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• Sacramento's new owners will completely change Kings

• Chris Copeland sparks Knicks' win | Longform: Copeland's story

Mike Krzyzewski considering Team USA comeback

2013-05-18T21:40:40Z

Duke Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski could return to his old role with USA Basketball for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, according to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated. The two sides are deep in discussions about Coach K coaching the Americans once again as they look to defend their gold medal in Rio.

After winning gold with the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympics, Krzyzewski stepped down as head coach to usher in a new era of USA basketball. For nearly eight months, he was steadfast in his lack of interest at returning to the program, but his apparent change of heart indicates a likely reunion.

"I think it's very close to being resolved. That's all I can say for sure," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Saturday.

During his tenure with USA Basketball, Coach K posted a 62-1 record while returning the program to its past glory. Considering that Colangelo said he never even reached out to other candidates, it seems clear the Duke legend was always the top choice.

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Kendrick Perkins contract: Thunder not considering amnesty clause

2013-05-18T19:55:35Z

People may question his value, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are seemingly sticking with center Kendrick Perkins. Coming off a disappointing postseason run, Thunder GM Sam Presti says the team hasn't considered using the amnesty clause on Perkins, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman.

For many Thunder fans, this presumably comes as a bit of a disappointment. The embattled starting center of the team became a lightning rod for criticism the past few years as his production deteriorated in the eyes of most prominent analysts.

That hasn't stopped Presti from defending Perkins, who is owed $18.63 million over the next two seasons. "We think Perk has a lot of value to our team," the GM told Mayberry.

Given how much money the franchise has tied up in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, getting Perkins' contract off the books would the easiest way for OKC to open up some cap flexibility. Using the amnesty clause wouldn't save the team all that much money, but it would help cut the team's cap number and potentially avoid the luxury tax.

Starting 78 games this season, Perkins averaged 4.2 points and six rebounds in 25.1 minutes per contest. His 8.2 PER was the worst of his career, but the franchise continues to emphasize the value he provides on the defensive end.

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Tyson Chandler injury: Knicks center has taped wrist, says he'll be 'fine'

2013-05-18T19:30:09Z

Adding to his list of physical ailments, New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler will play through a wrist injury in Saturday's Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers, Ian Begley of ESPN New York reports. Tape covered the big man's wrist as he spoke with media in the morning.

More: Indy Cornrows Posting and Toasting NBA Playoffs Coverage

For Chandler, this is just the latest injury he'll have to play through this offseason. Already dealing with knee and back injuries sustained in the Knicks' Game 5 victory, he insisted Saturday morning he's "fine" but it's reasonable to wonder how he'll play considering the issues he's already had this postseason.

After averaging a double-double during the regular season, Chandler has put up six points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 11 postseason contests this year. His presence on the offensive end has been minimal, but New York can hardly afford to lose his post presence on the other end of the court.

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Grizzlies vs. Thunder Game 5, NBA Playoffs 2013: Time, TV schedule and more

2013-05-15T21:41:30Z

A year after reaching the NBA Finals for the first time, the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of elimination in the second round. Trailing 3-1 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Thunder need to ignite a serious rally Wednesday night at home in Game 5 of the seven-game series.

For more on the series visit: Grizzly Bear Blues Welcome to Loud City

Considered favorites to win the West for a second straight year entering the postseason, the Thunder have stumbled badly following the season-ending injury to star guard Russell Westbrook. Kevin Durant trying to play hero has worked to a degree, but it's clear the Thunder lose something with Reggie Jackson as the primary point guard.

Playing at home in Game 5, the Thunder should come out with a passionate brand of basketball, but the Grizzlies aren't exactly the kind of team to kowtow to intensity. With a wild one expected for Wednesday night, here are three questions that could define the game.

1. Can the Grizz keep avoiding turnovers?

Entering the postseason, everyone wondered how Memphis would score enough to regularly compete against the league's best teams. With guys like Mike Conley and Marc Gasol stepping up their games, we have our answer to some degree, but one aspect of the Grizzlies offense stands out above all else: They don't turn the ball over. As Grantland's Zach Lowe tweeted Tuesday, "Thing I probably didn't play up enough today: MEM's playoff turnover rate is ridiculously low. Like basically historically aberrant." In the series, the Grizzlies have a 56-39 advantage in turnovers forced.

2. Is this Mike Conley's breakout?

Over the past few games, the Memphis point guard has taken his game to another level. Always a solid perimeter defender and orchestrator of the offense, Conley has emerged as arguably the team's most potent scorer in the post-Rudy Gay era. Armed with razor-quick speed, elite handles and a solid jumper, Conley has turned the Grizzlies' pick-and-roll sets into a clinic on how to use screens. Faced up against an inexperienced Reggie Jackson and an aging Derek Fisher, he's lit up the Thunder for 21.3 points and 6.7 assists per game during the past three contests, all Memphis wins. If Conley can keep up this play on that end of the floor, Memphis will be tough to beat.

3. Will Kevin Martin show up?

Without Westbrook, someone needed to step up and provide scoring punch behind Durant's heroic efforts. As the team's third-leading scorer during the regular season, shooting guard Kevin Martin appeared to be the most obvious potential Robin to KD's Batman. Instead, Martin has struggled throughout the series against Memphis, rarely looking like someone who was among the most efficient scorers in the league during the regular season. Since starting strong with a 25-point, seven-rebound effort in Game 1, Martin has averaged 12.3 points on 35 percent shooting in the past three games.

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Odds: The Thunder are 4.5-point favorites.

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At age 37, Cuttino Mobley to work out for NBA teams

2013-05-15T17:22:38Z

Nearly five years after being forced to retire due to a heart ailment, 37-year-old former NBA player Cuttino Mobley will work out for teams at a pro day on May 31, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reports. The news comes as a bit of a surprise after Mobley disappeared from the public eye the past few years.

An 11-year veteran that spent time with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, Mobley retired in 2008 after it was discovered he had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle is inexplicably thickened.

Mobley played his last game on Nov. 18, 2008, after which he was traded to the New York Knicks in a deal that sent forward Zach Randolph to the Clippers. Mobley never played a game for New York, officially announcing his retirement from basketball the next month.

During his career, Mobley averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. A talented shooter, he knocked down 38 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc as a pro. With the increased importance on shooting skill throughout the league, Mobley's ability to hit open jumpers will likely be his best bet at landing another NBA gig.

Mobley's best season came in 2002, when he led the Rockets in scoring at 21.7 points per game.

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Dwyane Wade injury: Heat SG a game-time decision for Game 5

2013-05-15T16:36:37Z

Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade will be a game-time decision for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Chicago Bulls, according to Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com.

Dealing with ongoing knee issues that have plagued him throughout the postseason, Wade could badly use some time off to prepare for the next round of the playoffs. Though the Heat still need to win a fourth game to advance, they're seemingly in a position of power with the undermanned Bulls struggling badly in recent games.

Even if Wade sits, the Heat will still be heavily favored to complete their series victory in Game 5, so many people are suggesting this is a good time for Wade to rest. Big man Chris Bosh said Wednesday he still expects his teammate to play, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team took a more cautious route.

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George Hill finds shooting stroke just in time

2013-05-15T13:10:17Z

Without the kind of potent scorers that typically populate NBA contenders, the Indiana Pacers need someone to step up every night. The team may be devoid of great scorers, but it still needs great scoring performances to beat talented teams at the sport's highest level.

In Tuesday's 93-82 win over the New York Knicks, which expands Indiana's series lead to 3-1, that man was point guard George Hill. Often forgotten when the league's top point guard are discussed, Hill provided exactly what the Pacers needed to land a pivotal Game 4 win.

On a night when his teammates shot just 35 percent from the field, Hill hit 9 of his 14 attempts en route to a game-leading 26 points. His work on both ends of the court earned some serious praise from Pacers coach Frank Vogel, who said it was, "maybe the best game I've ever seen him play."

It's not the most statistically impressive game of Hill's career, but rarely has the 27-year-old seemed so in control of the game. The Pacers had the lead from start to finish, powered by an efficient 37 minutes from its lead guard. This all from a guy that shot 30 percent in the first three games of the series.

For the Pacers, these kinds of efforts are becoming a regular occurrence. It's not necessarily the same player in each game, but someone on the roster is throwing out a star-level effort in practically every game. In Game 3, it was Roy Hibbert's 24-point, 12-rebound explosion. In Game 1, you could point to D.J. Augustin's 16 points in 13 minutes.

Indiana still has a problem, and that's the absence of a truly great player. Practically every team that's won a title featured one of these players, and most of the remaining contenders boast a player of that caliber. The Pacers have Paul George, and while he's rapidly improving, it's easy to question if he's a championship-caliber star at 23 years old.

But the Pacers keep winning, because the role players keep stepping up. Whether it's Hill, Hibbert, Augustin or Lance Stephenson, Indiana is getting effort across the board that most teams can't match. How long will this last? It's hard to say, especially with the Miami Heat looming. But it's probably time we take these Pacers, and Hill, more seriously.

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