Two NBA franchises are reportedly closer to having their top candidates to roam their respective benches. Both the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets have their favorites lined up, at least for interviews.
The Hornets are favoring longtime coach Mike D’Antoni, who was an early adapter to the modern offense of spacing the floor with 3-point shooters and using the pick-and-roll to attack the basket.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports D’Antoni is a “serious candidate” to reunite with general manager Mitch Kupchak, who hired D’Antoni to coach the Lakers. Pairing him with young guard LaMelo Ball is optimal. Other candidates, per ESPN, include Golden State’s Kenny Atkinson, Milwaukee’s Darvin Ham and Dallas’ Sean Sweeney.
Charlotte fired James Borrego after he led the Hornets to back-to-back 10-win improvements and play-in tournament appearances.
Sacramento has a week of what the front office hopes is final interviews. ESPN analyst Mark Jackson is the favorite in the eyes of chairman Vivek Ranadive. Though Bleacher Report reports general manager Monte McNair eyes Golden State assistant and former Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown is his favorite. Both are finalists alongside former Hornets coach Steve Clifford.
There has been past friction in the Kings organization between the front office and ownership. Though McNair has autonomy to run the franchise, Ranadive told colleagues around the league, Bleacher Report says, such as McNair choosing to fire Luke Walton during the season.
Whoever gets the job has some promise with blossoming point guard De’Aaron Fox and a mid-season trade for Domantas Sabonis giving the Kings a dynamic pick-and-roll game.
Playoff Injuries
Elsewhere, injury news is running rampant as the playoffs continue. The Miami Heat hope to defend home court again without Kyle Lowry. Miami took a 1-0 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 106-92 win Monday night. Guards Max Strus and Gabe Vincent were a combined 2-for-14 from 3-point range, though Strus was plus-27 when he was on the court.
If he were to sit on Wednesday, the veteran Lowry would miss his fourth straight playoff game with a hamstring injury he suffered in Game 3 of a first-round series against Atlanta. He was the fourth-leading scorer and top assist man during the regular season with averages of 13.4 points and 7.5 assists per game.
On the other side of the series, MVP candidate Joel Embiid’s return is unclear after suffering a right facial fracture and concussion after being hit by Pascal Siakam in the series finale against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. Embiid is “feeling a lot better” coach Doc Rivers told reporters.
Embiid averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game during the regular season, and figures to be a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Starting in his place Monday was veteran DeAndre Jordan, who had four points, two rebounds and two blocks while posting a minus-22 in 17 minutes.
Ahead of Tuesday’s Game 2, the Boston Celtics listed point guard Marcus Smart as questionable with a quadricep issue. He suffered several bumps in the first game. His defense will be needed against the Milwaukee Bucks, who claimed home court by taking Game 1, 101-89. Smart was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for his regular season performance.
Draymond Green Ejected
Draymond Green was ejected in the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ 117-116 Game 1 win after being assessed a flagrant two foul. Green said Monday that he isn’t going to change the way he plays.
“I am never going to change the way I play basketball,” Green told reporters. “It’s gotten me this far. Gotten me three championships, four All-Stars, Defensive Player of the Year. I’m not going to change now.”
He’s got a point.
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