Former UCONN coach Jim Calhoun has shown interest in the Boston College opening: “Calhoun, 71, stepped down before the start of last season, after having suffered a broken hip in a bike-riding fall. The defending champion Huskies went 20-14 in his final season, losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He has strong ties to the Bay State: A native of the Boston suburb of Braintree, Calhoun played at American International College in Springfield and coached at Northeastern from 1972 to 1986. Calhoun, who is a special assistant to UConn athletic director Warde Manuel, told ESPN last week that he is in good health and reiterated that he would not rule out a return to coaching. When reached for comment Friday morning, Calhoun declined to talk specifically about any interest in the BC job. However, he did not rule out his interest in returning to the sideline. “I would not be opposed to talking to anyone about basketball,” he said. Later in the day, Calhoun spoke to The Hartford Courant. “I have not talked to any school and I don’t plan on talking to any other school,” he told the newspaper. “I never say never, but I am not trying to get a job. I told [ESPN] that I wouldn’t rule out talking to anybody about basketball.””
Steve Nash looks to make another return to the court Friday night: “The Lakers, left with only one healthy point guard, are planning to use Nash as a backup to Kendall Marshall against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, participated in a full practice session with the Lakers on Thursday. After recently ruling out Nash’s return, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni changed course on Wednesday and suggested Nash could return over the final 15 games of the regular season. D’Antoni informed reporters that guard Nick Young and forward Jordan Hill would return from injuries on Friday, too. The Lakers lost point guard Jordan Farmar to an injury this week. Nash, 40, has suffered from nerve damage in his back and hamstring injuries this season. Nash, who hasn’t played a game since Feb. 11, has averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 assists in 10 games. Nash has one year left on his three-year deal and insists he’ll return next season to collect the $9.7 million owed him.”
Jeff Green has some words for those who think he’s inconsistent: “He gets that people are disappointed in him when he goes from monster to mundane in 24 little hours. He feels the frustration of Celtics followers breathing down on him when he blends into the statistical scenery the game after looking like one of the best handful of players in the NBA. And, respectfully, he’s paying those opinions no mind. “I’m playing,” Green said. “I mean, that’s all I care about. I’m healthy. “I can care less about what other people have to say about my performance. You know, everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, so I really don’t pay attention to it. I’m just trying to come into each year being healthy and being able to play this game.” His medical chart has, thankfully, been clean since he missed the 2011-12 season after surgeons repaired an aortic aneurysm. But his scoring chart can sometimes resemble a crude drawing of the Pyrenees, and this fact of Jeff Green’s life tends to drive some folks to utter distraction. He has 12 games of 25 or more points this year and 12 in single figures. After going for 27 points on 10-for-21 shooting against New York last Wednesday, he posted nine on 2-for-14 marksmanship against Phoenix on Friday. And after tying his season peak with 39 in an overtime loss Sunday in New Orleans, Green made just 2-of-12 shots and turned the ball over six times on the way to five points in another tight loss in Dallas on Monday.”
Dion Waiters believes he needs to improve his rebounding: “Dion Waiters was waiting for Mike Brown in his office after the coach finished with his postgame press conference Thursday. The two chatted with the door closed for a few minutes. No idea what the meeting was about, but Waiters took responsibility for the Cavs’ inability to rebound affectively. You’d think that would fall on the center who failed to grab a rebound during his first 25 minutes on the floor, but Waiters took the blame after grabbing two in 41 minutes. “I have to get back down there and help the bigs rebound. I can’t always depend on them to get the rebounds. I take blame for that tonight,” he said. “As guards, we have to rebound too and I don’t think my focus was as good as it should’ve been on rebounding.” He can blame himself for rebounding if he’d like, but Waiters was terrific scoring the ball on a night they really needed it. This was his third career 30-point game and second this season. His other one came in that embarrassing loss at Atlanta. In fact, the Cavs have lost in all three games Waiters has scored 30 points or more.”
Phil Jackson may have rejuvenated Carmelo Anthony, but will he stay: “Other sources believe Jackson’s presence will certainly improve New York’s chances of keeping Anthony, but Jackson’s arrival will ultimately be one of several factors considered. “I think it helps, but I doubt he’ll be the deciding factor,” one former teammate told SheridanHoops. What are the other factors that will play into Anthony’s decision? “Money, playing in New York, winning and Phil,” the former teammate added. “The deciding factor for Melo is going to be what is Phil’s plan and what are they going to do next year,” a league source told SheridanHoops. “He wants to win now. He doesn’t want to hear about two years from now. He needs to win it all within three years.” Jackson gives Anthony 13 reasons – the combined number of championships he won as a player and coach – to consider re-signing a long-term contract with the Knicks this summer. However, Jackson faces an uphill battle to turn the Knicks into contenders in the short term. He has no selections in the upcoming draft and virtually no salary cap flexibility to sign free agents this summer.”
