Jeff Van Gundy: Heat tanked season after Christmas

Jeff Van Gundy, working Suns-Spurs and Nuggets-Lakers for ABC this weekend as the playoffs begin, said off the air Wednesday of the Heat, ``They haven't been putting a product on the floor that's representative of NBA basketball, whether it's true injuries or trying to manipulate their chances in the lottery. They should have been in the 40s [in victories], so I'm not going to give them credit for some turnaround next year if they try real hard and win because they didn't do that since Christmas this year.'' Van Gundy said ''there's no way, if Pat Riley is your coach and Dwyane Wade'' is available for 51 games that a team should be this bad ``if you're trying real, real hard. That's impossible.'' -- Miami Herald

Mavs Avery Johnson to Bulls?

Bulls GM John Paxson's list is long and contains some of the usual suspects such as veteran coaches Rick Carlisle and Jeff Van Gundy. It contains some intriguing assistants such as Tom Thibodeau and Michael Curry. It contains some lesser-name former coaches such as Paul Westphal and Dwane Casey. In fact, Paxson didn't rule out much, saying experience was preferred but not mandatory, which brings a candidate such as Mark Jackson into the mix. The list also is fluid, particularly if playoff teams that get bounced early spring unsuspecting successful coaches onto the market. Think the Mavericks' Avery Johnson. -- Chicago Tribune

Bucks eye Skiles and Carlisle

A team source said the Bucks were pursuing former Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who also might be a strong candidate for the Knicks' anticipated opening. Skiles, a close friend of Krystkowiak's, advised him when the Bucks promoted Krystkowiak to the head coaching job in March of last year. Rick Carlisle, who was with Hammond in Detroit and later was head coach of the Indiana Pacers, also is considered a strong candidate. Carlisle coached the Pistons for two seasons and was named the NBA coach of the year during the 2001-'02 season. Other experienced coaches on the market include Larry Brown and Jeff Van Gundy. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Nets Jefferson raising trade value?

The Nets have tried to trade Richard Jefferson before but the market for him was thin. However, coming off such a solid season, and having proved he's capable of staying healthy, Jefferson may have improved his stock. The Nets would like to add some bulk and toughness to their frontcourt and need outside shooters. If Rod Thorn is offered players he likes, Jefferson may be his best bargaining chip. As he's done numerous times before, Jefferson said Wednesday night that he wants to remain in New Jersey. However, he understands the decision is not all his. "I do want to stay," said Jefferson, who has two years left on his contract. "But it's not all about what you want unless it's your contract year, which it's not." -- NY Daily News

Dumars: Rasheed Wallace is key to Pistons

Despite calls for Rasheed Wallace's ouster, Pistons president Joe Dumars never wavered. Not only wasn't Wallace going anywhere, Dumars believed Wallace would give the Pistons a legitimate shot to win another championship. Wallace, after his most consistent season in a Pistons uniform, is poised to do just that. "Rasheed Wallace epitomizes what I want a Detroit Piston to be," Dumars said. "He's a smart player, he plays to win, plays with passion and he's totally unselfish." -- Detroit News

GM Presti mum on Carlesimo's Sonics future

Sonics general manager Sam Presti addressed the media at the team's practice facility Thursday and did nothing to dispel rumors that head coach P.J. Carlesimo's job may be in jeopardy. Presti said he and Carlesimo would sit down and evaluate the roster and coaching staff, but the GM did not come close to saying Carlesimo will coach the Sonics next season. While it was widely assumed Carlesimo had a long leash during the reclamation project, his status is uncertain. When asked if the coaching staff -- Carlesimo, Paul Westhead, Mark Bryant, Scott Brooks, Ralph Lewis and Brian Keefe -- would return, Presti said: "Part of the process is going to be sitting down. P.J. and I are going to do that together and really peel the layers back on the season and look at how we can get better, and obviously coaches are a big part of that as we evaluate our team, evaluate our direction and the personnel we have in place." -- Seattle P-I

Wolves owner happy with 22 victories

Even though his Timberwolves finished with just 22 victories, owner Glen Taylor said Wednesday that, overall, the season was enjoyable for him. "In most parts, it probably was as I had anticipated," Taylor said. "It very much was interesting. We started out finding wins very, very difficult. ... I was hoping that we would do a little bit better. "But it has been an enjoyable experience. I've been very close to the team, very involved. I can see a lot of good things in this team. Now, it's up to us, like last year, to work really hard and look at how we can make it better next year." -- Pioneer Press

Warriors don't want Pietrus or Barnes back?

No such love exists for the rest of Golden State's free agents. Forwards Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes are almost certainly gone after their hugely-disappointing seasons. Same goes for center Patrick O'Bryant, who barely got a whiff in two years under Nelson. -- SF Chronicle

Griz won't rush to fire Iavaroni?

Don't expect anything to happen quickly despite the speculation about Marc Iavaroni's job status. Truth is that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and general manager Chris Wallace won't give Iavaroni a performance review for a while. "In the next couple of weeks," Heisley said Thursday. "I'm not in any rush to make a decision, but people are reading too much into this. When you've got our record you look at everything, right? I'm going to sit down and decide whether Marc is the answer to the problems or not. If he is, I'll re-commit to him." -- Memphis Commercial Appeal

McHale returning to Wolves basketball department

Plans are for Kevin McHale to return to manage the Wp;bes basketball department with his staff intact. "One of the things that I feel good about is that we have met as a group many, many times this year, and everybody has been working together and more productively to get us ready for the future," Glen Taylor said. "Everybody in the office is energized. That's good for me, and that's good for Kevin. He's very excited." -- Pioneer Press

Sonics owner Bennett fires back at Seattle

With the NBA Board of Governors today expected to approve his bid to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City, team owner Clay Bennett's attorneys already are signaling his strategy for the next big battle: arguing to a federal judge that Seattle's KeyArena lease lawsuit is just a ruse to force a team sale. Striking back after a week of bad publicity, Bennett's attorneys filed a federal-court motion accusing Nickels of a "Machiavellian plan" to force him to sell the Sonics back to Seattle investors led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "This litigation and the recent media frenzy the City helped ignite are part of an agreed-upon strategy between the City and a potential purchaser of the Sonics," said the motion filed Wednesday. "That strategy expressly views this litigation as a way to drive up costs for the PBC [Bennett's ownership group, the Professional Basketball Club] ? to increase the financial bleeding ? to try to force the PBC to sell." Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis laughed at Bennett's latest legal argument Thursday. -- Seattle Times

Celts Garnett away on baby watch?

Kevin Garnett was absent from yesterday?s practice, with sources saying it was due to the impending birth of his and wife Brandi?s child. ?I know it?s for a good reason, because Kevin doesn?t like to miss practice,? Pierce said. Rivers would say only that it was ?just family stuff. He should be here (today) for sure.? The coach added, ?Practice was more peaceful, not a lot of yelling. It was quiet. It was actually strange.? The Celtics will go hard at practice today and back off a bit tomorrow in preparation for Sunday night?s series opener. -- Boston Herald

Blazers need to deal LaFrentz?

Kevin Pritchard and the Blazers need to sit Raef LaFrentz down and say, "It's not us, it's you." As in your expiring contract ($13M) makes you an attractive trade asset. -- Oregonian

MJ's mom kept him away from football

Speaking of MJ, some vintage footage of His Airness will air at noon Saturday on Ahmad Rashad's ''NBA Access'' show on WLS-Channel 7. In one 1992 interview with Rashad, Jordan explained it was his mother, Deloris', kibosh that killed any idea of him playing football in college or beyond -- though he had an impressive passing arm, demonstrated when he played quarterback in high school. ''You're not going to any more emergency rooms,'' Mother Jordan declared. -- Chicago Sun-Times

Larry Brown up for Bulls job?

Rick Carlisle, Jeff Van Gundy, Terry Porter, Mike Fratello and Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau are among those expected to be wooed by teams looking for a head coach. Reports out of Philadelphia say one Eastern Conference team already has requested permission to talk with Larry Brown, the 76ers' vice president who wants to return to coaching. John Paxson said Thursday he has yet to make a single phone call in his search. -- Chicago Sun-Times

Clippers to deal with draft lottery anxiety twice

It's somewhat of a tradition. But this year, the bounce of the ping-pong balls and all the hope and anxiety that bob with them will be felt twice by the Clippers. Because the Clippers ended the season 23-59, tied with the New York Knicks for the league's fifth-worst record, today NBA executive Stu Jackson is scheduled to pull a ping-pong ball that will determine which club has a higher percentage chance of landing the top draft pick. If he pulls a ball with a Clippers logo, the Clippers will receive an 8.8% chance of landing the top pick. If it is a Knicks logo, the Clippers will have 6.3% odds for the first pick. -- LA Times

How About That?

Lakers forward Pau Gasol has never won a playoff game, going 0-12 with the Memphis Grizzlies after they were swept by San Antonio in 2004, Phoenix in 2005 and Dallas in 2006. -- LA Times

Spurs Parker ready for playoffs

Tony Parker loves to score. Tony Parker doesn't mind passing. "If I can do both," he said, "then that's really good." By that measure, Parker ended his regular season on a really good note. The Spurs point guard closed with back-to-back double-doubles in victories over Sacramento and Utah, totaling 56 points and 23 assists in the two games. It marked the first time Parker recorded a double-double in consecutive games since December 2005. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich takes Parker's two-game outburst as a sign that he's finally back to his old self after an injury-plagued regular reason. "He's in great shape, and he's healthy," Popovich said. "It's playoff time, so we've all got to be at the top of our game." -- San Antonio Express-News

Charles Barkley: i hear from angry players and agents

With TNT televising most days during the first round, Charles Barkley will have plenty of opportunity to anger players. And Barkley said he hears from players and agents. ''Guys call me and I don't hide from them,'' he said. ``I don't have an obligation to tell the players they are good when they are bad. I don't worry about what the players think. I speak for the fans. When they are watching the game, they know who stinks. I criticized Kobe Bryant before, Allen Iverson. ``I criticize Pat Riley. He's a great coach. I like him as a person. [But] what he did late in the season [going off to scout] -- I wonder what would happen if Isiah Thomas took some time off. You all gave Pat Riley a pass. That's an [expletive] double standard.'' -- Miami Herald

How About That?

Denver's Allen Iverson (26.4) and Carmelo Anthony (25.7) were the highest-scoring tandem in the league this season. The next-highest duo playing in the postseason is New Orleans' Chris Paul (21.1) and David West (20.6). -- Philadelphia Daily News

Did You Know?

Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers' opening-round playoff opponents, hold the distinction of being the only team in NBA history to lose a playoff series against a team owned by Donald Sterling. . . . Including their five-game flameout against Elton Brand and the Clippers in 2006 and three earlier series against the Lakers, the Nuggets are 2-8 in playoff games played in Los Angeles and 0-4 in playoff series against L.A. teams. -- LA Times

Who Knew?

If you don't think the first game in a seven-game first-round series is important, consider this: The team that wins the first game has gone on to win 83 percent of first-round series. -- Philadelphia Daily News

Wolves paying off Howard and Hudson's contracts

The Wolves still have $10 million deals for departed Juwan Howard and Troy Hudson that will take another year to pay off. "That's one more year of a little bit of a handicap," Taylor said, adding that it won't be until the 2009-10 season that he'll be able to be a free-agent spender again. "Money will be freed up a year from now." -- Pioneer Press

Who Knew?

The Utah Jazz are 38-12 since acquiring shooter Kyle Korver from the Sixers on Dec. 29. Korver has averaged 9.8 points in his 50 games with the Jazz. -- Philadelphia Daily News

Spurs Parker trying to bond with David Beckham?

Eva Longoria's husband TONY PARKER has been trying to bond with BECKS by encouraging him to partake in one his favourite hobbies. Eva told OK!: "Tony has really been trying to get David to play board games like Cluedo, but David is not a big game player. "We're like, 'Come on David!'" -- The Sun (U.K.)