Brown’s Decision May Start Series Of Coaching Aftershocks
That old NBA game, The Domino Effect, could start to intensify today when Larry Brown meets with Indiana Pacers president Donnie Walsh to discuss Brown’s future with the team.
Brown’s decision to stay or leave will affect the search for a coach in Philadelphia, Denver and Golden State, where vacancies exist, and Boston and Orlando, where vacancies could exist soon.
Rick Pitino, the Kentucky coach who all but ruled out leaving the bluegrass for Boston, is said to be reconsidering, and also is thinking about Philadelphia. Orlando is also supposedly interested in him.
If Brown leaves the Pacers, one possible replacement is former Phoenix Suns coach Paul Westphal, who said Monday night he would be interested in coaching the Pacers.
Another possibility is former Boston Celtics star Larry Bird, who met with Walsh over the weekend.
“Nothing was finalized,” Walsh said. “It was a meeting to gauge interest. We talked about aspects of coaching and of coaching the Pacers, the same as you would with anybody.
“But if the coaching job is open, Larry Bird is definitely a guy I’m going to talk to - unless he says he doesn’t want to do it.”
Jordan all-defense again
Offense is not the only part of Michael Jordan’s game.
Jordan, winner of a record ninth NBA scoring title this season, is the second player in league history to be selected to the All-Defensive first team eight times.
Jordan tied Bobby Jones for the honor when he was voted to the team by the league’s coaches.
Joining the Chicago Bulls’ All-Star guard on the first team were guard Gary Payton of Seattle, forwards Scottie Pippen of Chicago and Karl Malone of Utah, and center Dikembe Mutombo of Atlanta, the Defensive Player of the Year.
The second team consisted of forwards Anthony Mason of Charlotte and P.J. Brown of Miami, center Hakeem Olajuwon of Houston, and guards Mookie Blaylock of Atlanta and John Stockton of Utah.
Miscellany
Stephen Jackson, who was academically ineligible to play at Arizona last season, declared his eligibility for the NBA draft. His high school coach at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., compares him favorably to former Oak Hill stars Jerry Stackhouse and Ron Mercer… . The New York Knicks want Jeff Van Gundy to remain their coach “for years to come” but won’t give him a contract extension until the season is over, GM Ernie Grunfeld said.