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Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau wins 2010-11 NBA Coach of Year

The National Basketball Association today announced that Chicago Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau has been named the 2010-11 NBA Coach of the Year. Thibodeau is the fourth head coach in franchise history to win the award, joining Johnny Red Kerr (1967), Dick Motta (1971) and Phil Jackson (1996).

“This is a well deserved honor for Tom. He is a terrific teacher, motivator, tactician and communicator. His work ethic, passion for the game and for our players is appreciated,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “We are thrilled that he is part of the Bulls organization and want to congratulate him on being named the NBA’s Coach of the Year.”

In his first season with the Bulls, and his first year as a head coach in the NBA, Thibodeau guided Chicago to the best record in the NBA with a mark of 62-20 (.756). Chicago posted the top home record in the league (36-5), and recorded its first winning road record since 1998, as it went 26-15 away from the United Center. Thibodeau’s 62 wins ties the NBA record for most wins by a first-year head coach in NBA history (Paul Westphal in 1993, Phoenix), and surpasses Phil Jackson’s team record for most wins by a Bulls first-year head coach (55 victories in 1991).

Chicago’s 62 wins ranks fourth in team annals for wins in a season, and it marks a 21-game improvement from the team’s 41-41 campaign in 2009-10 (the third-best single-season turnaround in franchise history). On the year, the Bulls went 16-4 (.800) following a loss, and were one of two teams in the NBA (Boston Celtics) that did not lose more than two games in a row.

The Bulls also recorded the best record in the NBA after the All-Star break with a mark of 24-4 (.857), highlighted by a record of 21-2 to close out the regular season. On the season, the Bulls ranked first in opponent field goal percentage (.430), first in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.326), first in opponent rebounds per game (38.4), first in rebound margin (plus-5.7), second in point differential (plus-7.3), second in opponent points per game (91.3), second in opponent assists per game (19.0), second in the NBA in rebounds per game (44.2) and fifth in blocks per game (5.71).

Selected by the NBA media, Thibodeau’s honor marks the seventh time in NBA history that a first-year head coach has been named NBA Coach of the Year: Harry Gallatin (St. Louis, 1963), Johnny Red Kerr (Chicago, 1967), Mike Schuler (Portland, 1987), Larry Bird (Indiana, 1998), Doc Rivers (Orlando, 2000) and Rick Carlisle (Detroit, 2002).

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Nets begin single affiliation with Springfield Armor D-League team

The New Jersey Nets today began their single affiliation with their NBA Development League affiliate, the Springfield Armor, assuming full control of the Armor’s basketball operations. The Nets become the second NBA team, along with the Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), with such a partnership, also known as a ‘hybrid affiliation,’ and are now the fifth NBA team with a single-affiliated NBA D-League team.

“This is an exciting time for The Nets as we head into this new partnership,” said Nets General Manager Billy King.

In a structure similar to other minor leagues, this model allows for NBA teams to secure control over and cover the expenses related to the basketball operations of an NBA D-League team, while partnering with existing local ownership, which maintains responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations.

“The Nets now become the fifth NBA team to have a ‘one-to-one’ relationship with their NBA Development League affiliate for next season, which reflects our importance and success as a development engine for the NBA,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “It’s a great time for the NBA Development League, and we’re looking forward to a very successful future for the Springfield Armor.”

After entering into a hybrid affiliation with the Houston Rockets prior to the 2009-10 season, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have led the NBA D-League in Call-Ups the last two seasons, sending eight different players to the NBA 13 times. The other NBA teams that were solely affiliated with an NBA D-League team during the 2010-11 season were the Dallas Mavericks (Texas Legends), Oklahoma City Thunder (Tulsa 66ers) and San Antonio Spurs (Austin Toros). Both the Thunder and the Spurs fully own and operate their affiliates, while the Legends are owned by Mavericks General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson.

The Nets shared their affiliation with the Armor this season with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks. The Sixers’ and Knicks’ new NBA D-League affiliations will be announced at a later date.

Anon coach says Heat run no plays

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe reports:

The Heat were a classic bully team. They were 40-5 against teams .500 or below and only 18-19 against teams above .500. That tells you something.

Offensively speaking, what are they?

They are just a conglomeration of three talented solo acts, according to one mystified Eastern Conference coach.

“The Heat do not run any plays at all,’’ he insists. “The Lakers have the triangle. The Celtics run plays. The Bulls run plays. But the Heat don’t run any plays at all. They just hand the ball to LeBron or Wade and ask him to do something with it.’’

The Heat have one great source of offense, however, and how much they get to exploit it may very well determine who wins this series. The one guaranteed way to get yourself beaten, and possibly even embarrassed, by the Miami Heat is to turn the ball over between the top of the key and midcourt, thereby allowing the Heat to get into the league’s most lethal transition game. LeBron and Wade are devastating weapons in the open floor.

Chris Bosh watches games, not sports shows

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe reports:

The first enemy was the television. Once Chris Bosh decided to come to Miami and team with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, they were on it every day.

“I turned the TV off,’’ Bosh said. “I don’t watch too much TV.’’

He said he has watched 90 percent of the playoff games, “but sports shows and stuff like that, I’ve learned not to watch.’’

He’s always a few clicks away from finding a pundit who needs a punching bag, and everyone has gotten in a few licks on the Heat this season.

The decision to pull the plug came pretty quickly.

“First week,’’ Bosh said.

Warriors hope Andris Biedrins can revive game

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

In what might have been a last-ditch effort to get something, anything, out of Andris Biedrins and the $27 million owed him over the next three seasons, the Warriors met with their center Thursday afternoon.

In a two-hour chat with Biedrins and his agent, Bill Duffy, Warriors general manager Larry Riley outlined a complete physical and mental training program for Biedrins to follow this summer.

“It’s time to take actions that will get him moving in the right direction,” Riley said. “Basically, we’re going to rebuild his confidence.”

Already a hyper sensitive guy, Biedrins has had plenty of reasons to lose confidence. He has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons and been a shell of his former self on the court.

Grizzlies finish off top-seeded Spurs in 6 games

The AP reports:

Zach Randolph had 31 points and 11 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies advanced to their first Western Conference semifinals and made NBA history in knocking off the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs 99-91 on Friday night.

Memphis had been the franchise best known for empty seats and the unenviable NBA mark for playoff futility at 0-12 after being swept in its first three appearances. This time, a third straight sellout crowd cheered every bucket with a couple signs begging the Grizzlies to “Finish Them” in a town in desperate need of a hero.

The Grizzlies needed 10 seasons, but they have become just that as only the second No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed since the NBA expanded the opening series to a best-of-seven.

They will play Oklahoma City in the semifinals.

Marc Gasol had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis. Tony Allen added 11 points, and rookie Greivis Vasquez had 11 off the bench playing 24 minutes with Mike Conley in foul trouble most of the game.

Tony Parker led San Antonio with 23 points, Manu Ginobili had 16, Tim Duncan 12 and Antonio McDyess 10.

The Spurs led only twice at 2-0 and again at 80-79 when McDyess hit a 15-footer with 4:41 left.

Kirk Hinrich doubtful for Hawks-Bulls series

A magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) taken today revealed that Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich suffered a significant strain to his right hamstring with 3:07 remaining in last night’s series-clinching game six win over Orlando, according to head athletic trainer Wally Blase.

Hinrich is listed as doubtful for the Eastern Conference Semifinals series vs. Chicago, which begins on Monday.

Carlos Boozer skips practice with toe injury; uncertain for Game 1

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:

Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer skipped Friday’s practice at the Berto Center with the turf toe in his right big toe that he suffered in Tuesday’s clinching victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Coach Tom Thibodeau said Boozer’s toe has improved but didn’t know if he’d be available for Game 1 of the Bulls-Hawks series 7 p.m. Monday at the United Center.

“It’s hard to say, but I’m thinking that he will be able to,” Thibodeau said. “He had some discomfort, but it’s gotten better each day. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be better. He’s day-to-day. He didn’t practice, so we’ll check him again tomorrow.”

Lakers forward Derrick Caracter apologizes for arrest

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Rookie forward Derrick Caracter spoke publicly Thursday night for the first time about his arrest after an alleged altercation with a female employee at a New Orleans restaurant early last Sunday.

“I want to apologize to the fans for the distraction and to our organization,” Caracter said. “I will do my best to not let it happen again.”

Caracter could face multiple charges after he allegedly grabbed and shoved the cashier at an IHOP restaurant not far from the team’s hotel on Canal Street, New Orleans authorities said.

He was arrested after he was refused service at the restaurant about 1 a.m. Sunday because he was “obviously drunk, unruly and started harassing the cashier,” the New Orleans police department said in a statement earlier this week.

Caracter could face charges of simple battery, public intoxication and resisting arrest.

Knicks may force Mike D`Antoni to hire defensive-minded assistant coach

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:

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. In the past, D’Antoni has been reluctant to seek outside help, most famously refusing Steve Kerr’s request four years ago to hire Tom Thibodeau in Phoenix. Thibodeau landed in Boston in 2007, and helped the Celtics win the title three seasons ago. He now is head coach of the top-seeded Bulls.

D’Antoni is under contract through next season and is expected to be retained after leading the Knicks to their first postseason appearance in seven years. However, under D’Antoni the Knicks have been among the league’s weaker defensive teams, which is something Walsh would like to change.

Memphis assistant Dave Joerger, Orlando’s Steve Clifford, Portland’s Bill Bayno and Chicago’s Ron Adams are all regarded as top defensive coaches. Another possibility for the Knicks is Thibodeau’s replacement in Boston, Lawrence Frank, the former Nets’ coach. Frank’s contract expires this summer.

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