SH Blog: LeBron vows to be much better, Deron Williams admits hiring Kidd is risky

June 13, 2013 by James Park

Deron Williams explains why he loves the idea of having Jason Kidd as his coach, from Stefan Bondy of Daily News: “I think Jay’s going to be a great coach. He’s probably been coaching on the floor for the last five, six years. And I’ve played with him on the Olympic team and seen how smart he is, seen how he was really coaching us out there. He wasn’t starting and wasn’t playing much, but he was coaching. He always had suggestions for Coach K. His basketball IQ is just off the charts and so I think he’s been the leader everywhere he has went, he kind of changed the culture everywhere he went and won. So that’s what we need.”

Williams also admit that hiring Kidd is a risky move: “So what about what you and other players said about needing an experienced coach? “At the time, that was kind of the thought. I think when you look around the league and you see kind of what Shaq said with the recycled coaches, that doesn’t always work either. I think it’s a risk by taking Jay. Nobody knows if he’s going to be a great coach. It’s going to take him a couple years to adjust. But at the same time, he could be a great coach off the bat. It’s a risk, but I think it’s somebody we can grow with. I think it’s somebody we’re definitely going to respect and listen to. And I’m excited about the ways he’s going to help me as a player and a leader.”

Byron Scott was interviewed by the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Broderick Turner of LA Times: “As the Clippers continued their search for a new coach, former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott was the latest candidate to interview for the job Tuesday, according to several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Scott met with Clippers President Andy Roeser, vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks and director of basketball operations Eric Miller at the team’s practice facility. “The interview went very well,” according to one executive. Scott talked to the Clippers on the heels of Indiana associate head coach Brian Shaw having his face-to-face with the team’s front office Monday, according to several executives.”

Shaquille O’Neal was on Dwight Howard’s case again, calling the center too nice. Interestingly, O’Neal also thinks it’s his duty to “help” Howard, from Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles: “He’s too nice,” O’Neal said Tuesday on “The Max and Marcellus Show” on ESPNLA 710. “I’m a connoisseur of giggling and playing and all that and making you laugh and playing with the fans, but when I cross that line, I’m ready to tear your face off. I don’t care who it is. You could put one of my aunts or uncles out there, and I’m going to give him these elbows in their chest and I’m going to throw it down in their face. That’s what you have to do. … He’s just too nice. If I was him, I would get into the same mood I was in.”… “I think it’s my duty to help this young man become one of the best big men in the league,” O’Neal said. “I’m from the old school. I’m not doing it nicely. I’m pushing buttons, I’m talking about you and I’m doing it like this. … I think it’s my job as a former big man to get him to play up to par.

Chris Bosh is selling his house in Miami, from Ira Winderman of Sun Sentinel: “Chris Bosh has decided to put his 12,368-square-foot home on Miami Beach’s North Bay Road on the market, the Miami Heat center on Wednesday told the Sun Sentinel. Bosh, however, stressed the decision was made with his family in mind, with his wife, Adrienne, expecting the couple’s second child, and not because of concerns about the direction of his playing career. “Things change,” he said before the Heat practiced at the AT&T Center in preparation for Thursday’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals, with the Heat down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. “It’s looking to see if another spot is open.” Bosh currently is a neighbor of Heat guard Dwyane Wade, with the two frequently spending time together amid this third consecutive run to the league’s championship round, Wade often visiting with Bosh the nights before games.” Bosh’s home was burglarized in April, with $479,000 worth of watches, rings, purses and cash taken.”

Bosh made sure there was no confusion about where his loyalty lies: “I’m in Miami for the rest of my career,” he told the Sun Sentinel. “I plan to be there. I plan to retire there. I plan to win hopefully a lot more championships there. So that’s where home is.” With the Heat in the midst of one of their most uneven stretches of the season, 4-5 in their last nine games, Bosh’s name already has made its way to the rumor mill. “You know, man, I don’t care,” he said of the speculation. “At first, I used to care. But that hindered my game. And they’re going to talk about you, anyway. It’s something that you can’t ever overcome. So why should you even try to prove people wrong? I just play the game.”