May 2013 – Page 7 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Nets wanted to interview Doc Rivers

The next coach of the Nets won’t be Doc Rivers.

ESPNBoston.com reported Thursday night that the Nets reached out to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge about potentially sitting down with Rivers to discuss the team’s head coaching opening, but that Ainge refused to grant them permission.

That Ainge would deny the Nets a chance to sit down with Rivers isn’t at all surprising, given that he still has three years and over $20 million remaining on the extension he signed with Boston back in 2011 – one that made him one of the game’s highest-paid coaches – and is widely to be considered among the league’s best coaches.

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Pacers coach takes shot at Knicks coach

In the wake of Frank Vogel’s decision to bench center Roy Hibbert for the final two defensive possessions of the Heat’s 103-102 win over the Pacers on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers coach directed some criticism toward Knicks coach Mike Woodson following yesterday’s practice.

“They had a more intelligent plan against Roy Hibbert than New York did, and we’ve got to adjust,” Vogel said following his team’s practice in Miami ahead of tonight’s Game 2.

With Hibbert sitting on the bench for the final 2.2 seconds, LeBron James took the inbounds pass and, after Paul George closed out too quickly, blew by him for an uncontested layup at the buzzer to give the Heat a heart-stopping win and leave the Pacers wondering what might have been.

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Pacers, Heat bring playoffs to life with overtime thriller

The Indiana Pacers fell just short in the Eastern Conference finals opener but their gritty display pumped life into the NBA playoffs and let the defending champion Miami Heat know they have a battle on their hands.

The ease with which the top-seeded Heat have brushed aside opponents during the regular season and playoffs has given an air of inevitability to this year’s postseason, resulting in falling television ratings and plummeting interest.

But those hoping for tighter games with the chance of an upset would have been encouraged by the way the Pacers gave a timely warning to the Heat that they will need to draw on all their talent to reach a third straight final.

“It doesn’t matter if you win by one or if you win by 30 or whatever the case may be. You just want to win. We have to be better Friday if we want to win again,” LeBron James said after powering Miami to a 103-102 overtime victory on Wednesday.

Indiana have struggled on the road this year, losing 21 of 40 games in the regular season, but in a scrappy, foul-ridden game that came alive spectacularly in the closing stages, the Pacers showed their mettle.

Reported by Simon Evans of Reuters

Report: Carmelo Anthony has partially torn labrum in left shoulder, MRI reveals

Carmelo Anthony played 12 playoff games with a partially torn left shoulder, the Daily News has learned.

An MRI of Anthony’s shoulder revealed a partially torn labrum, according to a Knicks source and there is a possibility that Anthony may need surgery. The Knicks are hopeful that the injury will heal on its own and the club has told Anthony to rest for the next three to four weeks at which point he will be re-evaluated.

The Daily News reported on Monday that Anthony was scheduled to have his shoulder examined by team doctors after experiencing chronic pain dating back to April 14th when he originally injured his arm against the Indiana Pacers.

Anthony then re-injured it in Game 5 against the Boston and later reported that he was experiencing the sensation of his arm shoulder popping out of the socket which is common for someone suffering from a torn labrum.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Prosecutors delay bringing assault charges against Terrence Williams

Prosecutors in Kent, Wash., said Wednesday that they need more time to investigate allegations against Celtics guard Terrence Williams before filing charges.

Williams, a Seattle native, is being investigated for second-degree domestic assault.

He was arrested Sunday after a parking lot confrontation in which the mother of his 10-year-old son told police that Williams threatened her with a gun.

Williams spent Sunday night in jail and posted a $25,000 bail Monday. He was scheduled to attend a court hearing Wednesday, the deadline for prosecutors to file charges.

— Reported by Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe

Mike Krzyzewski returning as coach of USA Olympic basketball team

Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team.

Krzyzewski will try to lead the Americans to a third straight gold medal, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday. Originally expected to step down, Krzyzewski will hold a press conference to confirm his return Thursday at Duke, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

The Hall of Fame coach has led the Americans since 2005, winning gold at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and the 2010 world basketball championship. His return was first reported by Sports Illustrated.

Reported by the Associated Press

Mike Woodson praises the Knicks season

Iman Shumpert called the Knicks’ season a failure earlier this week.

Head coach Mike Woodson disagrees.

He offered a very different definition of the Knicks’ season on Tuesday.

“Based on where we started and how we assembled our team, this was to me a wonderful season,” Woodson said. “It was a major step in the right direction, to win our division, to secure the second seed, when people didn’t think we could do none of those things.

“Some of our goals were met, so all wasn’t bad. I think we made a major step. I think we were able to win some of our fan base back and to me that’s what was more important.”

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Madison Square Garden may have to move in 15 years

The world’s biggest stage may have to move in 15 years.

The city opted to renew Madison Square Garden’s lease for a mere 15 years Wednesday, signaling that the iconic arena is not a permanent fixture in midtown Manhattan.

“The best possible outcome would be a relocated Madison Square Garden,” said city Planning Commission chairwoman Amanda Burden.

The commissioners then voted unanimously to approve the 15-year permit.

The owner of the 45-year-old arena, James Dolan, had been seeking a renewal “in perpetuity” while he carried out $1 billion in renovations that upgraded seats, luxury suites and more.

“We are extremely disappointed in today’s vote, especially because MSG meets all of the requirements for the permit,” the Garden said in a statement.

Reported by Stephen Rex Brown and Jennifer Fermino of the New York Daily News

New Sacramento Kings ownership group to buy Downtown Plaza arena site

The prospective owners of the Sacramento Kings are buying not only the team but also Downtown Plaza, where they and the city plan to build a new arena.

Local developer Mark Friedman, a member of the group buying the Kings, said the consortium headed by Silicon Valley tech executive Vivek Ranadive is now under contract to buy the mall site from JMA Ventures.

Friedman declined to disclose the purchase price.

The sale involves much of the land between Fourth, Seventh, J and L streets. It doesn’t include the independently owned Macy’s store at the west end of the plaza, or a few other adjacent buildings that are not part of the arena project site, such as the Marshall Hotel at Seventh and L streets…

JMA, a San Francisco and Truckee developer and recreation site manager, bought the mall last fall for $21.7 million from Westfield Co. It will continue to operate the center.

Reported by Tony Bizjak, Dale Kasler and Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee

Tony Parker to get MRI on troublesome left calf

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker plans to have an MRI on Thursday on his troublesome left calf, although he doesn’t expect to miss any playing time in the Western Conference finals.

Parker says the MRI is ”just to make sure” he’s improving on schedule from the injury, which limited his effectiveness in the final two games of the Spurs’ second-round series against Golden State.

Parker had 15 points and a career-best 18 assists in San Antonio’s Game 2 win against Memphis on Tuesday night.

Reported by the Associated Press