Spurs' repeat hopes in serious danger
Just as Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs appeared to be hitting their stride and gaining momentum for a berth in the Western Conference finals, they are down again, their march toward consecutive NBA titles very much in doubt.
The defending champions face elimination at the hands of the upstart New Orleans Hornets, who have a 3-2 lead in the conference semifinals, when they play Game 6 today.
"The best opportunity for us is really (today). We've got to look at it that way," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "We've got a chance to close out the defending champions."
After starting the series in an 0-2 hole against Chris Paul and the Hornets, the Spurs stormed back with home wins in Games 3 and 4. In Game 4 in particular, they were difficult to counter on either end of the court. Duncan had his best game of the series and the Hornets struggled throughout.
Paul insisted after each game in San Antonio that it was not time for his team to panic, but the Spurs seemed to be picking up speed and getting ready to send the youthful Hornets home to try again next year.
Now, after a decisive Game 5 loss Tuesday night in New Orleans, the Spurs are the ones who may be panicking, though their veteran status and deep playoff experience are just the kind of assets that could keep them cool and confident in Game 6.
"The bottom line is that the better team wins in a seven-game series," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I've always said that. So whoever wins the series it will be because they're the better team."
Skiles adds Sampson, Boylan: Kelvin Sampson is getting another shot at coaching. The former Indiana University coach was one of four assistants hired Wednesday by Milwaukee Bucks head coach Scott Skiles.
Skiles also hired former Bulls coach Jim Boylan and former NBA players Lionel Hollins and Joe Wolf.
"I'm excited to be able to assemble this strong coaching staff in Milwaukee," Skiles said in a statement. "Jim, Lionel, Kelvin and Joe all bring experience to the Bucks bench, as well as diverse coaching skills."
Sampson also brings some baggage.
He resigned as Hoosiers coach on Feb. 22 and accepted a $750,000 buyout after an NCAA report charged him with five major NCAA rules violations.
Boylan played at Marquette, winning an NCAA title in 1977, and spent four seasons on the Bulls' staff. After Skiles was fired as head coach in December, Boylan replaced him on an interim basis for the remaining 56 games.
Yao "saddened" by quake: Houston Rockets center Yao Ming said he was "saddened" by news of Monday's massive earthquake in China, calling it a "dark and emotional" time for his country.
The epicenter of the magnitude 7.9 quake was in the central Sichuan province. Officials said Tuesday the death toll was about 15,000 and expected to climb. The quake triggered landslides, leveled buildings and cracked dams.
Yao was born in Shanghai, on China's eastern coast.
"It is very hard putting into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction in Sichuan," Yao said in a statement. "I am very saddened to hear of the large loss of life that has occurred. My thoughts are with everyone back in my home country of China during this very dark and emotional time."