]38.7[/td][td]27.3[/td][td]7.8[/td][td]3.0[/td][td]0.5[/td][td]0.5[/td][td]25.69[/td][td]1.6[/td][/tr][/table]
There's no question that Jason Terry was a huge part of why Dallas was able to make some impressive scoring runs that Portland was unable to recover from in four of six games. But Nowitzki's steady production on offense as the Mavericks' primary scorer, on the glass as their best rebounder and even on defense with some timely blocks carried the day for Dallas.
With the exception of Brandon Roy going nuclear in Game 4, Dallas dominated a series that many people felt was going to go Portland's way. The Blazers did a good job guarding Nowitzki, but it's a testament to Dirk's talent that he still found ways to make so many shots and get to the line in the second halves of games.
The only way Portland could have crept back into some games, including the clincher, was to have Nowitzki miss free throws late. He didn't, shooting an ice-in-his-blood 11-for-11 in Game 6 and 48-of-52 overall in the Mavs' wins. (Previous rank: No. 6
)
Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
[h4]8. DWYANE WADE, HEAT[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]38.0[/td][td]22.2[/td][td]8.4[/td][td]5.2[/td][td]2.0[/td][td]1.4[/td][td]27.63[/td][td]1.6[/td][/tr][/table]
LeBron James was the better player statistically, and Chris Bosh made big contributions throughout Round 1. But Wade's effort and intensity were the most integral parts of Miami's 4-1 series win.
It looked to me as though LeBron knew he could play at 75 percent and still wreck Philly. If that was the case, he was right. Perhaps he's saving his energy for the battles to come. He can thank Wade for the extra rest before Round 2.
Wade imposed his will on offense and defense, and that sparked his teammates. Similar to the impact Kobe had in L.A.'s series, when Miami's role players saw how hard Wade was competing, it compelled them to do the same. (Previous rank: NR
)
[h4]9. DWIGHT HOWARD, MAGIC[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]6[/td][td]43.0[/td][td]27.0[/td][td]15.5[/td][td]0.5[/td][td]1.8[/td][td]0.7[/td][td]26.76[/td][td]2.1[/td][/tr][/table]
Fans tend to treat big guys more harshly than little guys, expecting almost too much simply because they are so big. But fans should have more respect for Howard now more than ever, even though the Magic lost to Atlanta. He was simply breathtaking for almost every minute he played and breathless when it was all over, as he played all 48 minutes in Game 6, the fourth time in the series he played 45 or more minutes.
The physical beating Howard took from Atlanta's bigs was worse than that applied to any another player in these playoffs, yet he carried his ill-shooting team to the brink of a Game 7. He was the most irreplaceable player in the regular season and was even more amazing these past two weeks.
The "Howard Watch" is now on, and it's every bit as important as the LeBron/Wade sweepstakes of 2010. Orlando's big man has gotten better on offense, showed a better touch from the line in the playoffs and would make any team he'd go to more attractive to other players. No one in the NBA would have more players wanting to play next to him than D12. (Previous rank: No. 3
)
Photo credit: AP Photo/John Amis
[h4]10. KOBE BRYANT, LAKERS[/h4]
[h4]2011 POSTSEASON STATS[/h4][table][tr][th=""]GP[/th][th=""]MPG[/th][th=""]PPG[/th][th=""]RPG[/th][th=""]APG[/th][th=""]BPG[/th][th=""]SPG[/th][th=""]PER[/th][th=""]EWA*[/th][/tr][tr][td]6[/td][td]34.3[/td][td]22.5[/td][td]3.7[/td][td]3.8[/td][td]0.3[/td][td]1.5[/td][td]22.51[/td][td]1.2[/td][/tr][/table]
The numbers in Bryant's case matter less than the willpower. Faced with a tough-minded Hornets team that looked capable of winning the pivotal Game 5, Kobe ignored the obstacles, including a very sore foot and ankle, and fought harder than anyone else on his team.
The Lakers seemed lethargic for much of the series, but Kobe's spirit and effort in Games 3 and 5 helped to lift his teammates. (Previous rank: NR
)
Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images
[h3]Just outside[/h3]Ray Allen, Celtics; Rajon Rondo, Celtics; Andrew Bynum, Lakers; Jason Terry, Mavericks; LeBron James, Heat; Jamal Crawford, Hawks; Joakim Noah, Bulls
Piece on Kyrie.
Rumors.
http://[h3]Iguodala a no-show for exit interview[/h3]
11:17AM ET
[h5]Andre Iguodala | 76ers [/h5]
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Andre Iguodala was a no-show on Thursday for his exit meeting with Rod Thorn, Doug Collins and Ed Stefanski. It is considered an unexcused absence.
"He had a doctor's appointment, which all players who have played with injury do. They always go to see the appropriate doctor," said Thorn. "He did not come to [his] exit interview. We did not know he wasn't coming, but it's not a big deal."
Thorn added: "I haven't talked to him since we were getting on the bus on Wednesday night after the game."
This is probably not an issue, but it could be if he doesn't speak with the 76ers brass in the next few days.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Howard mum on his future[/h3]
11:17AM ET
[h5]Dwight Howard | Magic [/h5]
The Orlando Magic were eliminated from the playoffs on Thursday and after the game Dwight Howard was asked about next season and the potential of becoming a free agent in 2012. Howard was having no part of it and said he just wants to get better next season.
"That has nothing to do with right now," Howard told the Orlando Sentinel. "There's no need for me to comment on it. So, you know, let's not even talk about it. There's no need to bring it up. Right now, I'm going to figure out how can I get myself better for next season, not about what team I want to play for. But right now I'm with the Magic, so all the speculation can stop. There's no need to talk about it."
There have been a lot of rumors that Howard wants to play for the Lakers and that Magic general manager Otis Smith could shop his center before he can leave next summer for nothing.
He of course could end all the speculation if he signed a two-year extension -- which has been offered -- with Orlando.
"Yeah, but what's he going to do with a two-year extension?" Smith asked Michael Wallace of ESPN.com.
Smith then added: "We're not trading him. You can print it wherever you want it, but it ain't ever going to bed until he signs a contract extension or signs somewhere else."
Smith also contends that Howard wants to remain with Orlando long-term.
"Yeah, and he's said it to you guys, too," Smith said. "But it's not enough [for the media]. It's not enough until he signs. [The media] is going to talk about it, and everybody else is going to talk about it until we're blue in the face, no matter what he says."
-- Nick Borges
[h5]Ric Bucher[/h5]
Howard leaving options open
http://[h3]Kuester waiting to chat with Dumars[/h3]
11:16AM ET
[h5]John Kuester | Pistons [/h5]
Many followers of the Detroit Pistons thought head coach John Kuester could be fired this season due to all the unrest with the players, but that never came to fruition.
Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has not had a end-of-season meeting with Kuester, but that should happen shortly.
"I'm quite sure we will talk soon," Kuester told the Detroit Free Press.
Dumars has been silent about Kuester, but now that Tom Gores is set buy the team, a move regarding the fate of the head coach could be coming soon after Dumars and Kuester talk.
Kuester has a record of 57-107 over two seasons as the head coach of Detroit.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Kobe's foul upgraded[/h3]
11:15AM ET
[h5]Kobe Bryant | Lakers [/h5]
The Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant's foul on Emeka Okafor during the fourth quarter of Game 5 has been upgraded to a flagrant 1, reports ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Bryant will draw a one-game suspension if he commits a few more flagrant 1 fouls or flagrant 2 fouls during the playoffs.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Caracter says he's sorry[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Derrick Caracter | Lakers [/h5]
UPDATE: Derrick Caracter finally spoke to the press Thursday night concerning his arrest last Sunday morning in New Orleans.
"I want to apologize to the fans for the distraction and to our organization," Caracter told the Los Angeles Times. "I will do my best to not let it happen again."
Caracter, according to the newspaper, could face charges of simple battery, public intoxication and resisting arrest.
----
The Los Angeles Times reports Lakers rookie forward Derrick Caracter was arrested early Sunday morning. Reportedly he was involved in an altercation near the team hotel in New Orleans and was charged with battery.
Caracter had not played in the first three games of the series with the Hornets and he was inactive for Game 4 Sunday night.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Parker to play in Lithuania[/h3]
10:53AM ET
[h5]Tony Parker | Spurs [/h5]
Spurs point guard Tony Parker has confirmed that he'll play for the French national team at the EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania.
"I will be at EuroBasket this summer," Parker told Stade 2, a weekly French sports show. "I'm eager to get started. We have a really good team. I talked to my teammates and they're all motivated and ready to go. I'm really excited at the idea of the team we're going to have."
Parker did not play for France last summer so that he could rest for the NBA season.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Cho targets size and speed[/h3]
10:26AM ET
[h5]Portland Trail Blazers [/h5]
The Portland Trail Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday and after the game general manager Rich Cho was asked how the team could be upgraded.
"We're going to sit down as a group and talk things over. We need some more speed, size and some more depth in general. And some shooting," Cho told Blazersedge.
Cho didn't want to discuss any specifics regarding the roster now that the offseason has arrived.
"I don't want to address that," Cho said. "It's too early."
The first order of business for Cho will be the draft and then whether to tender qualifying offers to Greg Oden and Patrick Mills and to guarantee Andre Miller's contract for next season.
Miller's contract becomes fully guaranteed for 2011-12 if he's still on the roster come June 30.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Riley's focus: Defense[/h3]
10:06AM ET
[h5]Golden State Warriors [/h5]
The Warriors are always one of the better offensive teams in the league and one of the worst defensive squads each season. That apparently is going to change as Larry Riley's main focus in the offseason will be to bring in a head coach that can improve the defense and players that can execute the plan.
Riley also suggested that the uptempo style offense may run more halfcourt sets.
"That doesn't mean I have to go get a defensive guru to coach," Riley told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Our defense has to improve, but that's not necessarily the model for the coach. ... We do like the uptempo game, because the roster is geared that way. That could change, if we change the roster as well as the coach."
Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are not a good defensive tandem and one of them could be moved to bring in a guard that can improve the backcourt in that area.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]76ers: Who stays and who goes?[/h3]
9:40AM ET
[h5]Philadelphia 76ers [/h5]
According to Tom Moore of phillyburbs.com, several members of the 76ers who are set to be free agents in July won't be on the roster next season. They include Jason Kapono [$6.64 million], Darius Songaila [$4.82 million], Tony Battie [$1.35 million] and Antonio Daniels.
Andres Nocioni and Marreese Speights may also not return, as they could be traded in the offseason.
Three players that will be retained by the team are Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Jodie Meeks.
Team president Rod Thorn said qualifying offers will be tendered to Young and Hawes to make them restricted fee agents and that Meeks, who's contract won't be fully guaranteed until November, won't be waived.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]'Antoni must hire defensive coach?[/h3]
8:39AM ET
[h5]Mike D'Antoni | Knicks [/h5]
Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni is known as a good offensive head coach, but not strong on the defensive end of the floor. That's why the team may force him to hire a coach that specializes on defense.
Frank Isola of New York Daily News writes: "As Donnie Walsh seeks to regain full autonomy within the Knicks organization, Mike D'Antoni could be losing some of his power on the Knicks' bench. According to several sources, the front office will encourage D'Antoni to revamp his coaching staff to hire a defensive coach. ... under D'Antoni the Knicks have been among the league's weaker defensive teams, which is something Walsh would like to change."
Isola lists Dave Joerger [Memphis], Steve Clifford {Orlando], Bill Bayno [Portland], Ron Adams [Chicago] and Lawrence Frank [Boston] as the top defensive assistant coaches in the league and possible targets for D'Antoni/Walsh.
D'Antoni has one more season on his contract and according to the New York Post, he is not in danger of being fired.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Bird's future with the Pacers[/h3]
8:08AM ET
[h5]Indiana Pacers [/h5]
UPDATE No. 2: The Pacers are set to have a significant amount of room under the salary cap and Bird wants to hear from the Pacers owner that he can spend it to improve the team during the offseason.
"The big question of mine to him is, 'Now that we have the money will be able to spend it?,' " Bird told the local media, including The Indianapolis Star. "We waited three years to get to this point and now what can we do with it."
----
UPDATE: According to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star, Bird indicated this about his future Thursday.
"Bird said he'll probably be back if he likes what he gets out of his meeting with Simon, which will happen in a week or two," Wells tweeted.
---
Now that the Pacers' season is over, the focus has shifted to the front office and the status of president Larry Bird. There have been reports that Bird wants to retire and others that he wants to finish the rebuilding process. Either way, a decision about Bird should be made soon.
"We have to get that resolved as soon as possible," owner Herb Simon told The Indianapolis Star. "Starting with him, we'll be deciding what we're going to be doing."
Bird, regardless of his future, will run the team with David Morey until July 31 when his current deal expires.
"Him and (general manager) David Morway took us this far, and they're going to take us through the draft," Simon said.
The newspaper reports Bird will have to take less than the $5 million he's making now to return as the president of the club.
The contracts for Morway and Frank Vogel also expire after the season, which is why it's important to get Bird's status taken care of soon, so the font office and head coach position can be set going into the important offseason for the Pacers.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Afflalo's future with Denver[/h3]
7:16AM ET
[h5]Arron Afflalo | Nuggets [/h5]
The Nuggets cleaned out their lockers on Thursday and before he left the Pepsi Center, Arron Afflalo, a restricted free agent, said he's looking forward to signing a long-term contract with the club.
"In my eyes, I'm here," Afflalo told The Denver Post. "That's the plan. At this point, that's how I'm moving forward."
Masai Ujiri also said that the plan is to keep Afflalo in a Nuggets uniform for a long time.
"No question he will be a Nugget for years to come," said Ujiri.
A reminder for Week 2 of our Postseason MVP rankings: Playoff performances are weighed against the strength of the opponent and within the overall context of the accomplishment. And right now, the team that has accomplished the most, given recent history and the opponent (the 61-win Spurs), is Memphis. The No. 8 Grizzlies are up 3 games to 2 over the Spurs, have done enough already to win the series (save for two fantastic San Antonio shots to stay alive) and can eliminate San Antonio on their home court Friday night. Because the biggest reason for the Grizzlies' success is their defense, their defensive anchor is our current Postseason MVP
[h4]1. MARC GASOL, GRIZZLIES[/h4]
Other than Dwight Howard, I don't think any NBA center could do for Memphis' defense what Gasol is doing. The frequent "I can't believe what I'm seeing" look on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's face says it all.
When Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in Zaire, he constantly asked Foreman, while letting the champ whale away, "Is that all you got?" Years later, Foreman acknowledged that he was thinking then, "Yep, that's it." When Tim Duncan attempts to operate on Gasol inside, it's a similar scenario. Duncan is trying everything possible, but Gasol is just swallowing it all up and giving him nothing. No angles, no seams and, most importantly, no inches.
Advanced stats help present a fuller picture, because they are calculated on a per-minute basis. From these metrics, we can see that Gasol's presence means that Duncan just isn't the same player he was during the regular season.
Duncan posted a player efficiency rating of 21.9 during the regular season, but in the postseason he's far below that, at 16.2. Likewise, his numbers are down in usage rate (from 21.2 to 17.5), offensive rebound rate (9.3 to 6.9), overall rebound rate (18.3 to 17.1) and true shooting percentage (.537 to .515). In other words, he's not able to get the same number of opportunities, grab the usual number of boards (especially on the offensive end) or shoot as well -- and he's turning the ball over more, too, on a percentage basis.
By comparison, Gasol has a higher playoff PER (higher than Duncan's and higher than Gasol's from the regular season), rebound rate and true shooting percentage. He's been a force on both ends and outperformed Duncan overall, and that wasn't supposed to happen.
As these numbers and film study show, Gasol is preventing Duncan from employing his usual bag of tricks. Instead, he is stuck trying to make a play from farther out on the floor than he's used to. This not only makes it tougher for him to score but also means that the Grizzlies' active wings have less space to cover when they double-down. Consequently, they can easily rip the ball out and then start their break or force him to make a weak pass.
In Memphis' Game 4 blowout win, Gasol simply outplayed one of the greatest players in NBA history. Duncan wisely made a quick adjustment in Game 5, looking to take quick face-up shots and get clean looks before Gasol crowded him. It worked, as Duncan scored 11 points in the first quarter. Gasol moved into his space better after that, and Duncan scored exactly two points in the rest of the way. The Spurs won, but Gasol is in Duncan's head, to be sure. How many players have been there before?
[h4]2. ZACH RANDOLPH, GRIZZLIES[/h4]
In terms of ranking the most important shots in Memphis Grizzlies history, Randolph's 3-pointer in Game 3 with 41.9 seconds left in the game and the shot clock down to zero is probably No. 1.
The Grizzlies were up two points, but anyone watching the game knew the Spurs were going to score or get to the line on their next possession, tying or taking the lead in the process. They're the Spurs; that's what they do.
So Randolph's shot didn't just clinch the win; it also changed the way Memphis' fans and players feel about themselves. That carried over into a Game 4 blowout and a Game 5 that almost had the Grizzlies wrapping up the stunning series upset. Randolph was marvelous again but was foiled by some incredible shooting from Manu Ginobili and Gary Neal at the end of regulation.
Still, Memphis heads into Game 6 knowing it has the best offensive (Randolph) and defensive (Gasol) forces in this series.
[h4]3. KEVIN DURANT, THUNDER[/h4]
We tend to overvalue late-game heroics while ignoring early-game success. But Durant's finishing efforts in Game 5 cannot be praised enough. No one else on his team was going to be able to manufacture enough points to save the Thunder from heading back to Denver for Game 6 with a real fight on their hands.
As Durant lined up his 3 in transition with just 3:23 left in the game and a nine-point deficit, I quickly thought, If this misses, Denver wins. It seemed Denver had found its late regular-season magic and was going to head home full of swagger.
Durant didn't miss, however, and his 14 points in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the game are even more impressive when we consider that OKC players not named Durant had made only three field goals in the previous 15-plus minutes of the game. It was Durant or bust for the Thunder. The Nuggets knew it but couldn't stop him. (Previous rank: No. 5
Photo credit: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
[h4]4. DERRICK ROSE, BULLS[/h4]
Rose was astounding for much of the first round, but one thing he did not do well was shoot 3-pointers. In Games 1 through 4, he took 29 of them and made just five. Indiana deserves some credit for that, as the Pacers invited him to take those shots by going under screens and not rushing out to guard him.
So with the Pacers hanging around late in the third quarter in Game 5, and with Chicago players and fans feeling uncomfortable at the thought of another down-to-the-wire game that easily could see Indy steal a win and head back home, Rose did what he had been doing all series. He took two 3s off screens on two different possessions. This time, he drilled them both. The score grew from 63-57 to 69-57 with 4:31 left in the third quarter, and the game was basically over.
By the time Indiana finally got to 69 points, with more than 10 minutes to play in the fourth, the Bulls already had 86 points. Rose carried the Bulls through all their wins and made the heroic shots in their clinching victory. (Previous rank: No. 2
[h4]5. CHRIS PAUL, HORNETS[/h4]
Heart and soul. Points and passes. Rebounds and defense. Everything Paul had to do to give his severely undermanned team a chance to win, he did. That included clutch shooting and playmaking in endgame situations, too.
There was an ongoing debate this season as to who is the best player in crunch time, and Paul is very likely the smartest choice. All of his talent as a playmaker, for himself and others, is on display in those situations. He also has no fear of failure, and that's a key ingredient for late-game success.
During this series, Paul made terrific reads on the ball-screen action the Hornets constantly threw at the Lakers, always looking for the penetrating dribble or pass but aware of his safe pass, too. It's a big reason Trevor Ariza had a good series -- he was the guy L.A. left to help on Paul, who would then find Ariza in perfect rhythm. (Previous rank: No. 1
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/US Presswire
[h4]6. SERGE IBAKA, THUNDER[/h4]
Kevin Durant grabbed the headlines, and deservedly so, but Ibaka was every bit as important to the Thunder's series-clinching win in Game 5. Perhaps even more so.
Trailing by nine points late and faced with the prospect of trying to close out a series on the road, OKC could never have caught Denver just by scoring buckets. Ibaka's rim protection and willingness to challenge everything inside were among the biggest factors in the game and the series. In that final, scintillating run by the Thunder, Ibaka's defense worked hand in hand with Durant's shooting. He had three blocks on shots in the paint that Denver normally would make more than 90 percent of the time.
The Nuggets came into the series with a high-powered offense, and OKC stuffed them in five games, with Ibaka recording 24 blocks. Had Ibaka shot better in the series, he might have been No. 1 on this list this week. Regardless, his defensive energy and production are one of the best stories of Round 1. (Previous rank: NR
[h4]7. DIRK NOWITZKI[/h4]
There's no question that Jason Terry was a huge part of why Dallas was able to make some impressive scoring runs that Portland was unable to recover from in four of six games. But Nowitzki's steady production on offense as the Mavericks' primary scorer, on the glass as their best rebounder and even on defense with some timely blocks carried the day for Dallas.
With the exception of Brandon Roy going nuclear in Game 4, Dallas dominated a series that many people felt was going to go Portland's way. The Blazers did a good job guarding Nowitzki, but it's a testament to Dirk's talent that he still found ways to make so many shots and get to the line in the second halves of games.
The only way Portland could have crept back into some games, including the clincher, was to have Nowitzki miss free throws late. He didn't, shooting an ice-in-his-blood 11-for-11 in Game 6 and 48-of-52 overall in the Mavs' wins. (Previous rank: No. 6
Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
[h4]8. DWYANE WADE, HEAT[/h4]
LeBron James was the better player statistically, and Chris Bosh made big contributions throughout Round 1. But Wade's effort and intensity were the most integral parts of Miami's 4-1 series win.
It looked to me as though LeBron knew he could play at 75 percent and still wreck Philly. If that was the case, he was right. Perhaps he's saving his energy for the battles to come. He can thank Wade for the extra rest before Round 2.
Wade imposed his will on offense and defense, and that sparked his teammates. Similar to the impact Kobe had in L.A.'s series, when Miami's role players saw how hard Wade was competing, it compelled them to do the same. (Previous rank: NR
[h4]9. DWIGHT HOWARD, MAGIC[/h4]
Fans tend to treat big guys more harshly than little guys, expecting almost too much simply because they are so big. But fans should have more respect for Howard now more than ever, even though the Magic lost to Atlanta. He was simply breathtaking for almost every minute he played and breathless when it was all over, as he played all 48 minutes in Game 6, the fourth time in the series he played 45 or more minutes.
The physical beating Howard took from Atlanta's bigs was worse than that applied to any another player in these playoffs, yet he carried his ill-shooting team to the brink of a Game 7. He was the most irreplaceable player in the regular season and was even more amazing these past two weeks.
The "Howard Watch" is now on, and it's every bit as important as the LeBron/Wade sweepstakes of 2010. Orlando's big man has gotten better on offense, showed a better touch from the line in the playoffs and would make any team he'd go to more attractive to other players. No one in the NBA would have more players wanting to play next to him than D12. (Previous rank: No. 3
Photo credit: AP Photo/John Amis
[h4]10. KOBE BRYANT, LAKERS[/h4]
The numbers in Bryant's case matter less than the willpower. Faced with a tough-minded Hornets team that looked capable of winning the pivotal Game 5, Kobe ignored the obstacles, including a very sore foot and ankle, and fought harder than anyone else on his team.
The Lakers seemed lethargic for much of the series, but Kobe's spirit and effort in Games 3 and 5 helped to lift his teammates. (Previous rank: NR
Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images
[h3]Just outside[/h3]Ray Allen, Celtics; Rajon Rondo, Celtics; Andrew Bynum, Lakers; Jason Terry, Mavericks; LeBron James, Heat; Jamal Crawford, Hawks; Joakim Noah, Bulls
Piece on Kyrie.
Spoiler [+]
Even before a number of other high-level players opted to skip the draft and return to school, Kyrie Irving was going to be a serious candidate for the No. 1 pick, depending, of course, on who gets it. Now he might be the guy no matter who is drafting.
The top overall pick, however, is not something that carries the same value from year to year. Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose have all proved to truly be franchise talents. John Wall absolutely is on track for a similar impact. But Andrea Bargnani, Greg Oden and Andrew Bogut, while clearly talented players, are not "MVP" caliber players (and Oden's career has never gotten off the ground as a result of injuries).
So if the team that ends up with the No. 1 pick decides to draft Irving, will it merely be getting a long-term starter, or can he be the foundation for a potential championship squad and a future MVP candidate? My guess is that he'll be in-between those levels, a star who can be the MVP of a playoff series, but not MVP of the league. Here's why:
When watching Irving on tape, I see a player who looks like Brandon Roy with better natural playmaking skills. I mean the All-Star Roy with healthy knees, not the guy who is fighting his knees most nights and can't move anywhere close to the way he used to on every possession. A healthy Roy used his strong body, great balance and crafty ball-handling to create shots for himself and others. He was a solid perimeter shooter and a devastating mid-range guy, with a true talent for finishing in the paint but away from the rim.
I see Irving being able to do similar things, and pretty quickly. He is excellent at keeping his upper body aligned when he is ready to finish at the rim after going past defenders. Even though he's young, he uses his big shoulders and good strength to bounce off bodies while still maintaining his finishing posture. Both of these skills will transfer over well to the NBA game, and it's easy to assume he'll be getting stronger in the next few years. He only turned 19 in March, a full three years younger than Roy was as a rookie.
Irving, like Roy, is adept at changing speeds and direction while attacking the paint, keeping defenders off-balance and guessing (often poorly) what he'll do next. He is an excellent ballhandler going in each direction as well. So even though he's smaller than Roy, he's got good size for a true point guard and should be a good -- possibly very good -- player at getting inside the lane and finishing. "Craft" counts in the NBA, and Irving has lots of it.
Unlike some great NBA players, like Russell Westbrook for example, Irving has been an extremely high-level performer for years. That brings an air of confidence, which is a big part of any successful player's game. Irving uses that confidence to command a team on offense, and he does so similarly on defense. It's clear he relishes that side of the ball, and over time he should be adequate on defense in the NBA, and could be very good.
The best part of Irving's game, however, is his ability to shoot the ball with range. He made 46.2 percent of his 3s this season and looks like he's been well-coached in terms of his shooting mechanics. It's a simple shot, which means there's not much that can go wrong. Compared to Rose, Westbrook, Wall, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson and Darren Collison -- all starting guards who came into the league in the last three seasons -- only Holiday and Curry had shots that looked as good as Irving's does. Holiday made 39 percent of his 3s this season after hitting 36.5 percent as a rookie (and he shot 52.4 percent this postseason), and Curry is one of the league's premier deep shooters, so Irving is in fantastic company.
As defenses keep evolving and learning how to protect the paint, the ability to shoot the ball will carry even more value than it currently does. This is why Irving presents such a small draft risk at No. 1 overall -- there is no question he projects as a solid starting point guard, at minimum, and his shooting talent allows for him to be a difference-maker in his rookie season.
For all of these reasons, I'm convinced Irving has MVP-of-a-playoff series potential, and he might even be capable of being the best player in a Finals matchup (years from today). But he falls short of the elite crowd for a simple reason. The top MVP candidates for the season who are below 6-foot-10 all have one thing in common: They are in a very elite category as athletes. Outside of Chris Paul, every guy is super quick, explosive and fast. I don't project Irving to be at their levels at any point in his career, and as for Paul, well, it's hard to imagine having two guys with that kind of special talent in the league at the same time.
Being that kind of elite-level athlete gives those guys an advantage against almost any defender or any strategy designed to corral them, compared to everyone else. The game has changed even in the few years since Steve Nash won two MVP awards, and athleticism is more valuable than ever for guards. Irving is a very good athlete, but not a special one.
Most importantly, the team that drafts Irving should do so knowing that it has its point guard of the future wrapped up for a decade or so, a position so tough to fill for that length of time. In the 2007, 2008 and 2010 drafts, only five teams can say that they drafted the guy who will man that position for a decade (the 2009 draft will prove to be a historic draft for PGs).
And Irving won't just be a starter, but a potential All-Star who can definitely be a top-3 piece on a championship team, with the required toughness, competitiveness and integrity of a franchise player. That should be enough to make that fan base very happy. But for the fans who hope for a superstar at the No. 1 spot, they'll just have to wait for the next lottery.
The top overall pick, however, is not something that carries the same value from year to year. Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose have all proved to truly be franchise talents. John Wall absolutely is on track for a similar impact. But Andrea Bargnani, Greg Oden and Andrew Bogut, while clearly talented players, are not "MVP" caliber players (and Oden's career has never gotten off the ground as a result of injuries).
So if the team that ends up with the No. 1 pick decides to draft Irving, will it merely be getting a long-term starter, or can he be the foundation for a potential championship squad and a future MVP candidate? My guess is that he'll be in-between those levels, a star who can be the MVP of a playoff series, but not MVP of the league. Here's why:
When watching Irving on tape, I see a player who looks like Brandon Roy with better natural playmaking skills. I mean the All-Star Roy with healthy knees, not the guy who is fighting his knees most nights and can't move anywhere close to the way he used to on every possession. A healthy Roy used his strong body, great balance and crafty ball-handling to create shots for himself and others. He was a solid perimeter shooter and a devastating mid-range guy, with a true talent for finishing in the paint but away from the rim.
I see Irving being able to do similar things, and pretty quickly. He is excellent at keeping his upper body aligned when he is ready to finish at the rim after going past defenders. Even though he's young, he uses his big shoulders and good strength to bounce off bodies while still maintaining his finishing posture. Both of these skills will transfer over well to the NBA game, and it's easy to assume he'll be getting stronger in the next few years. He only turned 19 in March, a full three years younger than Roy was as a rookie.
Irving, like Roy, is adept at changing speeds and direction while attacking the paint, keeping defenders off-balance and guessing (often poorly) what he'll do next. He is an excellent ballhandler going in each direction as well. So even though he's smaller than Roy, he's got good size for a true point guard and should be a good -- possibly very good -- player at getting inside the lane and finishing. "Craft" counts in the NBA, and Irving has lots of it.
Unlike some great NBA players, like Russell Westbrook for example, Irving has been an extremely high-level performer for years. That brings an air of confidence, which is a big part of any successful player's game. Irving uses that confidence to command a team on offense, and he does so similarly on defense. It's clear he relishes that side of the ball, and over time he should be adequate on defense in the NBA, and could be very good.
The best part of Irving's game, however, is his ability to shoot the ball with range. He made 46.2 percent of his 3s this season and looks like he's been well-coached in terms of his shooting mechanics. It's a simple shot, which means there's not much that can go wrong. Compared to Rose, Westbrook, Wall, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson and Darren Collison -- all starting guards who came into the league in the last three seasons -- only Holiday and Curry had shots that looked as good as Irving's does. Holiday made 39 percent of his 3s this season after hitting 36.5 percent as a rookie (and he shot 52.4 percent this postseason), and Curry is one of the league's premier deep shooters, so Irving is in fantastic company.
As defenses keep evolving and learning how to protect the paint, the ability to shoot the ball will carry even more value than it currently does. This is why Irving presents such a small draft risk at No. 1 overall -- there is no question he projects as a solid starting point guard, at minimum, and his shooting talent allows for him to be a difference-maker in his rookie season.
For all of these reasons, I'm convinced Irving has MVP-of-a-playoff series potential, and he might even be capable of being the best player in a Finals matchup (years from today). But he falls short of the elite crowd for a simple reason. The top MVP candidates for the season who are below 6-foot-10 all have one thing in common: They are in a very elite category as athletes. Outside of Chris Paul, every guy is super quick, explosive and fast. I don't project Irving to be at their levels at any point in his career, and as for Paul, well, it's hard to imagine having two guys with that kind of special talent in the league at the same time.
Being that kind of elite-level athlete gives those guys an advantage against almost any defender or any strategy designed to corral them, compared to everyone else. The game has changed even in the few years since Steve Nash won two MVP awards, and athleticism is more valuable than ever for guards. Irving is a very good athlete, but not a special one.
Most importantly, the team that drafts Irving should do so knowing that it has its point guard of the future wrapped up for a decade or so, a position so tough to fill for that length of time. In the 2007, 2008 and 2010 drafts, only five teams can say that they drafted the guy who will man that position for a decade (the 2009 draft will prove to be a historic draft for PGs).
And Irving won't just be a starter, but a potential All-Star who can definitely be a top-3 piece on a championship team, with the required toughness, competitiveness and integrity of a franchise player. That should be enough to make that fan base very happy. But for the fans who hope for a superstar at the No. 1 spot, they'll just have to wait for the next lottery.
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Second round for Shaq?[/h3]
12:08PM ET
[h5]Shaquille O'Neal | Celtics [/h5]
UPDATE No. 2: According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Shaq is now expected not to practice Friday.
"Rivers tells Boston reporters he still thinks Shaq may play in Heat series," he added.
---
UPDATE: According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Rivers said Thursday that Shaq will go through skeleton work on Thursday and practice Friday.
If Shaq is able to go through both days without issue, it's possible he could be available for Boston's second-round opener against Miami on Sunday.
---
Shaquille O'Neal has only appeared in one game since Feb. 1 due to Achilles and calf injuries.
And with the second round of the playoffs approaching for the C's, there's still no definitive return date for the big fella.
"Shaq is not going to practice today, and he will not practice [Thursday]," said coach Doc Rivers on Wednesday, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston. "We hope he'll practice the next day, whatever day that would be. Is that Friday? OK, we hope he's back on Friday. But we don't know, we'll see."
Forsberg also added that Rivers "wouldn't start speculating about his availability for Game 1 of the next round."
If Shaq is unable to go at the start of the series, Jermaine O'Neal, Glen Davis and Nenad Krstic will likely cover the minutes at center for the Celtics.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Williams' Barclays visit[/h3]
11:48AM ET
[h5]Deron Williams | Nets [/h5]
According to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, Deron Williams visited the construction site of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn -- the home of the new Nets' arena -- on Thursday.
"Another sign that D-Will's warming up to idea of staying with Nets?" Broussard added to his tweet.
Such speculation about Williams' future lines up with some comments ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher had earlier this month about Williams' relations with the Nets:
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher[/h5]
How Williams stays with Nets
12:08PM ET
[h5]Shaquille O'Neal | Celtics [/h5]
UPDATE No. 2: According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Shaq is now expected not to practice Friday.
"Rivers tells Boston reporters he still thinks Shaq may play in Heat series," he added.
---
UPDATE: According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Rivers said Thursday that Shaq will go through skeleton work on Thursday and practice Friday.
If Shaq is able to go through both days without issue, it's possible he could be available for Boston's second-round opener against Miami on Sunday.
---
Shaquille O'Neal has only appeared in one game since Feb. 1 due to Achilles and calf injuries.
And with the second round of the playoffs approaching for the C's, there's still no definitive return date for the big fella.
"Shaq is not going to practice today, and he will not practice [Thursday]," said coach Doc Rivers on Wednesday, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston. "We hope he'll practice the next day, whatever day that would be. Is that Friday? OK, we hope he's back on Friday. But we don't know, we'll see."
Forsberg also added that Rivers "wouldn't start speculating about his availability for Game 1 of the next round."
If Shaq is unable to go at the start of the series, Jermaine O'Neal, Glen Davis and Nenad Krstic will likely cover the minutes at center for the Celtics.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Williams' Barclays visit[/h3]
11:48AM ET
[h5]Deron Williams | Nets [/h5]
According to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, Deron Williams visited the construction site of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn -- the home of the new Nets' arena -- on Thursday.
"Another sign that D-Will's warming up to idea of staying with Nets?" Broussard added to his tweet.
Such speculation about Williams' future lines up with some comments ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher had earlier this month about Williams' relations with the Nets:
How Williams stays with Nets
11:17AM ET
[h5]Andre Iguodala | 76ers [/h5]
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Andre Iguodala was a no-show on Thursday for his exit meeting with Rod Thorn, Doug Collins and Ed Stefanski. It is considered an unexcused absence. "He had a doctor's appointment, which all players who have played with injury do. They always go to see the appropriate doctor," said Thorn. "He did not come to [his] exit interview. We did not know he wasn't coming, but it's not a big deal."
Thorn added: "I haven't talked to him since we were getting on the bus on Wednesday night after the game."
This is probably not an issue, but it could be if he doesn't speak with the 76ers brass in the next few days.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Howard mum on his future[/h3]
11:17AM ET
[h5]Dwight Howard | Magic [/h5]
The Orlando Magic were eliminated from the playoffs on Thursday and after the game Dwight Howard was asked about next season and the potential of becoming a free agent in 2012. Howard was having no part of it and said he just wants to get better next season.
"That has nothing to do with right now," Howard told the Orlando Sentinel. "There's no need for me to comment on it. So, you know, let's not even talk about it. There's no need to bring it up. Right now, I'm going to figure out how can I get myself better for next season, not about what team I want to play for. But right now I'm with the Magic, so all the speculation can stop. There's no need to talk about it."
There have been a lot of rumors that Howard wants to play for the Lakers and that Magic general manager Otis Smith could shop his center before he can leave next summer for nothing.
He of course could end all the speculation if he signed a two-year extension -- which has been offered -- with Orlando.
"Yeah, but what's he going to do with a two-year extension?" Smith asked Michael Wallace of ESPN.com.
Smith then added: "We're not trading him. You can print it wherever you want it, but it ain't ever going to bed until he signs a contract extension or signs somewhere else."
Smith also contends that Howard wants to remain with Orlando long-term.
"Yeah, and he's said it to you guys, too," Smith said. "But it's not enough [for the media]. It's not enough until he signs. [The media] is going to talk about it, and everybody else is going to talk about it until we're blue in the face, no matter what he says."
-- Nick Borges
Howard leaving options open
http://[h3]Kuester waiting to chat with Dumars[/h3]
11:16AM ET
[h5]John Kuester | Pistons [/h5]
Many followers of the Detroit Pistons thought head coach John Kuester could be fired this season due to all the unrest with the players, but that never came to fruition.
Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has not had a end-of-season meeting with Kuester, but that should happen shortly.
"I'm quite sure we will talk soon," Kuester told the Detroit Free Press.
Dumars has been silent about Kuester, but now that Tom Gores is set buy the team, a move regarding the fate of the head coach could be coming soon after Dumars and Kuester talk.
Kuester has a record of 57-107 over two seasons as the head coach of Detroit.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Kobe's foul upgraded[/h3]
11:15AM ET
[h5]Kobe Bryant | Lakers [/h5]
The Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant's foul on Emeka Okafor during the fourth quarter of Game 5 has been upgraded to a flagrant 1, reports ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Bryant will draw a one-game suspension if he commits a few more flagrant 1 fouls or flagrant 2 fouls during the playoffs.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Caracter says he's sorry[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Derrick Caracter | Lakers [/h5]
UPDATE: Derrick Caracter finally spoke to the press Thursday night concerning his arrest last Sunday morning in New Orleans.
"I want to apologize to the fans for the distraction and to our organization," Caracter told the Los Angeles Times. "I will do my best to not let it happen again."
Caracter, according to the newspaper, could face charges of simple battery, public intoxication and resisting arrest.
----
The Los Angeles Times reports Lakers rookie forward Derrick Caracter was arrested early Sunday morning. Reportedly he was involved in an altercation near the team hotel in New Orleans and was charged with battery.
Caracter had not played in the first three games of the series with the Hornets and he was inactive for Game 4 Sunday night.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Parker to play in Lithuania[/h3]
10:53AM ET
[h5]Tony Parker | Spurs [/h5]
Spurs point guard Tony Parker has confirmed that he'll play for the French national team at the EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania.
"I will be at EuroBasket this summer," Parker told Stade 2, a weekly French sports show. "I'm eager to get started. We have a really good team. I talked to my teammates and they're all motivated and ready to go. I'm really excited at the idea of the team we're going to have."
Parker did not play for France last summer so that he could rest for the NBA season.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Cho targets size and speed[/h3]
10:26AM ET
[h5]Portland Trail Blazers [/h5]
The Portland Trail Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday and after the game general manager Rich Cho was asked how the team could be upgraded.
"We're going to sit down as a group and talk things over. We need some more speed, size and some more depth in general. And some shooting," Cho told Blazersedge.
Cho didn't want to discuss any specifics regarding the roster now that the offseason has arrived.
"I don't want to address that," Cho said. "It's too early."
The first order of business for Cho will be the draft and then whether to tender qualifying offers to Greg Oden and Patrick Mills and to guarantee Andre Miller's contract for next season.
Miller's contract becomes fully guaranteed for 2011-12 if he's still on the roster come June 30.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Riley's focus: Defense[/h3]
10:06AM ET
[h5]Golden State Warriors [/h5]
The Warriors are always one of the better offensive teams in the league and one of the worst defensive squads each season. That apparently is going to change as Larry Riley's main focus in the offseason will be to bring in a head coach that can improve the defense and players that can execute the plan.
Riley also suggested that the uptempo style offense may run more halfcourt sets.
"That doesn't mean I have to go get a defensive guru to coach," Riley told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Our defense has to improve, but that's not necessarily the model for the coach. ... We do like the uptempo game, because the roster is geared that way. That could change, if we change the roster as well as the coach."
Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are not a good defensive tandem and one of them could be moved to bring in a guard that can improve the backcourt in that area.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]76ers: Who stays and who goes?[/h3]
9:40AM ET
[h5]Philadelphia 76ers [/h5]
According to Tom Moore of phillyburbs.com, several members of the 76ers who are set to be free agents in July won't be on the roster next season. They include Jason Kapono [$6.64 million], Darius Songaila [$4.82 million], Tony Battie [$1.35 million] and Antonio Daniels.
Andres Nocioni and Marreese Speights may also not return, as they could be traded in the offseason.
Three players that will be retained by the team are Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Jodie Meeks.
Team president Rod Thorn said qualifying offers will be tendered to Young and Hawes to make them restricted fee agents and that Meeks, who's contract won't be fully guaranteed until November, won't be waived.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]'Antoni must hire defensive coach?[/h3]
8:39AM ET
[h5]Mike D'Antoni | Knicks [/h5]
Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni is known as a good offensive head coach, but not strong on the defensive end of the floor. That's why the team may force him to hire a coach that specializes on defense.
Frank Isola of New York Daily News writes: "As Donnie Walsh seeks to regain full autonomy within the Knicks organization, Mike D'Antoni could be losing some of his power on the Knicks' bench. According to several sources, the front office will encourage D'Antoni to revamp his coaching staff to hire a defensive coach. ... under D'Antoni the Knicks have been among the league's weaker defensive teams, which is something Walsh would like to change."
Isola lists Dave Joerger [Memphis], Steve Clifford {Orlando], Bill Bayno [Portland], Ron Adams [Chicago] and Lawrence Frank [Boston] as the top defensive assistant coaches in the league and possible targets for D'Antoni/Walsh.
D'Antoni has one more season on his contract and according to the New York Post, he is not in danger of being fired.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Bird's future with the Pacers[/h3]
8:08AM ET
[h5]Indiana Pacers [/h5]
UPDATE No. 2: The Pacers are set to have a significant amount of room under the salary cap and Bird wants to hear from the Pacers owner that he can spend it to improve the team during the offseason.
"The big question of mine to him is, 'Now that we have the money will be able to spend it?,' " Bird told the local media, including The Indianapolis Star. "We waited three years to get to this point and now what can we do with it."
----
UPDATE: According to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star, Bird indicated this about his future Thursday.
"Bird said he'll probably be back if he likes what he gets out of his meeting with Simon, which will happen in a week or two," Wells tweeted.
---
Now that the Pacers' season is over, the focus has shifted to the front office and the status of president Larry Bird. There have been reports that Bird wants to retire and others that he wants to finish the rebuilding process. Either way, a decision about Bird should be made soon.
"We have to get that resolved as soon as possible," owner Herb Simon told The Indianapolis Star. "Starting with him, we'll be deciding what we're going to be doing."
Bird, regardless of his future, will run the team with David Morey until July 31 when his current deal expires.
"Him and (general manager) David Morway took us this far, and they're going to take us through the draft," Simon said.
The newspaper reports Bird will have to take less than the $5 million he's making now to return as the president of the club.
The contracts for Morway and Frank Vogel also expire after the season, which is why it's important to get Bird's status taken care of soon, so the font office and head coach position can be set going into the important offseason for the Pacers.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Afflalo's future with Denver[/h3]
7:16AM ET
[h5]Arron Afflalo | Nuggets [/h5]
The Nuggets cleaned out their lockers on Thursday and before he left the Pepsi Center, Arron Afflalo, a restricted free agent, said he's looking forward to signing a long-term contract with the club.
"In my eyes, I'm here," Afflalo told The Denver Post. "That's the plan. At this point, that's how I'm moving forward."
Masai Ujiri also said that the plan is to keep Afflalo in a Nuggets uniform for a long time.
"No question he will be a Nugget for years to come," said Ujiri.
im not you
Banned
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I'm hoping Memphis closes it out so OKC can quickly dust them off in 5 games and move on to the WCF
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dbl
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I got OKC in 4
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^ i'd still rather face the spurs..
spurs killed us this season because of the green & kristic combo on the inside.. now, they are a great matchup for us (especially since they would have to go 7 in this one)
spurs killed us this season because of the green & kristic combo on the inside.. now, they are a great matchup for us (especially since they would have to go 7 in this one)
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What's wrong with Perkins knee? Is he still favoring it?
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Part of me would rather face the Spurs too, but the Spurs would be coming into the series with tons of momentum. The Thunder also wouldn't have homecourt advantage.
I understand the matchup issues that Memphis brings so I'm torn.
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STOP IT
just stop it
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D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
I see what you are trying to do...
