Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thobodeau is the leading candidate to fill the Hornets' coaching vacancy and the team could offer him the job this week, according to a source familiar with the process.
Yahoo! Sports first reported the Hornets' decision to make Thobodeau their top coaching candidate on Monday night.
The Chicago Bulls have have stepped their pursuit of the Celtics' defensive mastermind, according to league sources, which have Thibodeau as the front runner for the Bulls job.
Thibodeau deserves a chance, and may very well turn out to be an excellent head coach. He has the background and he has proven himself as an assistant and is doing so again. Bottom line, you can see the team he coaches winning.
Thibodeau is a big name in NBA circles, but he is not to the casual fan.
After interviewing eight candidates,, the Hornets began working on a contract for Thibodeau. The Hornets also interviewed Portland assistant Monty Williams, former Dallas coach Avery Johnson. Mavericks assistant Dwayne Casey, former NBA coach Mike Fatello, former Nets coach Lawrence Frank, former NBA player Mark Jackson and Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin. Johnson, the early favorite for the job, said he wanted to be a team vice-president as well as the coach. He is a finalist for the Hawks job.
In nearly two decades as an assistant coach in the NBA, Thibodeau has developed a strong reputation as a defensive strategist and was part of the Celtics' staff when they last won the NBA title in 2008.
The Hornets struggled defensively last season, allowing 102.7 point per game, which ranked 20th in the league.
Thibodeau began his NBA coaching career as an assistant with Minnesota in 1989. He later worked as an advance scout with the Seattle Supersonics. before going back to coaching as an assistant with San Antonio, Philadelphia, New York, Houston and now Boston.
His stock has continued to rise with the Celtics' performance in this year's playoffs.
The Celtics granted the Hornets permission to interview Thibodeau before Bostonhad eliminated Cleveladn earlier this month.
Thobodeau could wind up with his choice of job. Seveeral other NBA teams are looking for a new coach, including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, New Jersey and the LA Clippers.
Though an agreement in principal between Hornets minority owner Gary Chouest and majority owner George Shinn for Shinn's sale of the team was reached three weeks ago,, the consummation of the deal is now being slowed by Chouest's desire to put together a group of minority owners that would purchase a portion of the team. Choucest is seeking to have a group of minority investors buy a significant chunk of the 75 per cent of the team that he'll purchase from Shinn. Chouest will be the team's majority owner when the deal is finally settled.
Most of the coaching candidates want the sale to go through before they accept the job here.
LSU
The LSU men's basketball program has been rewarded with a No. 19 ranking in the latest College Basketball Recruiting Rankings announced by ESPNU. The Tigers moved up from just outside the Top 15 ranking by the network. According ti ESPNU, the Tigers freshman class is led by Matt Derenbecker, a small forward from Metairie Country Day, and Andre Stringer, a point guard from Jackson, Miss. Coach Trent Johnson also brought in Ralston Turner, a small forward from Muscle Shoals, Alla., and K. C. Ross-Miller, a point guard from Dallas. Three of the six players LSU signed are ranked in ESPN's individual top 100 players.
GIBBS ALL-SEC: Catcher Micah Gibbs is the only LSU player on the first-team All-SEC baseball team selected by the league's coaches and announced on Tuesday.
Shortstop Austin Nola and designated hitter Matt Gaudet are LSU players on the second team All-SEC. Gibbs is the only LSU player on the All-Defensive Team.
The Tigers didn't have any players of the All-Freshman Team, which is dominated by conference champion Florida, which the Tigers meet on Wednesday in the opening round of the SEC Tournament at Hoover, Ala. First pitch is 4:30 p.m.
Vaughn was a year behind Chris Paul at WakeForest. "He was one of the first persons to contact me when I arrived here. A lot of people don have someone like that to take around the city. I attended the Wake Forest-Kentucky NCAA Regionals game as a guest of Chris in his box in the Arena...Trivia answer: The Yankees' Derrick Jeter...
Glen "Big Baby" Davis seemed to be everywhere on Sunday night as the Celtics downed the Magic 94-71 to take a 3-0 series lead in the NBA finals. Davis, a third-year player from LSU, went into a celebratory shimmy, lifting his knees and running toward his teammates in high-stepping fashion. He was surprisingly nimble carrying 289 pounds, diving onto the floor, into the stands, and giving his team a shot of energy. Davis scored 17 points and clamped down on Orlando star Dwight Howard, who was limited to 7 points "Being on a team that is so loaded,you've got to find your role to the max," said Davis, who had six rebounds and a blocked shot. "I just brought into it, what Coach Doc Rivers is saying, making sure I'm there for my teammates."
A Forbes report lists Phil Jackson of the Lakers as the highest-paid coach over-all, at $10.3 million a year. But after Jackson, three of the next four qre in the NFL. Those three, according to Forbes, are Patriots coach Bill Belichick $7.5 million, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan at $7 million and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll at $7 million. One other NFL coach is in the Top 10: Jeff Fisher, also at $7 million...
Not only is LSU's Patrick Peterson one of the top 10 defensive prospects for the 2011 draft by ESPN's Todd McShay, he is very vocal and isn't the least bit short on confidence.
"I believe I'm the best cornerback right now in the country, but I definitely have to go out there and prove it to everybody who thinks they're better than me," said the Tigers junior. He led all SEC cornerbacks last season with 15 passes defended. "I just have to go out there every day with a chip of my shoulder, knowing that I want to be the best and what I want out of this career."
Peterson made All-SEC and second team All-American as a sophomore last season. He held A.J. Green (Georgia) and Julio Jones (Alabama) too just seven catches, not seven each, seven all together.
He is also know for his quick, closing-speed tackles. What makes the 6-foot-1, 211-pound Peterson out of Pompano Beach, Fla., and is a relative of Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden, Giants wide receiver Sinorice Moss and Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss.He can manhandle a receiver physically just as easy as he can swoop in with blazing speed to knock a ball away. In the open field, few corners are better tacklers. He had 43 solo stops last season, which was second of the Tigers to linebqckeer Kelvin Sheppard.
He also scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a 37-yard interception return against MississippiState and another on a 53-yard punt return of a blocked field goal.
"He's our explosive playmakeer on defense," said Tigers linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.
Even with the departure of safety Chad Jones to the NFL, the Tigers return a secondary that could be one of the best in the SEC this season. Jai Eugene has moved from corner to safety, and sophomore Morris Claiborne looks like he's following in Peterson's footsteps as the Tigers' next very good cornerback.
By moving Eugene to safety, the Tigers essentially have four corners in the secondary. Most importantly, they all have top-end speed.
TIGERS RECALL SEC PLAY: No. 8-seed LSU plays No. 1-seed Florida in Wednesday's opening round of the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
The Gators have 22 SEC victories and went 14-2 over-all in its final 16 games and is a virtual lock to host NCAA postseason action next month.
But the Gators should be beware of the Tigers because the team seeded eighth in he eight-team tournament has opened with an upset of the No.. 1 seed four straight seasons and five in the past six.
Two-time defending champion LSU looks to continue the trend when the Tigers look to continue the trend when they face the Gators at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at RegionsPark.
"Who's to say we can't go out there and beat Florida in the opening game," said LSU coach Paul Mainieri? "I really believe that the talent difference in this league, from team to team, is almost indiscernible.
"The Tigers plan to pitch ace Anthony Ranaudo (3-2, 8.49 ERA), looking to regain regain pro scouts salivating last season. The Gators plan to start freshman Brian Johnson (5-3, 3.62 ERA), the SEC champs' usual Sunday starter.
"If No. 8 can beat No. 1 for the last four years, I think we ought to make it five years in a row," said Mainieri. "That's not a streak we want to see end.?
HORNETS TO HOST LEGISLATORS: The Hornets and the Louisiana State Legislature are teaming up to host the annual House vs. Senate basketball game on Monday, June 7 at 6 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the campus of Louisiana State University. The 7th annual game will feature Representatives competing against Senators in a full-court basketball game that will include the chance for one person to shoot a half-court shot at halftime for a brand new Chevrolet Camaro.
The HoopLA Out of Bounds Bash will take place during the game and will feature gourmet food, cocktails and exclusive silent auction items to help raise money for the Legislators’ Non-Profit Charity Fund, which was started by legislators last year to enhance the lives of Louisiana residents through charitable works. This year, the Out of Bounds Bash will raise money to provide a refurbished basketball court in one participating legislator’s district. Any legislator who purchases a ticket to the event will be eligible to receive the court refurbishment. Anyone who purchased a ticket to the Bash will be eligible for the drawing to shoot the half-court shot for the new car.
“I could not be more pleased with the success of this event in just two years,” said State Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington and chairperson for the event. “We have a great committee that is fortunate to have the Hornets as a partner. During this tough economy we are able to bring some needed financial assistance to a lucky public body and provide needed recreation for our youth.”
The Hornets will provide official uniforms for the game, and Hornets entertainment groups including Hugo, Honeybees and the Buzz Patrol will help entertain and interact with fans in attendance. Prior to the game, the Hornets will offer a free basketball clinic on center court at the PMAC from 4:30-5:30 p.m. for 100 kids who have already reserved a spot. Hornets inflatables and interactive games will be set up for kids directly following the clinic at 5:30 p.m.
“Our partnership with the State Legislature allows us to add our entertainment elements to their already entertaining annual game,” said Hornets President Hugh Weber. “We are proud to continue to build our relationship with the entire Legislature because we are Louisiana’s NBA team..”
Admission to the basketball game is free for all attendees, but tickets for the HoopLA Out of Bounds Bash are $100 each which admits two. Tickets can be purchased by contacting State Rep. John Schroder at JS@johnschroder.com.
