Stephen Curry sticks up for Warriors coach Mark Jackson

Here’s the Bay Area News Group reporting on the Golden State Warriors, who lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs:

In the moments after the Game 7 loss, Stephen Curry wouldn’t go as far as to call the Warriors’ season a success.

But Curry, whose All-Star season lifted the Warriors to a 51-win regular season, was clear in saying that he believed Mark Jackson “deserves to be our coach” and return next season.

“I love Coach more than anybody, and I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair,” Curry said. “And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like that were to happen.

“I’m going to voice my support for Coach, if you’ve got anybody that asks me about it all summer.”

And so began what could be an offseason of change for the Warriors, who have a decision to make on Jackson as he enters the final year of his contract.

Heat and Nets set to begin 2nd round battle

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the Nets and Heat:

The droning chant will have to wait until the series moves to Barclays Center for Saturday’s Game 3.

But an argument could be made it has been ringing in the Miami Heat’s ears for months.

“Brooookl-lyn! Brooook-lyn! Brooook-lyn!”

An early-round matchup the Heat thought they had avoided with their No. 2 East playoff seed, until some late manipulation by the Brooklyn Nets, is at hand, the best-of-seven conference semifinal series starting Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

No team this season, at least when it came to wins and losses, had the Heat’s number like Brooklyn, sweeping the four-game season series, as well as winning both preseason matchups.

And, yes, it means Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are back as playoff rivals, this time in Brooklyn black instead of Boston green, complete with the enduring playoff respect and contempt that long has heightened these postseason matchups against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“It will always be there,” Wade said after Sunday’s practice, a session completed before the Nets defeated the Raptors 104-103 at Air Canada Centre in Game 7 of that series. “I don’t think there will be a moment where it won’t, just the competitive nature of those guys.”

Terrence Jones emerged nicely for Houston Rockets this season

Here’s the Houston Chronicle Blog reporting on Rockets forward Terrence Jones:

michael redd

By the end of the season, Rockets forward Terrence Jones had his routine down.

Before every game, he would take a few shots on the court, then headed to the dining room to get a plate of his favorite pasta. He sat at his locker, watching video of that night’s opponent on a large screen in the locker room while eating dinner and listening to music in his headphones. Under his practice shirt, though, his heart was pounding.

Jones was calm like a seasoned veteran before every game, but he was also eager like the 22-year old second-year NBA player that he is.

At the start of the season, Jones was one of the players on the list of forwards who would have to step up and fill a role for the Rockets this season. At the end, he was the Rockets’ regular starter and a reliable piece of the puzzle they have been trying to build.

Paul Pierce block helps Nets edge Raptors in Game 7

paul pierce

Paul Pierce blocked Kyle Lowry’s shot from the lane on the final play of the game, and the Brooklyn Nets held off the Toronto Raptors 104-103 in Game 7 on Sunday to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

The Nets will begin the conference semifinals at Miami on Tuesday night to play the two-time defending NBA champion Heat.

Leading by one point, Brooklyn used its final timeout after failing to inbound the ball. On the second opportunity, Shaun Livingston tried a lob pass to Pierce, but Terrence Ross got a hand on the ball and then knocked it off Pierce and out of bounds for a turnover.

Toronto used a timeout and gave the ball to Lowry, whose driving shot was blocked by Pierce as time expired. Lowry lay prone in the key as the Nets surged onto the court in celebration.

Joe Johnson scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Nets.

— Associated Press

Clippers tune out Donald Sterling scandal and advance in playoffs

Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting on the Clippers, who’ve had more than basketball on their minds lately:

Clippers

The weight of the Donald Sterling saga did not pull the Clippers all the way down.

Instead, the Clippers summoned all they had left in their collective tanks to grind out a 126-121 Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at Staples Center.

With six players scoring in double figures, the Clippers won the first-round best-of-seven series, four games to three.

The Clippers advance to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. They’ll face the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 1 on Monday night in Oklahoma.

“I just thought with all this stuff, this team just needed this win,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said, referring to the Sterling controversy. “I mean, we grinded.” …

Sterling’s comments about blacks continued to envelop the Clippers even after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned the team’s owner for life and instructed the other NBA franchise owners to force him to sell the team.

New Sacramento arena agreement not finalized just yet

Here’s the Sacramento Bee with a report on the ongoing quest for a new Sacramento NBA arena:

New Sacramento arena agreement not finalized just yet

The Sacramento City Council’s historic vote on the new downtown arena for the Kings won’t take place May 13, after all.

Unable to complete the fine points of the development agreement in time, Sacramento officials Saturday postponed indefinitely the vote on the Downtown Plaza project and the city’s proposed $255 million subsidy.

Nonetheless, officials said they remained confident the deal is moving forward, the delay will be brief and the project’s October 2016 scheduled opening isn’t in peril.

“The definitive agreements are in the last stages of completion and will be finalized soon,” the city said in its announcement.

NBA to appoint CEO to supervise Clippers

NBA to appoint CEO to supervise Clippers

The NBA said Saturday it will appoint a chief executive officer to supervise the Los Angeles Clippers’ operations after banning owner Donald Sterling from the league for life.

The league announced its decision a few hours before the Clippers faced the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.

On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for racist comments made on an audio recording, fined him $2.5 million and urged league owners to force him to sell the team.

“The best way to ensure the stability of the team during this difficult situation is to move quickly and install a CEO to oversee the Clippers organization,” Mike Bass, the NBA executive vice president of communications, said in a statement. “The process of identifying that individual is underway.”

— Associated Press

Warriors facing major decisions this offseason

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting on the Warriors:

Warriors facing major decisions this offseason

Warriors head coach Mark Jackson shook off a postgame question Saturday night about whether he’ll have the same title next season.

“There has never been discussion as far as my ownership group or my management team,” said Jackson, who has one season left on his contract. “… I work every single day with a passion and a commitment, like it’s my last. I’m trying to be a blessing to people. I’m trying to impact people. That’s the way I live my life, and that’s the way I coach.

“I’m totally confident and have total faith that – no matter what – I’m going to be fine. That’s even if I’m a full-time pastor.”