The Nets have contacted Phil Jackson about taking over as the team’s coach, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN: “The Brooklyn Nets have contacted Phil Jackson about replacing the outgoing P.J. Carlesimo, according to a source. After Jackson, the source says the list of current Nets’ candidates consists of Larry Brown and Brian Shaw. Neither Nate McMillan nor brothers Jeff and Stan Van Gundy are on the list, the source said. That could change if the Nets fail to land one of their top three choices. Boston coach Doc Rivers would interest the Nets should the Celtics agree to let him out of his current contract, the source said. Jerry Sloan, whom star point guard Deron Williams recently endorsed, is a long-shot candidate.
Mike Woodson is concerned about Tyson Chandler being badly outplayed by Roy Hibbert, from Mark Hale of New York Post: “Knicks coach Mike Woodson called out Tyson Chandler yesterday, saying his center was outplayed by the Pacers’ Roy Hibbert and declaring that he needs Chandler to win his matchup against the Indiana big man going forward. The biggest individual matchup in this Eastern Conference semifinals series may be the center position, with the battle between Hibbert and Chandler, two of the East’s top pivots. And in the Pacers’ 102-95 Game 1 win at the Garden, Hibbert pulverized Chandler, a huge key to Indiana’s victory. “[Chandler] was in foul trouble, but individual matchups are gonna be the difference in this series,” Woodson said. “I thought Hibbert played better tonight. I’ve got to get Tyson playing better than Hibbert.” “It is a team but these are matchups we have to do better at.”
Lionel Hollins may disagree, but Tony Allen wants to guard Kevin Durant, from SLAM Online: ” “Grizzlies guard Tony Allen has defended Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant in the past, but don’t expect a steady diet of that strategy, if at all, in the Western Conference semifinals. Griz coach Lionel Hollins made it clear Sunday afternoon that he’s content with using Tayshaun Prince and other players to try and slow the smooth-scoring Durant. Allen’s primary focus likely will be to contain Thunder guard Kevin Martin throughout the best-of-seven series. ‘(Durant) took Tony to the post and caused us to help way too much in the regular season,’ Hollins said. Although Durant found little resistance while playing out of the post position against the 6-9 Prince, Hollins stayed with taller players in throwing multiple defensive looks at the 6-11 Durant. Allen is listed at 6-4. Prince mostly guarded Durant. But Quincy Pondexter (6-6) and even Darrell Arthur (6-9) tried to slow Durant to no avail. None of this means Allen wouldn’t mind a crack at the NBA’s runner-up for scoring champ and Most Valuable Player. ‘Don’t be surprised with anything. We might try anything,’ Allen said. ‘Don’t be surprised if I’m able to lock up with him.’
Larry Drew may not be confident about coming back with the Atlanta Hawks, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports: “Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew and his staff have begun exploring other job opportunities in anticipation of the possibility they won’t be retained, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Hawks general manager Danny Ferry is expected to make a final decision by the middle of this week, sources said. One source close to the coaching staff believes there is a “slim chance” the coaches will be brought back because Ferry has often talked about changing the franchise’s culture. The contracts of Drew and his staff expire July 1. Drew has a 128-102 record in three seasons as head coach of the Hawks and has guided the team to the playoffs in each season. The Hawks went 44-38 this season and secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 playoff seed after Ferry overhauled the roster by trading star guard Joe Johnson and the remaining $90 million on his contract to the Brooklyn Nets.”
Omer Asik doesn’t care whether the Rockets sign Dwight Howard or not, from Jonathan Feigen of Houston Chronicle: “With the Rockets expected to make a run in free agency at Lakers center Dwight Howard, Rockets center Omer Asik said he has not given a thought to how Howard might impact his position with the team or if they could play together. “It’s all things that happen out of my control,” Asik said. “I really don’t know and I really don’t care. Whether it happens, we’ll see. I’m just looking forward to rest and getting better for the next season.”… Asik will join the Turkish national team for its World Championships qualifying tournament this summer. “We have a really young team I think,” Asik said. “We fought hard all season with ups and downs. Even in the playoffs, we’d get down. We’d never give up. It was a great year for the whole team; for me, too.”
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar believes LeBron James can break his record of six MVPs, from Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida: “As long as LeBron stays healthy and keeps playing the game at a high level, he, of course, could break my record,’’ Abdul-Jabbar wrote in an email to FOX Sports Florida minutes after James had been awarded his latest trophy. “The challenges he faces are getting injured or losing interest.’’ So how would Abdul-Jabbar feel if James topped his record, which has stood since the center won his sixth MVP in 1980? “I don’t know how I will feel until it happens,’’ Abdul-Jabbar wrote…
“It’s a great achievement for LeBron,’’ wrote Abdul-Jabbar, who won MVPs with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971, 1972 and 1974 and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1976 and 1977 in addition to 1980. “He has grown as a leader and it’s great to see him maturing in a positive way. His talent and work ethic are commendable and I have great respect for what he has achieved. “I think LeBron has emerged as the dominant player of this era. He is certainly one of the great players of the game and has earned his spot among the elite.’’
