This just in from Clipper Nation, where the home team can take its pick among top coaching candidates Lionel Hollins, Jeff Van Gundy, Byron Scott and Brian Shaw. And the winner is … Let me get back to you on that. No decision may soon be forthcoming from owner Donald Sterling, as none was for weeks after his people recommended firing Vinny Del Negro, a no-brainer they had set up that way with Sterling’s help. It’s hard to to handicap the Clippers with officials
Phil Jackson has been all over the news over the past week. It all started when the details of his new book was revealed about how he compared Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. More importantly, people still want to know whether there is any chance of seeing the Zen Master back on the sidelines for any team. The answer to that question, unfortunately, appears to be a resounding no for the foreseeable future. Here is what he told Arash Markazi
If there is one thing former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy is great at doing (aside from coaching), it’s that he is never afraid to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. Sometimes it gets him into trouble, as was the case when he infamously revealed that Dwight Howard tried to get him fired last season, but troubles be damned. If your team is great, he will tell you just that. If your team is bad, boy, will he let
Was the chance to play with Pau Gasol one of the primary reasons for Nash’s decision to become a Laker in the offseason? According to Ric Bucher’s source (more on that below), that appears to be the case and if so, the rumors of the Lakers having a desire to acquire Ryan Anderson becomes a moot point. The question is, does Nash still feel the same way after seeing how much Gasol has struggled up to this point of the season? Before sitting
Pity poor Paul Allen. He only came in at No. 20 on the Forbes list of the 400 Richest Americans. But at least he’ll have something to hold over the heads of the other owners when they convene next month for the Board of Governors meeting in New York (then again, Allen– worth 15 billion– may not attend. He usually sends someone in his place). The only owner who can flex muscles with him is Mikhail Prokhorov of the Brooklyn Nets, with $13.2
Donald T. Sterling Sterling World Plaza Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210 Dear Donald, Welcome back! I know, you didn’t really go anywhere, even if your Clippers stopped being the Clippers we’ve known for all these years. I mean, welcome back as the Clipper owner that those of us who write NBA columns or lines for Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien knew and loved. Wasn’t this season fun, while it lasted? As hyped as your guys were after getting Chris Paul, and as forgotten as they were when the Lakers
Vinny Del Negro is under contract for one more season, but it is a team option. And mercurial owner Donald J. Sterling has a checkered history when it comes to making commitments to coaches — and even when it comes to making good on his prior commitments, such as when Bill Fitch had to take him to court to get the remainder of the money that Sterling owed him. In this interview with CineSport’s Noah Coslov, SheridanHoops.com editor-in-chief Chris Sheridan says Del
Jim Buss made an appearance in Los Angeles last week and apparently did not see his shadow because he said he will no longer play hide and seek. Which is good because now that he has ventured into the public, he can get himself familiar with the Thunder, Spurs, defending champions and … the potential shadow cast by Larry Brown? If only the basketball gods will cooperate. But first, let’s address Buss – a man who has been a shadowy figure, unwilling to