Duncan returns to All-NBA First Team
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The NBA announced its All-NBA teams Thursday and it looks oddly familiar to the one it had 10 years ago. OK, maybe not that familiar. But familiar (and notably deserved) names have made the list yet again.
Kobe Bryant became an All-NBA First Team player for the 11th time in his career and the eighth consecutive year. That was expected after another scorind deluge from the Lakers guard and the way he continues to pour it on even as his body seemingly finally broke down.
The surprise though came when Gregg Popovich announced to the Spurs that not only did Tony Parker make the second team, but Tim Duncan earned his first All-NBA nod in three years and his first first team selection in six years. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports Duncan was "especially touched" when his coach announced he had returned to the All-NBA First Team after such a long absence.
Duncan, now leading his team in the Western Conference Finals, has become a bit of an ageless wonder it seems. He has looked better this year than he has in the past few seasons and has proven he has some go left in him after 16 years in the league. Duncan has always been Mr. Consistency and that is hardly going to change with age.
Those who have not watched him in a while should appreciate the treasure he is.
The All-NBA First Team was led by the Duncan and Bryant selections but also included Thunder's Kevin Durant, the Heat's LeBron James and the Clippers' Chris Paul. Yes, that means Duncan was the center (a position label he has tried to avoid his entire career).
The All-NBA Second Team consisted of: the Thunder's Russell Westbrook, the Spurs' Tony Parker, the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, the Clippers' Blake Griffin and the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol. The Third Team is: the Heat's Dwyane Wade, the Rockets' James Harden, the Pacers' Paul George, the Warriors' David Lee and the Lakers' Dwight Howard.
McMillan interviews with Hawks, Bucks, Pistons
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Former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan is among the many coaches in the running for the many open coaching positions available throughout the NBA. Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports that McMillan, who did not coach this year after being fired in the middle of the 2012 season, has interviewed with the Bucks and Pistons for their vacancies and also had a phone interview with the Hawks. McMillan is known for getting the most out of his sometimes injury-riddled teams. For teams like these three, he could certainly be a good fit.
Jared Sullinger on target for training camp return
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Celtics forward Jared Sullinger's season was cut short when he went down with a lumbar disc injury in his back. Sullinger would have been pretty useful for the undermanned Celtics who often relied on Kevin Garnett in their Playoff series for long stretches of games. Sullinger told Ben Rohrback of GreenStreet that he is near 50 percent healthy through his rehab and that he expects to be ready to go for training camp. Good thing for Boston, although it is still uncertain what that team might look like.
Bobcats interview Jeff Hornacek
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The Bobcats continue their coaching search, interviewing former Jazz guard Jeff Hornacek after their interview with Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports. Hornacek has been on staff with the Jazz. If there is one guy who should graduate to the lead chair, it seems like Hornacek might be him. Hornacek has interviewed with two of his former teams that have open coaching jobs in Philadelphia and in Phoenix.
Bulls trainer wins award
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Perhaps this will quiet some fo the Bulls naysayers. Bulls athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi was voted the top trainer in the NBA, winning the Joe O'Toole NBA Athletic Trainer Award. The award is voted on by the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association. This was the second time Tedeschi has won the award, previously winning it in 2007. He has been the Bulls' athletic trainer since 1998, but probably has not had to do so much work until this year when Chicago was beset with injuries, yet still made it to the second round of the Playoffs.
Cavs thinking Porter at No. 1?
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Before the Cavaliers won the Draft Lottery, there were rumors that they favored picking Georgetown forward Otto Porter with whatever pick they ended up with. Now that the Cavaliers have won the Draft Lottery? Well, those rumors will not simmer down. Among the many options Cleveland can consider, Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports the Cavaliers might very well take Porter with the No. 1 pick, passing up on center Nerlens Noel, whom many consider the top talent in this year's Draft.
Mavs free agent plans include point guard?
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The Mavericks are undoubtedly thinking big with their free agent space for the upcoming summer. They have Dwight Howard and a run at Chris Paul in their sights. But they do not seem to expect the Paul thing to work out. However, Dallas could still go after a point guard. Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the Mavericks are expected to pursue Warriors guard Jarret Jack and Grizzlies guard Jerryd Bayless after their superb postseason performances to fill that need at point guard.
Cheeks final candidate visiting Pistons
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The Pistons coaching search, being assisted by Phil Jackson, appears close to coming to a close. Detroit interviewed Oklahoma City assistant Maurice Cheeks in person Wednesday after several phone conversations and he appears to be the last intervie wthe Pistons will take, Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News reports. Detroit has also looked at Nate McMillan, Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer and former Suns interim coach Lindsey Hunter.
Suns will interview J.B. Bickerstaff
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The Rockets have given the Suns permission to interview assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports. Bickerstaff will be one of many candidates who will be flying into Phoenix as their coaching search heats up. The others include Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek, Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, CSKA Moscow assistant Quin Snyder.
Hibbert promises not to be silent again
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The controversy in the wake of Indiana's Game One loss was Frank Vogel's decision to site Roy Hibbert on the final play of overtime, which resulted in LeBron James being able to get to the rim and make the game-winning layup. Hibbert told the press after the game that he promised he would speak up and ask to be in the game should that situation arise again. Vogel seemed to suggest he would learn from that mistake too.
Prigioni prefers staying in U.S.
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Pablo Prigioni gained notoriety this year as being the 35-year-old rookie on the Knicks. Well, he is not a rookie anymore. And the long-time veteran of the Spanish ACB League and international basketball is hoping he can extent his stay in the United States. Prigioni wants to stay in the U.S. and in the NBA, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Prigioni had a solid year, but was in and out of the lineup for much of the season as his inconsistent shooting and New York's lack of strong shooting guards had him a bit mismatched at times.
