Jackson: “Always be closing”
LOS ANGELES - One look around Staples Center reveals that the Lakers are getting ready to take a Finals step. There are purple-and-gold balloons strung around the entrances, and horse-mounted police are roaming up and down Chick Hearn Court. Talk before the game, however, still centered around the…
May 29, 2008, 10:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Knicks headed for Gallinari?
ORLANDO -- As you try to line up who will be gone before the Charlotte Bobcats' ninth overall pick in the NBA draft (June 26, 2008, ESPN, 7 p.m.-midnight), check out who was missing from the first night of the...
May 29, 2008, 9:15 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
Jermaine O'Neal: Buyer beware
I suspect we'll hear a lot this off-season about Indiana Pacer Jermaine O'Neal being available in trade. At first glance, he'd be a great addition to the Charlotte Bobcats -- a scoring big man who can play power forward or...
May 29, 2008, 9:00 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
Why would team commit so early to draft promise?
I got a call Thursday from a scout for a team drafting in the teens, wondering if it was conceivable the Bobcats would have made a promise to select Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan. By "promise," the scout meant the...
May 29, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
Should Bobcats trade 1st-round pick again?
I keep hearing suggestions from readers that the Charlotte Bobcats should do what they did last season, and trade their first-round pick for an impact veteran. I’m totally with you that those options should be explored. But it’s considerably harder...
May 29, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
Augustin might be Brown's guy
Totally a hunch here, but if I were the Charlotte Bobcats picking ninth, knowing Larry Brown will be coaching this team, I’d take a long look at Texas point guard D.J. Augustin. He strikes me as a Brown point guard...
May 29, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
OPEN THREAD: Day 40 of the 2k8 NBA Playoffs
I know my esteemed colleague and usual weekday TV partner for all things sports wasn't all too excited about yesterday's Eastern Conference Finals match, but I have to say- it was a hell of a game. I hope this series goes the distance. Game 7 in Boston- where you at? P-M-U-J for a…
May 29, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Brown wants Snow on staff, but Bobcats might have to get in line
Bobcats coach Larry Brown wants Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Eric Snow on his staff, once Snow’s injury retirement becomes official. But there’s a complication that would be very nice for Snow; an informed source says the Chicago Bulls want to...
May 29, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
Win No. 1? That's only half the story
If the Charlotte Bobcats somehow beat the odds tonight and receive the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, it would serve as a straw ballot on the current administration's taste for risk. There's little hope of that happening --...
May 29, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
NBA executives expect Lawson to stay in draft
If you take it literally that Tyson Lawson will return to North Carolina unless he knows he’ll be chosen before the 21st pick, then Lawson is in Chapel Hill next season. But the NBA executives I polled Thursday don’t see...
May 29, 2008, 7:15 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
Clueless like a fox
Heat beat writer Ira Winderman has an interesting take on the post-lottery Pax: Sorry, but still not sold on Chicago's John Paxson not being sold on who the Bulls plan to draft at No. 1. Somehow, one would think a season's body of work would mean more than anything Paxson will learn…
May 29, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Ford thinks Rose will be the pick (and other draft tips)
[From the Fanposts. I inferred the same things Ford did from that podcast -ed.] One of the stops on the Paxson Media Tour after winning the lottery was a podcast sitdown with Chad Ford. After hearing the usual Pax speak about wanting a leader, Ford has done a 180 (its a free preview insider…
May 29, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Four Concerns I have with Beasley
[From the fanposts. -ed.] I simply don't value high scoring 3/4 tweeners very highly. Based on watching the NBA, NBA history, and statistics, I don't believe they're as valuable when it comes to actually winning games as their offensive skill set suggests. For a forward to be a…
May 29, 2008, 5:30 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Manufactured debate
Well, I'm almost already sick of draft talk. And it's not until June 26th. First we had Sam's bad day , though that was more due to his evaluation of the current roster. Today there's the likes of Mariotti saying the Bulls have to find a coach first (whoever it is, I guarantee the pick will…
May 29, 2008, 5:15 PM ET from Blog a Bull
ESPN: Paxson wants Rose? (Sorta?)
[ed. note: From the FanPosts. I agree that this is taking substantial liberties with Paxson's notoriously vague comments, but Pax's mentioned 'leadership' enough in his media tour to make it seem he's at least initially leading Rose. Now it's just waiting until they get both to the Berto Center…
May 29, 2008, 5:00 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Paxson (and friends) 5/21 media tour
Pax with Mully and Hanley Pax with Mike and Mike (insider required) Highlight: Paxson saying 'process' a lot, Golic daring to use the word 'timetable'. Sam Smith and KC Johnson with Mike North (warning: contains Mike North) Highlight: KC whining about how the Bulls needing…
May 29, 2008, 4:45 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Just remind yourself every minute or so: the Bulls won the lottery.
It's only been a couple hours. I think the high has come down (a bit), and I'm starting to try and actually think about what the Bulls really should (and will) do. It's early, but so far it isn't a situation where I knee-jerkedly say "take Rose" (which I did), and then as time goes on I…
May 29, 2008, 4:30 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Hornets Off-Season: What do the Hornets need?
The Hornets got the first thing they needed yesterday, when Byron Scott had his contract extended. Scott has caught more than his fair share of criticism over the last couple years for things as wide-ranging as his comments about liking Oklahoma City to his substitution patterns to…
May 29, 2008, 4:30 PM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Bulls win lottery, receive #1 pick
How's this for NBA-karma what-have-yous that I always thought were quite lame (but will share anyway): I spaced and missed the live lottery drawing. Luckily I realized it at 7:30. So I was able to flip to ESPNNews, who showed the full replay of the final 3 envelopes. I couldn't believe it was…
May 29, 2008, 4:15 PM ET from Blog a Bull
The Sum of all Hopes
Here are the Bulls chances Tuesday night: No. 1: 1.70% No. 2: 2.00% No. 3: 2.40% No. 9: 81.34% No. 10: 12.18% No. 11: 0.38% No. 12: 0.0024% Get a top two pick, draft Rose or Beasley (in, my opinion, that order), and all of Pax's inactivity and (public) idiocy doesn't matter. (Getting the…
May 29, 2008, 4:00 PM ET from Blog a Bull
The more you know: the Bulls own a traded player exception
Thanks to Bulls Beat (#38) for alerting me (sorry if this is old news to some, skip and grumble) to a pretty important fact when considering the Bulls options this offseason: a $5.2m trade exception resulting from the Wallace/Hughes crapswap. How? You can read about it, courtesy of "Tommy…
May 29, 2008, 3:45 PM ET from Blog a Bull
For the sweater crowd
I labled this Reinsdorf quote as amongst the 'good' portion of what he said regarding the coaching search: "I can't worry about perception. I have to worry about making the right decision. This is a very critical hire." But do the Bulls need to worry about perception? (So far they haven't…
May 29, 2008, 3:30 PM ET from Blog a Bull
(UPDATE) Reinsdorf speaks, manages to make it sound even worse
UPDATE: Sam Smith with more from Reinsdorf and D'Antoni. Kudos to KC for scoring this interview with the chairman: "I'm disappointed in [D'Antoni]," Reinsdorf said. "I don't know what else we could've done. He chose to go to New York knowing there was a good chance we would make him an…
May 29, 2008, 3:15 PM ET from Blog a Bull
No timetable, indeed.
In the aftermath of Mike D'Antoni signing with the Knicks over the Bulls, I was a bit disappointed but not completely. I felt that D'Antoni would've been a good fit, but not a perfect one, and whatever reservations the Bulls braintrust had regarding him were justifiable. Especially…
May 29, 2008, 3:00 PM ET from Blog a Bull
D'Antoni a Knick (via SI.com)
[ed. note: From the fanposts. This is reported byJack McCallum, who's pretty plugged in to D'Antoni and friends. So it's about as official as it gets. I'll likely have some rationalizing to offer sometime this weekend, but overall I'm pretty disappointed. -Matt] SI.com reports : Walsh…
May 29, 2008, 2:46 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Your Friday coaching search update
The honors today go to Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: A league insider believes the Bulls are comfortable choosing between D'Antoni and Johnson, two former NBA coach of the year winners. If neither works out, they'll likely wait to talk to Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau and Detroit…
May 29, 2008, 2:31 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Thinking of Tyson
Not that this hasn't been rehashed a-plenty over the past couple years, but seeing Tyson Chandler deservedly lauded by national TV coverage as a key cog on a title-contending team is bizarre. Not that he didn't show the talent here, or is even performing that much better now than he was as…
May 29, 2008, 2:15 PM ET from Blog a Bull
More D'Antoni
There's a pointless and fun tool that was posted amongst the SBNation brethren that allowed us to count comments by user on a post. Here's what's been produced in the weeks worth of D'Antoni talk: Total Users: 74 Total Comments: 913 Total Threads: 3 Top 10 Commenters: your friendly…
May 29, 2008, 2:00 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Everything you wanted to know about how Phoenix phans pheel about D'Antoni
is here. (well, not all fans, but a few good ones anyway) One of the main complaints is over a lack of adjusting both in season and between seasons. So while we've been discussing whether he's a good fit as Bulls coach, it's been seeming like the first route is to then think how the…
May 29, 2008, 1:45 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Trib: Doug Collins expected to be next Bulls coach
This report from KC Johnson was mentioned earlier today in a (since hidden) fanpost, but that was a first draft, with the idea that Collins could be coming in as either the head coach or an assistant. Now? Six weeks ago Thursday, shortly after firing interim coach Jim Boylan, general…
May 29, 2008, 1:30 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Just in case more motivation was needed …
… Deadspin has it: (Update: Should have figured — you can pre-order a Detroit shirt, as well.) Also, here’s a portion of Dan Shaughnessy’s column from Monday’s Boston Globe: Can’t help it. The Celtics are ahead of the Pistons, and the Lakers are ahead of the…
May 29, 2008, 11:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Talking to CelticsBlog’s Steve Weinman
There’s no love lost between Celtics fans and Pistons fans, and it’s been that way for decades. That said, I’d buy the guys at CelticsBlog a beer any day. I made a cameo answering a few questions over there earlier today, and CelticBlog’s Steve Weinman returned the favor…
May 29, 2008, 11:15 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Paul Pierce: Game 5 is a “must-win”
The Pistons never use the phrase “must-win game” unless they’re literally at risk of being eliminated. A lot of fans don’t agree with it, but now I see why they do it. From the MetroWest Daily News (via CelticsBlog): While no one was particularly happy with the Game 4 effort…
May 29, 2008, 11:15 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
“It’s all (bleeping) entertainment”
Rasheed Wallace wasn’t impressed by the officiating last night: “All that bull(bleep)-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] — you’ve all seen that (bleep),” Wallace said. “You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the…
May 29, 2008, 11:00 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
NBA will enforce the No Ginobili Rule!
The NBA will fine egregious floppers starting next year. There really will be a No Ginobili rule!
May 29, 2008, 11:00 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Down, but not out
Wow. That game was … wow. As Henry Abbott pointed out on TrueHoop, Pistons fans are no strangers to suffering through heartbreaking Game 5 losses. But you know what? I’ll take this. This feels different. Believe me, there’s plenty of frustration and a tinge a regret for the…
May 29, 2008, 10:31 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Rip Hamilton has a strained elbow
The Boston Globe posted the entire transcript of Flip Saunders’ post-game presser — here’s his answer when asked about Rip Hamilton’s elbow: Q. Just give us an update on what you know what Richard did to his hand. COACH FLIP SAUNDERS: Rip strained a right elbow. It’s…
May 29, 2008, 08:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Minnesota will keep their second-rounder
From A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers: The Pistons were hopeful that they would have the Minnesota Timberwolves’ second-round pick in next month’s NBA draft, which is at the top of the second round, and 31st overall. But Joe Dumars, Detroit’s president of basketball…
May 29, 2008, 08:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Game 4 halftime: Lakers lead, 53-47
SAN ANTONIO — Luke Walton started slow but finished the first half awfully strong. Walton’s aggressive post move against Manu Ginobili helped the Lakers to a 6-2 finishing run before halftime. Walton got an early run in Game 4 because of Lamar Odom’s two early fouls, but Walton…
May 29, 2008, 08:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Fisher-Barry last-play controversy is so not the point
Before we move completely on to Game 5 of the Spurs-Lakers series, it really needs to be said here that the Lakers are not getting their just due with regard to Game 4. All the talk about whether Derek Fisher fouled Brent Barry on the final play is fine to fill time and space, but it’s really…
May 29, 2008, 07:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Walter Herrmann is a wanted man
Courtesy of PistonsForum comes the news that Pamesa Valencia, a team in Spain’s ACB league, wants to sign Walter Herrmann, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent. Chris McCosky thinks Herrmann “will get the first crack” at being Tayshaun Prince’s backup if he…
May 29, 2008, 03:15 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Pre-order the FreeDarko book
“The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac: Styles, Stats and Stars in Today’s Game,” aka, the FreeDarko book, won’t technically be available until November, but you can get it cheap if you pre-order it now.
May 29, 2008, 02:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
The Paxspeak Playbook
I'm not sure if we're at the point where Paxson's predictability is more sad than funny. I still find it funny. I guess the real test is if his team still sucks next year. First, some true draft-rumor craziness, from yet another blog that has more sources than me(even indirectly): I…
May 29, 2008, 02:15 AM ET from Blog a Bull
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