Kerr to be named Suns GM
May 31st, 2007
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns will reportedly name Steve Kerr president of basketball operations and general manager.
According to a report in The Arizona Republic, Kerr will replace Mike D'Antoni who would like to concentrate on his coaching duties with the club.
Kerr, a partner in Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver's 2004 purchase of the franchise, will complete his duties as a TNT analyst for the Eastern Conference finals before the Suns make an announcement next week.
A former University of Arizona star and Suns player, Kerr won five NBA championships with Chicago and San Antonio and has worked as a TNT analyst since 2003.
NBA Today - June 1
Fri, Jun 1, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Friday, June 1
No games scheduled.
STAR
Thursday
-LeBron James, Cavaliers, scored a career playoff-high 48 points to lead Cleveland to a 109-107, Game 5 win over Detroit in two overtimes.
KING JAMES
LeBron James scored 29 of his team's final 30 points in the Cavaliers' 109-107, double-overtime victory over Detroit on Thursday night. James, who finished with 48 points, made several big shots late in regulation and both overtime periods before a go-ahead layup with 2.2 seconds to play and Detroit's Chauncey Billups missed a shot in the lane on the ensuing possession.
DO-OVER?
Detroit was pushed to the brink of elimination Thursday night after a 109-107 overtime loss to Cleveland in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons blew a seven-point lead with 3:15 left in regulation and lost the third straight game in the series after winning the first two at home. But they've been here before. The Pistons won the first two games of the conference semifinals last year, lost three straight and then won Game 6 on the road and at home in Game 7.
NIFTY TRICK
The Orlando Magic confirmed Thursday that it would hire Florida's Billy Donovan as coach. Donovan, coming off back-to-back titles with the Gators, agreed to a five-year deal paying $5.5 million annually, an official in the NBA told The Associated Press. Donovan will replace Brian Hill, who was fired after two consecutive losing seasons. Hill's ouster followed the Magic's first playoff appearance in four years, which ended in the first round against Detroit.
HIRED
Jim O'Brien was hired Thursday as coach of the Indiana Pacers, who turned to an NBA veteran in hopes of reviving a team that missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and has been beset by turmoil. The announcement ends a five-week search that began with the firing of Rick Carlisle after four seasons. ... Marc Iavaroni was hired as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday after a season that left the team with the worst record in the NBA. Iavaroni, a 17-year NBA veteran as player or assistant coach, is regarded as one of the league's top assistants. He spent the past five seasons with the Phoenix Suns.
REMEMBER THEM?
With his 48 points, LeBron James outscored his team's second-leading scorer by 32 points in Cleveland's 109-107 win over Detroit in two overtimes. Zydrunas Ilgauskas fouled out with 16 points and rookie Daniel Gibson, who also fouled out, was the Cavs' only other double-digit scorer, with 11.
SPEAKING
''Everybody keeps asking for more, and he keeps giving more. I feel bad that my words don't do justice what he did.'' - Cleveland coach Mike Brown, after LeBron James scored 29 of the Cavs' final 30 points and 48 overall in a 109-107, double-overtime win over Detroit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night.
Pistons will have McDyess in Game 6
June 1, 2007
CLEVELAND (AP) -Detroit Pistons forward Antonio McDyess will not be further penalized by the NBA for his rough foul in the first quarter on Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in Game 5 on Thursday night.
McDyess received a flagrant-2 foul after he unexpectedly clotheslined Varejao under the basket and was ejected. On Friday, league spokesman Tim Frank said McDyess will not face any more discipline.
That's good news for the Pistons, who trail 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals going into Saturday's Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena. One of Detroit's top reserves, McDyess played just four minutes in the Pistons' 109-107 double-overtime loss.
McDyess' hard foul on Varejao drew a passionate response from Cleveland's LeBron James, who jumped over his fallen teammate and tried to confront McDyess as the referees and other players tried to keep order.
James was given a technical foul for charging after McDyess.
McDyess' ejection forced Pistons coach Flip Saunders to alter his rotations and he had to play Jason Maxiell and Dale Davis more than usual. James was able to exploit Maxiell, twice driving around the second-year forward for dunks down the stretch on his way to a career playoff-high 48 points.