NBA Today
May 20, 2007
Cleveland at Detroit (8 EDT). Re-match of last year's Eastern Conference semifinals, the Pistons edged the Cavaliers 4-3 in the series.
-The Pistons-Cavaliers series opener will come exactly one year since Cleveland's 2006 season ended with a Game 7 loss in the conference semis to the Pistons, 79-61.
-Billy Hunter, NBA union chief, said that the players would support the reinstatement of referee Joey Crawford, who was suspended after he was accused of trying to pick a fight with Tim Duncan during a game.
-The Detroit Pistons are looking to make a fifth straight trip to the conference finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers, formed as an expansion team in 1970, have never played for the title.
-The San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz split the regular season series 2-2, with each team winning its two home games. The Jazz have lost their last 16 games in San Antonio, dating to 1999.
``We just want to make him work extremely hard and give him a lot of different looks to not let him get comfortable and settled in on how we're going to guard him. We want him to think and to tire him out.'' said Lindsey Hunter on how the Pistons will Cavalier's guard LeBron James.
Report: Mitchell agrees to return as Raptors coach
May 19, 2007
TORONTO (AP) -NBA coach of the year Sam Mitchell agreed to a new contract with the Toronto Raptors on Friday, The Canadian Press reported.
The Canadian Press, citing an unidentified source close to the negotiations, said the official announcement could come as early as Tuesday.
The 43-year-old Mitchell was selected the NBA coach of the year last month after leading the Raptors to a 47-35 record. He was 60-104 in his first two seasons with the Raptors. His contract was set to expire June 30.
According to anonymous sources cited by the Toronto Star, the deal has a base salary of $12 million and could be worth as much as $14 million over three years.
Suns assistant acknowledges informal meeting with Grizzlies
May 19, 2007
PHOENIX (AP) -Phoenix Suns assistant coach Mark Iavaroni said Saturday that he has had an informal meeting with Memphis owner Michael Heisley about the Grizzlies' vacant head coaching position.
``I had a nice dinner conversation with Michael Heisley and got to know him better and really liked what I heard,'' Iavaroni said. ``We struck a very good chord.''
Iavaroni, mentioned for head coaching jobs the last few seasons, said he hasn't had contact with any other teams and has no formal interview scheduled with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies also have asked for and received permission to speak with the Suns vice president of basketball operations David Griffin about a front-office job. Memphis president and general manager Jerry West has announced he is leaving once his contract ends on June 30.
Former New York Knicks coach Larry Brown and the University of Florida's Billy Donovan also met with Heisley about the vacancy, according to a report by The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
Iavaroni said he believes he is better prepared than ever to become a head coach.
``I think I'm very, very capable,'' he said. ``I've had great experience and great teachers and great comrades throughout all our battles here and other places, and I think I'm over-ready.''
Iavaroni said he plans to see if there is interest in him from any other NBA teams seeking a new coach.
Suns assistant acknowledges informal meeting with Grizzlies
May 19, 2007PHOENIX (AP) -Phoenix Suns assistant coach Mark Iavaroni said Saturday that he has had an informal meeting with Memphis owner Michael Heisley about the Grizzlies' vacant head coaching position.
``I had a nice dinner conversation with Michael Heisley and got to know him better and really liked what I heard,'' Iavaroni said. ``We struck a very good chord.''
Iavaroni, mentioned for head coaching jobs the last few seasons, said he hasn't had contact with any other teams and has no formal interview scheduled with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies also have asked for and received permission to speak with the Suns vice president of basketball operations David Griffin about a front-office job. Memphis president and general manager Jerry West has announced he is leaving once his contract ends on June 30.
Former New York Knicks coach Larry Brown and the University of Florida's Billy Donovan also met with Heisley about the vacancy, according to a report by The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
Iavaroni said he believes he is better prepared than ever to become a head coach.
``I think I'm very, very capable,'' he said. ``I've had great experience and great teachers and great comrades throughout all our battles here and other places, and I think I'm over-ready.''
Iavaroni said he plans to see if there is interest in him from any other NBA teams seeking a new coach.
Found this at BoDog
Will Marc Iavoroni still be an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns at the start of the 2007-08 Regular Season?
Yes -105
No -135
Only a 100.00 limit but seems like easy money if you ask me 8)
Suns assistant acknowledges informal meeting with Grizzlies
May 19, 2007PHOENIX (AP) -Phoenix Suns assistant coach Mark Iavaroni said Saturday that he has had an informal meeting with Memphis owner Michael Heisley about the Grizzlies' vacant head coaching position.
``I had a nice dinner conversation with Michael Heisley and got to know him better and really liked what I heard,'' Iavaroni said. ``We struck a very good chord.''
Iavaroni, mentioned for head coaching jobs the last few seasons, said he hasn't had contact with any other teams and has no formal interview scheduled with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies also have asked for and received permission to speak with the Suns vice president of basketball operations David Griffin about a front-office job. Memphis president and general manager Jerry West has announced he is leaving once his contract ends on June 30.
Former New York Knicks coach Larry Brown and the University of Florida's Billy Donovan also met with Heisley about the vacancy, according to a report by The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
Iavaroni said he believes he is better prepared than ever to become a head coach.
``I think I'm very, very capable,'' he said. ``I've had great experience and great teachers and great comrades throughout all our battles here and other places, and I think I'm over-ready.''
Iavaroni said he plans to see if there is interest in him from any other NBA teams seeking a new coach.
Found this at BoDog
Will Marc Iavoroni still be an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns at the start of the 2007-08 Regular Season?
Yes -105
No -135Only a 100.00 limit but seems like easy money if you ask me 8)
Report: Grizzlies agree to three-year deal with Iavaroni
Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies, looking for a coach who can help the team work its way up from the bottom of the NBA, have set a "major announcement" for Thursday amid newspaper reports they are hiring Phoenix Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni.
The Grizzlies declined to provide more details about the news conference. The Commercial Appeal newspaper, citing unidentified sources close to the search, reported that the Grizzlies have agreed to a three-year deal with Iavaroni.
The Grizzlies had no immediate comment on the report. An assistant to Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told The Associated Press he was unavailable for comment.
Iavaroni, who joined the Suns coaching staff in 2002, is a 14-year veteran of the NBA as a player and coach.
He was an assistant and director of player development for the Miami Heat under Pat Riley before joining the Suns.
Memphis finished the season at 22-60, for the worst record in the league, and ended up a disappointing fourth in the June 28 draft lottery.
At 6-24, the Grizzlies fired former coach Mike Fratello in December, replacing him with Tony Barone Sr., the team's director of player personnel. Barone's appointment was announced as temporary and he is expected to return to non-coaching duties with the franchise.
The disappointing season, which began with star Pau Gasol sidelined with a foot injury, followed three straight trips to the NBA playoffs.
The Grizzlies moved to Memphis in 2001 and under president Jerry West, who joined the team the following year, made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 2004.
The Grizzlies were swept in all three playoff appearances, however, and have the league's longest postseason losing streak.
West has said he will leave the Grizzlies when his contract expires July 1.
Iavaroni was an NBA player from 1982-1989 with Philadelphia, San Antonio and Utah
Easy winner 😀