Much has been made of Tim Duncan’s comments following a Game 6 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he declared that his team would beat the Miami Heat this time.
It’s understandable because the words came from Duncan, and he rarely ever says things that are headline-worthy. More importantly, LeBron James assumed that the Spurs don’t like the Heat based on Duncan’s comments.
Still, Duncan and others on the team mostly believe nothing out of the ordinary was said. Tony Parker, in particular, doesn’t believe at all that Duncan was trying to talk trash, from The AP:
The Spurs, whose demeanor and remarks are normally as plain as sandwich bread, were a bit taken aback by James’ reaction.
“Knowing Timmy, that’s not trash talking,” San Antonio’s Tony Parker said. “I don’t think he meant it like that. But obviously, we are very motivated and we want to get it done. At the same time, we realize we are playing a very good team that went to the [Finals] four times in a row and won the last two.”
Parker added that there’s no reason for the Spurs to dislike the Heat, from Mike Monroe of Express-News:
“What do you mean we don’t like them?” he said. “I respect them a lot. They’re the two-time champs. I have a lot of respect for LeBron and what he’s accomplished, and (Dwyane) Wade and all those guys.
“It’s hard to win championships. I was lucky enough to win three times and this is my fifth Finals. I realize how hard it is. All they got is well deserved. I take it like a great challenge and have a lot of respect for them.”
Even if they privately dislike the Heat, it’s probably a wise decision to not spark up any unnecessary fire. Lance Stephenson probably understands that now better than anyone, especially when it’s against James.
Predictably, Gregg Popovich wants nothing to do with the back-and-forth nonsense:
“I like everybody,” the San Antonio Spurs coach said.
So any talk of dislike for a particular player or team was met with a glare.
“Are you really going to ask that?” Popovich said. “So somebody will say, ‘I don’t like him’ and the other guy, ‘So and so said they don’t like you.’ ‘Well, I don’t like him either.’ Come on, this is silly.”
JAMES AND WADE SAY LAST YEAR’S TITLE WAS NO LUCK:
Many around the league and fans alike tend to believe the Miami Heat were incredibly lucky to have won a second consecutive championship last season, and rightfully so.
Just don’t tell LeBron James and Dwyane Wade that they got lucky, from Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
“We feel slighted,” James said before the Heat’s practice Wednesday. “I can’t sit here and lie to you, we do. … It went seven [games], it wasn’t like it was 3-0 and they had us in Game 4 and we took it and won four straight. If you look at the numbers, look at the numbers, the lead changes, the ties and the points in that series, it’s almost even.”
[…]
“Game 6 was unbelievable to be able to come back and win that game,” Wade said. “But that’s the game of basketball. You know, the ball bounces funny ways. Game 1, the shot that Tony Parker hit, I mean, that was unbelievable, to get off the ground and hit that shot and just get it off.
“The ball bounces in funny ways. And we’re thankful for Ray Allen making that shot, but there were so many other things that had to play right for us to win that game. So you need a little luck, both ways, even to be in the Finals. We were a recipient of luck in that [Game 6] moment, but we won the championship.”
At the end of the day, James has the utmost respect for Duncan:
“I think he’s one of the greatest to ever play our game,” James said. “He is still solidifying his legacy at this point, just because in the sense that he’s playing at the one of the highest levels of any guy that’s played this long. To keep this team and this franchise relevant over 15 years is amazing.
“To see what he does on the floor every single night, and year after year people count him out and count this franchise out, because of this whole old epidemic that we have in sports, just lets you know what type of person and what type of player and passion he has for the game.”
Whether he wins or loses, here’s what James thinks of what we may feel about his legacy:
LeBron: “I don’t really care about what people say about me.” Said he thinks the talk about his legacy is “stupid.”
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) June 4, 2014
ANDREW BOGUT THROWS SUBTLE SHOT AT MARK JACKSON?:
It’s no secret at this point that Mark Jackson may not necessarily have had the support of every player in the Warriors’ locker room based on all the reports that surfaced since his firing.
Was Andrew Bogut one of those players who may not always have seen eye to eye with the former coach? The two did have one strange incident during the season when Jackson accused Bogut of injuring himself while sleeping – something the center vehemently denied.
Bogut joined a podcast with “Believe The Hype” and discussed the prospect of meeting Steve Kerr in person. Along the way, he had some interesting ways of putting things that might make you wonder if he was taking a subtle jab at some of the things he may not have liked about Jackson, from Diamond Leung of Mercury News:
Bogut said he had spoken over the phone with Steve Kerr and that the new Warriors coach also sent him an email about trying to fly out to Australia soon to meet with big man in person.
“That’s always a good sign,” Bogut said. “He seems like a very knowledgeable guy. Obviously, he’s a very, very good commentator. You can tell he’s got a high IQ just by listening to his games. But obviously the question that everyone’s asking is the coaching experience thing.
“But I don’t see him as having a huge ego or anything like that, so I think he’ll probably hire some assistants that can definitely help him carry the load in his first year as a coach, and I think he’ll be great for us.”
One of the biggest issues the front office had with Jackson was his inability to work well with everyone in the organization. That may be attributed to his strong personality and set ways, or ego, as some would call it. Combine that with Bogut’s eagerness to bring up the hiring of good assistants – and assistants are something Jackson obviously had major issues with – for Kerr, and it’s not hard to see why jabs may have been thrown here.
Meanwhile, and more importantly, Bogut hopes to make more of an impact on the offensive end come next year:
“I’ve kind of taken a backseat offensively the last couple years, and that’s not a bad thing because we do have two of the best shooters in the league that are great scorers,” Bogut said, “So I’d like to get that back. I think I can do a little more offensively, but if my team needs me to play D and rebound, I’ll do that.”
If the Warriors can move David Lee and his mammoth contract as they hope over the summer, Bogut may very well get his wish of being more involved offensively. Given his general effectiveness down low – he shot a whopping 62.7 percent from the field this past season – that would be a welcoming sight for the team.
OTHER NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
Sticking by his words when he first brought in Phil Jackson, James Dolan says he isn’t involved with front office decisions, from Ian Begley of ESPN NY: “New York Knicks owner James Dolan says he hasn’t been involved in the team’s coaching search and will not be involved in Carmelo Anthony’s free agency. In other words, Dolan says the two biggest decisions facing the Knicks this summer will be made by president Phil Jackson without much input from the owner.
“I have not asked about the coaching search on purpose. I told [Jackson] I’m here for you if you need me; if you don’t need me, that’s fine, too. I’ve got a lot to do,” Dolan said in an interview with WFAN on Tuesday afternoon. Dolan, surprisingly, claimed he didn’t know which coaching candidates Jackson is talking to. It’s hard to believe Dolan didn’t know Jackson was talking to Steve Kerr, who turned the Knicks down to take the head coaching job at Golden State.”
Not surprisingly, the Houston Rockets will decline the fourth-year option on Chandler Parsons, from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: “The Houston Rockets plan to decline the fourth-year option on forward Chandler Parsons‘ contract, freeing him to become a restricted free agent this summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Rockets hold a $960,000 option on the fourth and final year of Parsons’ contract for the 2014-’15 season, but want to avoid letting Parsons, 25, become an unrestricted free agent next summer. As a restricted free agent in July, the Rockets can match an offer sheet and retain Parsons on a long-term contract. The Rockets have until June 30 to formally decline the option. For the Rockets, there are two distinct advantages to letting Parsons into restricted free agency now. First, Houston is determined to clear the necessary salary cap space this summer to chase a third maximum contract free agent to join Dwight Howard and James Harden, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.”
Included in Woj’s report is the list of players that the Rockets will look to pursue this summer: “Houston plans to pursue the major stars who could be available upon opting out of deals, including Miami’s LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and New York’s Carmelo Anthony, league sources said. Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki is expected to be a target too. The Rockets are pursuing Minnesota’s Kevin Love in trade talks too, and Parsons could hold sign-and-trade possibilities.”
- Speaking of Love, Woj also has the inside scoop on what the Timberwolves hope to accomplish this summer: “Timberwolves are discussing Kevin Love trade scenarios w/ teams, but made it clear deal’s unlikely until they’ve hired a coach. sources say. Once Wolves hire coach, they’ll likely try to sell Love again on a vision and direction. For now, his stance hasn’t changed: He wants out.”
- It was announced on Wednesday that Paul George made the All-NBA team. For this achievement, he will be paid handsomely by the team, from Windhorst of ESPN: “By making 3rd team All-NBA, Pacers’ Paul George hits a $7 million contract bonus in his new deal.”
The NBA and Donald Sterling will move on from each other much quicker than anticipated, from ESPN: “Banned owner Donald Sterling has approved the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and won’t pursue further legal action related to the transaction, his attorney told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne in an email Wednesday. Max Blecher said Donald Sterling had settled with wife Shelly regarding the sale and that the NBA agreed to not sue him for anything a day after Sterling, in an interview with NBC4 during a charity function, said he was ready to “move on.” “I feel fabulous, I feel very good,” Sterling told NBC4 on Tuesday night when asked how he felt about his wife selling the team. “Everything is just the way it should be, really. It may have worked out differently, but it’s good. It’s all good.” Donald Sterling — who had yet to sign anything as of Wednesday night, a source told ESPN.com — sued the NBA on Friday seeking $1 billion in damages but will withdraw that suit, Blecher said. Commissioner Adam Silver also was named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The source said the expectation is that Sterling will officially sign off on the sale, and that his people — Blecher included — are encouraging him to do so. “I’m OK, I’m OK,” Sterling said Tuesday. “Is the NBA OK? I’m not sure about that. Is Adam Silver OK? I’m sure he’s OK.”
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
A happy Donald Sterling is good for the NBA.