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Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reports (via blog):
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Guard DeShawn Stevenson will return to the Mavericks next season after exercising his player option to do so last week, his agent Mark Bartelstein said Monday.
Bartelstein said it was the right move for Stevenson after considering the free agent market this summer and after playing limited minutes for Dallas last season.
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Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash this morning was seen by Suns general otolaryngology doctor (ear, nose and throat), Dr. Ryan Rehl. Nash was diagnosed with a minimally displaced nasal fracture with displaced cartilage. He will undergo a minor reduction, putting the nose back in place, later today.
Nash will practice with the team today and will not miss any time.
Nash suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Suns’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals Sunday at US Airways Center.
Tickets for the Phoenix Suns’ next home game of the 2010 Western Conference Finals on Tue., May 25, have sold out.
In the least shocking blog entry I’ve posted in a long time, Boston is currently flooded with Celtics green. Walk any busy section of the city and every 10 or 20 seconds, someone passing by has Celtics gear on, or at least some green.
The Celtics tonight have a chance to do what no one expected and sweep the Orlando Magic. Coming into the series, most of the NBA world was still surprised how Boston managed to handle the Cleveland Cavaliers.
I still think LeBron James’ elbow was a huge factor, even if many others refuse to factor it in. He was using his off-hand far more than usual, especially as the series progressed, and I doubt it was for the fun of it. Still, credit Boston for the series win.
And now, the Celtics are playing on a truly championship level, more or less on par with their title-winning 2008 team. And the Magic are getting wrecked.
Will the real Orlando team show up tonight for Game 4? I think we’ll see more fight than they’ve displayed in the first three games, but that isn’t saying much.
While it’s possible the Magic win tonight, there’s simply no reason to expect it.
Indiana Pacers guard A.J. Price injured his left knee in a charity basketball game Saturday night in New York.
The extent of the injury has not been determined and Price will be examined by Pacers team doctors Monday afternoon in Indianapolis.
The Pacers finished the 2009-10 regular season with a 32-50 record, which was 10th best in the Eastern conference.
For the season, Price played 15.4 minutes per game, averaging 7.3 points and 1.9 assists.
Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal reports:
Mike Brown’s firing Monday after compiling a record of 272-138 and leading the Cavs to the league’s best regular-season record each of the past two seasons left many wondering what simmered underneath the surface between James and Brown.
It left me wondering how Brown would answer that ”Isn’t it tough to coach a superstar?” question today.
Before the playoffs, the only public rift this season appeared to come after Brown did not use Zydrunas Ilgauskas on Nov. 28 when the center could have set the team’s franchise record with 724 games played. James spoke out in the aftermath. It had to sting the ever-loyal James that Ilgauskas invited friends and family to Quicken Loans Arena for the occasion that Brown apparently forgot to celebrate.
But Brown helped James elevate his game. Buying into Brown’s defense-first mantra, James was selected to the NBA’s all-defensive first team the past two seasons. Brown convinced James that a chase-down block was just as awe-inspiring as a monster slam.
But many — including President Barack Obama — questioned how much James respected Brown. The coach was tuned out by the media because of his lack of meaty sound bites. Was that the case for the players, too?
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced that Mike Brown has been relieved of his duties as head coach, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
“I have truly enjoyed working with Mike Brown. Mike has played a huge role in turning around the Cavs organization,” Ferry said. “Over the past five years, Mike established a work ethic, defensive identity and culture of winning that was not here previously.”
Brown was hired as the 17th coach in franchise history on June 2, 2005. In five seasons with the Cavs, he compiled a record of 272-138 (.663). Brown was named the 2009 NBA Coach of the Year by members of the media.
“Mike Brown is a class act. On behalf of the entire Cavaliers organization, there is only gratitude and appreciation for Mike’s accomplishments over the past five years,” stated Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert. “I think it is clear that Mike Brown has been instrumental in contributing to the growth and progress we have experienced in recent years. We wish Mike and his family the best of luck in any future challenges that Mike chooses to accept going forward.”
“After a long and deep analysis of all of the factors that led to the disappointing early ends to our playoff runs over the past two seasons, we concluded that it was time for the Cavaliers to move in a different direction,” Gilbert added. “The expectations of this organization are very high and, although change always carries an element of risk, there are times when that risk must be taken in an attempt to break through to new, higher levels of accomplishment. This is one of those times.”
Brown compiled a postseason record with the Cavs of 42-29 (.592). He led the team to at least the second round of the postseason in each of his five seasons, including Cleveland’s first trip to the NBA Finals in 2007.