Terreno Deportivo

In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Paul Coro writes “the second round of interviews to fill the Suns’ head-coaching job began Thursday, but that does not mean the first round is over. General Manager Steve Kerr met for a second time with Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin on Thursday and will have a second interview today with Houston Rockets lead assistant Elston Turner. The meetings also were convenient, with all parties in Orlando for the NBA predraft camp. A second interview with Detroit Pistons lead assistant Terry Porter is planned but has not been scheduled because they are in the Eastern Conference finals. Phoenix also could meet with Lakers assistant Brian Shaw again.”

azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0530sunsnb0530.html

As the Lakers congregated at halfcourt after beating the Spurs 4-1 to advance to The Finals for the first time since Shaq was still a 20 and 10 guy, there was a look of unbridled joy on Kobe Bryant’s face.

my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700011558&start=60&#msg570016940

Go Around the Association presented by T-Mobile to find out how the Lakers earned a trip to The Finals.

nba.com/aroundtheassociation/080529.html?rss=true

Kobe Bryant scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers rallied from an early 17-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 100-92 on Thursday night and win the Western Conference finals in five games.

nba.com/games/20080529/SASLAL/recap.html?rss=true

Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons has been fined $25,000 for his use of profanity and criticism of the officiating following last night’s game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

nba.com/news/wallace_fined_080529.html?rss=true

The NBA had seven black top executives among its teams during the 2007-08 season, the highest percentage of minority presidents and CEOs in men’s professional sports history, according to a university study released Thursday.

nba.com//news/diversity_080529.html?rss=true

Statement from John Paxson Regarding the Chicago Bulls Head Coaching Search: “I have been in contact with Doug Collins in regard to our head coaching position. Contrary to some reports that are currently out there, we have not reached an agreement. Right now, his commitment is covering the Western Conference Finals for TNT. When that series concludes, we will continue our dialogue. In the meantime, I will continue to talk to other candidates and review our options.”

nba.com/bulls/news/paxson_080529.html?rss=true

The Detroit Pistons don’t know if Richard Hamilton will be healthy enough to play against the Boston Celtics on Friday.

nba.com//news/hamilton_injury_080529.html?rss=true

In the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, Mike Finger writes “Phil Jackson played in two NBA Finals and coached in 10 more. Altogether, he has a championship ring for each of his fingers to show for it. But as his Los Angeles Lakers stand one victory away from a step he should be all too familiar with, to Jackson, something about this feels unprecedented. ‘The unexpected is probably the most unique thing,’ Jackson said Wednesday after the Lakers practiced in preparation for tonight’s Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Spurs. ‘It’s one thing to win when you’re projected and predicted to win. It’s another thing to try and win when it comes out of the blue.’”

mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA0520908.

In the MIAMI HERALD, Michael Wallace writes “draft hopeful Joey Dorsey insists he has the inside scoop that former college teammate Derrick Rose will be bypassed by Chicago and fall to Miami in next month’s NBA Draft. Apparently, that was news to Bulls general manager John Paxson, whose team holds the top pick. ‘There’s absolutely no reason anyone would have any clue,’ Paxson said Wednesday at the NBA predraft camp. ‘Nobody knows.’ Heat management also said nothing had been decided.”

miamiherald.com/594/story/550332.html?rss=true

In the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Calvin Watkins writes “Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed he’s working on a deal to bring the 2010 NBA All-Star Game to his $1.1 billion stadium in Arlington, which opens next year. Jones is working with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to formulate a plan to present to NBA officials. ‘We did not initiate it,’ Jones said, ‘but we certainly received it with a mentality of can-do.’ ”

dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/052

Brian Hanley of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES writes, “Doug Collins will become the next Bulls head coach, according to a source. The source said the deal is expected to be announced “sooner rather than later.”

suntimes.com/sports/977280,collins052908.article?rss=true

Go Around the Association for a recap of Wednesday’s action to read about the Celtics’ Game 5 win over the Pistons.

nba.com/aroundtheassociation/080528.html?rss=true

Ray Allen found his shooting touch just in time to put the Boston Celtics within one win of the NBA finals for the first time since the original Big Three.

nba.com/games/20080528/DETBOS/recap.html?rss=true

Coach Gregg Popovich has signed a contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs. Popovich confirmed the extension with the defending NBA champions, which runs through the 2011-12 season.

nba.com/nba_news/popovich_extension_080528.html?rss=true

NBA coach of the year Byron Scott and the New Orleans Hornets agreed in principle to a contract extension on Wednesday. Hornets spokesman Harold Kaufman confirmed the deal but said he could not disclose the terms of the agreement.

nba.com/hornets/news/BYRON_SCOTT_AGREES_TO_CONTRACT-272798-31.htm

The Atlanta Hawks today named Rick Sund as the team’s General Manager, according to Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon. Sund has more than 30 years of NBA experience, including stints with the Seattle Sonics, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks.

nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Name_Sund_GM_052808.html?rss=true

Chris Perkins of the PALM BEACH POST writes, “There’s one constant about the NBA draft. “No matter how much study we do of players,” said Chris Ekstrand, former publisher of the NBA Draft Guide, “I guarantee you when we look at the 2008 draft in 10 years, there’s going to be some kid who went with pick No. 37 who turns out to be a big-time player, and somebody who gets picked between 10 and 15 who doesn’t play two years.” That possibility alone is justification for all 30 teams to send multiple representatives to the three-day NBA pre-draft camp that begins Wednesday in Orlando.”

palmbeachpost.com/search/content/sports/epaper/2008/05/27/heat052

“It was one play - six seconds of effort in a long, physical game. But Pistons coach Flip Saunders wonders if it could have the potential to propel the Pistons to the NBA Finals,” writes Krista Jahnke of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. “The moment came late in the first quarter of Monday’s Game 4 win. Saunders had substituted forward Jason Maxiell for Rasheed Wallace. Early minutes like that are a test for Maxiell; Saunders watches the pop in his legs when he runs. If he’s bounding with his trademark energy, he stays in. If not, Saunders knows he’s better left on the bench.”

bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view/2008_05_28_Can_

Jane McManus of THE JOURNAL NEWS writes, “When Kim Johnson logged on to the NBA Store Web site last Christmas to buy a present for her 11-year-old son, Chris, she had no idea that she had been automatically entered into a sweepstakes. When she got the call that she had won “Drexler’s Slam Dunk Delivery,” the Mount Kisco mother initially thought it was a prank. It wasn’t until her father answered the second call that she even considered it could be real. But there was Clyde Drexler acting the part of Ed McMahon yesterday in her living room, with the finches and the Christmas cactus as Mariah Carey’s “Hero” played on the stereo.”

lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/SPORTS01/805280383/