NBA to review calls from Game Four
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The Indiana Pacers won Game Four to even up the series against the Heat. That is not what anybody was talking about entering Thursday's Game Five. Instead, it was the three guys in grey.
Officiating does not decide games. The Dwyane Wade travel was likely a good call. The LeBron James moving screen was a good call. It is just that consistently those calls are not made. Then there was the botched 24-second call that led to a Miami 11-2 run and killed much of Indiana's momentum.
Bad calls jobbed both teams. They were equal opportunity offenders.
The NBA, with the spotlight so squarely on them, reviewed several of the calls following Game Four, Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports. It was not the NBA's brightest moment. Talking about the referees after a Playoff game is never a good thing.
Yet, here we are.
The league will review what happened and issue some kind of statement. And it will be irrlevant. The Pacers will still have won the game and will still be fighting in Game Five to send the series back to Indianapolis in their favor. Too bad the officiating is taking away from a hell of a game and a hell of a series.
Look, Joe Crawford is certainly a controversial official. He made himself the center of attention far too much in Game Four and for all time. The referees did not decide this game but they sure tried. And that was awful.
And that cannot happen again.
DeMarcus Cousins could draw interest
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The Kings are in a state of flux. They don't have a coach quite yet. Their GM might be gone. And they just got a new owner. So what about the roster? It is still a mess but full of talent. That could change if Sacramento decides to start fresh and cut out some dead weight. DeMarcus Cousins is reportedly gaining some interest if Sacramento decides to go that route. Chad Ford of ESPN.com reports the Cavaliers, Bobcats and Mavericks are among the teams expected to be lined up and interested if the Kings make Cousins available.
Adrian Griffin interviews with Pistons
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Bulls assistant coach Adrian Griffin interviewed for the open coaching spot in Detroit, Chris Haynes of Comcast SportsNet reports. The Pistons were thought to have closed all their interviews but had one more with Griffin. He has been an assistant with the Bulls since retiring a few years ago and would join a growing trend of hiring young head coaches very quickly after their retirement from playing. For a young roster like Detroit's, a guy like Griffin could be a good fit.
Cavs acknowledge they will listen to offers for top pick
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As expected, the Cavaliers are shopping the No. 1 pick hoping a team is enamored enough with Nerlens Noel to give up something of value. Sports Illustrated reports the Cavaliers are hoping to get a scoring forward in return. Perhaps this is a sign that Cleveland believes Anderson Varejao can return healthy and put up similar numbers to the ones he put up before his injury. Or perhaps it is Cleveland simply testing the waters.
Richard Jefferson exercises option
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Veteran forward Richard Jefferson exercised his option for the 2013-14 season and will remain in Golden State for the next year, Chris Haynes of Comcast SportsNet reports. Jefferson was in and out of the rotation (mostly out) in Oakland this past year, but is still working off a mega contract he signed in 2010 with San Antonio. Jefferson is due to make $11 million next season according to Basketball-Reference.
Bucks coaching search finally begins
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After oodles of rumors and waiting, the Bucks appear finally to have started their coaching search for real. Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times reports the Bucks interviewed Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson on Wednesday and are set to interview former Hawks coach Larry Drew shortly. Milwaukee previously had its eyes set big on Stan Van Gundy, but Sampson has always been a name attached to the job and curries some favor with a few current players.
Magic interested in Eric Bledsoe?
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Orlando is still in talent collection mode and will surely be exploring every option. One rumor that just will not seem to die appears to be gaining some legs. Chad Ford of ESPN.com reports the Magic are interested in dealing for Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe and are offering Arron Afflalo and taking on Caron Butler to do it. Whether that is enough for the promising young guard for a L.A. team trying to figure out where things went wrong this year is a question for Clippers brass.
Melo concerned Knicks will stand pat
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The Knicks had a lot of questions to ask themselves following a surprising second-round exit from the NBA Playoffs. A lot of people thought this Knicks team could do more damage. Carmelo Anthony is expecting the team to come back strong, but Marc Berman of the New York Post reports Anthony — or at least someone in his camp — is worried that if the Knicks stand pat this summer they could be left behind and not improve enough to get to the NBA Finals. Specifically, the source says Anthony wants the team to add a more consistent second scoring option.
Karl Malone will help Utah bigs
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Jazz big men Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors will be getting a special delivery this summer. Utah great Karl Malone will be their personal tutor this summer as Utah prepares, it seems, to part with one of their big forwards in free agency and turn over some of the keys to the young post players the organization drafted last year and acquired in the Deron Williams trade.
