Inside Hoops – Page 1656 – NBA Blog

Thunder must stop slow starts in Finals

The Thunder had to overcome first-half deficits of 13 and 17 points in the series which is knotted at one game each.

“We just have to play harder to start the games,” said Durant during Saturday’s practice. “We are doing it a little too late. We watched film — the first 10 minutes of the game and we kind of relaxed. I don’t know why.

“It was tough to watch … you look at it and say ‘wow, did I really just do that?’

“It falls back on me as a leader. I have to start the games with a lot of intensity. No matter if I am making shots or missing shots or if I make a bad defensive rotation. I just have got to start off with a lot of energy.”

The Thunder rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit to win game one 105-94. They dug themselves an even deeper hole in the first quarter of game two by falling behind by 17 points. But this time they couldn’t climb out of it, losing 100-96.

— Reported by Greg Heakes of the Associated Press

Phil Jackson not looking to coach Knicks

Phil Jackson views the Knicks as a flawed team and says he would have turned down the franchise had it offered him the head coaching job, according to a transcript of a coming segment of “Real Sports” on HBO.

“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team,” Jackson said in the interview with Andrea Kremer, which is set to be televised on Tuesday. He added, “It’s a little bit of a clumsy team.”

But there was never a decision to make because the Knicks “never called,” Jackson told Kremer. The remarks could be viewed as an odd sort of vindication for Knicks officials, who were widely criticized for failing to reach out to Jackson.

— Reported by Howard Beck of the New York Times (Blog)

Explaining what he meant by clumsy, Jackson said, “Well, they don’t fit together well. Stoudemire doesn’t fit well with Carmelo. Stoudemire’s a really good player. But he’s got to play in a certain system and a way. Carmelo has to be a better passer, and the ball can’t stop every time it hits his hands. They need to have someone come in that can kind of blend that group together.”

When interviewer Andrea Kremer said it sounded as if Jackson was the perfect person to blend the talent because of his résumé, Jackson said, “Yeah, well, it never happened.”

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Anthony Davis picks agent, signs with Wasserman Media Group

Wasserman Media Group’s Vice Chairman, Arn Tellem, today announced that projected #1 NBA draft pick, NCAA National Champion, consensus player of the year, and University of Kentucky super-star center/forward Anthony Davis, has signed with the agency for comprehensive representation.

“We are thrilled that Anthony has chosen Wasserman and very much look forward to helping him launch what will undoubtedly be a hugely successful NBA career,” said Thad Foucher, EVP, Team Sports and Anthony’s agent along with Tellem.

This signing continues Wasserman’s streak of representing the top pick in multiple sports in 2012, including the NFL’s Andrew Luck, MLB’s Carlos Correa, and MLS’s Andrew Wenger.

“I know that this decision is a critical one to help me get on the right track for the next stage of my basketball career and I did not come to it easily,” said Anthony Davis. “After speaking with many agents and advisors, it became clear to me that Wasserman was the best place for me. I am excited, and also relieved to have made this choice and look forward to starting my career knowing I am in great hands.”

Jason Maxiell still deciding on future with Detroit Pistons

As the Pistons continue to evaluate first-round talent for the June 28 draft, forward Jason Maxiell still hasn’t decided whether to pick up his option for next season.

Maxiell, 29, is due to make $5 million next season and is coming off one of his best seasons in years — as he stayed in shape and received consistent minutes next to Greg Monroe. He averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds after the All-Star break, at which point he became a permanent fixture in the starting lineup.

His agent, Andy Miller, said he’s still evaluating what kind of market there will be for Maxiell if he were to hit free-agency. The deadline for Maxiell to decide is June 30, the eve of free agency.

Right now, Maxiell is in his hometown of Dallas with his wife and infant son.

— Reported by Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News

Three women likely cut from cast of VH1 Basketball Wives

Dwight Howard can finally relax — because his baby mama Royce Reed just got her ass axed from [VH1] “Basketball Wives” … along with two other stars on the show.

Sources connected with production tell TMZ, Jennifer Williams and Kesha Nichols also got the chop — and will be replaced next season. It’s unclear who’s in line to take their spots.

According to sources, producers will be giving the girls their walking papers any day now to drop what they called “dead weight” from the show.

— Reported by TMZ

Sale of New Orleans Hornets to Tom Benson is now official

The purchase of the New Orleans Hornets by Tom Benson was completed today after having been approved by the National Basketball Association’s Board of Governors. Tom Benson is now officially the new owner of the New Orleans Hornets.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “On April 13, Benson, who also owns the Saints, signed an agreement to purchase the Hornets from the NBA for $338 million. In the intervening months, the legislature debated, and eventually included, capital improvement funding for the arena, which will eliminate state subsidies of potentially $7 million to $8 million annually to assist the Hornets financially, money the team received under terms of the existing lease in the event certain financial levels were not achieved.”

In conjunction with the finalization of the ownership transaction, the Hornets’ lease extension with the State has been approved by Governor Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana legislature. The extension will keep the Hornets in New Orleans long term, as well as provide funding for upgrades to the New Orleans Arena. The agreement also included the elimination of all exit options, attendance benchmarks, and financial inducements.

The announcement of the finalization of the sale comes on the heels of the Hornets receiving the #1 pick, as well as the #10 pick, in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28. In April, it was announced that New Orleans will be the host city for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.

“I’m thrilled to have become the owner of the Hornets,” Benson said. “There is a lot of excitement in the region about the franchise, especially after winning the #1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. We have been successful with the Saints and I know we can translate that success to our NBA team as well. We have the best, most dedicated fans in the world and will need them along the way as we work as an organization to make them proud. Championship performance is tied to fan support and the passion of the New Orleans sports fan is second to none. We look forward to joining up with all of our valued current fans and also introducing this great team game to many more residents of our city and region.”

Horse co-owned by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol set to race

A horse co-owned by Los Angeles Lakers stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol is set to run in Sunday’s first race at Betfair Hollywood Park.

[Siempre Mio] is trained by Doug O’Neill, who guided I’ll Have Another to recent victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

[Siempre Mio] will take on five other older horses at six furlongs in the $12,500 claiming race. He will be ridden by Joy Scott. The 4-year-old gelding won his March 31 start by 2 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita.

Bryant and Gasol are part-owners along with Santa Anita CEO Mark Verge, who says Gasol has been a regular visitor at O’Neill’s barn since the Lakers lost in the second round of the playoffs.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Tony Parker suffered eye injury during Drake vs Chris Brown nightclub fight

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker suffered an eye injury during a nightclub fight, but it will not stop him from playing in this summer’s Olympics.

Parker told multiple media outlets that he got some shards of glass in his eye during the incident Wednesday in Manhattan.

“I was there with a bunch of friends when a fight broke out. They started to throw bottles about … I got it all,” Parker said.

“The cornea has been touched. I can’t do anything for seven days. … But I was lucky. The injury won’t prevent me from competing the Olympics in any way.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

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Celtics forward Brandon Bass will test free agency

You can now officially add Brandon Bass to the list of free agent targets for the Celtics.

While there has been considerable speculation as to what Bass will do this summer, his agent tells CSNNE.com that the 6-foot-8 forward plans to opt-out of the final year of his contract, and thus test the free agent waters.

However, all indications are that Bass is hoping to return to the Celtics with a multi-year deal.

“Oh absolutely,” his agent Tony Dutt said when asked if Boston was his client’s first choice. “Without question, he would love to go back.”

The decision to not pick up the final year of his contract, worth $4.25 million, is driven by Bass’ desire to sign a long-term deal with the C’s.

— Reported by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE

Jerry Sloan withdraws from Charlotte Bobcats coaching search

Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan pulled out of the mix for the Charlotte Bobcats head-coaching job Thursday, making it a two-man race between Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quin Snyder.

Both Shaw and Snyder had second interviews this week, to involve Bobcats owner Michael Jordan in the process. Jordan was involved with Sloan’s initial interview in Salt Lake City, but was not part of the discussion when Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho first interviewed Shaw and Snyder.

There were no indications early Thursday night that Bobcats management had yet made a decision between Shaw and Snyder.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer