Riley passing Heat torch to Spoelstra
On the night of his last game as an NBA head coach, Pat Riley heard the final buzzer, looked straight ahead and briskly walked away.
Deep down, he knew it was over.
“I didn’t have to look back,” Riley said. “I know that’s behind me.”
And now, after spending several days plotting the Miami Heat’s next course, Riley’s past becomes Erik Spoelstra’s future.
The Hall of Fame coach resigned Monday, although he’ll remain team president. His first act as Miami’s former coach was to choose its new one, and hired Spoelstra, a 37-year-old who started in the Heat video room in 1995.
Look for Brown in Charlotte
Well-traveled Larry Brown has reached an agreement to return to the NBA as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made, said Brown was expected to sign a contract today. The Bobcats have called an afternoon news conference for what they termed a “major basketball announcement.”
The 67-year-old Hall of Famer will be taking over his ninth NBA team.
No need for Stern to testify
NBA commissioner David Stern will not be ordered to testify in a case brought by the city of Seattle to try to keep the SuperSonics from moving, though a federal judge may consider ordering the testimony in the future.
Awards and recognition
New Orleans coach Byron Scott, who led the Hornets to their first playoff appearance in four years this season, has been chosen as the NBA coach of the year, the Associated Press has learned.
•Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu has been selected the NBA’s most improved player.
The NBA announced that Turkoglu received 380 points, including 61 first-place votes.
Punishments and fines
Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce and Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson were each fined $25,000 by the NBA for making “menacing gestures” in playoff games this weekend.
•Jason Kidd won’t be suspended for his flagrant foul on New Orleans’ Jannero Pargo, meaning the Mavericks will have their starting point guard tonight when they try to avoid elimination in Game 5.